Things to bring for the “Day of” – Wedding day preparation.

If you are reading this post it probably means your wedding is just around the corner, how exciting! You must be thrilled to think about celebrating the best day of your life with your new husband, family and friends! Wedding days can be a very stressful day when it comes to being organized, staying on time and seeing all of your details and countless hours of work being brought to life. Being a part of your own wedding day is key to the fond memories you have when looking back on your photos. This makes me think of the statement “Be where you are.” Essentially it’s being mindful to whatever you are doing at the moment. This is what I want for you during your wedding day, to be where you are! Not to miss out on your own wedding day. It breaks my heart when the bride or groom is stressing out all day because of forgotten details or a late schedule. Having a clear schedule and shot list is important to the flow of your day (read about formal shot list, HERE and example schedules, HERE.) but that’s not what I want to talk about right now.

So what can you do to prepare yourself to have a stress free wedding day. These are just a couple of things to help you help me be able to record your wedding day story in completion. This list is provided to allow me the freedom of shooting details and events throughout the day without having to bother you! The less I have to ask you questions the better I feel. The less questions you have to answers mean the less stress you have to deal with.

Getting Ready Prep:

1. Have the dress unwrapped and ready to be photographed. Sometimes I will take the dress out of the room to photograph. Having it unwrapped and on it’s hanger is great.
2. Having your invitation suite and any other details in a zip lock bag for me to take home to photograph in my studio is great! I have had brides include things like straws, stamps, ribbons, their “Save the Dates,” the entire invitation suite, and anything else that might be an important detail. Then I am able to take them home and photograph them in my studio to add to your story. That way I am not using valuable time on your wedding day to do details.
3. Have your shoes, jewelry, hair piece, garter belt and any other details you might be wearing in one area for me to record.
4. For the guys, there aren’t as many details but please be sure to share with me if you have cool shoes, matching socks, cuff links, embroidered suit jackets, identical flasks or anything that is photo worthy.
5. Have the flowers delivered during your ‘getting ready’ time so that it allows me to be able to photograph your bouquet before it gets used.
6. Last but not least, make sure your room is clean. Having garbage or Dunkin’ Donuts cups in the back ground of photos is never a good thing.

Formal Photos Prep:

1. Have one person, if it’s a girl (tell them to wear comfy shoes) assist you during the bride and groom shoot. It’s nice to have one person there to help you with your dress, your flowers, your lipgloss, the viel and anything else you might need.
2. Designate one person to be in charge of the family portrait session. You can read more about that HERE. I will also share some thoughts about this in emails we will share before the wedding.

Reception/Cocktail hour Prep:

1. The only thing you need to be mentally prepared for is me asking to barrow your rings at some point during the reception. I love doing those shots of your rings! I will normally come while you are eating.
2. Also, if you are having a dessert bar or candy bar, sometimes because I am floating around taking candids of the night I miss out on the shot of your cute candy bar before everybody come to take it all away. Please make sure somebody informs me about when the bar is ready.