On your wedding day, there are so many things to do from the moment you wake up. How much time should you set aside for hair and makeup? Will it actually take an hour to put your dress or suit on? When are you even supposed to eat? After countless weddings of all sizes, types, and lengths, I can confidently say that building a wedding day schedule is one common task that couples struggle with.
When you and I work together, we’ll follow a tried-and-true schedule to ensure your wedding day is stress-free and flows smoothly from start to finish. That way, you can focus on soaking in the beauty of the moment and feel nothing but joy and harmony when you look back on images of your day.
From the moment I arrive, here is the schedule we will build together as we create a full documentation of your wedding weekend:
Stage One: Getting Ready
Beginning at noon with a First Look planned, or 1:45 with no First Look, I will join partner one in your getting ready suite while my associate joins partner number two, and we will capture the final details of getting ready. This includes details specific to each partner like hair and makeup, and special cologne or perfume application, plus every candid moment of putting on your suit or dress, shoes, jewelry, watch, cuff links, veil, and any other details. My goal here is for you to enjoy the little moments with your closest friends and family members who are helping you prepare. You worked tirelessly to bring together so many details in your finished look. Relish the moment they all come together and I will capture every part of it.
Stage Two: First Looks
If you have chosen to do First Looks, we will move straight from the partner one’s getting ready suite to the First Look moment with your father or your chosen loved one at 1:15, followed by a portrait session both alone and with your bridal party/groomsmen and family members. At 2:00, it’s finally time for you and your love to come together for the first time!
The first time you see your fiance on your wedding day is a very intimate, emotional moment. Because of this, many couples choose to do a First Look moment in order to keep the moment private and enjoy time together before the wedding begins in earnest.
After you’ve had time to soak in a few moments together, we will dedicate time to a directed couple’s session, where I will generate natural emotion with a series of prompts. Then we will move to the wedding party and family portraits. Afterwards, we will tuck the couple away as guests begin to arrive. For those not doing a First Look, these portraits will take place after the ceremony as guests transition to cocktail hour.
Stage Three: Ceremony and Cocktail Hour
This is where my team will fade into the background, documenting every moment of your ceremony and the faces and feelings of your guests and loved ones as they live the moment with you. Take this time to fully immerse yourself in the experience. Say your vows and commit yourself to a life of love, then join your loved ones to begin the celebration in earnest!
As guests transition to cocktail hour, my team and I will capture details from your reception and any portraits that remain to be taken. You and your wedding party will take this time to refresh and breathe, then connect with friends and family members as we capture every candid moment of connection, laughter, and celebration with those who love you most.
Cocktail hour often takes place between 5:30 and 6:30, or 7 and 8, depending on the general arrangement of your day (like whether you choose to do a First Look and if your reception takes place at a different location than your ceremony). If you don’t have a First Look, and you have a portrait list with 12+ groupings, we recommend extending your cocktail hour by thirty minutes.
Stage Four: Dinner and Dancing
Now it’s time for everyone’s favorite part: the party!
Beginning with the formal entrance and a delicious dinner, the reception is in full swing by 8:00. My team has captured every detail you meticulously planned and every moment both organized and organic. You and your friends and family are immersed in the moment, full of laughter and celebration, as we work to document every smile and funky dance move. Our goal throughout the reception is to cement these moments in your memory and give you beautiful, lively images that transport your back to the second it was taken. Your reception is often one of the “blurriest” parts of your day, but the authenticity we find as you and your guests let loose and live in the moment is unparalleled.
In Conclusion
Each moment of your wedding day will be filled with interactions you want to remember forever, but you can only do so many things at once. Your focus on your wedding day should be singular and unwavering: getting married to the love of your life! Together, we will build a wedding day schedule that will take all other worries off your plate, allowing you to live fully in the moment in a way that will stick with you for the rest of your life when you look back on your images. Trust me to capture the big moments and the little ones in between, and I will trust you to enjoy it to the fullest. I promise, it will be incredible!
To learn more or to book me for your wedding weekend getaway, contact me here.
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