IT’S YOUR WEDDING DAY!

You wake up, have your cup of coffee or tea, and enjoy this momentary calm. All of your planning has finally come to fruition. You have planned for best-case scenarios, worst-case scenarios, weather, attire… and finally, the day has arrived. Tomorrow, you will wake up MARRIED! And you will only have the memories you make from this day. 

We want you to be completely present on your wedding day, so you will remember what it felt like to be there. We want you to feel all of the emotional connections and special touchpoints: from the little things that happened while you were preparing for the ceremony, like mom putting on your veil or the first time dad saw you in your wedding dress … to the butterflies you felt walking down the aisle and how your grandma cried during your vows … to the pure elation just after your ceremony, and onto every toast from the best of your friends, and the amazing energy on the dance floor. We want you to fully experience all of the beauty and emotion. 

All of it.

Let’s I Do This Thing!

GETTING READY

Whether you will be getting ready in your childhood home, in a fabulous hotel room, or rustic cabin near the venue, we want to be there with you at the beginning of your wedding day story. It’s really important for you and your attendants to become comfortable with our presence in the room, as we all get to know each other, and everyone begins to literally feel like we are your friends with cameras. We will seamlessly blend into the background, weaving in and out of the action that is organically occurring, while you naturally turn your attention to simply enjoying your day. 

TIP for your Timeline: 

• It really helps to have your photographers present during your pre-ceremony/getting ready time. The more time we are present with you and your wedding parties, the more “invisible” we become, which means we will capture even better moments. Also remember that ultimately, we go where you go: when the time comes to head for your ceremony, we will want to be in transit with you, in the event you have a location/venue change. 

YOUR WEDDING CEREMONY

Whatever form your wedding ceremony may take: whatever the size and scope, whether indoor or outdoor, we want your images to reflect your personalities and the surrounding landscape, capturing both atmosphere and anticipation. We absolutely love witnessing the joining of two hearts and lives, as they openly pledge themselves to one another until the end of time. 

TIPS for your Timeline:

• If you are planning a surprise ceremony entrance for your significant other, please coordinate those plans with us! We are good at keeping secrets, but we always want to be ahead of the action;

• Will you be incorporating a unity ceremony, perhaps lighting a candle or combining sand into an hourglass or other special container? Let’s discuss when this will take place;

• If you would like outdoor portraits before the sun completely sets, be sure to talk with us about your ceremony start time. If your ceremony starts too late in the day, we could end up chasing the sunlight or missing it altogether;

• If you are planning a special ceremony exit, be sure to let us know.

FAMILY FORMALS

Weddings celebrate the union of two people in love and the union of two families. However you define your families and whoever you want to be sure to include in your family photos, we want to be sure to devote time to capturing those images. These are the images you will treasure through the years and share with generations to come. 

Tips for Your Timeline: 

• We will work with you to complete your photo worksheet breakdown, which will provide the names and relationships of your family members, so we can familiarize ourselves with your families. On your wedding day, this will serve to help us keep everything on track, while making sure that no one is overlooked; 

• We recommend having a few helpers from each side of the family to help round people up, as necessary. 

 WEDDING PARTY FORMALS

Many moons ago, wedding attendants, both bridesmaids or “Bride’s Maids” and groomsmen or “Bride’s Knights,” served as very real protectors of the Bride. The Bride's "maids" literally protected her from evil: dressed in outfits similar to the bride, with veils covering their faces and carrying bouquets containing herbs and garlic, their role was to confound both evildoers intent on stealing generous dowries and evil spirits intent on roiling a couple's happiness. 

“Bride’s Knights” were given the responsibility of ensuring the bride’s safety, sometimes bearing swords, in order to make sure she arrived safely to the ceremony, remained safe throughout, and arrived safely to the groom’s home afterward. The Best Man and Groom still stand to the right of the Bride -- at one time, this was so they could readily reach their swords. 

Flower girls in days gone by would drop herbs and flowers to protect the Bride’s virginity and as a promise of fertility. 

Today, wedding attendants serve a more symbolic role of "protection" through their bond of friendship and love. We will capture some classic and creatively fun shots with your favorite “love protectors,” which can include individual portraits with each individual attendant, individual group shots, and combined group shots. 

COUPLE’S PORTRAITS

Let's take a little time for just the two of you: step away from the whirlwind of excitement to breathe and let it all sink in. You have just professed your love to one another for all time … your connection is all-consuming. We want your wedding portraits to reflect all of that honesty and all of the beauty of this very special, intimate part of your day. 

Tips for Your Timeline:

• We want to avoid selecting too many different locations for your wedding portraits, you don’t want to spend more time traveling than taking photos, all of which could become stressful. 

• Perhaps your venue will have a stunning view of the ocean or mountains, but whatever the setting for your wedding, we will work with you in advance to identify background options at your church and/or venue, or nearby spots. Trust that we will make certain you will have the most beautiful portraits! 

• The more time you are able to devote for portraits on your wedding day, the more diverse and creative your images will be. Lets discuss your wedding day timeline in detail so we can take full advantage of the time you’ll have alone together on your wedding day.

YOUR WEDDING RECEPTION

Everyone has moved into the reception hall, anxiously awaiting your arrival. Your wedding planner or other appointed individual(s) will coordinate the seating operation, which should take about 15 minutes or so, depending on the size of your wedding. Once everyone is seated, your Master or Mistress of Ceremonies (maybe your planner, member of your band, or DJ) will introduce you for the first time as newlyweds and you will make your grand entrance into the reception hall, where your friends and family will warmly welcome you. We will be there capturing all of the pinnacle moments: from the welcome to the toasts, the first dance and parent dances, cake cutting, bouquet and/or garter toss ... and onto your guests dancing and having the best time ever! 

We can't wait!

Tips For Your Timeline:

• Be sure to make time to eat! It will be easy to keep putting off taking the time for yourself, in the midst of greeting your guests; but remind each other how important this really is, it is a long day. 

• Let's discuss any special plans you may have in mind -- and please let us know if you might like to brainstorm ideas with us, we love helping couples think through what will make your day unique to you. Some examples of information that will be helpful for you to share with us:

• Formal receiving line or circulating to each table after dinner?

• First dance timing: upon entrance or after dinner?

• Grand exit? How will guests be participating: e.g., sparklers, bubbles, ribbon wands, etc.?

We hope you've enjoyed getting to know a little more about us through this Wedding Timeline Portfolio. We believe that photographs tell the unique story of each wedding, revealing the beautiful personalities and amazing qualities of each couple and their loved ones. So, if you like what you've seen, please be sure to get in touch! We would love to tell your unique story.