Wedding planning can be a super exciting time in your life, but it also comes with many unknowns. After all, this is probably the first wedding you have actually planned, and it’s not something you are used to doing every day.
Luckily for you, this is something that I do every day. As a wedding photographer with 8 years of experience under my belt, I am surrounded by all things weddings day in and day out. I’ve been able to pick up on a few wedding day tips that you definitely don’t want to miss out on.
So, let’s jump right into some of the most important wedding day tips I have to make sure that you not only have an amazing day but it’s also as stress-free as possible!
Wedding Day Tips
Plan a date for after your engagement photos.
Before we discuss some of the actual tips for your wedding day, I want to touch on your engagement session. With all of the coordinating and logistics that come with wedding planning, your engagement session is really just for you and can be so much fun.
The photo shoot itself is a time for you and your partner to connect and enjoy some time together, but it can also go beyond the hour or two you spend taking the photos.
This is the perfect time to plan a nice date night and have a fun night with just the two of you. Think about it: you’re already going to be looking amazing, you’ve just spent the past few hours connecting, being intimate, and truly being present with each other. What could set a better tone for a date night?
So, instead of just heading home after your session to go back to your normal routine, plan something special with your partner. This could be a nice dinner, going out to see your favorite show, doing your favorite activity, or even going back home and making a nice meal together.
If you are planning on making a reservation somewhere, be sure to let your photographer know so that they can help make sure everything is wrapped up in time for you to make it!
Whatever you choose, it gives you the chance to take a step back and really just enjoy this moment with the person you are going to spend the rest of your life with!
You’ll want to invest in photography and videography.
I know what you are thinking, but I’m not telling you to invest in photography just because I am a photographer. This truly is something that you don’t want to skip out on or settle for something that you aren’t totally in love with.
After your celebration has passed, your photos and videos are the only things you are going to have to remember your wedding. I’m sure there are going to be people taking photos and videos on their phones throughout the night, but I promise you quality, professional ones are going to be so much better.
There are a couple of reasons for this. One, photographers and videographers know how to handle different lighting situations. There are probably going to be areas around your venue that aren’t the best for lighting, but creatives who do this day in and day out (like me) will know how to work around this to get the best quality possible.
Two, we aren’t just here to catch the big moments during your wedding, like your first kiss or your first dance. We are with you the entire day, picking up on all of those small moments.
Things like your parents wiping away their tears as you say your vows or the smile that your flower girl has on their face as they walk down the aisle are the small moments that really make your wedding day special.
So, when you are thinking about your budget and where you want to spend it for your wedding, I would definitely recommend looking at photographers and videographers to make sure they fit in.
On the guest side, the DJ and the food tend to be the two aspects that tend to be the most memorable for them, so be sure to keep that in mind, too, as you plan where to invest your budget for your wedding.
Talk to your photographer when you’re designing your timeline.
Planning your timeline will play a big role in what your wedding day actually looks like. I would absolutely talk to your photographer about this and work through it with them.
For one, we have been to plenty of weddings and have probably seen every variation of timelines that you can think of. So, if there are certain things that you are looking for or things that you want to prioritize over others, we can help make that happen.
More importantly, we can also ensure that you get the best light for magical portraits with your partner. Whether you want to do them a few times throughout the day or just want a single portrait time when you can take them all at once, we can make sure that you have the best light possible so they look exactly like you have always imagined.
There are also a lot of other photos that you may want, like photos with your wedding parties, your families, or your friends. We can ensure that there is enough time built in and we are able to capture all of the moments that you want so you can look back and see all of the people you love the most who celebrated this day with you.
Always build in extra time into your day.
This may be one of the most important tips I have for you. Always give yourself more time than you think you need throughout your wedding day. This is especially true for anything before your actual wedding ceremony.
As much as we wish that everything goes perfectly on schedule and goes off without a hitch, you are bound to run into things that take longer than anticipated. Whether it is hair and makeup running long, taking longer to get dressed than you imagined, traffic, or taking longer to get pre-ceremony portraits, you don’t want to feel rushed.
So, as you create your timeline, be sure to add extra time to all of the individual parts of the day. Best case scenario: Everything goes exactly as planned, and you have time to relax throughout the day. But if things do start to take a bit longer than anticipated, having this extra time will ensure that you don’t feel rushed or overly stressed!
A good day-of coordinator is worth their weight in gold.
Wedding planners and coordinators can really relieve some of the stress of wedding planning. But when it comes to your big day, one of the best wedding day tips I can give you is to invest in a great day-of coordinator.
There are so many little things that go on throughout your wedding day, even if you are having a smaller ceremony. Coordinating vendors and guests, staggered arrival times, and so much more all require someone to be in charge.
You want to find someone who either knows the answer to pretty much any question that anyone has on your wedding day, or can take the lead and find the answer quickly. This will take so much weight off of your shoulders and the people around you as well.
Without a coordinator, you may find yourself answering these questions or your parents or someone in your wedding party. These are the people that you want to be around you, enjoying this time with you, not running around the venue trying to tie up any loose ends!
Newlyweds set the tone for the reception.
When it comes to your reception, you will be the ones setting the tone. If you want a super energetic reception where everyone is out on the dance floor having a good time, you have to be the first one to jump up and get that party started.
Yes, your DJ and emcee will play a role in this, but many times, your guests will wait for you to make the first move. So, don’t be afraid to take the reins and give people the green light to get involved and have a great time.
It’s also a great idea to talk to your wedding party and enlist them. If everyone sees you all enjoying yourselves, it will be easy to join in with the fun!
Heirloom albums are absolutely worth the investment.
Last but certainly not least, is heirloom albums. In this digital age, many people are starting to skip out on heirloom albums, and I think that is a mistake. I even have one from my own wedding, and my son loves looking through it, showing me just how important they are.
These albums are crafted specifically to show the story of your wedding day, not just thrown together with a couple of great photos. That intentional design and storytelling make this something special and something that you’ll want to look back on for decades.
They’re also made of super durable materials, so you won’t have to worry about them falling apart or needing to be replaced a few years down the line. They’re a true heirloom, something meant to be enjoyed for the next 10, 20, 50 years.
While there are plenty of other ways to look at your wedding photos, this truly is so much more special! So get those beautiful photos off of your hard drive and out into the world to be enjoyed.
Ready to Plan Your Own Wedding Day?
Hopefully, these wedding day tips will help you as you start to plan your own wedding day. I know that this can be a really exciting and also a really nerve-wracking time. But always remember that this day is for you, so you get to make it whatever you want.
And, if you’re still looking for the perfect photographer to capture all the special moments, I’d love to chat. You can click here to learn more about my wedding photography services or head over here to get in touch and start planning your dream wedding!
