tips for your

Wedding day

01. Wedding planners & coordinators

Venues have different levels of coordinators, so make sure that you know ahead of time if they'll be taking care of you on the day of. A good coordinator will be able to take care of any questions or issues that arise throughout the day. The last thing you want to have to worry about on your big day is being asked a million logistical questions like why 4 chairs are missing, where the DJ can plug in his speakers, or what time salads are served at dinner. In my experience, I've had couples ask a friend or relative to be their coordinator and it NEVER ends well. They want to drink and have fun, too! Hire someone who does coordinating or planning for a living and has the experience, trust me! It's worth it.

Planning a wedding timeline can get overwhelming and keeping to your timeline is a key factor for a relaxing and photographically productive day. In my opinion, a wedding planner is the BEST vendor you can spend money on if the budget allows it! Peace of mind is priceless. Most wedding planners have a variety of options and levels of service, ranging from 2000 EUR - 12 000 EUR. I'm not saying you need a full-service planner by any means - even a partial or month-of planner would be great! If your wedding is larger than 50 people, a day-of coordinator at the very least is a must. Sometimes venues provide them, but make sure you ask how involved they'll be on your day! 

02. Don’t skip the engagement session

Engagement sessions are a chance to connect with each other, explore a beautiful place, and create memories. Is there a place that's meaningful to you & your relationship? If there's not a specific place, think about the dates you love to go on together. Do you tend to go to the beach? Picnic on a cliffside? Grab drinks at a dive bar? A park near your place? Your photos will feel so much more like you if we explore a location that is similar to somewhere you normally would go together. Of course, you can always choose a location that you've never explored together — but have been wanting to! I have plenty of recommendations and love to show couples some of my favorite hidden gems.

03. Hair & Makeup

One of my biggest recommendations is to use your hair and makeup trial for your engagement session. That way, you can see how the makeup looks on camera to make sure you love it for your wedding day! On the wedding day, I'm always shooting the bride getting ready when the hair and makeup are done. This way, you will feel relaxed and confident when taking your pictures.

04. Consider location & light

Some of my favorite moments on a wedding day happen before the ceremony! Getting ready spaces are filled with the anticipation and excitement of the day to come. However you want to spend your morning before you get married, make sure it's in a clean, bright space. Lots of window light makes my job easier & your photos a whole lot dreamier - so if your venue doesn't have a great bridal suite, look for an Airbnb with open space, lots of windows, and neutral walls.

Cramming 8 bridesmaids, hair & makeup artists, a photographer, a videographer, and family members into a single room filled with ALL your stuff can feel chaotic, as well as make your photos feel cluttered. If you're getting ready in a hotel room - consider getting an extra room or using a family member or friend's room as a designated clean space. That way, we have a clean room for photos and a quiet space for you to hang out in if you need a moment to yourself.

05. Details matter

Capturing the little details of your wedding day is how I like to begin my photography time! Typically, this includes flat lays of your invitations, heirlooms, shoes, rings - really anything that is important to you two and telling the story of your day! This time also helps me center myself and gives me a chance to get the creative juices flowing. I ask that you have these items ready to go, so I can just grab them and get started when I arrive.

My advice is to have your wedding day details gathered in a bag or box prior to your wedding day so that when your photographer arrives they can start working on capturing them first. The more organized you are, the more time your photographer will have to create gorgeous meaningful images with your carefully chosen details. I recommend 45 minutes to an hour for detail shots in your timeline.

When planning out your wedding day details, you will want to refer to your wedding color palette to keep things cohesive. Neutrals and metal tones look good with most palettes and can be great accents. If you are looking to up-level your detail shots there are many additional fun elements you can add! I've had brides include a special hanger for the dress, their clutch, a welcome bag, or their wedding favors. I've also photographed bride and groom cards/gifts to each other, bridesmaids’ gifts, and additional paper goods like place cards, programs, etc.!