Today’s post is going to be all about experiences I have had on weddings days and what works and what does not work. You most likely have never planned a wedding and I help plan one almost every weekend. To make your day flawless take a look at these tips.

1. Get your hair and makeup professionally done

- Do a trial run with your hair and makeup for your engagement session. That way you look amazing in your engagement photos as well.

- This may cost you more and you may like the way you do your hair and makeup but let me tell you how important is is for pictures.

- Makeup artists have special foundation and tips to create a flawless look for the camera. They will make you look your best for pictures.

2. Bridal Party

- Some times less is more. For pictures sometimes it’s very tricky for photographers to work with very large bridal parties.

- Less people = less drama…and everyone loves drama free right!?

- Make sure you choose the people that are most important to you.

- It does not have to be even on each side. Don’t just pick someone to have your bridal party even on both sides

3. Get some sort of transportation for your Bridal Party

- This is great for pictures because before or after the ceremony we can all load up in one vehicle to go around the town to take some great photos.

4. Tanning

- Just don’t over do it. A pale groom does not look so hot next to his overly tanned bride…just saying

5. Water

- Most weddings happen in the summer and people forget that its going to be 100 degrees. Make sure your bus, trolley or limo has water.

- Alcoholic drinks are important…I agree…but you are also running around like a crazy person on your wedding day. Sometimes you even forget to eat. In the summer months it is so important to have coolers on your bus, limo or trolley with water for the bridal party and most importantly for the bride and groom

6. Timeline

- Allow at least 1-2 hours for getting ready photos. This will include pictures of the bride and bridal party getting ready, pictures of the groom and groomsmen getting ready and all the detail shots of your dress, shoes, jewelry, etc.

- Allow 30 -45 minutes for family photos.

- Allow 30-45 minutes to get your dress on. Some dresses require some serious buttons or lacing up and could take a little longer than you think on the actual day because remember that you don’t have the dress lady there helping you.

- Allow 15 minutes for the First Look if you choose to do a First Look (which I encourage)

- Allow at least 1 hour for Wedding Party pictures. I like more time but I always ask for at least one hour. If you have a two hour window and your whole wedding party is going on a bus or trolley to take pictures you will get at least 2 different pictures locations and maybe 3 if they are somewhat close. Just remember that limos and trolleys take a little longer to navigate through the city because they are not small.

- Allow 30 minutes to an hour for Bride and Groom photos

- Allow about 2-3 hours for the reception. This will usually cover your entrance, first dance, cake cutting, garter toss, and some dancing. Always let the photographer go into the reception early if you can to capture all the details that you worked so hard on planning out.

7. After the wedding

- Make sure you read over your contract to see where the photographer has lined out when you will be getting everything back, including the disc and any products.

8. Be a trooper

- You can not predict the weather on your wedding day. If it rains, snows or is bad weather, chances are (if you hired a good photographer) they will have a back up plan and they will know how to make some really cool images with the elements.

- If your photographer takes you to a place that looks scary to you or you have to walk a little ways to get there, its probably worth it. Chances are they have a vision and they just need you to cooperate to make it happen

- Don’t let the small stuff stress you out on your wedding day because it shows in your pictures. If you are stressed when we are taking candid’s, you most likely will not look the happiest.

9. Smile

- For God’s sake, its your Wedding Day, SMILE! Smile when you are getting ready, smile when you see your groom, smile when you are getting your hair and makeup done, smile when you are getting your dress on, smile with your wedding party, smile when you are cutting your cake, smile when you have your first dance. Trust me, it makes a huge difference when you get all your pictures back, because most of what we take are candid and we want you to look the best your can on your wedding day.

10. Trust Us

- Think back to what made you pick your wedding photographer. Because you loved their work? Because you loved their personality? Because you trusted them to take pictures on the most important day of your life? Sometimes brides forget all these things on the actual wedding day or right before the wedding. We know its a stressful time, but you hired us to keep things organized. Most of all you have to trust us. When hiring the right photographer, we know to get pictures of the dress and the shoes and the rings and the cake cutting and the first dance, etc, etc, etc. So just sit back…relax…we got this.

Hopefully some of these tips are helpful and if you disagree…I’m not going to be mad about it.