5 wedding tips from a wedding photographer
Okay, so I’ve been wanting to do this for a while, and the more I talk to couples that are in the wedding planning process, the more I want to share what I’ve learned. Before I started shooting weddings, I think I had a really misinformed opinion about how weddings work and what is supposed to happen. Now that I have been to quite a few I have a few opinions…
Soooo yeah, Lets just dive right in
FIRST thing I’d tell people is IGNORE TRADITION. Don’t just do something in your wedding (like cake cutting or garter toss) because you feel like you have to. If you don’t want to do it, don’t. Its your day, so if you are adding things you don’t actually care about its just going to take away (time and money) from the parts you do care about. This also goes for inviting people you don’t want to. I know a lot of people feel pressure to invite their second uncle’s wife’s son because their mom really wants them to….but if you don’t want them there…don’t invite them. That might sound kind of harsh, but think about it. They’re probably going to throw off your vibe when you have to interact with them, and its expensive paying for more people than you actually want.
I used to think planners were just for bougie people. That it was an unnecessary expense….WOW….I completely take it back. Wedding planners/coordinators are essential if you want to keep things how you plan, and keep the stress off your shoulders on your wedding day. They’re doing all the stuff that is going to keep your wedding on track. A lot of it is behind the scenes stuff, which Is why I think its easy to overlook how much they actually do. After having been to many without a wedding planner, and with, you can almost always tell a difference on how they day goes.
Set aside 10-15 minutes in your schedule for the both of you to sit down, have a snack, and just get away for a bit. Weddings are BUSY. From super early in the morning, to late at night, its go go go. Give yourself some time to just breathe and enjoy time alone. Drink water and have a snack! I’ve seen people faint on wedding days from neglecting their personal needs. So make sure that even though the day is busy, you’re still giving your body what it needs, and time to just enjoy a second with your partner alone.
Before you buy your outfits, or book any vendors, make a list of what’s most important to you on your wedding day. Weddings are EXPENSIVE. You have to know what your priorities are so you know where you want to splurge and where to cut corners. In my personal opinion, PHOTO and DJ are gonna be where you want to splurge. Photo and video is the only thing besides memories that you and your family will be able to keep from your big day, and the DJ literately sets the whoooooole tone of the wedding. Most of the time they’re doing all the sound, being the MC, and controlling the music. If you’re wanting something laid back, or something super hype…the DJ is going to make that happen (or not).
Lastly, Id say make it personal. Its YOUR big day, so unapologetically do you. Your loved ones will love it, and so will you.
Hope those are some helpful tips! As always, if I’m your photographer, feel free to ask anything and i’m always happy to help if I can.
Happy planning!
