You can easily feel like you have no idea where to start with wedding planning! Here is some insight on things I have learned through photographing them! From photography insight to planning. I spend 10 hours with the bride behind the scenes which entails learning a thing or two! Whether you decide to book with me or not, I hope this insight helps you with your wedding day!

  1. UNPLUGGED IS THE WAY TO GO! I know…this is from a photographers point of view mainly, but furthermore it’s for the guests to truly take in the moment. A sign works great, but having the officiant tell them before the start of the ceremony works better. Even to say for it to be unplugged during the wedding and then fine to pull out afterwards.

  2. Hire a wedding planner. I don’t believe a wedding planner is 100% needed if you are willing to put in the work, BUT I fully believe it will not only make the day of and the days leading up to the wedding easier, but it will make your wedding day sweeter because you won’t have to handle the details and there can be A LOT of details!

  3. Shoot for being done with all photos and hair and make up and hour before the ceremony! I have had brides tell me they could barely remember their wedding day because of how many things were happening all in one day. This is probably the best advice I ever give simply because it allows you to take the day in, to relax and reminisce on everything that led to the wedding day, and also if anything is behind it leaves room to catch up!

  4. Getting married at a venue where you’re able to get ready on site will take away all kinds of stresses! Especially if the guys can get ready there too!

  5. The more beautiful your venue, the more beautiful your photos! Just something to note when you choose where you’re getting married. Venue entails most of how incredible your photos will come out.

  6. First look or not. I have recently heard of photographers that make you do a first look to get photos out of the way. I am not bashing them, but I don’t believe in that. DO YOU! If you want a first look - people tend to choose this either for photos, to get all the photos done early, or to get some of the nerves out before the ceremony. My insight - stick with your gut. If you have the reasoning of the ones above, go for it. If you want to wait and do the more traditional way, go for it! Leave enough time to do photos afterwards (guests know there is time for photos after so don’t worry too much on that).

  7. Look at each other during the ceremony! I know, it seems obvious, but we naturally look at the person who is speaking (the officiant) which in turn can cause y’all to never look at each other too long. Now you don’t have to have this awkward, intense stare down, but it’s something to be aware of!

  8. Write letters to each other. I find this to be one of the sweetest moments! Whether captured or not this can be something to look back on years from the wedding date to not only remind you of why y’all took those steps, but to bring you back to a sweet moment!

  9. Teach someone how to bustle your dress. I have put my camera down (after photos of course) to help dress, bustle or unbustle brides many times! I have no problem with helping at all, but pay extra attention when you find a dress on how it is bustled! Especially if you don’t book me haha.

  10. Be prepared with things like a sewing kit, scissors, etc for just in case!

  11. If you are choosing a venue according to sunset (i.e. wedding on the beach at sunset) know that the sun sets in different places throughout the year! In Pensacola Beach the sun sets on the Gulf of Mexico side more in the winter months and then on the sound side in the summer months.

  12. Hurricane season. Consider it when planning a date!

  13. Enjoy the day! Things can always get off of your expectancy when it comes to rain, something random going wrong, etc but always keep in the front of your mind what you’re there for. There could be a hurricane outside, your cake could’ve fallen, you could’ve even lost your dress, but in the end…you are marrying the love of your life! Highly doubtful on any of those happening, but just always remember, no matter where the day leads it ends with you marrying your person!

  14. When you get your photos back, print them! Not necessarily all of them, but technology can fail at any time so it is always nice to know you have those prints. Back up the photos on a hard drive, dropbox, or a few ways to where you won’t lose them.