When it comes to your wedding day timeline and trying to figure out the amount of hours you want covered by your photographer, I highly suggest adding in hours prior to your ceremony. These hours are crucial in capturing so many behind the scenes photos and special moments of you with close family and your wedding party. By capturing some of these photos prior to the ceremony, it also allows for you and your new spouse to move right along to the wedding festivities and mingle with your guests at the reception, instead of taking loads of photos immediately after the ceremony. This blog goes over some of my favorite photos to take in those few hours leading up your vows.
Detail Photos:
These photos are my favorite because they document all the tiny, yet sweet details of your big day. These are the photos you will look back on and remember the feeling of that season of wedding planning and how it all came together in that one special day. By having extra time before the ceremony, your photographer can create compositions to photograph of the items you bring with you for your special day. Here's a list of suggested items to make sure you have for those details photos:
- Invitations
- Wedding Programs
- Flowers (Bouquets & Boutonnieres)
- Wedding Gown
- Garter
- Shoes (Bride and Groom)
- Rings
- Veil
- Tie or Bowtie
- Cufflinks
- Jewelry
- Heirlooms
- Groom's Socks
Getting Ready Photos:
If you plan to have your hair and make-up done, these photos are always fun because they show your transformation into the gorgeous bride you will be that day. These photos capture everything from the hue of your sparkly eyeshadow to the curls in your updo, and everything in between. These photos always show brides in such a confident light, full of excitement for their big day.
Wedding Party Photos:
If enough time is set aside before the ceremony, a lot of wedding party photos can be take prior to the ceremony. This allows time for candid, informal photos of you and your wedding party having fun and getting ready, along with ones of you all completely dressed and ready to walk down the aisle. This is also a fun way to get your wedding party relaxed and having a good time before the wedding begins. These photos always turn out great and show the dynamics and friendships between everyone involved.
Family Photos:
These photos are always some of my favorites. Whether it's a first look with your dad or having your mom button up your wedding dress, these are heartfelt photos you will want to make sure you have time for. By having your photographer there during this time, you can capture photos of your parents reactions, expressions, and sentiments during this process of you getting ready for your big day. During these photos you can also make time to exchange gifts with parents and have family portraits take of immediate family members that are present at the time.
Gift Exchange Photos:
If you plan on exchanging gifts before you say "I do", I highly suggest having these moments documented by photos. In some cases, the bride and groom choose not to see one another until the ceremony. That's why this is a great way to still be able to see their reaction as they open your gift. It is also a good idea to capture photos of what you receive and the sentiments behind in, in case it become a family heirloom one day or is passed along.
First Touch Photos:
If you plant to stick with more of a traditional timeline and choose not to see one another prior to the ceremony, I suggest thinking of having a "first touch." This is when you are able to hold hands and have a special moment, but without seeing one another. This a great time to say what's on your heart and have a moment together before heading down the aisle.
First Look Photos:
Most couples these days like to do a first look. I am a huge fan of this because I feel like it not only gives you a special and intimate moment together before embracing the festivities of the day, but it also frees up come much time for photos after the ceremony. A first look is basically a moment reserved before your ceremony where the two of you get to see one another before walking down the aisle. Doing a first look allows for you and your wedding party to move straight into the reception following the ceremony because most of the photos were taken prior to the ceremony. The expressions and emotions I get to capture during these photos are always my favorite!
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