Your wedding day is sure to beautiful and perfect just like you two are for each other! But that doesn't mean the day doesn't come with it's own stress and chaos...after all, a lot is happening to celebrate you and your new spouse! Here are some tips to help keep your day fun, relaxed, and running smoothly!
Create & Review Your Timeline
Your photographer will be the vendor who is with you your entire wedding day capturing everything that is happening! And they have done this before, so they know what kind of time different parts of your wedding will require. Like how long will group photos take, couples photos, cake cutting or the bouquet toss. Before your wedding day ask your photographer to review your wedding day timeline with you. Go through the whole day from beginning to end and get their advice on where you need to allow more time or where you maby be giving too much time. They can help you make sure there is enough time allotted for all the parts that are the most important to you!
Group Photos Take Time
Give your family a heads up that group photos do take time. This is an important moment we want captured...remembering who was there to celebrate with you. But with big groups and lots of variations of family members and dynamics, it does take time to organize everyone. Group photos go the smoothest when family members know that the photos will take time and are available and ready to jump into the mix when it's their turn. Surprisingly, group photos take longer and are more chaotic when family members are antsy and trying to speed things along themselves.
Have a Specific Shot List
Your photographer will come prepared with lots of ideas for shots at your wedding, but make sure you communicate if there are any specific ones you are really wanting. This goes for couples, bridal party, and group photos.
For group photos, have a phone call with your photographer before the wedding and go over a very detailed and specific shot list of which family groupings you want photos of. Remember, you know your family, who is who, and what groupings are important to you. Your photographer doesn't. This means going through shots of the entire group, the grooms family, and the brides family and giving your photographer a specific list to follow.
Have a Day of Contact Person
If you do not have a wedding planner, I cannot express the importance of assigning a day of contact person. Things come up, and sometimes vendors need to get in contact with the wedding party for one reason or another. Assigning a contact person for all your vendors to go through will help pull the stress off of you so you are not being contacted with questions or concerns on the day of. So choose someone you trust and give their number to the vendors to contact in case something comes up.
Ultimately the most important thing about your wedding day is that you have fun marrying your best friend and celebrating your love! Using these tips above can help take away unnecessary stress and chaos and help you have the wedding experience of your dreams!