Welcome

I am so excited to be working with you and I can’t wait to get to know you better over the next several months! We know photography is one of the larger investments you're making for your wedding day and I am so honored you chose to work with us!

Even if you're working with a wedding planner or you're planning a simple wedding, there are likely still a lot of moving pieces left leading up to your big day. 

Having photographed more than 250 weddings over the past 10 years, I tend to get asked the same things over and over again. So I thought it would be beneficial to put together a guide that walks you through everything from timelines to engagement sessions and inclement weather.

A note about this guide


Thank you again for choosing to work with us and please don't hesitate to let me know if I can offer any additional guidance throughout the wedding planning process!

Table of Contents

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I am a believer of engagement sessions for a few reasons. Not only do they allow you to get comfortable in front of the camera, they also give you the opportunity to showcase your personalities in a more casual setting that is significant to the two of you. I've created an entire page dedicated to outfit tips, location ideas, timing considerations and more!

Engagement Session

Plan your session

Wedding Planners

Over the years, I've learned the important role quality vendors play in creating a stress-free wedding day. I've worked with many of the vendors below and I can't recommend them enough! This is not a paid list - we chose these vendors for both the quality of their work as well as their professionalism on the actual wedding day.

Vendors

WHO WILL MAKE YOUR DAY INCREDIBLE

FLoral Design

Videography

Catering

DJ & Bands

Hair & Makeup

Cakes

Wedding Dress

Rentals

Invitations

Calligraphy

Officiant

Musa Weddings

The Styled Stem

Clover Event Co.

KW Event Planning

Winsome Florals

Forte Florals

Blue Jasmine

Soft Focus Events

Visual Rose Production

Ram Florals

True Beauty Marks

Alisha Nycole

Something You

Shimmer & Spice

Magg Pie Rentals

White Glove Rentals

Bredenbeck's

The Master's Baker

Elizabeth Johns

Pronovias

Jaehee Bridal

Bijou Bridal

RSVP Love

Invitations by Dawn

Meredith Trimbur Designs

Invitations by Whitney

Modern Luxe Band

Bachelor Boys Band

Synergetic Sounds

John DiNardo

J. Scott Catering

Robert Ryan Catering

Serock Catering

Peachtree Catering

Paperboys

New Pace Weddings

Termini Bros.

Palermo Bakery

Owl Post Calligraphy

Lauren Hooper Calligraphy

Seniman Calligraphy

Plume Calligraphy

Alisa Tongg

Love & Laughter Weddings

Karin Otto

Lovely Luxe Rentals

Allaire Event Rentals & Design

Pat & Sean Kelly

Your 

Wedding Day

TImeline

IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHETHER A FIRST LOOK IS RIGHT FOR YOU, STOP HERE.

Is a first look right for you?

That moment the Bride and Groom see each other for the first time on their wedding day is magical. And this is true whether the couple chooses to wait until the bride walks down the aisle or chooses to do a “first look’ prior to the ceremony.

First looks — a private moment couples choose to spend together prior to the wedding ceremony — have become more popular over the last few years. About more than half of our couples this year have chosen to do a first look.

While I consider myself as a person who values tradition, there are definitely a few good reasons to consider a first look.

1. A FIRST LOOK CUTS THROUGH THE CHAOS OF THE DAY.

Once the ceremony begins, the day takes off quickly. A ‘first look’ is an opportunity to enjoy some quiet time alone, enjoy each other’s company, and reflect on all this day means before your day takes off. It allows a more stress-free schedule.

Wedding days can be a whirlwind and they tend to fly by. There’s much to do, and a lot of people to see and to catch up with. We always encourage our couples to take a few minutes every so often during their wedding to stop and soak in everything that’s happening. 

2. IT MAKES MORE TIME FOR PICTURES WITHOUT SACRIFICING COCKTAIL HOUR.

When there is no first look, the majority of the pictures have to be taken after the ceremony. Family pictures are generally done as soon as the ceremony ends because it’s the easiest time to round everyone up. Next up is full bridal party, and then bride and groom portraits. This generally runs into cocktail hour.

A first look opens up time prior to the ceremony for full wedding party pictures and portraits of the bride and groom (we can still get some sunset photos, just ask!). This allows the couple to get the most out of cocktail hour, which makes the rest of the evening feel less rushed.

3. AVOID POSSIBLE BAD WEATHER AND/OR HAVE TIME TO FRESHEN-UP AFTER CRYING

If you’re expecting poor weather on your wedding day, it might be best to plan on a first look because it gives you more options for pictures. If it is pouring rain after the ceremony, you’ll be thankful you had pictures done in advance.

And for all you cryers out there (I'm raising my hand!). If you know the tears are going to fly the first time you see your other half the day of your wedding, a first look will give you time to freshen up before the ceremony.

First look or not, the first time you see each other on your wedding day will be special.

If you're doing a first look, photos can be done all at one time, taking an average total of 3 hours pre-ceremony (although I also LOVE grabbing just the two of you for a few additional bride and groom photos at sunset!)

If you choose a traditional aisle reveal, all I ask is that you keep your ceremony time in mind when planning your wedding.

If you're planning a sunset ceremony or an evening ceremony, it's best to do all photos before the wedding, as daylight is crucial to getting amazing portraits for your families, bridal party and portraits. Making sure we have enough time while the sun is up is a great way to make the traditional ceremony work.

Whether you choose to do a first look or the traditional "no see before the ceremony" I will work with you on making sure you have the best timeline and plan for images.

If you're choosing to go traditional, you'll need two different sets of photo times: images taken before the ceremony and images taken after the ceremony. You'll need to plan for about 15 minutes of pre-ceremony bridal photos (bride and bridesmaids) and about 15 minutes of pre-ceremony groom photos (groom and groomsmen) at separate times. You'll also need 15 minutes of combined bridal party portraits, 15 minutes of family portraits and at least 30 minutes of couple's portraits after the ceremony if you're not doing any portraits together until after the ceremony.

WHETHER YOU'RE PLANNING A FIRST LOOK OR STICKING WITH TRADITION AND NOT SEEING YOUR GROOM UNTIL YOU WALK DOWN THE AISLE, WE HAVE TIPS TO HELP MAKE PLANNING YOUR TIMELINE AS EASY AS POSSIBLE!

Wedding Day Timeline

Building the perfect

View example Timelines

Wedding Timeline with First Look

Traditional Wedding Timeline with No First Look

View TImeline

View TImeline

1:00 - 2:30 pm
2:30 - 2:45 pm
2:45 - 3:15 pm
3:15 - 3:45 pm
3:45 - 4:00 pm
4:00 - 4:30 pm
4:30 - 5:00 pm
5:00 - 6:00 pm
5:15 - 5:30 pm
5:30 - 6:45 pm
6:45 - 7:00 pm
7:00 - 7:15 pm
7:15 pm
7:20 pm
7:30 pm
7:45 pm
8:15 pm
8:20 pm
9:00 pm

Bride & Groom Getting Ready
First Look
Bride & Groom Portraits
Wedding Party Portraits
Family Formals
Couple hides and refresh
Ceremony
Cocktail Hour 
VM to shoot Cocktail details
VM to shoot Reception details
Couple sunset photos
Guest invited into Reception
Introductions
First Dance and Parent dances
Toasts
Dinner
Cake cutting
Open dance floor
Photography services ends

Sample First Look Timeline

8 Hour Coverage of Ceremony and Reception taking place in one location

1:30 - 3:00 pm
3:00 - 3:15 pm
3:15 - 3:30 pM
3:30 - 4:00 pm
3:30 PM
3:45 pm
4:00 - 4:30 pm
4:30 - 5:30 pm
4:30 - 4:45 pm
4:45 - 5:00 pm
5:00 - 5:30 pm
5:30 - 5:45 pm
5:45 pm
6:00 pm
6:10 pm
6:30 pm
7:00 pm
7:05 pm
9:30 pm

Bride & Groom Getting Ready
Bride and Bridesmaids Portraits
Groom and Groomsmen Portraits
Couple hides and refresh
VM to shoot Ceremony details
VM to shoot Reception details
Ceremony
Cocktail Hour 
Family Formals
Complete Wedding Party Photo
Bride and Groom Portraits
Guest invited into Reception
Introductions
First Dance and Parent dances
Toasts
Dinner
Cake cutting
Open dance floor
Photography services ends

Sample Traditional Timeline

8 Hour Coverage of Ceremony and Reception taking place in one location

what to do if it rains

If rain is in the forecast, I'd recommend ordering a few clear umbrellas on Amazon. It also might be good to re-evaluate portrait locations to make sure we can still shoot in natural light - even if it means heading offsite. 

If you don't own a pair of cute Wellies, now may be a great time to order a pair - even if you're just wearing them in between shooting locations. 

If you're not working with a planner, it might also be a good idea to check in with your entire vendor team to make sure they're aware of the weather. Hair and makeup may need to be tweaked to withstand humidity and if your wedding is outdoors, DJs and bands may need to take extra precaution to protect their gear. A quality rental team can also minimize the amount of mud at outdoor events.

While we can't guarantee that rain on your wedding day is good luck, we can put a plan in place to ensure a beautiful day and beautiful images.

Rainy day weddings may require a little more flexibility and creativity, but there isn't any reason why they can't be as beautiful and as joyful as sunny weddings!

Your Wedding Day

Preceremony

let the day begin!

This portion of the day really sets the stage for the entire wedding day. The next few pages will have tips and tricks that will ensure a seamless morning of bridal preparations and beautiful portraits! 

Getting Ready

It’s the morning of your wedding! Hopefully all of the little details are taken care of and you’re relaxing with your best friends while your hair is being done. If certain items haven’t been checked off the to-do list, it’s time to hand them over to someone else. Delegation is a key part of a stress-free wedding day. I know it’s hard to hand over the decorating duties and all of the last minute details, but it really is important to relax the morning of your wedding.

 Upon my arrival you should be in the finishing phases with hair & makeup. Let’s be real, no woman want photos of her without her face done! The first 30 minutes of my arrival I will photograph your details, meanwhile in a room nearby, the second photographer will grab photos of your groom getting ready. If you and your groom are not getting ready at the same location - such as a hotel or venue - then you will have the benefit of having two photographers during your bridal prep. This means more candids!  After 30 minutes of my arrival, I will ask Mom and your bridesmaids to get dress. Once the ladies are dressed, I will then have you stand where the light is best and get you into your gown. As you get ready to put your dress on, refrain from putting any jewelry on - I love shooting all those final steps when you’re in your gown! Here are a few things to consider... by having just ONE large window in the bridal prep area, I am able to create beautiful images with soft light. I prefer natural light so the more windows, the BETTER! Also consider the color of your room. Neutrals are our best friend. The second tip: Hair & makeup for Mom and the bridesmaids should be done BEFORE I arrive. And lastly, don’t forget to breathe and have fun! After months of planning your day is here! So embrace whatever comes that day because in the end, you are marrying your the love of your life.

I love capturing all the little details you've carefully chosen to be a part of your wedding day! Once we arrive at your wedding, I will need about 30 minutes to capture and style details. I recommend choosing a getting ready location filled with natural light and, if possible, please keep the space free from trash and clutter.

It would be wonderful if you could put all of your rings, jewelry, shoes, veil purse, perfume, invitations and other keepsakes together in one spot for me. Please unwrap your dress but don't worry about styling it - I'll hang it in a beautiful spot! 

Details

details

Wedding Dress
Dress Hanger
Rings (both engagement and wedding bands)
Shoes
Veil
Hair pieces
Bouquet
Jewelry
Invitation Suite ( 2 full sets with envelopes + stamps)
Any other paper stationary you may have like program cards.

Vow Book
Any other sentimental keepsakes you would like to include. (This is completely optional - but if you have something sentimental you'd like styled with your details, we love including family heirlooms in our detail shots).
Bonus: We'd love to have a few cuts of the florals you'll be using throughout your wedding day. If your florist will supply us a small vase of extra pieces we can incorporate those in your detail shots.

Bridal Detail Checklist:

His shoes
Socks (if they're special)
Cuff Links
Tie or Bow Tie
Pocket Square
Boutonnière
Vows Book
Anything else he'll have that is special or sentimental.

Groom Detail Checklist:

Here it is! The moment everyone has been waiting for! The music is playing and the guests have been seated. Ushers make their way to the back of the ceremony and the coordinator is lining up the bridesmaids. The bride is about the walk down the aisle to the love of her life... and if she’s like most girls, she’s dreamt about this moment for a long time! Vows will be shared and promises will be made. This is what it’s all about! In a world full of wedding blogs, Pinterest and bridal magazines, it’s easy to be overwhelmed and consumed by the “prettiness” of the event. While details do matter and planning is necessary, it’s important to never lose sight of the real purpose of this amazing day!

the

Ceremony

Consider Unplugging

If you've been to a wedding recently, you may have seen a sign from the happy couple asking for their guests to remain "unplugged" during the ceremony. 

And while it might seem like a strange requests to ask guests to put down their phones, there's a pretty good reason for it! You made a big investment in photography and we're sure one of the last things you want on your wedding day is for our photos of your ceremony to be filled with obtrusive iPhones, iPads and relatives standing in the aisle with their own cameras. In order to help us do the best possible job capturing your wedding, we recommend asking guests to unplug during the ceremony.

Ceremony lighting is really important. If you get married outdoors at 12 PM, the lighting will be extremely harsh and not only will there be harsh lines of light on your faces, you will also be squinting. I suggest planning an outdoor ceremony 2 hours before sunset if you are having a first look. If you are not interested in sharing a first look, then I would suggest having your ceremony 3 hours before sunsets to ensure that you will have plenty of time for all your portraits afterwards. If you’re having an indoor ceremony, it is always best to have even lighting at the alter. If there are two spotlights on the bride and groom, I will not be able to expose the rest of the bridal party. It’s better to have soft, even light across the whole alter. 

Lighting

Ceremony tips

Lighting

Programs & Details

Coordination

Order of service

find it fast:

on to the next

 I have seen so many couples do so amazing things during their ceremony. I’ve photographed couples share in communion while others light a unity candle. I’ve seen sand and rope ceremonies, the signing of the ketubah and even writing letters to each other for their one year anniversary then sealing it in a wooden box with a bottle of wine. The options are limitless! As you plan your ceremony, make sure you design it to be exactly what the two of you envision it to be. This is your day! If you have the means to be creative, then by all means, be creative!

Order of Service

Ceremony tips

Lighting

Programs & Details

Coordination

Order of service

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on to the next

 The best advice I have for the program making process is to remember that not every guest needs a program. Some couples printed programs for everyone attending their wedding but quickly realized that most families only took one. In the end, they ended up with 200 programs. Also, before ordering your programs, have several people check it for spelling and grammatical errors. Programs and the ceremony decor is something that the bride can plan in advance but then delegate the actual job of setting it up to a friend or coordinator. The last thing a bride needs to be doing the morning of her wedding is running around setting up floral arrangements! This leads me into my next column.

Programs & Details

Ceremony tips

Lighting

Programs & Details

Coordination

Order of service

find it fast:

on to the next

Hiring an event planner or just a day-of- coordinator is very helpful. Brides realize very quickly that if they do not have someone in charge of the coordination the day of, that responsibility will automatically fall on the mother of the bride, the photographer or the BRIDE! Most stressful wedding situations were caused by a lack of organization and coordination. So it’s important to make this a priority. 

Coordination

Ceremony tips

Lighting

Programs & Details

Coordination

Order of service

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YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY, DRESSED UP AND TOGETHER 

Family formals

For family portraits, I'll place you in the center of a large group photo with all of your grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, godparents, etc. And then we’ll remove the extended family so it’s just grandparents, parents and siblings.

I'll keep removing family members and switch a few closer family members in and out so we get photos of you and your parents, you and your siblings, some with the groom and your family, etc. Then I will repeat the process with your spouse's family. The whole thing will go quicker and smoother if you let family know how the portrait process will work ahead of time.

When I send out the pre-wedding questionnaire, I'll ask you for a list of specific groupings, special situations (such as divorces or handicapped family members & more), but if you want to start brainstorming photos in the meantime, you'll find my typical list below.

Bride + Groom + Bride's Grandparents
Bride + Groom + Bride's Parents + Bride's Siblings + Bride's Grandparents
Bride + Groom + Bride's Parents + Bride's Siblings 
Bride + Groom + Bride's Parents
Bride + Mom 
Bride + Dad 
Bride + Groom + Bride's Siblings
Bride + Siblings
Bride + Groom + Bride's Parens + Groom Parents
Bride + Groom + Groom's Grandparents
Bride + Groom + Groom's Parents + Groom's Siblings + Groom's Grandparents
Bride + Groom + Groom's Parents + Groom's Siblings 
Bride + Groom + Groom's Parents
Groom + Mom 
Groom + Dad 
Bride + Groom + Groom's Siblings
Groom + Siblings

Family Formal Checklist:

If we’re being honest, all of the wedding day images are important but the real favorites are almost always the portraits of the bride and groom! Those romantic portraits of just the two of you will be the images that you’ll frame beside your bed, the walls of your new home, and what you will fill your album for generations to enjoy. These images are always a favorite not only because of their beauty but because this is such a sweet portion of the day. For this brief moment in time, you will be alone with your groom on your wedding day. You will have a chance to love on each other and really connect before the craziness begins! Romantic portraits are normally done before the ceremony - after the first look - or after the ceremony. Sunset photos are also lovely!  If you’re not interested in a first look, we will make sure to include a lot of time after the ceremony for these portraits! 

Bride & Groom

Portraits

Wedding Party

Let's chat about your wedding party! I know from experience that all brides want their closest friends to have an amazing time during their big day. And wedding party portraits should be a ton of fun. After you share your first look, depending on the location and the timing of the day, your bridal party will join us for portraits. If all goes well, we will be able to accomplish all of your wedding party portraits before the ceremony. This mean that your guys and gals will be free to mingle at cocktail hour if they wish. If there are flower girls and ring bearers involved, they can either join us for the pre-ceremony portraits or we can take one final group photo after the ceremony, before family formals. Be sure your groomsmen arrive with boutonnières and your bridesmaids arrive with bouquets!

The party is here! Receptions can be a blast! However, it’s important to make sure that you have your event well thought out. This is the job of your coordinator and your DJ/Band. Your caterer will also play a big role in the design and set up of your event. Every aspect of your reception affects the overall outline of the evening. For example, if you’re not having a plated meal, your reception will need to be set up in a way that allows movement. Guests will need to be able to find the food stations easily and there will be a mixture of dinner tables and high-top cocktail tables. 

Reception Planning

This will encourage guests to mix and mingle. If you are having a plated dinner, you will more than likely need escort cards, full place settings and space for all of your guests to be seated comfortably. Whatever the style of your event, make sure that you plan out all of the events of the evening. Your coordinator and DJ can help you set up the evening so that guests won’t leave early or experience long periods of waiting for the next thing to happen.

Much like the ceremony, you have the freedom to make your reception your own. It’s your party, it should be exactly how you want it to be! Here is a list of some key events that happen often at reception:

- Introductions
- First Dance
- Father-Daughter Dance
- Mother-Son Dance
- Anniversary Dance
- Traditional Religious Dances
- Welcome toast
- Blessing
- Best Man and MOH toasts
- Cake Cutting
-Bouquet and Garter toss
- The exit of the Bride and Groom

The fun has begun! It’s time to relax, dance and celebrate! Your reception should be a blast. The last thing you need to be worrying about is your timeline. Your coordinator and DJ will make sure that everything stays on schedule so that you can enjoy your night. Here are some helpful tips that will help your reception flow smoothly.

 - Take your guests into consideration when planning your timeline. If you have a lot of elderly guests that will not be staying until the very end, make sure your schedule the cake cutting at a relatively early time so that they can be a part of it. Grandma loves seeing this sweet tradition.

 - I usually suggest to my brides to cut the cake after dinner. Of course this is your choice! But by cutting the cake after dinner, three things happen: Your hair and makeup is still fresh for photos, you don’t have to stop the flow of dancing, and lastly, we want you to enjoy your reception without feeling you have ONE last thing to do, especially when it’s close to the time we have to depart.

 - Make it your own. If you want to have a special dance with your grandparents, do it. Make your reception a reflection of who you are and don’t feel tied to traditions. Also, make sure you give your DJ or Band a “Do Not Play” list if there are some songs you really don’t want to hear during your reception.

 - Don’t get too caught up in the formalities and the details. Sure, details are pretty and fun to photograph, but they can steal the joy of the day if you get too caught up in them. Plan your centerpieces, welcome table, etc. well before the wedding date and teach your coordinator or a family friend how to set them up so that you aren’t thinking about those things the day of.

 - Exits! If your coverage ends before your exit, you have the option of planning a faux exit with your bridal party and a few family members. This is more common than you may think. This allows us to have more control over these shots and the party never has to stop. If you purchase sparklers, make sure they are the long ones that last 3 minutes!

Reception Tips

1. If you're getting married in the summer months, a "not-so-heavy" snack or lunch time before portraits is always a good idea for you and your bridal party to avoid hungry bellies and passing out!

2. If it's going to be hot, a cooler of cold waters and frozen washcloths can help keep a wedding party cool - especially if your men are wearing lots of layers.

3. Make sure and have your bouquet delivered in time to make an appearance for the detail shots and for your first look. Often they are delivered in water and need to be dried off before use. Having towels handy can help.

4. If you're planning on having a first look with your bridal party or a parent, they often feel more comfortable being fully dressed in their wedding attire. 

5. If your reception is at a separate venue, add some "fluff time" so that we can run over to the venue to capture it while it's still "untouched" by guests.

6. We always recommend the bride go into hiding 30 minutes before the ceremony at the absolute latest. Guests typically arrive early to weddings.

7. To help make family portraits go smoother, it's best to have a breakdown of what portraits you'd like and it's really wonderful if both sides of the family have a chance to have their input on what portraits they'd like before the wedding. Supplying us with a list ahead of time, we can go over it and make sure we shoot things in an order that is efficient and won't leave anyone out.

8. During the cocktail hour and the reception, we'll follow you around. Anytime you'd like a photo with someone, grab our attention. We love being your personal paparazzi!

9. I'd love to help you plan your timeline. If you'd like our input, don't hesitate to email or call!

Additional Tips

AFTER SHOOTING MORE THAN 250 WEDDINGS IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, I am HAPPY TO SHARE A FEW ADDITIONAL TIPS

Thank you!

I cannot wait to start planning with you and getting to know you! If you haven't scheduled your engagement session yet, let's get that in the books. Feel free to email us any time at vanessamarieweddings@gmail.com.

If you have any questions or would just like to chat, I am here for you. I hope this guide helps make the process of planning your wedding details much easier and less stressful. I can't wait to see you soon! Thank you so much for taking the time to read through the guide!