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A GUIDE FOR all LIANNA MARIE BRIDES
the wedding experience
Hello Bride-to-be and Welcome! This is such an exciting time for you! I’m
sure your mind is racing with all that needs to be planned. It’s all very
exciting, but it can also be somewhat overwhelming. You’re planning the
day that you’ve been anticipating your whole life and yet you only get one
shot at it! By the time you get the hang of it, the planning is over! My
goal as a wedding photographer is to make this one aspect of the planning
process simple.
Photography is more than just images, it’s a real part of
your day. Not only do you deserve beautiful images, you also deserve an
amazing photographic experience. The goal of this guide is to help you plan
your wedding day in a way that will allow me to provide you with the
BEST experience possible. Since we’re official, the next step is to plan your
engagement session and then start chatting about wedding day details as
we get closer to your date! I’m beyond excited to be working with you and
cannot wait to get to know you two during your engagement session!
welcome
Get to know Lianna
You may have already got ten a hint of this already... but I LOVE what
I do! Documenting your wedding day is such an honor!! Since we’ll be
spending a lot of time together on the big day, I want to make sure you
really feel like you know me! So, here are some basics…
wedding day favorites
You may not realize this but every photographer has parts of the wedding day that they favor! Below you can
read through three of my favorite parts of the wedding day and why these moments are close to my heart!
bridal details
I love starting off the day with
beautiful details! I consider this
my “warm up” time. These details
allow me to be creative from the
moment I begin shooting on your
wedding day. I love having this
time to prepare for the rest of
your day!
bride & groom portraits
Portrait time with the bride and
groom is hands down my favorite
part of the day! This is when I
produce my best work and when
my couples really get to enjoy
their wedding day. I especially
love the moment when the groom
sees his bride for the first time! If
I could photograph first looks all
day long, I would!
after the ceremony
The first few moments after the
ceremony are so special as well!
This is when the couple gets to
hug, laugh and cry with those that
they are closest to. It’s emotional
and it’s so very special! I love
documenting this part of the day!
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Table of Contents
Now that you have picked a date, a photographer
and probably a venue as well, you can celebrate!
Those are some of the toughest decisions in
wedding planning and you can cross them off
your list! Hooray!! Now onto the fun stuff... like
your engagement session! I include engagement
sessions in The Wedding Experience because
I truly believe that they are a VITAL part of
the entire process. During your engagement
session, you’ll have the chance to get to know
me, experience how I shoot and how I handle
posing and lighting. This session will make a
HUGE impact on how the wedding day flows.
I’ll arrive on your wedding day already knowing
how you two interact, what your best poses
are and how to photograph you in a genuine
way! What I will learn about you during your
engagement session is invaluable! You will feel
like such a pro on your big day because of the
great practice you had during your engagement
session, and that’s how it should be!
Your engagement session can be scheduled
anytime before your wedding day. I normally
suggest booking it at least 3-6 months in
advance to avoid stress. Because my weekends
are filled with weddings, I shoot engagements
on weekday evenings, normally from 5-7pm
depending on the light and the time of the year.
In the winter months, 3-5pm is a normal time
frame for an e-shoot! As you start to plan for
your engagement shoot, you will need to start
brainstorming about location ideas. I LOVE it
when couples pick a location that is special or
sentimental to them in some way! If you can’t
think of anywhere specific that you would like
to shoot, I can help you decide on a location!
As long as the light is great, I can make ANY
location look awesome! I shoot a lot out in the
desert, beaches, national parks and spots with
amazing architecture! Be sure to keep reading to
find out more about outfit ideas and inspiration!
your engagement session
engagement prep
It’s always a little intimidating to have your picture taken... even if it’s just a photo on an iPhone that is taken by a friend. We still want to look nice, make sure nothing is in our teeth and that our hair is behaving! I realize that preparing for your engagement session can be a little overwhelming. Here are some tips for outfits and accessories that will make the e-shoot preparation a little more manageable!
- Don’t try to MATCH...try to pick outfits and
accessories that coordinate instead. If everyone
wore the same exact color at their e-shoot, how
boring would those images be?
- MOST PATTERNS are actually ok... however,
graphics are not favorable for portraits. If you’re
wearing a pattern, make sure it’s not overwhelming
and distracting.
- Be sure to check out my Pinterest boards for
more outfit inspiration if you’re having trouble!
- Empty your pockets! Literally. You don’t want to
have key chains or phones showing through your
pockets. (This is for the guys especially!)
- Most often, couples like to have one casual,
everyday outfit and then one outfit that is dressier!
This will give your shoot two totally different
“looks”. I recommend beginning with the dressy
outfit first!
- Make sure you’re comfortable in what you’re
wearing.
- BE ON TIME! The sun is only out for so long! The
later you arrive, the less time I have to shoot! And
nobody wants that!
- Relax! You don’t have to be a pro at this! I’m
going to help you along the way and it’s going to be
a blast! Enjoy this time together, and make a date
out of it! Plan dinner afterwards and celebrate!!
logistics:
- I photograph engagement sessions on weekday evenings
because my weekends are dedicated to photographing weddings!
- I love shooting at gorgeous locations. I recommend two
locations max for engagements. A general rule of thumb is
the more locations and outfits, the less images, but the more
variety you’ll have!
- I can do sunrise sessions if necessary! I require sunrise
shoots for those who want to take portraits in a very crowded
location or if we have to do your engagement session in the
heat of the summer.
- I love to travel to my shoots! However, if I have never been
to your desired location, I may need some advice on where
to park!
WINTER:
Dec-Mar,
2-4 PM
SPRING:
Apr-May,
VARIES 5-7:30 PM
SUMMER:
Jun-Aug,
5-7 PM
FALL:
Sept-Nov,
VARIES 2-5:30 PM
engagement session
approximate start times
If you’re a bride that is a little anxious about
how your groom is going to react to this
whole “picture” thing, you’re not alone. I
receive so many emails from brides who
are worried that their groom won’t be into
it and I have great news for you.... you both
are more photogenic than you think! I am
constantly surprising couples by discovering
their hidden modeling skills and the
most common response from my Grooms
is “That wasn’t as bad as I thought! It was
actually fun”. Boom! Mission accomplished!
When the groom says that taking pictures
was FUN, I have done my job well! Your
engagement session is supposed to be fun
and relaxed, not forced or awkward. As
you prepare for your shoot, there are a few
things that you can do to help your groom
know what to expect.
First of all, I highly
recommend sitting down with your guy and
showing him 2-3 of your favorite engagement
sessions that I have photographed.
Spend some time together scrolling through
a few blog posts, this will allow him to
gauge what his expectations should be. I
also recommend that you allow for plenty
of time to get to your shoot! There is nothing
worse than when a couple shows up late,
and they have been arguing in the car! That
is definitely going to put your groom in a
bad mood! Last but not least, remember to
have patience with him, and don’t assume
that he’s not going to have a good time... I
think you’ll be surprised how much you will
both enjoy your session with me!
preparing your groom
Your Wedding Day
Here’s the part that can be somewhat intimidating! The TIMELINE! I know this isn’t the most exciting aspect of
the wedding day, but this is the one thing that can make or break your photography! These next two pages will
outline an ideal wedding day working off of a 6pm ceremony time frame. This ideal timeline is also based off
of a wedding day that includes a first look. 90% of my couples choose to do a first look, and you can read more
about that option below! Remember that all wedding days are different, and your timeline may differ
due to travel times and unique situations.
Details & Prep: 1.5 Hours
First Look & Portraits: 30- 40 Mins
Bridal Party: 30- 40 Mins
Family Formals: 30 Mins
Extra Portrait Time: As much time as you'll give me!
sample timeline
approximate times:
bridal details
2:30-3:15
Every bride loves having those
beautiful shots of her bridal
details. It’s an important part
of the story and I love having
some time to shoot the dress,
shoes, jewelry, invitations,
etc. These shots allow me to
get warmed up for the rest of
the big day. I normally like to
allow at least 45 minutes for
this part of the day. While
I’m shooting details, I’m
also capturing some shots
of the bride and her girls
get ting ready! If the groom
is getting ready nearby, my
second photographer will
be photographing the guys
at the same time - or - I will
start with the guys first and
head to the girls.
Bridal Prep
3:15-3:45
After the details have been
photographed, it’s time for
the bride to get into her dress!
This is a big moment! I usually
ask the mother of the bride
and all of the bridesmaids
to be dressed by the time
the bride is ready to get into
her dress. This ensures that
everyone will look nice in
those images. After the bride
is in her gown, she can put
on her jewelry, veil, shoes,
etc. and I will shoot some
additional bridal portraits!
First Look
4:00
This is one of my favorite
parts of the wedding day! I
will find the perfect location
for my couple’s First Look
prior to the getting ready
portion of the day! Don’t
stress about that one bit! I
will make sure the location
is private and as secluded as
possible.
portraits
4:15-4:45
After the bride and groom
take their time with the First
Look, I will begin taking a
few romantic portraits of
the two of them while the
initial excitement is still
present! I will find the
locations for these shots as
well! Remember, the LIGHT
determines where I shoot and
so I can’t decide on portrait
locations until the day-of.
As I shoot these portraits, the
bridal party can start making
their way to us for Bridal Party Portraits.
Bridal Party portraits
4:50-5:20
Now it’s time for Bridal Party
shots! I buffer in extra time
throughout the day just in case
we have some unexpected
things that hold us up! One
way to make sure we stay
on schedule for bridal party
portraits is to have someone
put the boutonnieres on the
guys BEFORE they arrive for
portraits. During Bridal Party
portraits, I will make sure to
take some great shots of the guys
and girls both separately
AND together!
bride in hiding
5:30-6:00
After bridal party portraits are complete, the bride will go into hiding so that early guests don’t sneak a peek, and the ushers will begin their duties. This is the perfect time to freshen up the lip stick, have some water and take a moment before the ceremony begins.
Reception Details
5:30-5:50
If the reception is in the
same location as the ceremony,
I will use this time
to shoot the reception decor
UNTOUCHED. If the ceremony
and reception are in
different locations, I recommend
having a cocktail hour
outside of the main reception
area if possible so that
I can grab some great shots
of your reception before
the night begins and guests
start laying down purses and
coats on their seats!
Ceremony
6:00-6:30
It’s time to get married!! Most
ceremonies are 30 minutes
long. If your ceremony is
longer than 30 mins, I’ll make
adjustments to the timeline!
Cherish these moments! Your
ceremony will pass by so
quickly!
Family Portraits
6:40-7:10
I’ll need about 30 minutes
for family formals. I recommend
shooting portraits outdoors
if possible so that they
resemble more natural family
portraits, especially if the
ceremony location is dark!
A Few “Just Married”
Portraits
7:15 -7:30
7:00pm is the BEST time of
day for portraits in the late
spring, summer and early fall!
This is when the sun is glowy
and golden. I love having a
few extra minutes with the
bride and groom to take a few
“Just Married” portraits right
after family formals!
Reception Begins!
7:30
This is when the bridal party
lines up for introductions
and the party begins!! By this
part of the day, my timeline
isn’t as strict. I work off of
the natural light and so after
the sun is set, my portrait
time is over and I begin
focusing on the reception
events!
The Exit
10:30
I include 8 hours of coverage
so that I can be present for
the main events of the reception
and about an hour of
dancing! If you’re interested
in having your exit photographed,
there are several
options for this! You can
either add additional coverage
or plan a faux exit with
just your bridal party! I have
had GREAT success with this
and the party never stops!
Email me about this if you’re
interested in learning more!
Winter weddings are gorgeous! However, they
do take some additional planning simply because
of the sunset time. The hard part about a winter
timeline is the fact that the sun sets around
4pm. This means that all of your portraits have
to be done before then! This isn’t a problem if
you’re having a late afternoon wedding. However,
if you’re planning on having a late evening wedding,
you may have a bit of down time from 4pm
until the start of the ceremony. You will also need
more coverage time as well.
Portrait & Timing Tips for: WINTER, SPRING, SUMMER & FALL
weddings & seasons
winter
Summer weddings are amazing! I love that there
is so much daylight! In some months, the light
will last until 8:30pm! So, if you’re having a summer
wedding, you’ll need to plan on having a few
minutes to slip out of the reception for your sunset
portraits! You will NOT regret this! This is the
absolute best light of the day and you’re going to
want to have portraits during this time period.
Usually these portraits happen during dinner or
open dancing so that no one even notices that
you’re gone for a few minutes!
summer
Spring weddings are wonderful because they are
the perfect temperature! However, I recommend
having plenty of Claritin and Zyrtec on hand just
in case allergies start to flare up during portrait
time. Spring weddings normally mean the potential
for some blooms! If we happen to find any
type of blooming tree or plant, it will be worth it
to give us a few minutes for portraits with it! You’ll
LOVE the result!
spring
Fall weddings are my favorite! I love the temperature
this time of year and the colors! Most of
my fall brides worry about color, and I just want
to encourage you that all I need is one tree with
some color in order to make it look like fall! A
little bit of color can go a long way!! Your portrait
time will vary depending on your wedding date!
I’ll be sure to discuss this when we approve your
final timeline!
fall
Pre-ceremony
This portion of The Wedding Experience really
sets the stage for the entire wedding day. The
next few pages will share tips and tricks that will
ensure a seamless morning of bridal preparation
and beautiful portraits!
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 things that need to be done, but it
really is important to relax the morning of
your wedding. The rest of the day is going
to be fast paced and filled with a lot of
emotions! Take advantage of this down time!
There are a few things to consider about the
“getting ready” portion of the day. Do you
want to share a “first look” with your dad or
any other person who plays a huge role in
your life?
Will you and your groom be exchanging gifts
during this time? If so, who would you like
to deliver them? Are there certain women in
your life who would appreciate seeing you
get into your gown? Some brides want very
few people around for this moment. Other
brides love having aunts and grandmas
present! It’s totally up to you!
A few other
things to consider... as you get ready to
put your dress on, refrain from putting any
jewelry on. I love shooting all of those final
steps once you’re in your gown! Speaking of
the gown, if your gown is on a plastic hanger,
try to make a note to bring a wooden hanger
along for picture sake. If you forget, no big
deal! I’m a pro at finding wooden hangers
at venues! Keep reading along for more
“getting ready” tips to help you prepare!
getting ready
By having just a simple window in the bridal prep area, I am able to create beautiful portraits with soft light. I prefer natural light as a film photographer, so the more windows, the better!
window effect
the
The whole day begins with the DETAILS! This is one of my favorite parts of the wedding day, because
it allows me to prepare and get my creative side warmed up for the rest of the day! I photograph
a bride’s details in a way that matches and showcases the style of the entire wedding day.
So, in some ways, the details set the stage for the look of the whole wedding and I love having ample
time to stylize, and shoot everything from the dress, to the jewelry, to grandma’s handkerchief!
To the right, you’ll f ind a list of the most common details that I shoot. I ask brides to gather any
details they have before I arrive so that I can walk in, say hello, give you a big hug and then begin
with all the goodies! (Please assure your mom that I will take GREAT care of the dress, I promise!)
Dress
Veil / Hairpieces
Rings (All Three)
Shoes
Bouquet & Bout
Jewelry
Perfume
Invitation Suite
Borrowed & Blue
rings, shoes, jewels...
what to bring
If possible, collect all of your details before I arrive so that I can begin quickly and
have more time for some “getting ready” shots of you and your girls!
Sometimes, depending on the theme and “look” of the wedding day, there may be
some extra elements that you could include when you gather your details. For
example, if you’re having an old world theme wedding, you could include wax seals
or old vintage stamps. Asking your florist to bring extra blooms for styling details is
always a great option to dress up your invitation and ring shots. This REALLY makes
for beautiful, consistent album spreads!
The most common detail missing when I arrive are the rings! Moms, officiants and
planners will tell you to hand over your wedding band to the best man before the
day begins. However, it’s actually better to hand it over during the bridal party
portraits so that I can shoot some great ring shots in the AM! If you forget, no
worries, I can always shoot the ring shot at the reception if there is extra time!
Don’t forget the Bouquet! Have the bouquets and bouts delivered to the bride
before the first look so that she can have her bouquet in her portraits. No worries,
if it’s hot, we’ll be sure to keep it in water as much as possible before the ceremony!
day-of reminders
gather
the goods
extra
elements
keep
all three rings
bring
the bouquet
You will need your Bouquet &
Bouts for your First Look! Have
them delivered to the room
where the bride is getting
ready.
timing tips
bouquets & bouts
Be sure to think about the
travel time and TRAFFIC to
and from your getting ready
location and your venue!
travel time
I encourage brides to have
at least their makeup done
before I start because who
wants a ton of shots without
their makeup on?! Nobody.
hair & makeup
When you’re planning a wedding day timeline, the best advice
I could give is to ADD CUSHION TIME! Sometimes the most
simple things can take an extra 20 minutes and then all of a
sudden, the whole morning is thrown off. I have seen “get ting the
bride in her dress” take almost 40 minutes because of a but ton
malfunction. It’s a smart idea to add in an extra ten minutes
here and there so that we have some wiggle room to work with!
This way, if one part of the day gets thrown off by 20 minutes, I
can help you compensate for that time in other areas. There are
so many different things to think about when you’re planning a
wedding day, and so here are some tips for the pre ceremony
timeline! I realize that every single wedding day is different and
so not all of these tips will apply to every wedding day schedule.
Something else to consider is that not EVERYTHING will go as
planned, and I promise you, that is completely normal!!
I start with photographing the
guys get ting ready if they are
in the same location as the
bride or my second shooter
will be with them.
groomsmen prep
I’ll instruct you to get into your
dress close to a window and
it would be fabulous to have
your bridesmaids dressed
when you’re getting in your
gown!
getting in the dress
A 10 minute cushion every
now and then is a GREAT idea!
It’s amazing how fast time
slips away the day of!
create a cushion
the bridal bouquet
There are so many expenses when it comes to wedding planning.
Many brides have to prioritize what they want to invest in. I just
want to give a little tip that can save money and make a huge
impact on the way your images turn out. If you’re having trouble
making a decision about your florals, here is what I suggest. I
recommend making your bridal bouquet a big priority! When I’m
photographing a wedding, if the bride has a gorgeous bouquet, I
can make the entire day look like there were beautiful florals
everywhere! I can use the bridal bouquet to spruce up bridal
details, reception details AND even bride and groom portraits
as well! The bridal bouquet is a focal point for me when it comes
to your photography, and so I highly recommend getting your
DREAM bouquet and investing less on the bridesmaids bouquets
since they will not be photographed nearly as much!
veil Options
Since 90% of my couples opt for a First Look, we have options
for the bridal veil! I recommend that the bride only wear her
veil when she comes down the aisle and I recommend this for
three different reasons. 1. This is something new for your groom
to see when you’re walking down the aisle! 2. A lot of times,
during a First Look, the groom is so excited to see his bride
that he accidentally pulls the veil out when he throws his arms
around her! And 3. Saving the veil for the ceremony ensures
that I will get some “Just Married” portrait time with the couple
because EVERY bride needs to have a “Veil Blowing in the Wind”
shot of their own! This isn’t a rule that I ask all brides to follow,
it’s simply a suggestion that I make after having photographed a
ton of weddings!
First Look
Your first look is an amazing part of your wedding day! If you aren’t
sure about this tradition, the next few pages will explain why it
would be a romantic addition to your wedding day celebration that
not only adds to the experience but also reduces stress. Please
know that I would never want any of my couples to feel pressured to
go with this option. However, I do want to make sure that I share all
of the benefits of a first look, because there is a reason 90% of my
couples do this and LOVE it!
40% MORE PORTRAITS
You’re investing a lot into your wedding photography. With a first look, you’ll receive 40% MORE portraits of the
two of you… and those are the images you will decorate your first home with! With a first look, you make the most
out of this large investment and get the most for your money.
ENJOY THE SURPRISE FREELY
You actually get to have intimate time on your wedding day with your man. Most brides don’t realize that when you
come down the aisle and totally SHOCK him with your gorgeous-ness… he can’t even tell you how amazing you look.
He can’t touch you, embrace you or even SPEAK to you. You have to wait until 30 minutes later when the ceremony
is over for him to react and tell you how amazing you look. And after 30 minutes of the ceremony, the reaction isn’t
the same as the initial first glance.
EXTEND YOUR DAY BY 3 HOURS
First Looks allow you to extend your wedding day. Normally the wedding day would start when you come down the
aisle, then the ceremony would end, you would rush through portraits so that you’re not late for the introductions
and then it’s reception time. With a first look, your wedding day is extended by almost 3 hours! Instead of being
rushed for your bridal party portraits… you actually get to enjoy them and have fun hanging out with your BEST
friends on your wedding day. The WHOLE first half of my client’s wedding albums are filled with images just from
this time together before the ceremony.
YOUR ONLY ALONE TIME
First Looks allow you to be TOGETHER and alone on your wedding day. Normally portraits are a little rushed after
the family formals, and it can be hard to really get back into that “lovey dovey” mode… especially with family
around! When you have just shared your first look, you’re READY to love on each other, and I always capture some
super sweet images during those moments!
DIMINISHES NERVES
You get rid of your nerves! I’d say, literally 1/2 of my couples who have decided to do a first look, the grooms were
not fans of it at first. However, because they have never experienced their wedding day before, they didn’t know
how nerve racking it can be. I get so much feedback from each of my grooms who initially weren’t a fan of the first
look... but afterwards admit ted to being SO much more relaxed and ready for the ceremony!
why it's worth it
This is for all of the brides who have a sweet spot in their heart for their dad. I have to admit that Daddy/Daughter first looks make me a little teary. For a lot of dads, this is when everything feels real and it hits him... “My baby girl is getting MARRIED!” These are precious moments to photograph and I highly encourage any daddy’s girl to make time in their timeline for this moment. It doesn’t take long at all! The hardest part is making sure dad shows up on time! If dad doesn’t show up on time, the whole timeline can get thrown off, or we’ll have to skip the daddy/daughter first look. Another sweet idea I’ve seen is having the father of the bride escort the bride to her first look!
The daddy/daughter first look
02
Bride’s, if you have never seen your man cry or get
emotional, you can’t expect him to be overly emotional
on your wedding day. Some guys just embrace their
brides and never cry... and that’s OK. Some guys show
very little emotion when their bride is coming down
the aisle and that’s ok too. Just enjoy this amazing day,
and try not to put any expectations on him. If you take
this advice to heart, I could potentially be saving you
a lot of disappointment on your day. One thing I have
noticed after shooting close to 60 weddings is that the
stress and nerves that come with a wedding day can
sometimes make it hard for some grooms to truly express
their emotions. It’s just a lot to take in all at once.
This is a great reason to share a first look and also a
great reason to give some grace to your guy! Sure, you
deserve to feel beautiful, but my encouragement to you
is to enjoy this time together, no matter what his reaction
is like!
For the bride: first look expectations
01
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 church, and the coordinator is lining up the bridesmaids while giving the musicians a 5 minute warning. The bride is about to walk down the aisle to the love of her life... and if she’s like most girls, she’s dreamed 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
03
Ceremony lighting is really important. If you
get married outdoors at 12pm, 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
sunset to ensure that you will have plenty of
time for all of your portraits afterwards. The
lower the sun, the more romantic the lighting.
If you are having an indoor ceremony, it is always
best to have EVEN lighting at the altar.
If there are two spotlights on the bride and
groom, I will not be able to expose the rest of
the bridal party. It is better to have soft, even
light across the whole altar.
lighting
I have seen so many couples do so many
AMAZING things during their ceremony. I’ve
photographed couples washing each other’s
feet, symbolizing that they want to serve each
other for the rest of their life. Some couples
share in communion while some light a unity
candle. I’ve seen sand ceremonies, rope ceremonies
and the signing of the family Bible. 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 freedom to be creative,
then by all means, be creative!!
order of service
The BEST advice I have for the program-making
process is to remember that not EVERY
guest needs a program! Also, before ordering
your programs, have SEVERAL people check it
for spelling and grammatical errors. Programs
and the ceremony decor are things that the
bride can plan in advance but then delegate
the actual job of set ting it up to a friend or
coordinator. The last thing a bride needs to be
doing the morning of her wedding is running
around set ting up floral arrangements! This
leads me into my next column!
programs & details
Hiring either a full event planner or just a day of
coordinator is SO important!! Brides realize
very quickly that if they do not have someone
in charge of the coordination of the day, that
responsibility will automatically fall on the
mother of the bride, the photographer or the
BRIDE! When a photographer is in charge of
the timeline and the coordination of the day,
the images will suffer. All of my most stressful
wedding situations were caused by a lack
of organization and coordination. It’s so important to make this a priority. If you need any
recommendations on wedding coordination
services I would love to share some of my favorite
vendors with you!
coordination
If you are planning a destination wedding, a lot of the details in this guide will not apply to you! Your details, your timeline and even your preparation for the big day will be much simpler. However, it is a good idea to start thinking about a few key components of the day such as: your ceremony time and your ceremony/portrait locations (some destination weddings require some planning to find portrait locations without tourists in the background). Be sure to check the sunset time at your wedding location before settling on your ceremony time. As your wedding day draws closer, we’ll begin to chat about the timeline of the day and the travel arrangements. Get excited!! This is going to be amazing!!
weddings
destination
I absolutely love meeting my couple’s families on the wedding day! Family formals are
normally my first interaction with them and so I love to have a game plan for this part of
the day! Eight weeks before the wedding, you’ll receive a questionnaire from me that
will go over a list of family formals that I grab and your opportunity to list any special
additions to this. Also, it’s important to note that this time is to mainly be focused on
capturing immediate family (with grandparents too), all other groupings such as extended
family can be captured during the reception. Here is a sample family formal list
to help you start preparing what shots will be captured. I do have to limit the family
formal time in order to ensure that I have plenty of daylight for your romantic portraits.
However, any large family group shots that I don’t accomplish during family formals, I
can be sure to capture at the reception!
B&G WITH BRIDE’S IMMEDIATE FAMILY
(PARENTS, SIBLINGS, GRANDPARENTS, NIECES, NEPHEWS)
B&G WITH BRIDE’S PARENTS
B&G WITH BRIDE’S SIBLINGS
BRIDE WITH HER PARENTS
BRIDE WITH MOM, BRIDE WITH DAD
B&G WITH BRIDE’S GRANDPARENTS
B&G WITH BOTH SETS OF PARENTS
family formals
sample list for
B&G WITH GROOM’S IMMEDIATE FAMILY
(PARENTS, SIBLINGS, GRANDPARENTS, NIECES, NEPHEWS)
B&G WITH GROOM’S PARENTS
B&G WITH GROOM’S SIBLINGS
GROOM WITH HIS PARENTS
GROOM WITH MOM, GROOM WITH DAD
B&G WITH GROOM’S GRANDPARENTS
B&G WITH ALL FAMILY MEMBERS IF TIME ALLOWS
If I’m being honest, all of the wedding day images are important, but the real favorites are almost always from my time with the Bride and Groom! These romantic portraits of just the two of you will be the images that you frame beside your bed or over your mantle, and they will also be the images that will fill your album for generations to enjoy. These images are always my 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”) and then I LOVE shooting a few “ just married” portraits after the ceremony as well! This is when the light is low and golden! It’s such a romantic time for bride and groom portraits! If you’re not interested in a first look, I will make sure to include a lot of time after the ceremony for these portraits!
romantic portraits
One of my favorite parts of my job is taking something so ordinary and making it look absolutely amazing! This happens most of ten when it comes to picking portrait locations! If there is one thing that I love and appreciate about my couples, it’s that they trust me! Sometimes I select portrait locations that most people wouldn’t consider attractive. Whether that is a white wall or a little hidden nook at a venue. I make sure that I scout the venue/location before your wedding day so I know where we are going to tale your portraits before hand. I always have a plan in place so you know you are going to have the style of images you see me on my social media outlets. So my encouragement is to just trust me! You don’t have to worry about a thing! Trust my locations, and I promise you, you’ll LOVE the results!
trusting portrait locations
One of the most frequently asked questions that I receive during the wedding season is “Soooo, what do you do if it RAINS or there are strong winds?!”. I want to reassure you that even if it rains or is windy, you will still have beautiful portraits and BRIGHT colors in your images! Overcast skies mean vibrant colors! I know that rain or wind isn’t ideal, and no bride would wish for rain on their big day, but if it happens, it happens... and it’s going to be JUST fine!! Here are a few things to remember: 1. All I need to create natural light portraits on a rainy wedding day is a porch! Just one porch! 2. Let me worry about the pictures. You have enough to think about. If there is a chance of rain, I’ll be sure to do some extra scouting to find a covered location or two, for us to use for your first look, romantic portraits and bridal party portraits. If it’s windy, I will know how to pose your so that your hair isn’t all over the place. 3. Take it one step at a time. Don’t think about your entire day and what will happen if it rains or is windy. That will only overwhelm you! Definitely have a rain plan for your venue, but then let your vendors do the work of handling the rest of the day if rain is in the forecast.
The case of a windy or rainy wedding day
Let’s chat about your bridal party! This is when the fun REALLY begins! I know from experience that all brides want their closest friends to have an AMAZING time during their big day, and I will make sure that happens! Bridal party portraits should be a ton of FUN! After you share your first look, depending on the locations 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 bridal party portraits BEFORE the ceremony. This means 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 I can take one final group photo after the ceremony, before family formals. Be sure your groomsmen arrive with boutonnieres on, and your bridesmaids arrive with bouquets!
your bridal party
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 hightop cocktail
tables. 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 set tings 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 aspects 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 of ten at receptions:
- BRIDAL PARTY INTRODUCTIONS
- FIRST DANCE
- DADDY-DAUGHTER DANCE
- MOTHER-SON DANCE
- ANNIVERSARY DANCE
- MONEY DANCE
- TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS DANCES
reception details
- WELCOME BY FATHER OF THE BRIDE
- BLESSING
- CAKE CUTTING
- TOASTS
- BOUQUET AND GARTER TOSS
- LARGE GROUP PORTRAITS WITH FRIENDS
- 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 should take care of making 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.
- GUEST CONSIDERATION: 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 you schedule the cake cutting at a relatively early time so that they can be a par t of
it. Grandma’s love seeing this sweet tradition!
- KEEP IT MOVING: Chat with your coordinator about how you can plan your reception in
a way that will keep guests engaged and moving all night!
- 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 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 family friend how to set them up so that you aren’t even thinking about those
things the day of!
- RECEPTION COVERAGE: If you haven’t purchased enough coverage time for your photography
to last until the exit, that’s ok! I have several options! (See next page!) I recommend
planning your timeline so that you can have at least one hour of dancing photographed.
The guests who dance during the first hour will still be dancing in the third hour! One hour
of dancing will be enough time to really capture the joy of your reception!
reception tips
Exits! If your coverage ends before your exit, you have the option of planning a faux exit with your bridal party! This is more common than you may think. Instead of saving your exit until the very end, you can plan a faux exit with just the members of your bridal party and a few family members! This allows us to have more control over these shots and the party NEVER has to stop! In most cases, no one even notices that the bride and groom are missing for a few minutes! Also, it’s almost impossible to tell that the whole wedding party isn’t there waving sparklers and sending off the happy couple! This idea allows our couples to save money and still have all of the shots that they dreamed of!
Reception: controlled exits
your online gallery
Years ago you had to order prints of the images that you wanted to have forever. That
isn’t how I work around here! I want you to have ALL of your memories in your possession
forever and ever! I also want you to share your images freely and without any
hesitation. This is why I deliver your images via an online gallery! This means that you
don’t have to wait on a package in the mail, and you’ll have access to them wherever
you are! I’ve listed some important information that will help you understand your
online gallery and all that it can do on the next page! Enjoy!
You will be able to download your edited images directly from your online gallery, and they will be
high resolution! This process is very simple! All you have to do is click the “downwards arrow icon”
and you will be prompted to enter your name and email. Once you enter your name and email,
you will be asked if you want to download just that one photo or if you would like to download all
photos! Your photos will download directly to your “Downloads” folder. If you opt to download the
entire gallery, you will be notified via email when your entire download is ready. It takes a few
minutes to prepare for hundreds of images to be downloaded!
DOWNLOADING PHOTOS
The online gallery system that I use actually has a mobile APP that is free to download! If you pull
up your gallery in your browser on your phone, you will be prompted to download a FREE APP! In
this free app, you’ll be able to access your gallery (both wedding and engagement galleries) and
you can download images to your phone for clear, crisp instagrams!
ACCESSING YOUR PHOTOS ON YOUR PHONE
You can actually order professional and affordable prints from within your online gallery and have
them shipped directly to your house! Print sizes are all under $10 and are printed in a professional
lab to ensure color and contrast accuracy! You are more than welcome to print images on your
own. However, I would warn you to avoid Walmart, Target and Costco. I cannot promise that your
colors will print true-to-life if you choose to print at those stores. If you don’t print through your
gallery, I recommend using Mpix.com!
ORDERING PRINTS
I have great news! Your galleries will not expire for 10 years! Isn’t that amazing?! You will have kids
running around everywhere before your wedding gallery expires! However, even though you will
have access to your images for a long time, I would still recommend downloading them and save
them in multiple places for safe keeping!
GALLERY EXPIRATION
You have the freedom to share your images in any way that you choose! These are your images,
and I want you to love them so much that you can’t help but share them! I don’t believe that it is
necessary to watermark my images. All I ask for is some type of credit whenever you use an image
on social media! I only have ONE rule when it comes to what you can and cannot do with my work.
I always encourage my clients not to re-edit their images. Let me do that hard work! However, if
you have an image or two that you want to print at a very large size and you find an imperfection,
I will gladly perfect it!
SHARING, WATERMARKING & EDITING
Last, but certainly not least, THANK YOU for trusting me with your special
day. I am so honored to be the one capturing your memories, and I cannot
WAIT to celebrate alongside you! Enjoy this season of planning but also
remember that your MARRIAGE is more important than the wedding. The
wedding will come and go in a matter of hours, but your marriage needs to
stand the test of time. Continue to make time for one another, even with
all that needs to get done. As you continue to plan, please feel free to
contact me with ANY questions you may have along the way! Depending
on your date, our next step would be to finalize an engagement session!
Also, about 8 weeks before the wedding, you’ll receive an online questionnaire
that will provide me with everything I need to know for your
big day!! I hope this guide has been helpful as you continue to plan and
prepare for your wedding day!
Love, Lianna
thank you!
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