The Wedding To Do Timeline

I have been meeting many 2013 brides lately who are just at the beginning of their wedding planning.  All of them are insanely happy to be engaged and are basking in that glow.  Some of them are feeling a little overwhelmed.  As the wedding photographer, I'm a large part of the day, but I'm not often involved in the big decisions that come before hand.  However, I like to help where I can and this is why I created The Bride's Room that lists guides, music and other vendors.

I was recently catching up with Brides magazine (yes, I subscribe) and they had a great article titled Your Wedding To-Do's and When To Do Them.  Let me share some of their tips with you today.  For the whole article, go to your local library and see if you can find the May 2012 issue.

12 Months Before

  • write up the guests list

  • figure out who is paying for what
  • book a reception and ceremony site, lock in the date
  • hire a wedding planner

 

- click to enlarge image of The Allure in Laporte, Indiana - 

10 Months Before 

  • go dress shopping
  • settle on an officiant
  • shop for vendors, set up meetings

Interesting statistic: The top 3 wedding colors are purple, blue and white

8 Months Before

  • order your dress
  • book the caterer, florist, band, DJ and photographer
  • secure your rentals
  • block hotel rooms for out of town guests
  • register

- click to enlarge image -

6 Months Before

  • send save the dates
  • order invitations
  • shop for wedding bands
  • book transportation
  • book honeymoon
  • order bridemaids dresses

 

Interesting statistic: The average bridal party size is 5.5 with the Guiness world record of 79

4 Months Before

  • plan the rehearsal dinner
  • choose groom's and groomsmen's attire
  • order the cake

 

2 Months Before

  • write down the personalized vows
  • mail invitations
  • set up your hair and make up
  • buy gifts for bridal party 

Interesting statistic: 49% of couples write their own vows

2 Weeks Before

These helpful wedding timeline tips came for the May 2012 article in Brides Magazine.

Outdoor Engagement Photos

- click image to enlarge -

As I type this, the weather outside is close to 70 degrees and it's only the second week into March!!  That's got me thinking about outdoor engagement photos!!  These sessions are great as it gets soon to be married couples a chance to get comfortable in front of the camera.  This makes them old pros by the time the wedding day comes.

The above image was part of a Chicago Session Engagement Package and they had a large Stand Out print displayed at their reception hall, The Patrician in Schererville.  Many of my wedding clients order a large print and mini album to put on display for guests to look at when they enter the party.

Shooting a beach silhouette during the magic twilight hour is one of my favorite images.  We have a LOT of great beaches along the Indiana Dunes to use for romantic engagement photos.

Another idea is to stroll an old part of town such as the downtown Crown Point Square.  The many antique stores their are great for that vintage look we can apply.  Perhaps the local ice cream shop 'What's the Scoop' will be open and two of you can share a milkshake together.

Many couples choose the classic, cinematic black and white look of The Chicago Sessions.  We meet at the train station in East chicago and we shoot as the train arrives, on the train and then stroll around downtown Chicago.  All images are available in color, but the idea is too turn them into vintage looking black and white film shots from the 1960's.

This same retro look was applied to this beach shot at Washington Park in Michigan City.

- click image to enlarge -

Another one of my favorite destinations for photographing brides to be and their future grooms is Coffee Creek Park in Chesterton, Indiana.  If you live in Valparaiso, Portage or even La Porte - this is a great place to walk and get away from the daily grind.

I always encourgage my clients to be themselves when they dress for the shoot, but to avoid logos and things like that.  You are always welcome to bring a change of outfits as well.

The Getting Ready Sessions

Sometimes I will have a potential client say that they don't want the Getting Ready part of their wedding day to be photographed.  Some brides say they just don't get it.  While these pre ceremony images are seldom printed to be hung on the wall, they are wonderful for telling the story of the day and are a fun part of the wedding album.  Every client who has been reluctant has said they are glad that they had me there.  Usually these sessions are filled with lots of laughs and candid moments.  Sometimes it's emotional and a great chance to capture some mom and daughter moments too.  Today's post will hopefully give a better understanding of what I might photograph for that part of the day.

In addition to capturing the true getting ready rituals like applying of make up (see above) to the wedding dress hanging....

.... and details such as shoes and the dress being tied, 

I try to capture what is at the heart of it all - the gathering of friends on a truly special day!!

If time permits I like to get a portrait of each of the girls looking beautiful in their dress....

You can't miss with other loved ones such as pets and kids - also an essential part of the wedding day.

I like to give everyone a break from the "paparazzi" and sneak off to take some detail shots - important for the wedding album.

Before I take off for the ceremony, I always want to capture images of mom helping with the dress....

Mirror shots are always a favorite and if I can find a vintage full length mirror like the one at Dewey Cannon Winery in Three Oaks, Michigan - all the better.

Sometimes a couple will want to stage a first look.  Here's one from a summer wedding at Gardens on the Prairie in Lowell, Indiana.

A tender moment as the bride and groom tear up just after seeing each other...

While I do have Express Coverage that excludes the Getting Ready session, I encourage you to hire me for the whole day.  Let's capture you and your friends having fun...

Let's take some photographs with your children...

Let's capture you at your most beautiful...

Let's capture the unexpected moments...

Let's get a gorgeous backgropund for one of the album pages...

Who knows, we might even give these guys some equal time...

Sometimes these Getting Ready sessions take place at a love one's home or a hotel or the hair salon.  Even your church might have an area for you and your husband to be as well.  Let's talk it over at one of our meetings after we book your date.  See you in the morning, the "paparazzi" won't be late.  :)

Introducing the Wedding Photographer Assistants for 2011

 

If you have been a client in the past, you know that I usually have a female assistant accompany me at all my wedding shoots and sometimes on engagement photo sessions as well. In addition to holding my lighting and other equipment related duties, they are also there to look after the brides. They will attend to your dress as well as the groom's crooked tie and help me gather up family members for group shots, etc.

Winter is still hanging on in Northwest Indiana so we all had our coats on for a recent training session. I met the girls at Deep River Country Park in Valparaiso to go over what their job will entail fror wedding and portrait sessions in 2011.

Let me introduce the girls one by one.

First up is Amy, who has assisted me on many wedding, engagement and high school senior sessions. She has always done a great job and I'm glad she is on board this year as well. My other assistant from 2010 - Brooke is busy with her own wedding taking place this summer. Congratulations Brooke!!

Our first newbie is Mya. She will be assisting me on the first Chicago Sessions Engagement shoot of the year. She is dressed for the cold, but her warm personality always shines...

Mya is also pictured in the first photo above with with Leslie, who will be on board for Angela and Mike's wedding in Valparaiso, Indiana in April. We intend to have a lot of fun while making some great wedding images this summer.

Next up is one of my favorite baristas - Kristine. She has a friend who is a photographer in Muncie, Indiana and has the distinction of being the only assistant to ever fold up one of my lighting reflectors on the first try!!

Due to a great amount of weddings booked (and more coming) for the year I will have 5 assistants on call for weddings in Northwest Indiana, Chicago and Michigan.

Our final assistant to spotlight is Melissa who is a friend of my family...

 

So look for us all this summer at various venues around Northwest Indiana, Michigan and Illinois. Chances are you will see a bride and groom or two as well. :) Hopefully no winter coats!!