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.

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.  :)

From the Meet and Greet to the Delivery of your Album: The Wedding Photography Timeline

Every so often I post a FAQ list of what I noticed clients would often ask me.  The idea is to help out a new visitor to the site and try to answer ahead of time questions they may have.  I thought I'd supersize that idea this time around by taking you through an entire timeline from our initial meet and greet to your wedding day all the way to when the final album is delivered.  This is going to be very detailed, so let's get right to it…

  1. Take a look around my site and decide if the images meet your style.  The Gallery Page has wedding as well as engagement photos along with sample wedding album pages.  To see me and get an idea of my personality, check out the About Me page.
  2. Please fill out the Contact form.  I'm checking email all day.  Calling the business line (219) 779-7137 will work as well.  I will check to see if your date is available and then I'd like to set up a meet and greet to hear about your big day.
  3. You can come to my home studio for images on the big screen or I can buy you coffee and do a mobile presentation.  Either way, I will have sample books, prints, digital images - all my stuff!!  Most importantly, you get to meet the person who owns the business AND the photographer as well.  It happens to be me in both roles.  :)  I also get to know you and find out your needs.  I learn about your locations and we even sometimes decide together interesting shot ideas and locations for your wedding photography
  4. We sign a contract either that day or at another time.  I ask for a 50% retainer of the package cost.  I accept check, cash or credit / debit.  Don't hesitate to schedule a meeting if you don't have your funds in order yet.  That is perfectly fine.
  5. I go to work for you immediately.  I put notes into my computer and if it is a new location, I try to check it out beforehand.  Your date is now in my calendar.  Nothing else will be scheduled as I'm yours for the day.
  6. We have another meeting before the wedding, preferably in person or over the phone if there is distance involved.  We make sure we have our timeline of the day in sync.
  7. Approximately 10 days before the wedding, I send you a balance due invoice either via regular mail or an ebiil in email.  This gives you plenty of time to take care of payment.  I like to avoid dealing with money on the day of the wedding as I want to concentrate on shooting and I think you are going to be a bit busy as well!!
  8. I provide all day coverage so I will see you at Getting Ready.  I usually have my assistant arrive toward the end of the Getting Ready part as I need her help with formals before and after the ceremony.  Her job is to help the Bride out on occasion with the dress, position my lighting and to help organize family members for group shots, etc.  We don't want the photographs to drag for you or your family and friends.
  9. Toward the end of the reception I will check to see if I have covered everything.  I will approach you to make sure and I won't exit until we are both sure I captured everything.
  10. I upload the images that night to my main computer and then to 3 other drives for safekeeping.  
  11. Professional digital photography is a lot like film of the past.  For true quality, each image must be "developed" from scratch.  This means I open every single file by hand and make it into an image.  This doesn't mean "fixing the photos", it is simply taking the digital negative and making it into a picture.  I'm fairly quick, however it does take some time.  I'm shooting other weddings and events, making albums, etc.  My goal is to have you seeing your images in 3 to 4 weeks.
  12. I will then get a hold of you for Premiere Night.  It's a fun time and family and friends are welcome.  We view a mini movie of highlights, view each image one by one, pick out your book covers, disc packaging, prints, etc.  I serve snacks and refreshments.  A good time is had by all.
  13. I have your online gallery ready about a day after Premiere Night.  Friends and family can view these images, share on Facebook and order prints right from the site.
  14. The prints come in first about a week later.  I get them from a pro lab - no drugstore chain printing!!  
  15. I will be designing your wedding album and then sending off to the printer.  The disc also has premium packaging and is delivered with the wedding book. This takes approximately 3 - 4 weeks to design, print and deliver into your hands.
  16. Delivery day!!  This is when I get your book and your Disc Package to you.  Hopefully you will have been so impressed with my services that you then run into the streets with your wedding images shouting my praises (and dropping my business cards) to friends, family and strangers alike.  :)

I hope this helps to answer the 'How does all this work?' question I sometimes hear.  If I missed something, just ask.  Also, if for some reason I'm not the right photographer for you, let me help you find somebody who is.  I truly want you to get some great images and have a fun experience with your photography on your wedding day.