1. 1. 1. Think about the season.
         Right from the get-go, consider the time of year you are getting married, this will determine how much light you have to work with. Are you getting married before or after daylight savings? What time will the sun set on your wedding day? Figuring these things out will help give you a starting point to work from and allow enough time (and light!) to capture everything beautifully.
      2. Consider your guests.
         Your wedding day is all about you… well kind of! For most of you, having all your nearest and dearest with you to celebrate your love is really important and special. Do you want to leave them standing around hungry in the hot sun for hours while you’re getting photos taken? Consider putting some things in place to ensure your guests have a great time with and without you on the day. This can be things like: providing shade/umbrellas, refreshments, entertainment, sunscreen, childcare or transport.

         

      3. Let the light guide you.
         As I mentioned in the first point, figuring out what time sunset is will be important on your day. One of the most important things for a photographer is (spoiler alert) LIGHT! A good photographer will be able to work in any lighting conditions (I mean, pitch black is not ideal…) but there are definitely some things to consider to get the most flattering and gorgeous light on your day! In general, midday direct sun is not our favourite. When the sun is high is the sky it can be harsher and create unflattering shadows. Whereas when it is lower in the sky (ie. later in the afternoon) it tends to be that more “glowy” and gorgeous light! So maybe don’t plan for a midday ceremony with no shade.
      4. Think about having a first look.
         This is when you see each other before the ceremony. It can be a really special moment alone and a chance to get some portraits together, as well as with your bridal party, before the ceremony. This can be a great thing for your timeline, meaning you don’t have to ditch your guests for so long and you can always do a sunset shoot later in the day too.

         

      5. Book vendors that you trust!
         Ask your hair and makeup artists how long they will take on each person. Communicate with your venue, stylist, caterers etc. what time everything needs to be ready. Booking vendors that see your vision and communicate well with you throughout the entire process is going to make the day run a lot smoother. If you want to have someone else oversee this then maybe a planner or on-the-day coordinator is something to consider too.

         

      6. Plan for a moment alone with your spouse.
         It’s so important to be present, and take it all in. Sneaking away at sunset can be a great opportunity for this. Just to stop, have a chat and enjoy the moment. As everyone says, the day goes so fast.

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I hope these tips helped. Obviously every wedding day is going be different and you have to figure out what works for you to ensure you have the most enjoyable and stress-free day possible. I’m always happy to chat about this topic so let me know if you have any questions! Check out my IGTV video all about this too!

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