WEDDING PLANNING GUIDE

How to get the most out of your wedding photos

Your wedding day will move quickly, but your photographs will allow you to return to it—again and again.

Our approach is rooted in a balance of natural storytelling and refined direction, allowing moments to unfold while ensuring everything is captured beautifully.

We’ve curated guidance for each part of your wedding day—from the quiet moments of getting ready to the energy of your reception—to help the day unfold seamlessly and allow your photographs to capture this once-in-a-lifetime experience at its very best.

For ease and accessibility, you can download a copy of the guide below and keep it on your phone to reference throughout your planning and on the day itself.

Wedding Planning Guide

GETTING READY

setting the tone for the day

The environment you get ready in plays a significant role in how your photos feel.

remember to…

Walk slowly down the aisle and stay present in the moment

Hold hands and remain connected throughout

If you plan to pause, kiss, or dip while walking down the aisle, we recommend doing so midway down the aisle rather than at the end for the best composition and space

Let us know in advance if you’re planning any unique entrances or moments

After your first kiss, take a brief pause before walking back down the aisle—this allows us to capture the moment fully.

a few considerations…

Choose a space with ample natural light

Keep the area as clean and minimal as possible

Have your details gathered ahead of time

We recommend finishing hair and makeup prior to our arrival, allowing for a more relaxed and intentional start to the day

A good / consistent colour palette can go a long way for the storytelling in your final visuals.

A calm morning allows for more meaningful, unhurried moments to be captured.

DETAILS & FLATLAYS

When we arrive, the first thing we will do is capture your wedding day details. These will help to tell the full story of your wedding day. We suggest placing all the details you would like captured in a box or a safe place the night before so they are easy to find and nothing is forgotten. Having these prepared in one place allows us to photograph them efficiently and beautifully.

FOR THE GROOM

+ Shoes

+ Watch

+ Cufflinks / tie / bowtie

+ Boutonniere

+ Rings

+ Vow book or meaningful items

details include

FOR THE BRIDE

+ Dress & veil

+ Shoes

+ Flowers

+ Jewelry & accessories

+ Rings (engagement + bands)

+ Invitation suite

+ Perfume

+ Vow books or sentimental items

*Ask your florist if they are able to provide extra stems for flatlays.

FIRST LOOK & PORTRAITS

First looks are not for everyone, and choosing to wait until the ceremony is completely okay.

That said, many couples who were initially unsure tell us afterward that it became one of their favourite moments of the day.

Seeing one another before the ceremony allows time to capture portraits and wedding party photos while energy is high, hair and makeup are still fresh, and flowers look their best.

If time allows, we can also photograph immediate family portraits beforehand. This means that once the ceremony ends, you can move directly into cocktail hour and actually enjoy the celebration you’ve spent so long planning.

our recommendations…

Having just the two of you during the first look as large groups can often be very distracting from such a special moment in your day.

Allow a minimum of 1.5 hours for wedding portraits (15 min wedding party + 1hr 15 min with you and your partner).

Allowing enough time for portraits ensures a relaxed experience

A blend of gentle direction and candid moments creates the most natural images

There is no need to “perform”—we will guide you throughout

CEREMONY

Your ceremony is one of the most meaningful parts of your wedding, follow

these tips to ensure it can be captured beautifully & seamlessly.

FAMILY PHOTOS

organized, efficient and stress-free

We strongly recommend completing family photos immediately following the ceremony, in a location close by.

This is when:

-All family members are present

-Everyone is easiest to gather

-The risk of guests leaving or getting pulled into cocktail hour is minimized

We’ve seen how quickly people can disappear—this timing truly makes a difference.

SAMPLE FAMILY SHOT LIST

Couple with Bride’s immediate family & grandparents

Couple with Bride’s immediate family

Couple with Bride’s Parents

Bride with immediate family

Bride with parents

Bride with mom

Bride with Dad

Bride with Siblings

Couple with both sets of Parents

Couple with both immediate family

Providing a pre-planned list allows us to move efficiently and ensures no important groupings are missed.

We recommend keeping this list to under 20 combinations.

Having a designated person on each side who knows your family (preferably with a loud voice) to help assist in gathering family members.

Couple with Groom’s immediate family & grandparents

Couple with Groom’s immediate family

Couple with Groom’s Parents

Groom with immediate family

Groom with parents

Groom with mom

Groomwith Dad

Groom with Siblings

SUNSET PHOTOS

soft light, timeless portraits

Golden hour occurs shortly before sunset and offers the most flattering, romantic light of the day.

-We recommend stepping away for 10–15 minutes during this time

-Check what time sunset falls on your wedding day

-Speak with your photographer about timing, as some locations lose light earlier depending on surroundings (trees, buildings, mountains, etc.)

This is often a quiet moment to reconnect—and consistently results in some of the most beautiful images of the day.

RECEPTION

As the day transitions into celebration, the focus shifts to movement, atmosphere, and connection.

what to keep in mind

If possible, we recommend allowing 15 minutes for us to photograph the reception space before guests enter and place personal items down. This ensures we can capture the details exactly as designed—clean, styled, and undisturbed

Ensure your timeline includes all key moments (entrances, speeches, dances)

Let us know about any surprises or special performances in advance

Trust us to capture both the planned moments and the in-between interactions

TIMELINE

Your timeline is the backbone of your entire wedding day. A well-planned schedule allows everything to unfold smoothly, creating space for meaningful moments while ensuring nothing feels rushed.

When your timeline is thoughtfully built, it not only reduces stress—it directly impacts the quality, variety, and overall feel of your photos.

a second photographer is especially recommended if…

Your guest count is over 150

Capturing candid moments and guest interactions is important to you

You and your partner are getting ready in separate locations and would like both documented

Your timeline includes multiple events or overlapping moments

timing considerations

While every wedding is unique, the following can be helpful as a general guide when building your timeline:

Getting Ready (Bride): 1 – 1.5 hours

Getting Ready (Groom): ~30-60 minutes

First Look: ~15 minutes

Portraits: Minimum 1 hour

(15 minutes wedding party + 45 minutes couple portraits)If you have both photo and video, we recommend allowing up to 1.5 hours to ensure each team has the time they need

Ceremony Details (before guests arrive): ~15 minutes

Family Photos: 30 – 45 minutes

Reception Details: 15 – 20 minutes (depending on setup)

Room Reveal: 5 – 10 minutes

Golden Hour / Sunset Photos: 15 – 20 minutes

Dance Floor Coverage: ~30 minutes is typically plenty to capture the energy of the evening

SAMPLE WEDDING DAY TIMELINE

10:30 AM - Photo/Video arrive, capture details and candids

11:15 AM - Get dressed

11:30 AM - Bridal Portraits / Photos with Bridal Party

12: 15 PM - First Look

12:30 PM - Wedding Party & couple portraits

2:00 PM - Couple relax before ceremony / Photo/Video capture ceremony details

3:00 PM - Ceremony

3:30 PM - Family Photos / Cocktail hour begins

4:15 PM - Couple joins cocktail hour with guests

5:00 PM - Photo/Video captures reception details

5:15 PM - Room reveal

5:30 PM - Doors Open for guests

6:00 PM. -Grand Entrance / First Dance

6:15 PM - Welcome Speech

6:30 PM - Dinner Begins

7:15 PM - Sunset photos (timing varies by season)

7:30 PM - Speeches

8:00 PM - Cake cutting

8:30 PM - Dance floor opens

9:30 PM - Photo/Video End

A portrait at a grand Italian estate will naturally feel different from portraits on a beach or in a forest. Our goal is not to recreate images exactly, but to create your version of the feeling and atmosphere that inspired you.

If there is a particular pose you are hoping to include, please let us know in advance. We will absolutely do our best to make it happen. To keep the day flowing naturally, we recommend limiting these to five “must-have” poses so we still have plenty of space for candid moments and images that unfold organically.

And remember — candid moments are difficult to recreate exactly. But we can create the environment where your version of those moments can happen naturally.

Account for travel time between locations, especially during peak traffic hours or busy weekends. Even short distances can take longer than expected depending on the time of day.

Build in buffer time throughout the day. Small delays are common, and having flexibility helps everything stay on track without feeling rushed.

Allow moments to pause and reset. The day moves quickly—setting aside time to step away, breathe, and be present together makes a meaningful difference in both your experience and your photos.

We recommend beginning speeches 45–60 minutes after dinner service starts. This allows guests to finish eating, keeps tables clean for photos, and gives your photo/video team a short break to reset before key moments.

If capturing photos during cocktail hour is important to you, consider doing a first look so portraits can be completed beforehand, or adding a second photographer to ensure coverage of both.

Consider the value of a second photographer. This allows for more coverage throughout the day, including additional candid moments, guest interactions, and alternate perspectives.