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WEDDING GUIDE
Deirdre PHOTOGRAPHY
engagement session tips, timeline guidance, vendor recommendations & more!
Welcome
A NOTE ABOUT THIS GUIDE
I am so excited to be working with you and I can’t wait to get to know you better over the next several months! I know photography is one of the larger investments you're making for your wedding day and I am so honored you chose to work with me!
Even if you're working with a wedding planner or you're planning a simple wedding, there are likely still a lot of moving pieces left leading up to your big day.
Having photographed many weddings over the past few years, I tend to get asked the same things over and over again. After much thought I decided it would be beneficial if I put together a guide that walks you through everything from timelines to engagement sessions and inclement weather.
- Deirdre
Thank you again for choosing to work with me and please don't hesitate to let me know if i can offer any additional guidance throughout the wedding planning process!
I am a big fans of engagement sessions for a few reasons. Not only do they allow you to get comfortable in front of the camera, they also give you the opportunity to showcase your personalities in a more casual setting while I get to know both of you on a deeper level. I've created an entire page dedicated to outfit tips, location ideas, timing considerations and more!
Engagement Session
plan your session
Vendors
WHO WILL MAKE YOUR DAY INCREDIBLE
Over the years, I've learned the important role quality vendors play in creating a stress-free wedding day. I've worked with many of the vendors below and I can't recommend them enough! This is not a paid list - I chose these vendors for both the quality of their work as well as their professionalism on the actual wedding day.
WEDDING PLANNERS
FLORAL DESIGNERS
ViDEOGRAPHY
CATERING
DJ & BANDS
HAIR & MAKEUP
Bakery
WEDDING DRESS
Cocktail bars
Invitations
Wedding Shoes
Jewelry
There's a big difference between looking at yourself in the mirror at a hair and makeup trial and actually seeing how that hair holds up in the elements and how that makeup photographs. When it comes to being confident in your choices on your wedding day, photos are invaluable!
If you're considering a Bridal Portrait Session, we recommend a full trial run of hair, nails, makeup and your bouquet. I typically spend 1-2 hours shooting at bridal sessions and it's nice to have something to hold to make your hands feel a little less awkward!
When it comes to choosing a location for your bridal portrait session, I recommend using locations that are well manicured, clean, and have great variety in indoor and outdoor locations.
Bridal Portraits
One of the biggest advantages of a Bridal Portrait Session is that they can serve as a practice run for the big day that you can SEE
Wedding venues are usually a wonderful place to start - especially historic homes and resorts that have well manicured areas. We want to keep your dress as clean as possible and still get a lot of amazing images inside and outside.
When it comes to selecting a date for your bridal portrait session, another great thing to keep in mind is the weather. In order to avoid being too hot during the summer months or too cold during the winter months, we highly recommend Spring and Fall. However, we'll shoot anytime and anywhere there's great light!
Many venues charge a fee for portrait sessions. Although inconvenient, the fee is often worth it in order to have use of their getting ready room and other venue services. We typically have to work with the venues on times, but we love to shoot bridal portraits in the afternoon as late as we can to get that softer afternoon light. However, if your venue has strict hours, we are happy to work with their allotted times.
Make sure to bring your jewelry, your veil and your shoes to your bridal portrait session!
Dress
Undergarments
Shoes
Veil
Bouquet
Ring
Hair pieces and jewelry
Bridal Portrait Session Checklist
That moment the couple see each other for the first time on their wedding day is magical. And this is true whether the couple chooses to wait until the bride walks down the aisle or chooses to do a “first look’ prior to the ceremony.
First looks—a private moment couples choose to spend together prior to the wedding ceremony—have become more popular over the last few years. About half of my couples this year have chosen to do a first look.
While I consider myself someone who values tradition, there are definitely a few good reasons to consider a first look. Here are 3 reasons to consider a ‘first look’:
Is a First Look Right for You?
If you're wondering whether a first look is right for you, stop here.
Once the ceremony begins, the day takes off quickly. A ‘first look’ is an opportunity to enjoy some quiet time alone, enjoy each other’s company, and reflect on all this day means before your day takes off.
Wedding days can be a whirlwind and they tend to fly by. There’s much to do, and a lot of people to see and to catch up with. I always encourage my couples to take a few minutes every so often during their wedding to stop and soak in everything that’s happening.
1. A first look cuts through the chaos of the day.
When there is no first look, the majority of the pictures have to be taken after the ceremony. Family pictures are generally done as soon as the ceremony ends because it’s the easiest time to round everyone up. Next up is full bridal party, and then bride and groom portraits. This generally runs through the entire cocktail hour.
A first look opens up time prior to the ceremony for full bridal party pictures and, sometimes, for a few couple portraits (although I prefer and suggest to do couple portraits at sunset). This allows the couple to get the most out of cocktail hour, which makes the rest of the evening feel less rushed.
2. IT MakeS more time for Pictures without sacrificing cocktail hour.
If you’re expecting poor weather on your wedding day, it might be best to plan on a first look because it gives you more options for pictures. If it’s pouring rain after the ceremony, you’ll be thankful you had pictures done in advance.
And reason 3 is for all you cryers out there. If you know the tears are going to fly the first time you see your other half the day of your wedding, a first look will give you time to freshen up before the ceremony.
First look or not, the first time you see each other on your wedding day will be special.
3. Avoid possible bad weather and/or have time to freshen-up after crying
Wedding Day Timeline
building the perfect
Whether you choose to do a first look or the traditional "no see before the ceremony" I will work with you on making sure you have the best timeline and plan for images.
If you're choosing to go traditional, You will need 15-20 minutes of combined bridal party portraits, 30 minutes of combined family portraits and at least 30 -45 minutes of couple's portraits after the ceremony or (preferably) at sunset.
Whether you're planning a first look or sticking with tradition and not seeing your fiance until you walk down the aisle, I have tips to help make planning your timeline as easy as possible!
If you're doing a first look, we can get the majority of photos done at once, taking an average total of 1-1.5 hours pre-ceremony (although I always suggest taking the majority of your couple photos at sunset (30-40 minutes)! This helps avoid any harsh light, and lets us roam around the grounds of your venue and get creative)
If you choose a traditional aisle reveal, all I ask is that you keep your ceremony time in mind when planning your wedding.
If you're planning a sunset ceremony or an evening ceremony, it's best to do all photos before the wedding as daylight is crucial to getting amazing portraits for your families, bridal party and your couples portraits. Making sure we have enough time while the sun is up is a great way to make the traditional ceremony work.
12:30 p.m.
Deirdre and Second shooter arrives at Bride’s getting ready location. The second shooter will take photos for the first hour of the girls getting ready while Deirdre is taking detail images of the invitations, rings, dress shots, and venue shots.
12pm - Getting Ready/Details
Note: Ideally by the time we arrive, hair and makeup is already wrapping up. If something is going to delay the beginning of the day, it’s often HAMU.
1:30 p.m.
Deirdre & the second shooter will Photograph the men getting ready while the girls clean up and organize the bridal suite for photos
1:15pm - Getting Ready
Note - The Men should be in their pants, collared shirts, and socks before the photographer arrives at 1:15
1:40 p.m.
Deirdre photographs the girls together (popping champagne, smiling on the bed, etc)
1:40pm - Getting Ready
2:00 p.m.
Bridal Portraits
2:00- Bridal Portraits
The bridesmaids will slip into their dresses, as well as the bride. This should take 5 minutes. Once the bride is in her dress, Bridal Portraits begin. This usually takes 30-40 minutes
At this time the second shooter will take the men outside to take outdoor groomsmen portraits
2:40 p.m.
First Look
2:40pm - First Look
3:00 p.m.
Family/Bridal Party Portraits
3:00PM Family Portraits
Note: We’ll help you create a list of family portraits before the big day, but make sure that you are telling family to come an hour before the ceremony!
3:40 p.m.
Buffer Time
3:30pm Buffer Time
Note: This is time before your ceremony to let your guest be seated so that they do not see the bride and groom before the ceremony
4:00 P.M.
Ceremony
4:00pm Ceremony
4:30 p.M.
Cocktail Hour
4:30pm Cocktail Hour
Note: The great thing about doing a First Look is that it gives you more time at cocktail hour. We’ll grab some pictures of your guests and reception space while you enjoy the hour.
5:30 P.M.
Introductions & First Dance
5:30pm Introductions
5:45 P.M.
Welcome toasts & salads followed by speeches and entrees.
5:45pm Dinner
Note -I highly suggest to do speeches right after your dances as your vendors will need to take time to eat while you eat
6:45 P.M.
Sunset Portraits
6:45pm Sunset Portraits
We’ll make sure to grab you two about 45 minutes before the sunsets. This is usually the best light of the day! Obviously Sunset is at different times throughout Spring- Fall so each schedule is unique
7:30 P.M.
Dancing begins
7:30pm Dancing
Note - Usually you have about an hour of dancing before your photographers leave, I highly suggest taking this time to dance with everyone during this hour and socialize after. This is a great way to make sure you have photos of you dancing with your family and friends
8:30 P.M.
Photographers Depart
8:30pm Photographers Depart
1 p.m.
Deirdre and Second shooter arrives at Bride’s getting ready location. The second shooter will take photos for the first hour of the girls getting ready while Deirdre is taking detail images of the invitations, rings, dress shots, and venue shots. .
1pm - Getting Ready/ Details
Note: Ideally by the time we arrive, hair and makeup is already wrapping up. If something is going to delay the beginning of the day, it’s often HAMU.
2:00 p.m.
Deirdre & the second shooter will Photograph the men getting ready while the girls clean up and organize the bridal suite for photos
2:00pm - Guys Getting Ready
2:20 p.m.
Deirdre photographs the girls together (popping champagne, smiling on the bed, etc)
2:20 - Girls Getting Ready
2:30 p.m.
The bridesmaids will slip into their dresses, as well as the bride. This should take 5 minutes. Once the bride is in her dress, Bridal Portraits begin. This usually takes 30-40 minutes
2:30 PM Bridal Portraits
At this time the second shooter will take the men outside to take outdoor groomsmen portraits
3:30 p.m.
Buffer Time
3:30pm Buffer Time
This is a great time to slow down and relax right before the ceremony happens
3:45 p.m.
Ceremony
3:45pm Ceremony
4:15 P.M.
Cocktail Hour/Family/Bridal Party Portraits
4:15- Cocktail Hour/Portraits
Note: If you want to have time spent at your cocktail hour I suggest doing all couple images during sunset
5:00 P.M.
Cocktail Hour (for couple )
5:00pm Cocktail Hour
5:30 P.M.
Introductions & First Dances
5:30pm First Dances
5:45 P.M.
Welcome toasts & salads followed by speeches and entrees.
5:45pm Dinner
Note -I suggest to do all speeches right as you sit down, this gives all your vendors time to eat while you eat
6:45 P.M.
Dancing begins
6:45pm Dancing
7:45 P.M.
Sunset / Couple Portraits
7:45pm Sunset
We’ll make sure to grab you two about 45 minutes before the sunsets. This is usually the best light of the day! Obviously Sunset is at different times throughout Spring- Fall so each schedule is unique!
9:00 P.M.
Photographer’s Depart
9:00pm Photographers Depart
If the forecast is calling for rain, fear not because rainy days can still be beautiful!
If rain is in the forecast, we recommend ordering a few clear umbrellas on Amazon. It also might be good to re-evaluate portrait locations to make sure we can still shoot in natural light - even if it means heading offsite.
Rain Tips
If you don't own a pair of cute rain boots, now may be a great time to order a pair - even if you're just wearing them in between shooting locations.
If you're not working with a planner, it might also be a good idea to check in with your entire vendor team to make sure they're aware of the weather. Hair and makeup may need to be tweaked to withstand humidity and if your wedding is outdoors, DJs and bands may need to take extra precaution to protect their gear. A quality rental team can also minimize the amount of mud at outdoor events.
While I can't guarantee that rain on your wedding day is good luck, I can put a plan in place to ensure a beautiful day and beautiful images.
Rainy day weddings may require a little more flexibility and creativity, but there isn't any reason why they can't be as beautiful and as joyful as sunny weddings!
Wedding Day Details
I love capturing all the little details you've carefully chosen to be a part of your wedding day! Once we arrive at your wedding, we need about 45 minutes to an hour at most to capture and style details. We recommend choosing a getting ready location filled with natural light and, if possible, please keep the space free from trash and clutter.
It would be wonderful if you could put all of your rings, jewelry, shoes, veil purse, perfume, invitations and other keepsakes together in one spot for us. Please unwrap your dress but don't worry about styling it - we'll hang it in a beautiful spot!
Dress
Dress Hanger
Rings (both engagement and wedding bands)
Shoes
Veil
Bouquet
Ring
Hair pieces
Jewelry
Invitation Suite ( 2 full sets with extra envelopes + stamps, you can find beautiful luxury envelopes on etsy)
Any other paper stationary you may have like program cards.
Bridal DETAILS Checklist
His shoes
Socks (if they're special)
Cuff Links
Tie or Bow Tie
Pocket Square
Boutonnière
Vows Book
Rings
Anything else he'll have that is special or sentimental.
Vow Book
Any other sentimental keepsakes you would like to include
I once had a bride bring her grandmother's handkerchief. This is completely optional - but if you have something sentimental you'd like styled with your details, we love including family heirlooms in our detail shots.
I love to have a few cuts of the florals you'll be using throughout your wedding day. If your florist will supply us a small bucket of extra pieces we can incorporate those in your detail shots. (This would mean asking your florist to arrive before I arrive and having the "loose flowers" ready for us.
GROOM DETAILS Checklist
When I can, I always try to take a photo of your rings while you're getting ready. If possible, try to have your engagement ring cleaned or clean it yourself. To clean at home, soak your ring in warm water with dishwashing soap for 20 to 40 minutes. Then gently brush the stone with a soft toothbrush, rinse and repeat if needed.
The Rings
For family portraits, I like to place you in the center of a large group photo with all of your grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, godparents, etc. And then we’ll remove the extended family so it’s just grandparents, parents and siblings.
I keep removing family members and switch a few closer family members in and out so we get photos of you and your parents, you and your siblings, some with the groom and your family, etc. Then we’ll repeat the process with your spouse's family. The whole thing will go quicker and smoother if you let family know how the portrait process will work ahead of time.
When asking for your shot list this is all I need (unless something special is happening that I may not capture normally on a wedding day) - a list of specific groupings, special situations (such as divorces or handicapped family members & more), but if you want to start brainstorming photos in the meantime, you'll find our typical list below. It will be easier if you use real names - this way I can call everyone out and there is no confusion!
Family Formals
your entire family, dressed up and together
Bride + Groom + Bride's Extended Family
Bride + Groom + Bride's Parents + Bride's Siblings + Bride's Grandparents
Bride + Groom + Bride's Parents + Bride's Siblings
Bride + Groom + Bride's Parents
Bride + Groom + Bride's Siblings
Bride + Mom
Bride + Dad
Bride + Groom + Groom's Extended Family
Bride + Groom + Groom's Parents + Groom's Siblings + Groom's Grandparents
Bride + Groom + Groom's Parents + Groom's Siblings
Bride + Groom + Groom's Parents
Bride + Groom + Groom's Siblings
Groom + Mom
Groom + Dad
Family Portrait Session Checklist
Please note that this list is just a starting point and that we're happy to take any requested family portraits as long as time allows!
Consider Unplugging
If you've been to a wedding recently, you may have seen a sign from the happy couple asking for their guests to remain "unplugged" during the ceremony. Having your officiant make an announcement before the wedding ceremony starts is a great way to get guest to put their phones away.
And while it might seem like a strange requests to ask guests to put down their phones, there's a pretty good reason for it! You made a big investment in photography and we're sure one of the last things you want on your wedding day is for our photos of your ceremony to be filled with obtrusive iPhones, iPads and relatives standing in the aisle with their own cameras. In order to help us do the best possible job capturing your wedding, we recommend asking guests to unplug during the ceremony.
1. If you're getting married in the summer months, a "not-so-heavy" snack or lunch time before portraits is always a good idea for you and your bridal party to avoid hungry bellies and passing out!
2. If it's going to be hot, a cooler of cold waters and frozen washcloths can help keep a wedding party cool - especially if your men are wearing lots of layers.
3. Make sure and have your bouquet (Before I arrive) and loose flowers delivered in time to make an appearance for the detail shots and for your first look. Often they are delivered in water and need to be dried off before use. Having towels handy can help.
4. If you're planning on having a first look with your bridal party or a parent, they often feel more comfortable being fully dressed in their wedding attire.
5. If your reception is at a separate venue, add some "fluff time" so that we can run over to the venue to capture it while it's still "untouched" by guests. I always suggest to add 15 minutes between each "Section" of your wedding. This gives you some time to play catch up in case you are running behind (which happens at 90% of the weddings I shoot).
Additional Tips
AFTER SHOOTING many weddings in the past few years, I am happy to share a few additional tips
6. We always recommend the bride go into hiding 20 minutes before the ceremony at the absolute latest. Guests typically arrive early to weddings.
7. To help make family portraits go smoother, it's best to have a breakdown of what portraits you'd like and it's really wonderful if both sides of the family have a chance to have their input on what portraits they'd like before the wedding. Supplying us with a list ahead of time, we can go over it and make sure we shoot things in an order that is efficient and won't leave anyone out. (I do ask this list to be sent to me the day before the wedding over text in case any changes are made. It is also easiest for me to quickly pull up this list over text rather than looking for wifi, and searching through emails)
8. During the cocktail hour and the reception, I will not be too far. Anytime you'd like a photo with someone, grab our attention. We love being your personal paparazzi!
9. We'd love to help you plan your timeline. There is a certain amount of time that we need in each "Section" of your wedding in order to capture your wedding seamlessly, and each photographer does each wedding differently. Your planner may have a different timeline than what we suggest. (For example I suggest 2.5 hours for getting ready) If you'd like our input, don't hesitate to email or call!
One of the best ways to make your wedding memories last is by ordering
prints. The print box has loose leaf prints carefully stored in a high quality professionally designed print box, that comes in a variety of linen colors. This is a less traditional way I like to preserve images. They’re modern, lay perfectly flat and look incredible on a coffee table.
Add On's
the perfect way to remember your wedding day
I can't wait to start planning with you and getting to know you! If you haven't scheduled your engagement session yet, let's get that in the books. Feel free to email us any time.
If you have any questions or would just like to chat, I'm here for you. I hope this guide helps make the process of planning your wedding details much easier and less stressful. I can't wait to see you soon! Thank you so much for taking the time to read through our guide!