#1: Hire a planner (or day of coordinator)
This is my #1 tip for every couple. Your job is to enjoy your wedding day, not keep an eye on everything as the day goes on and stress yourself out. Your wedding planner is actual superhero on your wedding day. I strongly encourage every couple to budget for a good wedding planner because they can make or break how smooth the day goes. They handle all the little details, keep everything on track, and an extended voice for you when you need it. Trust me, it is very evident when I show up to weddings when there is no planner versus when there is one. Do yourself and your wedding guests a favor and hire a planner.
#2: have a buffer in the timeline
A planner usually is in charge of the timeline as well. Depending on who you hire as your photographer, they can also create timelines and integrate them with the planners. Your wedding day moves 1000 miles an hour and things always take a lot longer than you think. If you think that your hair and makeup will take 45 minutes, great, allot an hour and 15 minutes just in case. That way if you do go over, you planned for that so you are still on schedule. The worst thing that can happen on your wedding day is feeling stressed because you got behind schedule and you forget to enjoy your wedding day.
#3: keep a small circle during getting ready
The getting ready portion of your day can either be super exciting or wildly chaotic. People are going to run in and out to see you. Everyone is going to want to talk to you, ask you how you are feeling, offer you things, everything from a good place but it can get very overwhelming. I recommend having a select group of people with you while you are getting ready and that is it. Your bridal party is typically who will be getting ready with you, just make sure who you choose are people who genuinely get you, understand you, and just want to celebrate you.
#4: hire vendors you trust
This one seems obvious but trust me it is not. Hire vendors who you know will show up and do their job well. This begins in the research process of looking for vendors who you feel will best align with the vision of your day. The last thing you want to do is feel like you have to do certainty checks with your vendors to make sure what they did is up to standard with your vision. This is your first time getting married, chances are it is not the vendors first time doing a wedding. Trust them to come through for you in the way you expressed to them. When you trust the entire team of vendors, your stress levels can remain low and you can just focus on enjoying the day.
#5: be present
I have never been to a wedding where every single thing went right. Chances are, some things may not go according to plan at your wedding either, and that is ok and just adds to the story! You will laugh, you will cry, you will be surprised, cherish these moments because there is no rewind and no repeat. Focus on just breathing and being in the moment. Put your phone away for a while, have conversations, make memories that you will be able to talk to your spouse about years later and eventually your children.
I hope these tips help! If you are still on the search for a wedding photographer then you are in the right place. Click below to inquire and get your dream wedding started the right way.
