Wedding tips from a seasoned photographer - part two.
Over the years, I’ve written down some advice about weddings for brides and grooms to consider. And as I’m in the middle of one of my busiest wedding seasons to date, my mind is just swimming with more and more tidbits to note.
I’ve got a tattered piece of notebook paper next to my monitor that’s finally quite full of notes I’ve taken since January, so I’ll just throw them your way. Whether you’re getting married next month or next year, maybe something I write here will help you in your planning.
In no order at all, except the way they are listed on my little piece of paper:
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Choosing a venue - With SOOOO many venues popping up around the east Tennessee area, I’ve noticed that most of them do not think about providing shade...like anywhere. They are building them right in the open field! That’s torture to your photographer, so keep this in mind when choosing a venue to get married. There’s got to be shade somewhere at some point in the day, especially if you’re getting married between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. in Tennessee, which is literally everyone. If you’re still in the process of choosing a venue, bring your photographer along with you, if she/he’s available, even. We know our stuff and can give you plenty of feedback, and we’ll almost always like more thought-out wedding venues.
* Sidenote on venues…also remember that a great venue owner, in my mind, is one who is connected with the building during your day. If your venue owner is only there to collect money and you never see them the day of, you’ll want to book somewhere else. I love the owners who come and check on you during the day, or at least are available by phone at ANY time. It’s their job!
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Hairbands - Girls, please for the love of Photoshop, take your hairbands off of your wrists. Do it before you get dressed and don’t put them back on until you are done with pictures, or the wedding day, altogether. You shouldn’t have a hair emergency during the wedding day that necessitates pulling your hair on top of your head.
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Phones - Along the same lines, men, please keep your phones and keys and pocket knives and guns and garage door openers…and…you get the idea - out of your front pockets. Matter of fact, keep them out of your back pockets, too. Just leave them in the dressing room of the venue. Maybe one dude needs a phone, but it’s likely not you. And no one needs to watch the game on their phones during pictures…nope. Just nope.
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Stamens - Yep, I said “stamens”. Brides, when you order your flowers, whether from the florist or a wholesale company, please make sure that your bouquet doesn’t include the orange, stain-y mess of the stamen. They will need to be removed, or at least watched for. I’ve seen too many wedding dresses stained orange, red or yellow after just a few minutes because no one removed this mess.
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Veil placement - this is always something I try to weigh in on when brides are looking to place the veil in (or half the time, I’m putting the veil in because no one knows how…) If you’ve paid for a fancy up or half-updo, there’s likely something beautiful at the back of your head. Think about where your veil will go before your stylist finishes the look, because if you put the veil on top of all that work (also depending on how heavy your veil is), your guests will never see what you paid for. Often the veil can be placed under the braids/bun at the back, or at least at the very bottom of a gorgeous updo. And remember to bring bobby pins. Always bring bobby pins.
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Hair and makeup trials - Please go and get a makeup and hair trial before the day of. DO NOT be surprised with what someone is doing either on the day of. Spend the money. Take the time. Enough said.
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Glasses - I know that many of you will need to wear glasses on your wedding day. But think about investing in glare-resistant for just this occasion if nothing else. Spend the money. Makes my job much easier, because it’s just nearly impossible to make the glare/reflection gone in the pics throughout your day. And if your glasses go dark/transition, please just remove them for the pictures. There’s not enough time for me to lighten your glasses in every shot. Thanks in advance!
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Wedding time - Make sure you think about your ceremony time, based on when you’re able to provide your guests food. If you get married at 2 p.m., you can feed them dessert only, but if your ceremony is at 5 and reception starts at 6, don’t throw out some cupcakes and assume the guests will be happy! They will leave hungry and maybe a bit upset. Give them tacos, chicken, pasta, something…feed your people.
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First Look or not? - I will forever harp on the importance of doing a first look for your wedding day. It keeps your day running smoothly, allows you to enjoy more time together as a couple and keeps your guests from having to wait up to an hour and a half for you at the reception. BUT if you’re insistent on waiting and seeing each other at the altar, PLEASE make sure to provide food and fun for your guests to keep them entertained. At one of my weddings this spring where they chose not to do a first look, they provided a scavenger hunt for the guests, wonderful music, as well as a tea/coffee bar with adorable finger-food type snacks - brilliant!
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Family pics - Family photos are so important, so make a detailed and well-thought-out list of family members who need to be in the photos after your wedding. I make sure to do all combinations of immediate family members with the bride and groom before the wedding, but it’s those “after the ceremony” pics that kill me. Consider doing pictures with your family plus grandparents and maybe special aunts and uncles only. Your third cousins on your step dad’s side and their neighbors likely will not care to stay for pics, so don’t expect them to.
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Photo song is a must! - One of my favorite things I’ve done this past year is a photo challenge at the reception. Set it up with your DJ to play one three to four-minute song, sit yourselves down in some cute chairs in the middle of the dance floor, and have them announce that guests may get up during this one song to have a pic done with you in groups of about ten or less. Your photographer will have so much fun with this! (This is the perfect time to have your third cousins in a pic…)
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Cake cutting struggle - This is something I see at most weddings these days. The bride and groom cut the cake and then no one knows who is to serve the guests! It’s a question for your planner and the caterer. The caterer is not there to cut the cake unless they made it, but they can if asked BEFORE the reception and they have the ability to. Sometimes the coordinator does this for you, but you have to ask or plan for a family member (with food safe gloves or at least clean hands) to do. Think ahead on this one. *It’s also important to bring a knife to cut the cake. I had a wedding a month ago where they totally forgot a knife of any kind, so the bride and groom literally bit into the cake and called it a day - hilarious! Not sure that anyone else got to eat that cake, however…
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Coordinator - Speaking of coordinators, the longer I do this job, the more variation I see in the responsibilities of the coordinators. There are good ones and bad ones, but know what you’re getting into, as well as what you’re paying for. To me, a good coordinator is one who knows the plan and helps to execute it alongside the other wedding day vendors. Ask them if they pin the boutonnieres on the groomsmen (this is something I end up doing about 99% of the time and that’s fine), ask if they release tables to the buffet at the reception, ask if they help to bustle your dress, carry extra tissues and pins…(My coordinator on Monday's wedding carried a little fanny pack of extras on her at all times - love that!) Find out what you’re paying them for ahead of time, friends. It makes everyone’s jobs so much easier.
That’s literally all I had on my little piece of paper, friends. As always, call/email/text me with any questions regarding anything weddings, even if it’s not about photography. I would almost guarantee I have an opinion! Reach out on the socials or my website at www.gingersumerlinphotography.com
Ginger Sumerlin
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