Budget for wiggle room in your timeline.

Your wedding day is going to be one of the most joy-filled days of your life that will no doubt be absolutely gorgeous!! Because the day goes by so quickly, I always recommend building buffers into your timeline.

So many things can come up during the wedding day that push back your timeline. I’ve most commonly seen this happen during hair and makeup at the beginning of the day, so I usually suggest the most wiggle room around getting ready. That way, if makeup is running behind or hair is taking a bit more time than anticipated, it will be okay because you planned for it! And if everything goes according to schedule, you’ll have extra time to just relax and celebrate with your loved ones. That is seriously such a gift on your wedding day so you can actually enjoy your day and be present in the moment.

I help craft a timeline that allows you to have some breathing room and still get beautiful photos that tell the story of your day. After photographing more than 100 weddings, I have a pretty good idea how much time is needed for each part of the day. This is why I create a sample timeline during your consultation meeting to give you a much clearer idea of what a stress-free timeline looks like. This really helps couples know just how much photography coverage they need and how to customize their collection to best fit their needs.

Do a first look.

One way to relieve stress on a wedding day is doing a first look. This is when you see each other for the first time privately, before the ceremony. Some people worry that a first look won’t be as emotional as waiting for the ceremony. But I’ve seen first-hand that this is not the case most of the time. Having a special, private moment usually brings out more feelings than the actual ceremony! It’s always just such a beautiful and sweet moment for just the two of you, without having the pressure of your guests’ eyes on you.

I usually suggest doing the first look at least 2 hours before the ceremony so that we can take the wedding party photos before the ceremony. Then you can actually enjoy your cocktail hour! It can also feel like a huge weight off your shoulders to check off almost all the portraits before the ceremony even happens. Then you can focus on celebrating with your guests and being with your best friend!

Minimize travel time.

Couples often don’t realize how long it takes to travel between locations on their wedding day. Location, location, location is definitely a very important detail on your big day. Even if locations are 20 minutes apart, it can severely cut down on the time you have to take photos and enjoy your wedding day festivities. If possible, having the ceremony and reception all in one location is ideal. This is why I think where you decide to host your wedding is probably the most important decisions you will make for the day. If you decide to go with a wedding venue that fits the style and feel you want for your event, you will have significantly more time to relax and enjoy your day.

Live in the moment.

This often gets forgotten in the hustle and bustle of the day! Especially when you have spent so much time and effort planning your wedding, make sure you remember to take a breath and enjoy the time with family and friends. This becomes way easier to do when you have added extra time to your day. So, making sure you create extra time by doing the items above will really help you to be present in the moment and soak in every detail! While getting ready, have your favorite songs ready to go to loosen up and have fun from the start. This is the best way to create amazing candid photos as well!

Remember that the goal is marrying your best friend. Everything else is extra.

Sometimes stressful things can happen that are just out of your control (I’m looking at you Ohio weather …) But an important thing to remember if hiccups happen is to refocus on the goal of the whole day – to celebrate your relationship and marry your best friend. This is just the beginning of your amazing life together!

Like marriage, your wedding day might have ups and downs, but approaching any struggles or challenges with the mindset that your favorite person is right beside you makes it so much easier to tackle. One of my favorite things about my own husband is how he helps me handle stressful situations. He always finds a way to bring a smile to my face and find a silver lining. Remember that the day is all about marrying your best friend and you will be golden.