getting ready + timeline tips
TIME OF DAY MATTERS
YOUR CEREMONY TIME SHOULD BE AT LEAST 2 HOURS BEFORE SUNSET. YOU WILL NEED ENOUGH TIME AFTER THE CEREMONY TO TAKE BRIDAL PARTY, FAMILY, AND NEWLYWEDS PORTRAITS.
FIRST LOOK + FIRST TOUCH
IT'S NO SECRET PHOTOGRAPHERS LOVE THE FIRST LOOKS. WHY? NOT JUST FOR THE SPECIAL MOMENT AND BEAUTIFUL, EMOTIVE PHOTOS WE GET TO CAPTURE WHEN YOU DO THE FIRST LOOK. BUT BECAUSE OF THIS, IT CREATES FOR A MORE RELAXED TIMELINE.
I AM HUGE FAN OF OPTING TO DO A FIRST TOUCH, IF DOING A FIRST LOOK ISN'T FOR THE TWO IF YOU. A MOMENT WHERE YOU CAN SHARE LETTERS OR A TOAST WITHOUT SEEING ONE ANOTHER. TOUCHING WITHOUT SEEING WHICH WILL OF COURSE HELP EASE SOME OF THOSE JITTERS YOU MAY FEEL BEFORE SAYING, "I DO."
GRAND EXITS + ENTRANCES
THERE ARE ENDLESS AMOUNT OF IDEAS THAT YOU COULD DO FOR A GRAND EXIT AND A GRAND ENTRANCE, IF I WILL NOT BE STAYING UNTIL THE VERY END OF YOUR WEDDING, I'D RECOMMEND DOING A GRAND ENTRANCE INTO YOUR RECEPTION. SPARKLERS STILL LOOK PRETTY IN THE DAYLIGHT, OR YOU CAN OPT TO DO OTHER FUN THINGS LIKE CONFETTI (ECO-FRIENDLY PLEASE), OR DRIED FLORALS.
WHY VIVA RECOMMENDS GETTING READY SHOTS...
Your getting ready shots tell the story of how your day began and all the preparation that goes into you getting ready. This is when all the detail shots are documented in a journalistic way. From the small details such as your rings, vow books, bouquet to your dress/suit being put on or buttoned up by a special person in your life to your shoes being put on.
If you don't know already, I am absolutely in love with these kind of images, and I am a sucker for all the detail shots. During your consultation we will discuss what is most important to you and hopefully this blog post helps!
FIRST LOOK + FIRST TOUCH VS DOWN THE AISLE
THERE IS NO DENYING HOW MUCH PHOTOGRAPHERS LOVE THE FIRST LOOKS + FIRST TOUCHES. ITS NOT JUST FOR THE EMOTIVE PHOTOS WE GET TO CAPTURE BUT ALSO BECAUSE OF THE RELAXED TIMELINE FIRST LOOKS ALLOW US TO CREATE. THIS ALSO GIVES US A CHANCE TO KNOCK OUT COUPLE PHOTOS AND EVEN SOME FAMILY PHOTOS IF YOU WANT!
MAYBE YOUR NOT DOWN FOR THE FIRST LOOK, BUT OPTING FOR THE FIRST TOUCH IS SUCH A GREAT WAY TO CALM YOUR NERVES AND ALLOW YOU TO HAVE A SPECIAL MOMENT BETWEEN JUST THE TWO OF YOU. WHETHER YOU SHARE A GIFT EXCLUSIVE TO YOUR PARTNER'S EYES OR A GLASS OF CHAMPAGNE. I'LL BUILD THE ANTICIPATION OF FINDING YOUR HANDS AND ALSO GIVING YOU GUYS A FEW MINUTES ALONE WITHOUT BEING CAPTURED OR ANYONE AROUND.
IT IS ALSO PERFECTLY OKAY IF THE FIRST LOOK OR TOUCH IS FOR YOU. THE BEST PART OF PLANNING YOUR SPECIAL DAY, IT IS ALL ABOUT WHAT YOU AND YOUR PARTNER WANT.
sample timeline
8:00 AM Hair & makeup starts (brides maids)
10:00 AM bride arrives to the venue
12:00 PM hair & makeup starts for bride
1:00 pM photographer arrives
1:45 PM bride puts on dress
1:50 PM gift to BRIDESMAIDS&GROOMSMEN
2:15 PM FIRST TOUCH/TOAST/READING LETTERS
3:30 PM CEREMONY STARTS
4:00 PM COCKTAIL HOUR
BRIDE & GROOM EXCHANGE GIFTS
BRIDAL PARTY + FAMILY PORTRAITS
5:15 PM INTRODUCTIONS
5:30 PM FIRST DANCE
PARENT DANCES
SPEECHES
6:00 PM DINNER
6:45 PM GOLDEN HOUR PORTRAITS
JUST BRIDE & GROOM
7:45 PM CAKE & DESSERT
8:30 PM BOUQUET TOSS
9:00 PM PHOTOGRAPHY COVERAGE ENDS
11:00 PM WEDDING ENDS
FIND THE PERFECT SPACE.
WHEN CHOOSING YOUR GETTING READY LOCATION, LOOK FOR SOMEWHERE THAT IS NICE AND OPEN WITH LOTS OF NATURAL LIGHT. THIS IS YOUR WEDDING DAY, SO YOU WANT TO FEEL COMFORTABLE! IF THE SPACE OF YOUR VENUE OFFERS FOR GETTING READY DOES NOT SEEM LIKE A GOOD FIT, CONSIDER RENTING OUT A CUTE AIR BNB OR BOUTIQUE HOTEL ROOM.
KEEP IT CLEAN.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO HAVE CLUTTER-FREE PHOTOS DESIGNATE A ROOM OR CORNER OF THE ROOM TO BE A BAG AREA AND TRY TO KEEP MOST STUFF IN THAT CORNER.
HAVE DETAILS READY
YOU HAVE LIKELY SPENT TIME SPECIALLY SELECTING CERTAIN DETAILS OF YOUR DAY. SO I LOVE TO PHOTOGRAPH THEM AS PART OF THE STORY OF YOUR DAY! PLEASE HAVE ALL DETAILS GATHERED AND READY FOR ME TO PHOTOGRAPH WHEN I ARRIVE. AFTER GREETING YOU, I WILL IMMEDIATELY START ON DETAIL PHOTOS OF YOUR HAIR AND MAKEUP AS IT IS BEING DONE. I RECOMMEND HAVING THE DETAIL ITEMS LISTED BELOW IN A BOX OR BAG AHEAD OF TIME.
IT IS ALL IN THE DETAILS
Your details are the beginning of your special day. After all the planning and finalizing every little detail of your wedding day, it is just as important to capture the little details as it is to capture those emotive images between you and your soulmate. Whether it is your dress, shoes, dress, perfume, jewelry, rings, bouquet, suit, tie, vow books, stationary, wax seals, and much more.
BUFFER TIME...
I ALWAYS RECOMMEND CLIENTS TO BUILD BUFFER TIME INTO THEIR TIMELINES. FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU EXPECT SOMETHING TO TAKE 30 MINUTES, BUILD 45 MINUTES INTO YOUR TIMELINE SO THAT YOU WILL NOT FEEL STRESSED OR RUSHED IF THINGS ARE RUNNING BEHIND. HAIR AND MAKEUP CAN OFTEN TAKE LONGER THAN EXPECTED.
TIME FOR JUST THE TWO OF YOU.
TIME SPENT ALONE WITH YOUR PARTNER ON YOUR WEDDING DAY IS RARE! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND INTENTIONALLY PLANNING TIME (EVEN IF IS JUST A SMALL SLICE) TO SPEND WITH YOUR PARTNER. I LOVE SNEAKING MY COUPLES AWAY FOR GOLDEN HOUR PHOTOS THEN LETTING THEM HAVE A FEW MOMENTS TO THEMSELVES BEFORE RETURNING. I ALSO LOVE PRIVATE LAST DANCES!
DANCE, DANCE, AND DANCE!!!!
THERE IS NO DENYING THAT YOU ARE GOING TO WANT TO DOCUMENT ALL YOUR LOVED ONES HAVING A GREAT TIME. THESE ARE THE MOMENTS THAT MAY MAKE YOU LAUGH UNTIL YOUR BELLY HURTS AND YOU'LL BE SMILING SO MUCH YOUR CHEEKS WILL HURT. SEEING YOUR LOVED ONES THAT CAME TO CELEBRATE YOUR LOVE WITH THEIR OH-SO-GOOD DANCE MOVES OR EVEN THE OH-SO-NOT-GOOD DANCE MOVES IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING YOU DO NOT WANT TO SKIP OUT ON. PLUS, IF I AM BEING HONEST I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE ALL THE DANCING. YOU'LL MOST LIKELY CATCH ME SINGING AND DANCING BEHIND MY CAMERA WHILE I CAPTURE ALL THE BEST MOMENTS. YOU CAN ALSO OPT FOR A PRIVATE DANCE WITH NO GUESTS-JUST YOU TWO AND ME.
