Wedding Tips

February 1, 2011  |  Wedding Planning

Amazing Photos:

  • Guys
    • Get a nice tux that is fitted by a professional.  I suggest a local company that has their inventory on site in case of emergencies.  Check out our Preferred Vendors List at DanielMichael.com
    • Do not cut your hair the day of the wedding!  Give it at least a week to grow in a little.
    • Hang up your jacket when you’re in the car so it doesn’t wrinkle.
  • Ladies
    • Have a professional do your make up. I know most women have a comfort level doing their own because they know how they like it. However, for photos you want your make up about 30% heavier than you normally would. Check out our Preferred Vendor List or give us a call if you need recommendations.
    • Do a test run on your hair to make sure it’s what you like. I have more people not like their hair than anything else on the wedding day.
  • Couple
    • Do not chew gum.  It will show up in your photos any time you laugh!
    • Contact each person involved in photos to make sure they know where and when they need to be available.  There is no more common issue than grandparents thinking they are not needed or wedding party members thinking they have time to run and do something else.
    • Make sure you have enough time built in to your timeline. Otherwise you will stress and ultimately affect your photos.  Have extra time in your timeline; you’ll use it.  It’s no big deal to be early but it is to be late.
    • Do not dance with your arms around your groom’s neck or all your dance photos will be of your arms, not your face.  You may want to consider first dance lessons from someone like Bud Walters
    • Stand up during your toast so everyone can see you and we get a clear shot of your reactions.  Toast photos with your centerpiece in front of your face are not so lovely.
    • Cut out photos from magazines or print out photos online and bring them to your final meeting with the photographer to give them a better idea of your style and preferences.

 

Planning Tips:

  • Vendors
    • Send all your vendors a final timeline.  If one is off time with the others, all that follow will be playing catch up and the end result is a rushed, stressful day with food that has been sitting waiting for you.
    • Plan a basic timeline with your photographer before setting hair, make up and limo times.
    • Have an emergency day of contact sheet for all the vendors. 
    • Have an emergency contact person besides you since you won’t likely have your phone.  A day of wedding planner is not a bad idea.
    • Hire vendors you trust and then trust them.  You don’t have to do everything they want, but take their advice under consideration and trust your gut.
  • Stop and Smell the Roses
    • Schedule some time where you can stop and breathe.  You’re day will be a blur.  Every moment you have to stop and reflect is one you will recall better in 10 years.
    • Take some time to look around and enjoy the work you put in.
    • Enjoy every moment of planning and preparing for your wedding.  It’s so easy to look forward to the next moment that you don’t stop to enjoy the last!
    • Think about taking a day with your family after you wedding and then leaving for your honeymoon the following week.  This gives you a chance to open gifts at a brunch with your family and a chance to relive and share stories about the day before.