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Wedding Guide
A Note From Me:I'm over the moon the you choose me to document your day, and I don't take that lightly. My clients feel more like friends & family, so welcome to the crew! Thank you for placing your trust in me. I want to make sure you have the best day EVER, so I've created this guide with you in mind so you have something to reference throughout the planning process.
Keep in mind that this is not a rulebook, and your day is exactly that - YOURS. These are just some tips & tricks I've accumulated from all of the weddings I've shot over the years, and I hope they're helpful to you as you dive into the planning process!
Always remember that I'm an open book and I'm here for you. If you have any questions that aren't answered here or just want to say hey - email me!
xx Flora.
NEXT STEPS:
Engagement Session:We get to spend a day hanging out and capturing this season of your life together. I'll help with location ideas, what to wear, and guiding you through the whole session. You just have to show up and be yourselves!
stay in touch:I'm here every step of the way, whether you need advice on bridesmaid dress colors, or just want to chat, don't hesitate to reach out! It makes my day to hear from you!
questionnaire:You'll receive two online questionnaires from me to gather other vendor contacts, family formal combinations, timeline information, and a few other final details! Both questionnaires should be back to me a month before your wedding day.
Wedding Day:THE DAY IS HERE! We celebrate, we cry, we dance, we have the best day EVER! You'll receive sneak peeks within 1 week to hold you over while I work hard on editing your full gallery!
Delivered:
Time to re-live your day!! You'll receive a link to your full online gallery within 8-10 weeks of your wedding day. I deliver as soon as I possibly can, so if your photos are ready before the deadline of course I'll send em your way!
Step 1:Engagement Session:
Engagement sessions are a chance to connect with each other, explore a beautiful place, and create memories. Think of these as a date night that just happens to be third-wheeled by a gal with a camera!
Is there a place that's meaningful to you & your relationship? If there's not a specific place, think about the dates you love to go on together. Do you tend to go to the beach? Picnic on a cliffside? Grab drinks at a dive bar? Your photos will feel so much more like you if we explore a location that is similar to somewhere you normally would go together. Of course, you can always choose a location that you've never explored together — but have been wanting to! I have plenty of recommendations and love to show couples some of my favorite hidden gems.
Ideas:
Jump in the ocean by lovers point, bring a paddle board, skateboard, board game.
Go to a library, like Henry Miller.
Book a unique hotel like Deetjens and capture you both cuddling in good light.
Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk or the Fair.
Step 1Timelines:
Being rushed on your wedding day is the last thing we want! My photography style is documentary, and I love to capture real moments as they unfold, but if everyone's rushed & in a panic, those real moments aren't going to happen as easily. To enable us to have a relaxed day, you should be ready to go about 2.5 hours before your ceremony time. However, there are lots of factors that affect this! Whether or not you do a first look, the size of the wedding party and families, and travel time between locations will all be factored in when I suggest timing for portraits. I will work directly with you to make your timeline as soon as the ceremony and reception times are set! All planning guides and timeline guidance will be saved in your Honeybook portal under the files tab.
Whats a first look and should I do one?
A first look allows you to spend more time with your partner on the morning of your wedding day, instead of waiting until the ceremony to see them. You can take this time to read letters to each other, or simply just breathe, embrace, and take a quiet moment to yourselves. Deciding to do one is a personal choice!
From a photography perspective, doing a first look allows us to take photos before the ceremony, leaving you to enjoy most of your cocktail hour instead of having to cram ALL of our photos (wedding party, family, & you two) into a single hour. This also allows us to do group photos before the ceremony!
A common fear I hear from couples is that if they do a first look, their partner won't be emotional when they walk down the aisle later on — and I've found this to be the total opposite! Nothing can take away from seeing your person walk down the aisle to a beautiful song, with all of your friends & family surrounding you. I've seen many brides/grooms still tear up walking down the aisle even after doing a first look earlier in the day! With that said — I never want you to feel pressured into making a decision for your wedding day that doesn't feel right to you. I've photographed weddings with and without first looks, and at the end of the day, all that really matters is that you're happy with whatever you decide!
How much time do we need?
Getting Ready:
I like to arrive at the prep location just as the bride is finishing hair/makeup—that way, we can get a few photographs of the final touches. I'll also photograph some of your details (stationery, flowers, heirlooms, etc) so remember to gather everything so that they’re ready for me to photograph when I get there! Either myself or my second shooter will photograph your partner's prep. I generally try to do more creative details, finding funky light, your dress behind you as you get ready, etc. I have been moving away from traditional flat lays but if you want one please let me know!
Ceremony:
Ceremony length totally depends! A short and sweet ceremony might last 15 minutes; something more in-depth (like a church service) more like 30-45.
Family and wedding party:
The amount of time these take depends on size and family/group combinations. I recommend keeping the different combinations to a minimum—any more than 15 can start to eat into cocktail hour and/or the time we have set aside for couple portraits. If you do a first look, we can do the majority of wedding and family party photos prior to the ceremony!
Couple portraits:
I'll take as much time as I can get with you two! But, I typically recommend setting aside at least 45 minutes on your wedding day for couples portraits. I always like to steal you away at sunset for a few extra portraits if the light is right! I'll take as much time as I can get with you two! But, I typically recommend setting aside at least 45 minutes on your wedding day for couples portraits. I always like to steal you away at sunset for a few extra portraits if the light is right!
Reception:
I typically only need to photograph about an hour of open dancing in order to get a good amount of variety of people dancing & having a good time! If you're doing a big exit at the end, consider doing a smaller "faux" exit I can photograph, so you're not paying for extra photography time that you don't really need!
Step 3:Sample Timeline:
1:30pm — Photography coverage begins
2:30pm — Bride's hair & makeup complete
3:00pm — Bride into dress
3:30pm — Couple 'first look' & portraits
4:00pm — Wedding party photographs
4:30pm — Family photographs
5:00pm — Family photographs finish, couple into hiding for guest arrival
5:30pm — Ceremony begins
5:50pm — Ceremony concludes, guests make way to cocktail hour
6:00pm — Cocktail hour
7:00pm — Reception begins
8:00pm — Sunset time (pull away couple for sunset photos)
8:30pm — First dance, followed by parent dances
9:30pm — Photography coverage ends
11:00pm—Reception finishes
Creative wedding day experience ideas:
Slip and Slide grand exit
polaroid place cards
tattoo artist at reception
4. custom sticker vending machines
5. vintage Photo Booth rental
Step 3:Getting Ready:
Location & Light
Some of my favorite moments on a wedding day happen before the ceremony! Getting ready spaces are filled with the anticipation and excitement of the day to come. However, if you want to spend your morning before you get married, make sure it's in a clean, bright space. Lots of window light makes my job easier & your photos a whole lot dreamier - so if your venue doesn't have a great bridal suite, look for an Airbnb with open space, lots of windows, and neutral walls. I encourage you to think about your getting ready space now, instead of leaving it until the last minute - because where you choose to spend this part of your day will have a big impact on the way your morning feels.
Cramming 8 bridesmaids, hair & makeup artists, a photographer, a videographer, and family members into a single room filled with ALL your stuff can feel chaotic, as well as make your photos feel cluttered. If you're getting ready in a hotel room - consider getting an extra room or using a family member or friend's room as a designated clean space. That way, we have a clean room for photos and a quiet space for you to hang out in if you need a moment to yourself.
Step 3:All in the details:
Capturing the little details of your wedding day is how I like to begin my photography time! Typically, this includes heirlooms, shoes, rings - really anything that is important to you two and telling the story of your day! This time also helps me center myself and gives me a chance to get the creative juices flowing. I ask that you have these items ready to go, so I can just grab them and get started when I arrive. I'm always looking for creative light and meaningful storytelling even in the details. Capturing the little details of your wedding day is how I like to begin my photography time! Typically, this includes heirlooms, shoes, rings - really anything that is important to you two and telling the story of your day! This time also helps me center myself and gives me a chance to get the creative juices flowing. I ask that you have these items ready to go, so I can just grab them and get started when I arrive. I'm always looking for creative light and meaningful storytelling even in the details.
CHECKLIST :
FLOWERS
SHOES
HANDWRITTEN VOWS OR LETTERS
RINGS
JEWELRY
SENTIMENTAL ITEMS (FAMILY HEIRLOOMS)
INVITATION SUITE
PERFUME
ANYTHING ELSE THAT'S IMPORTANT TO YOU!
*feel free to get creative! this list is just a guideline of the most common items typically included in detail photos
Wedding Party:LET'S HAVE SOME FUN.
Wedding party photos don't have to be boring! In fact, these can be such a fun part of the day. I typically will direct some walking, cheers-ing, etc! One of my favorite moments is the whole bridal party popping champagne, throwing beers to each other, etc so don't be afraid to celebrate! I love when groups naturally place themselves together more than anything done " perfectly symmetrical " so please encourage your family and friends to get close! Please send me a list of all photo groupings you want, including if you want individual photos with each person in your party. Then we get creative with whatever time is left! If you have a specific photo request or want certain groups of people photographed together (such as college friends, friends from home, etc) please make sure to let me know on your questionnaire ahead of time!
Step 3:Family Formals:
Make a list:
Family photos can be a little bit stressful to navigate if you have a big, rowdy group — so making a list is the best way to keep us organized, and to make sure we don't miss a photo that's important to you. I recommend keeping this list to about 15-18 different combinations. Each photo takes about 1-2 minutes, so the more combinations — the more time we need to take these. Remember that I can always grab family photos more informally during the reception!
Feel free to work off of the following sample list:
COUPLE WITH PARENTS
COUPLE WITH PARENTS & SIBLINGS
COUPLE WITH PARENTS, SIBLINGS, GRANDPARENTS
COUPLE WITH IMMEDIATE + EXTENDED FAMILY
FIRST CLIENT WITH MOM
FIRST CLIENT WITH DAD
FIRST CLIENT WITH SIBLINGS
FIRST CLIENT WITH GRANDPARENTS
COUPLE WITH SIBLINGS
COUPLE WITH PARENTS
COUPLE WITH PARENTS & SIBLINGS
COUPLE WITH PARENTS, SIBLINGS, GRANDPARENTS
COUPLE WITH IMMEDIATE + EXTENDED FAMILY
SECOND CLIENT WITH MOM
SECOND CLIENT WITH DAD
SECOND CLIENT WITH SIBLINGS
SECOND CLIENT WITH GRANDPARENTS
COUPLE WITH SIBLINGS
COUPLE WITH ALL PARENTS
COUPLE WITH BOTH IMMEDIATE FAMILIES
Just Married: THE PHOTOS YOU'LL HANG ON YOUR WALLS
Your wedding day portraits are similar to your engagements — just with way fancier clothes! I typically like to scope out locations beforehand, but I'm always open if there's a certain spot at your venue that you've been envisioning photos at, let me know on your questionnaire! I never want our portrait time to take away from you fully experiencing your wedding day, so I try to move quickly to ensure that we're getting great photos but you're not missing too much of the party!
All you have to do is be present with one another, enjoy this time together, and I'll take care of the rest.
Even if you do a first look, I'll often steal you two away for 15 or so minutes before sunset for some golden hour magic. The lighting is dreamiest about an hour before sunset, and if it's a clear day - it's 100% worth taking advantage of. This usually happens during dinner or the reception, and your guests won't even notice we're gone!
Things to consider when planning your ceremony.
LIGHT
Lighting is EVERYTHING. Whether your ceremony is indoors or outdoors, think about the available lighting. If indoors, is there any natural light from windows or skylights? Natural light is best, but if there isn't any available — you can add lots of string lights, hanging lights, lanterns, or candles to improve the lighting and your photos. If your ceremony is outdoors, what time of day will it be? Try to visit your venue around the time of day you'd like to get married so you can see what the lighting situation is like. Later in the day is typically better lighting than the midday bright sun. Let's chat if you need help with this!
LOCATION :
If outdoors, is there shade or will you be in direct sun? Ideally, shade is preferred. Standing up there in the middle of July, blazing sun, sweating from both nerves AND heat isn't fun! Space is also important to think about. Is there enough space in the aisle for you & your wedding party to walk down? Can your photo/video team move freely around the perimeter of the ceremony space to get different angles, and capture guest reactions?
Make it your own:
Don't be afraid to think outside the box when planning your ceremony. Often, couples will ask someone close to them to officiate which can make the ceremony feel even more special. You can keep classic traditions, and add your own. There are no rules! During their ceremony, I've seen couples plant trees, perform songs, create a wine box time capsule to open on their anniversary, invite a friend to share stories, honor family members by gifting flowers, and the list goes on. You can write your own personalized vows, or stick to the traditional ones. Whatever feels true to you!
Pro Tip: Ask your officiant to move out of the way when you kiss! That way, they aren't awkwardly behind you in your photos of the moment.
Lets Party:
Lighting:
My favorite way to photograph anything once the light goes down is with direct flash. This allows me to move around, get in the mix and capture the feeling of the dance party. It's however not great for formal group shots, so please keep in mind we should do all formal group shots before the sun sets! But let's take fun dancing shots with all your friends after!!
Sometimes venues offer colorful uplighting but I recommend keeping those set to white only because blues/purples/reds can really affect skin tones and make people look a bit off in photos!
Speeches:
Okay, my best tip for speeches: limiting the time per speech — there's nothing worse than a speaker going on a 10-minute tangent while everyone just wants to get up and start dancing! 3-5 minutes per speech is typically a good sweet spot.
UnPlugged:
An unplugged ceremony encourages your guests to put away their cell phones, Ipads, and cameras and be present with you during your ceremony. I've taken so many photos, only to notice a bunch of iPhones or big cameras being held up in the aisle, effectively ruining a beautiful moment. Phones can be a big distraction that takes away from the experience of your guests being present with you.
But if you don't mind phones in your photos and want all the BTS content/ videos, I am absolutely ok with it! Just please don't ask me to edit out any of them after the fact. ( I cannot ).
Rain and weather:
Do not panic about the weather or obsessively refresh the weather app leading up to your day! Forecasts change SO quickly and we can't change the weather — so let's embrace it! Check in with your venue to go over rain plans. Target sells some cute clear umbrellas we can pick up in a pinch, and I'll scout for locations that are beautiful & covered, whether that's indoors or under awnings/trees/etc. Some of my favorite weddings ever have been rainy ones, so no stress! I promise it will still be the best day ever!Do not panic about the weather or obsessively refresh the weather app leading up to your day! Forecasts change SO quickly and we can't change the weather — so let's embrace it! Check in with your venue to go over rain plans. Target sells some cute clear umbrellas we can pick up in a pinch, and I'll scout for locations that are beautiful & covered, whether that's indoors or under awnings/trees/etc. Some of my favorite weddings ever have been rainy ones, so no stress! I promise it will still be the best day ever!
Hair and Makeup:
This is the ONE part of the wedding day that consistently runs off schedule. Tell your makeup/hair stylists that you need to be ready 30 minutes earlier than you actually do. Then we'll be on time! Also, it's a great idea to use your hair and makeup trial for your engagement session. That way, you can see how the makeup looks on camera to make sure you love it for your wedding day!
Alone Time:
Set aside some alone time on your day!! This is SO IMPORTANT. With everyone you love in one room, and a lot of friends and family you may not have seen in a while, it's really easy for the day to fly by. I'm sure you've heard that a thousand times already, but it's so true. Set aside some time in your day to be alone, just the two of you. Even if it's just 10 minutes! Be together, take some deep breaths, and soak it alllllll in.
Photos arent meant to live on screens:
When your photos are ready, you'll receive a link to your personalized online gallery. It will be sent to you via email, and you'll receive a password upon viewing for the first time. You'll be able to share a link with family & friends, so they can easily view and download their favorites as well! From your gallery, you'll be able to access my online store full of prints & products so you can display your photos throughout your home. I firmly believe that photos aren't meant to live on a screen, and should be printed, enjoyed, and passed on for generations. Fine art prints or a beautiful album are amazing ways to preserve your memories — and I'm happy to help you decide the best way to display your images. If you'd prefer to print your photos with another vendor, that is totally fine! I'd recommend Artifact Uprising as a great outside option.
Whether you order through me or elsewhere, I recommend ordering prints or an album soon after you receive your gallery, before the excitement wears off and life gets crazy because before you know it, you'll be three years down the road and forget all about getting those photos printed!
You’re the best
Wedding planning can be a lot of work, but it's all worth it when you're surrounded by the people you love most. It's the freaking best, and I can't wait to document all the moments for you!
Please use me as a resource throughout your planning process if you need anything at all! I'm here for whatever you need. I can't wait to be beside you not only on your wedding day but all the days leading up to it as well. We're in this together!!