Here's something nobody tells you when you start planning: the flowers wilt, the cake gets eaten, and the dress goes back in its bag. But your photos? You'll pull those out on your anniversary, show them to your kids, and smile at them for the rest of your life.
My mom Debi and I have watched a lot of weddings come together over the years, and the couples with the most beautiful photos weren't always the ones with the biggest budget. They were the ones who planned a few small things ahead and then let themselves enjoy the day.
So here are my ten favourite wedding photo tips. None of them are complicated. All of them make a difference.
Pack a "details box" the night before
Rings, invitations, shoes, jewellery, your perfume or cologne, a family heirloom, anything that means something to you. Put it all in one box the night before. When your photographer walks in, hand it over and they can get started right away instead of digging through bags.
Little bonus: ask your florist for a few extra stems. They make those detail shots look absolutely stunning.
Find the window
Get ready in a room with big windows and lots of daylight. Natural light is softer, warmer and so much kinder to skin than overhead lights. And if you can, ask one person to quickly tidy up before your photographer arrives. Coffee cups and phone chargers don't need to be in your wedding album!
Ditch the plastic hangers
This one sounds silly, I know. But a wooden or fabric hanger makes your outfit photos look a hundred times prettier. It's a tiny thing you'll be so glad you did.
Give your morning breathing room
Hair and makeup almost always runs a little long, and that's okay! Just plan for it. Add an extra 20 to 30 minutes to your morning so nobody feels rushed. And ask the people helping you get ready to be dressed and ready first, so they can be in those sweet getting-ready photos too.
Skip the last-minute spray tan
Please trust me on this one. A tan done right before the wedding can show up a completely different colour in photos, and it's really hard to fix afterward. If you love a tan, try it well ahead of time so there are no surprises on the day.
Make family photos quick and painless
The easiest time for family photos is right after the ceremony, while everyone's still in one spot. Write your list ahead of time and keep it to your closest family, because every group takes a few minutes and they add up fast.
Then pick your loudest, most organized relative (every family has one!) to gather people. Let everyone on the list know beforehand so nobody sneaks off to cocktail hour.
Think about a first look
Seeing each other before the ceremony is such a special, quiet moment, just the two of you. And it means you can take most of your couple and wedding party photos early, so you can actually enjoy cocktail hour with your guests instead of missing it.
Go unplugged (and make that kiss count)
Ask your officiant to invite guests to put their phones away during the ceremony. Your aisle photos will be clear, and when you look out at your guests, you'll see their faces instead of screens.
And when it's time for your first kiss as a married couple? Hold it a little longer than feels natural. Your photographer will thank you!
Sneak away for golden hour
Right around sunset, the light turns warm and glowy and absolutely magical. Slipping out of the reception for just 10 or 15 minutes can give you some of the most beautiful photos of your whole day. Ask your photographer when golden hour falls on your date and pop it into your timeline.
Plan for comfort, weather and food
Pack comfy shoes for grass and gravel, and a few layers if any photos will be outside. Put together a little emergency kit: touch-up makeup, a stain pen, tissues, safety pins.
And please, please eat! Ask someone in your wedding party to make sure you get food and water. Remember your photographer and your other vendors need a meal too, ideally served early so they're ready when the speeches start. Your caterer can help you plan for it.
The best tip of all
Relax and soak it all in. The photos you'll treasure most are almost never the posed ones. They're the real moments: laughing until you cry with your best friends, a quiet look at your partner, your grandma tearing it up on the dance floor. Plan the little things, then let the day happen.
Still looking for your photographer?
This is exactly why we built OpenDates. When I was planning my own wedding, the hardest part was finding out who was actually free on our date. On OpenDates, you just enter your wedding date and see the photographers and videographers near you who are still available. No endless emails, no waiting to hear back.
You can do the same for venues, DJs and musicians, planners and everything else on your list. It's completely free for couples, always.
Happy planning! Kristina
Photos from Pexels.