Welcome to the Bride Guide…
I’m sure you feel excited, overwhelmed, happy, emotional, etc.! Here’s a guide to make your wedding planning a bit easier. Most of all, remember this day is about YOU, and you deserve the best, so make it a day that will reflect you two. There will be many opinions throughout the process, but stick with your gut and do what you two want! I’ve not only been a bride at my wedding, but have photographer many of them, and here are some tips to help anyone getting married.
Your Vision
Start with what reflects you two as a couple.. what do YOU want to do? Where do you see yourself and your significant other getting married.. is it a small elopement or a destination ? Your vision will help you plan your day.
Location
When & Where
Best times to get married are before/ after summer. There are less visitors in town, and the weather is cooler. These are popular months, so be sure to start looking for venues early & booking!
Check out some ideas on wedding blogs such as Green Wedding Shoes and Junebug Weddings. Love VenueReport; it’s a website designated for finding venues for designated evens, bachelorette, elopement or wedding, they also have custom filters to help!
Wedding Weekend
Why it’s perfect.
One day is not enough to celebrate? Do a wedding weekend! Also ideal for wedding where guests are traveling to your location, whether its by car or plane. Having a wedding weekend can give you more time to spend with your guest. Instead of a traditional rehearsal dinner; have a bbq or boat ride or just hang on the beach and have a cookout.
Guest Count
The best advice I can give, is do what is ‘YOU’ if a big wedding isn’t you, don’t do it. All the opinions will eventually be forgotten, on your wedding day.
What are you thinking- a small wedding of 25 guests or something bigger? Most couples want something intimate, and they should do it! You can always have a bigger ‘just married’ celebration after your big day.
Checking in with most brides a few months before the wedding, the case usually is that their guest list went up and they are overwhelmed, wishing they had a smaller wedding or even an elopement.
Timeline
What to expect and when
Be sure to leave enough time, and not try to squeeze too many things in on the wedding day. Something will usually go wrong at a wedding, (try not to stress it!) this is why you leave extra time. You also don’t want to feel overwhelmed or rushed, try to enjoy every moment! Here is a timeline of the flow of a typical wedding day.
Getting Ready
These photos can be a mix of excitement, emotion and fun. Whether you’re getting ready with sibling or girlfriends; these photos can be some timeline memories.
Be sure to pick a spot that isn’t too cluttered and one that gets a lot of light. Airbnb’s can be stylish, compared to hotels.
Some Tips
+ When choosing a getting ready spot, natural light work best! Aim to find a room with lots of natural light
+ To minimize clutter, designate a spot for bags, details, etc. so they stay out of the photos. This will help make photos perfect and stress free!
The Dress
A wedding dress is both intimate and personal for a woman— it must reflect the personality and style of the bride.
Carolina Herrera
This is a big one, and the most important one! You want to feel beautiful in your dress- comfortable and like yourself. This one is all about you, don’t go for the dress that mom or your friends like, go with the one YOU love. It is a good idea to bring a close friend, sister or mom.
Shop early! Favorite dress shops in SoCal—
Some of my personal favorite dress designers are:
*If you’re on a timeframe and need a dress within a few weeks, BHLDN is great; they have gowns that can be shipped the same week!
First Look
What is it, and why?
It’s when the bride and groom decide to see each other before the ceremony, and take some bridal portraits. I love doing a first look, because it gets the main photos [bridal party + sometimes family] out of the way earlier in the day. This is a brilliant idea for several reasons:
1. You get to see each other before you walk down the aisle with all your guests.
2. It can be as emotional as walking down the aisle, it’s just you two and you have some time for yourselves to actually take it all in before the wedding day starts. Share special vows between the two of you only. After the actual ceremony, things get a bit busier and everyone wants to congratulate you.
3. By getting the main photos done earlier, you have more time to spend with your guests after. Some couples also do the bridal portraits after the first look.
Your Day
Finally it’s here! This day, that you’ve been planning for moths, or even a year will be one of the most remembered days. Don’t let any mishaps ruin the day. Focus on you and your love and how you got to this point, and all the special people that came together to celebrate you two.
Do whatever you want!
It’s your day! You and your fiancé should do which ever will make it the most memorable. You guys want to elope and your parents want a traditional wedding? You can do both! Go and elope to that place you’ve been dreaming about exploring. Invite a few close family members & friends, it will be memorable for everyone. It will be so much more meaningful than a big wedding you didn’t want in the first place. You an always have a celebration party at home.
