Lauren & Scott | Married!!
You may remember Lauren and Scott from their engagement or family sessions a while back . They are dear friends and I couldn’t have been more happy to photograph their wedding for them. The ceremony was at St. John Neumann here in Austin and it is one of the prettiest churches I’ve seen. There were a few times during the ceremony where I was blinking back tears – Lauren and Scott had a special necklace that they presented to Lauren’s daughter, Abbey, and took a moment during the recessional to remember Scott’s dear father. After the ceremony we took a trip to the Capital grounds for a few photos before heading to the reception at the Stephen F. Austin hotel. A few of my have moments of the day included the first kiss complete with a dip, Lauren, Scott & Abbey’s first dance together, Scott’s sister’s touching toast to the new couple, and of course the send off – complete with bubbles and crossdressing dead bridesmaids in blue. Only in Austin…
Congrats you guys!! Also, thanks so much to Carli & John for assisting me on this one!
Erin + Chris | Married!!
You may remember Erin & Chris from their lovely San Marcos Engagement session, and if you missed it here are Erin’s Bridals. I knew this was going to be a wonderful day – not only because of how much I adore these two, but also because Erin and her bridesmaids were all reciting lines from the Princess Bride right before the ceremony began. Also, the weather that day was unbelievable. It was raining and very overcast until about an hour before the ceremony, then the sun came out and it was gorgeous! I’m going to call that a sign of many happy years to come.
Chris’s grandfather officiated the ceremony which made it even more personal and touching. I will never forget the love in Chris’s eyes as he saw Erin walking down that aisle toward him – it took my breath away.
Chris & Erin, I’m so happy for both of you and your families. Thank you again for choosing us to share your special day. **Special thanks to Matthew Johnson for second shooting this gorgeous wedding with me!!**
Brynn + Justin | Married!
I can’t believe it had been a whole year since I saw Brynn & Justin last during their engagement session. Shortly after, Justin got into med school and Brynn landed a job – so off to Arizona they went. Off and on throughout the year Brynn and I e-mailed back and forth, talking about the wedding plans, Justin’s school and her new job. So when I finally did see them on their wedding day at the Barr Mansion, it didn’t seem like that much time had passed. They were just as lovely as I remembered, and just as much as in love too! Brynn worked hard on all the wedding decor and she has an amazing eye for design. (Stems did all the beautiful flowers if you were curious!) She is also quite crafty. She made that ring pillow and the favors herself – among many other things (the invites were Ahh-mazing by the way!!). She made sure that every detail of the day had a little piece of ‘Brynn and Justin’ in it.
I had so many favorites from the day I had a hard time narrowing it down (but don’t I always say that?!). We did some bridal portraits for Brynn before the ceremony since we didn’t get to do a bridal session before the wedding day, and those have to be some of the best shots from the day. Brynn is a beauty but her hair and makeup with that dress were just perfection. But I’m also partial to the cake cutting photos – I think because they are so…them. Brynn and Justin also asked us to do a sparkler writing photo but we had a heck of a time lighting those darn things. I think it took us longer to light them than it did to actually get the photo!!
Thank you both for letting us be part of your wedding day – it was perfect!! Also a big thank you to Jenny DeMarco for second shooting for me.
Christine + Nate | Married!
My first wedding blog of the year, and I think I’ve done it up right!! I met Christine & Nate thanks to my lovely couple Luke & Lindsay who got married back in October of last year – Christine was one of Lindsay’s bridesmaids. I had a feeling before I met them that they were fun people (by pure association!) but I truly underestimated just HOW awesome they would be. I had been looking forward to this wedding ever since because of many reasons…first of all, how beautiful is Christine? (And in that dress!! Shut. Up.) Lindsay was her Matron of Honor so of course I got to see her & Luke again AND their friends know how to party!
Their wedding Ceremony was held at the beautiful Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church and the reception was at The Parador. Since Christine & Nate opted for a first look we got some really beautiful photos of them and their wedding party at the Parador before the ceremony. I can’t even describe how beautiful that place is!! I was in love with Christine’s veil and shoes. She chose some little ivory wedge Toms which also happened to meet the ‘something blue’ requirement (I didn’t even know Toms made wedges!!). She wore her mothers wedding veil, and a necklace Nate had given her as a gift. The earrings were a family heirloom borrowed from her brother’s girlfriend.
Christine & Nate were both so calm and relaxed. I could tell they were ready to finally be husband and wife and celebrate their union with the people who matter the most to them. It was a great way to start off my 2012 wedding season. Thank you so much for letting me be part of your wedding day. One question – who’s getting married next? I miss you guys already!!
Also, special thanks to Stephanie & Howie Behrens for being my right hand woman & man for the evening.
Brandi + Aaron | Married!!
Brandi & Aaron’s wedding at Chateau Bellevue in Austin could not have been more beautiful and all about them. There were so many special touches – they made the wine that was served & the labels were photos from their engagement session, Brandi made the adorable cake ball pop escort cards, They chose cupcakes and cherry pie for the dessert table & had a late night snack of chips and queso and Tiff’s Treats. There was a last dance serenade to ‘Don’t Stop Believing’ and the bride and groom escaped via pedicab to wrap up the night. Brandi even made those beautiful bouquets herself!
I also just LOVE that they wanted to do a first look. It’s such an intimate and special time. At the rehearsal dinner the night before Aaron had surprised Brandi with a beautiful pair of sapphire and diamond earrings (they match her gorgeous engagement ring!) and at the first look Brandi gave Aaron his gift – a lovely watch with a sapphire blue face. In one of the photos you’ll see it sitting on Aaron’s baby bonnet (how adorable is that!). That’s what Brandi carried as her hankie for the day – and she of course needed it the first time she saw Aaron! I can’t wait to share these with you, there were so many beautiful memories made that day. I feel very blessed to have been there to capture it all. Brandi & Aaron, thank you so much for choosing to share your wedding day with me.
Laura + Ryan | Married!
Where do I even start with these two? The short story: they were childhood sweethearts & have a photo of them kissing to prove it! After years of being apart they reconnected thanks to social media, and when they finally saw each other again it was just like old times. The universe works in mysterious ways I tell you. Laura and Ryan just go together. You might say like Clark Kent and Lois Lane, Peter Parker and Mary Jane, Harley Quinn and Joker, or even Jean and Scott!
I’ve never seen a couple more giddy with love for each other. The entire day was full of laughter and happiness – but, I guess that’s a given when the officiant gets the ceremony started with, “Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder tooday…” (Ahem…that would be the Princess Bride for those of you who can’t decipher clergyman speak!) I adore how much of themselves they incorporated into the day from the vows right down to the super cute superhero button bouts and even candy on the buffet table. And ohh how awesome was that groom’s CAKE! It really was the perfect day, for the perfect couple. I love looking at their photos because I can’t help but smile when I see the way Ryan’s face lights up when Laura is around, or the way Ryan can make Laura’s nose crinkle all cute like when she smiles at him.
I am so glad we get to do an after-session early next year because I just want to hang out with them all the time!! Really – have a look and tell me how you could not? Congrats guys. I’m so happy I could witness the universe bringing together two such beautiful people.
Thanks to The Inn at Wild Rose Hall and Stefanie Yandell at Your Wedding Your Way for everything they did to make the day extra special as well.
Lindsay + Luke | Married!
You’ll probably remember this cute couple from their Whole Foods engagement session. After a marathon photo shoot and dinner at 24 Diner, I knew they were going to become not only wonderful clients, but great friends as well. The love these two have for each other is infectious. I don’t think I had to tell them to kiss for any photos…maybe to STOP kissing though!!
Their sunset ceremony was at the beautiful Duchman Family Winery and it could not have been more touching or beautiful. Since the ceremony was overlooking the vines there was no where for Lindsay to hide before she walked down the aisle, so her bridesmaids became a wall in front of her as they made their way to the site. One by one they walked down the aisle until only Lindsay remained – and that was my favorite part of the day. Seeing the love in Luke’s eyes as he saw his bride walk toward him was such a beautiful moment to witness. Lindsay – you are such a beautiful, strong woman and I have to say, you totally owned that aisle!
After the ceremony we took a quick walk around into the vines and at the adjacent restaurant, Trattoria Lisina, which has some beautiful landscaping and spots for photos. I would love to have kept on taking lovey-dovey photos of them if we had more time. Luke brews his own beer so he had made a few microbrews for the reception and Whole Foods catered the event. They had also been taking dance lessons and surprised everyone by doing a choreographed first dance to start off the night. It was so cute!! After lots of great food, wine (duh!), dancing, toasts, some cake smashing and much celebrating their guests waved goodbye to them in a sea of bubbles as they hopped into their limo and headed to Costa Rica on honeymoon.
It was truly an amazing night filled with so much love! I hope you guys enjoy the photos as much as I loved sharing in your wedding day with you.
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Karishma + Adam {Part Three} | Married!
I know you want me to get to the wedding photos already, so I’ll try to wrap this up quickly…I think I can sum up Karishma and Adam in three little letters.
J-O-Y.
You can see it in Adam’s eyes when he watches her from across the room or in his smile when she wraps her arms around him. You can hear it in Karishma’s laugh when he says something funny, or looks at her in just the right way. At their wedding I could feel it radiating from all their family and friends, many of whom traveled hundreds or even thousands of miles to celebrate with them.
I knew Karishma & Adam were special when I met them, but I had no idea how much joy they would bring me in the small amount of time I was so blessed to have spent with them and their families. It’s really hard to narrow down wedding photos to a handful of ‘the best’ when you feel so attached to a couple. Add to that TWO beautiful ceremonies and a grand reception with 7 heartfelt and touching toasts…and I just couldn’t decide. So, I’m posting my handful of faves from the day and a slideshow at the bottom to cover the rest. I planned on launching my slideshows in 2012 but, hey, you do what you gotta do I guess! Karishma & Adam – I wish you much Love, Laughter and Happiness in your new life together. (And I fully expect a call when there are babies on the way!)
Also, many thanks to my awesome right hand man and woman for the day, Daniel and Jenny!!
Karishma is so beautiful…
I think the guys may have hated me a little bit for asking them to stand in the rocks. Barefoot. But LOOK how good the photos turned out! You guys were troopers.
Adam rode a beautiful horse for the Baraat. He knew he was fancy too! Look how proud he is. (Adam too I guess…)
Karishma could see the festivities from her bridal suite as she finished her final touches.
I love that you can see Adam’s face here – the anticipation of seeing each other for the first time and the pure JOY in this image make my heart skip a beat.
Karishma was very excited about getting pics of her family members during the viddai as she leaves her parents home to be with her new husband, but look who got emotional…
Time for the vows ceremony…
I don’t know if Adam looked more handsome in the Kurta or the tux. Nice job landing him Karishma – hotness!
And speaking of hotness – i love this image that Jenny got of Karishma putting on her garter. Rawr!
Such a good looking wedding party – and they were a LOT of fun!!
I don’t remember the toast but I can hear Karishma laughing when I look at this image. I just love her laugh!
The girls reaction to the bouquet toss was priceless.
And guess who caught the garter – front and center?
Well, those were just my overall faves from the whole day. If you want to see a complete view of everything, check out the slideshow!
Sri + Raj | Married!
Sri and Raj had a lovely traditional Hindu ceremony and a heartwarming reception at the La Colombe D’Or hotel and restaurant in Houston. Every South Asian Wedding I photograph I find something new to love about them – the colors, the people, the outfits…the food. (Always the food!) Really, I could go on and on. Sri & Raj were a fun couple and decided to add a little ‘Texas Flair’ surprise with wearing cowboy boots to the reception which all their family & friends just loved! I was honored to photograph their day along side the talented photographers of SB Image Studios who I work with from time to time. It was difficult to pick my favorite shots from the day, but I managed to narrow it down to a handful I wanted to share. Hope you like them too!
Sara + Tim | Married!
Sara and Tim had a lovely wedding ceremony and reception at the Zilker Clubhouse. These two are simply amazing – they are so easy-going, happy and utterly in love. They had what I would call a simple ‘country chic’ wedding theme with yellow and gray accents and the cutest thumbprint tree guest sign-in I have ever seen! Sara pinned two of her grandmothers charms under her dress for her ‘something old’ and used the same six-pence her mother had in her shoe when she got married. The Zilker Clubhouse made the perfect backdrop for the ceremony and first dance with beautiful sunset views of downtown Austin.
My thanks go out to Tamalia with The Barfly for coordinating this lovely evening, to my second shooter Mr. Andy Sams, and of course to the beautiful couple for allowing me to take part in their wedding day – it was a pleasure to spend time with such wonderful people. Congratulations Sara and Tim!
Sneak Peek!! | Sara + Tim
I’m editing this beautiful couples’ wedding from last weekend which was out at the lovely Zilker Clubhouse and just had to share one little teaser - the views of downtown from the clubhouse are just incredible! Almost as incredible as Sara’s eyes – so beautiful…I die. But you’ll see that for yourself in the full post to come soon.
Flowers, Flowers Everywhere!
We’ve come a long way from carrying stinky bouquets of herbs and spices to ward off evil spirits as we walk down the aisle…today, flowers are a major design element of many weddings from the bouquets to the centerpieces. One thing I’ve been loving recently are all the gorgeous flowers I’ve had the pleasure of photographing. I went light on real flowers for my own wedding ($65 total for 5 bouquets!!) and made the bouts out of fabric for the guys with the help of my super crafty bridesmaid Lisa. My mom hand-tied my bouquet and the 4 bridesmaid bouquets while my mother-in-law helped to tie the ribbons around the stems. They were very simple, but exactly what I wanted and special since people I loved helped to create them.
Look at these beauties from a wedding I photographed with Andy Sams earlier this year…
And here are some from a wedding I did with the lovely Jenny DeMarco…
What kind of flowers do you plan on having for your wedding?
Trish’s Tips #3: Where do I Start?!
I know posts are always better with photos, but for this tip – I’m going to leave them out. This is just some of my personal experience with planning my own wedding and some advice & info you may find helpful. I’ll post again soon with some new wedding porn from all the fabulous weddings I’ve been photographing. Promise!
When you are newly engaged there is a flood of to-do’s that immediately surge through your mind. It may all be just a little overwhelming, especially to those who aren’t the plannin’ type (Um, that would be me!) but you have to start somewhere, right? Here are some a few to-do’s (and a couple Don’ts!) from me – since I know now what I didn’t know then…
Step One: Tell family & friends who are closest to you that you are engaged – either by phone or in person. NO, a general Facebook update and/or Tweet does NOT cover it! Tell the important people first. Then tell everyone else however you want.
Step Two: DON’T jump the gun on telling your friends what part they will play in the wedding. This is crucial to avoid any hurt feelings later. Plus, you want to make a bigger to-do of it when the time comes. Right now is YOUR time to get all the glory!
Step Two (and-a-half): Step two also applies to friends/family who are in the wedding business – and it goes both ways. Don’t tell them they are going to do ‘X’ for the wedding or accept their offers to do things for you right off the bat. If they offer, simply thank them and say you have a lot of planning to do and will keep their generous offer in mind once you get to that point of the process. Once you get into planning you may very well change your mind and then have to tell them their service isn’t needed after all. Can we say ‘Awkward’? Also, please don’t assume they will give you their services for free or at a discount just because you know them. Remember – they are running a business, not a free-for-all.
Step Three: Don’t assume your significant other just wants to be told when and where to show up on the wedding day. It’s the year 2011, and both parties have an equal say in the planning process. This does not necessarily mean they want to be involved in every little detail, but they do have an opinion on something. I guarantee it!
Step Three leads me into my main tip for this post -
I found that the most logical place to begin my actual planning was by each of us making a list of everything we thought our wedding day would be. What would it look like? What would we wear? When and where would it be (Fall, in Austin at a vineyard perhaps)? What are the most important, reasonable must-have, aspects of the day to ME? How much money did I feel comfortable spending? Where did I think the $$ was going to come from? Basically, I’m saying you need to sit down and have a talk with your soon-to-be-spouse and discuss your thoughts, hopes, dreams and logistics of your wedding day as a couple. Most likely you are not going to see eye-to-eye on everything. This is where that little list of your must-haves and most important items will come in really handy. (Believe it or not my must-haves were a fantastic photographer and a photo booth!)
My initial idea for our wedding day was a small, intimate gathering of our closest friends and family in my in-law’s beautiful back yard. Maybe a Sunday brunch wedding or Saturday afternoon. A small, simple, intimate affair…then a large celebration back home in Austin. I was thinking this way because, being from IL, I knew I would only have about 8 family members who would attend and I have very few close friends. After running this idea past my groom, I realized that wasn’t going to work considering the amount of family & friends he has and the space we had to work with in the backyard, and that wasn’t what he had envisioned at all. So, we had to compromise. And that’s where your planning really begins – listen to each other, then compromise.
Beyond those nuggets of advice, here is a list of the vendors I booked & big to-do items I did in chronological order over an 18 month engagement for your reference (engagement date Oct. 25th, 2008, wedding date April 24th, 2010):
- Wedding Planner/DOC – Immediately
- Venue (this solidified the date as well as the overall feel of the wedding) – Booked in Jan. 2009
- Photographer – Booked Feb. 2009
- Photobooth – Booked April 2009
- Catering – Booked June 2009
- Dress – Ordered Aug. 2009
- Makeup Artist – Booked Aug. 2009
- Hotel Block – Reserved Sept. 2009
- Transportation – Reserved Sept. 2009
- DJ – Booked Oct. 2009
- Took Engagement Pics – Oct. 2009
- Booked Honeymoon – Oct. 2009
- Set up HoneyFund Registry – Oct. 2009
- Completed Wedding Website – Oct. 2009
- Dessert Table – Nov. 2009
- Mailed Save the Dates (DIY) – Nov. 2009
- Tuxes – Jan. 2010
- Mailed Invitations (DIY) – Feb. 2010
- Had Bridal Shower – March 2010
- Order Flowers (DIY) – March 2010
- Bachelorette Party – April 2010
- GET MARRIED!!! – April 24th, 2010
- After session Photographs – April 25th, 2010
- Sent Thank You Cards for wedding gifts – May/June 2010
Happy planning my dears! Trust me – it will ALL be worth it in the end.
Austin Wedding Blog Spring Special
I’m slowly getting caught up on everything I missed while I was in Illinois, and wanted to let you in on my Spring Special in case you or someone you know is looking for a wedding photographer. To see what’s up for grabs click HERE to be taken to the Austin Wedding Blog. Be sure to bookmark their site or subscribe to their feed while you are there – they are a great local resource for all things wedding!
And since I always like to share a photo (even if they are totally unrelated to weddings…), here are a couple of cute ones I got of my friend’s little girl while I was visiting. She’s a DOLL I tell you!
I Cry at Weddings. So What?
Yep. I admit it. There is a point in every wedding that I photograph that will make me tear up. Whether it’s the private moment between father and daughter before he walks her down the aisle or a particular look or vow between the bride and groom or maybe the best man’s speech at the reception – you can bet at some point I’ma be wiping some tears away so I can take that photo. So imagine me at a very dear friends wedding. Ohmygoodness…can we just say ‘blubbering mess’!
Last weekend I went home to Southern Illinois, the great midwest, for my dear friend Nikki’s wedding (and also to visit with the folks for my birthday!) Nikki and I met back in college and became fast friends, bonding over similar family situations, values and beliefs. The one thing I remember about meeting Nikki for the first time is her laugh. OH how I love that laugh!! From there we would spend many nights staying up too late talking, going out country line dancing, be caught by the RA hiding boys in our closet – which we got threatened to be kicked out for – and other (unmentionable) things you may find people doing in college…those were the days! And last weekend, after not seeing my friend for two years, I immediately burst into tears at the sight of her on her wedding day in the salon. (I’m a little teary eyed right now if we’re being totally honest here!) She is a stylist and asked if I could come take some photos of her and her girls getting ready in her salon – and of course, how could I say no? It’s one of my fave parts of the day…ladies getting together, primping, bonding and sharing stories – and she is one of my fave people.
And later that day, as she walked down the aisle in her beautiful white dress with tears of happiness in her eyes, I cried right along with her. But so what? I wasn’t the one who had to get the shot this time! I am so incredibly happy for you Nikki & Chris, and I was so blessed to be part of and witness your beautiful day. Here are a few of my fave shots from the salon:
Trish’s Tips: #2 – Check Your Vision and Plan Accordingly
I’m back again with some wedding planning advice! (Plus this is a perfect excuse to show off some details photos & who doesn’t love those? {Swoon!}) Really though – I hope my insight can help you work out some of the planning kinks. I think what I have heard the most from brides is that their future spouse is not interested in helping them plan. Or on the other extreme is TOO involved in planning! My hubby was somewhere in the middle, but very opinionated about certain things.
So, no – I don’t mean to check your vision at an eye doctor (although that probably wouldn’t be a bad idea either!). I mean, check the vision you and your fiancee/fiance have for your wedding day.
Before you even pick a date I would suggest discussing how you both envision the day. Do you see a winter wedding at a grand castle, a bridal party of 20, a huge dress, 500 guests and a live band? Maybe you see an intimate gathering of close friends and family in your parents backyard when all the flowers are blooming and a dessert buffet…whatever it is – get it out there in the open and discuss it. This day is about both of you and the merging of your lives together – so what better day to express yourself as a couple?!
Once you decide the overall theme, your budget can be set and then the date/time of year, venue, color scheme and attire will be much easier to select. From there you can fill in the gaps with necessary items, would like to have items and any ‘if-it’s-in-the-budget’ frills such as a photobooth or pricey favors.
One way to divvy up the work is to task the person with strong feelings about a specific aspect of the day with selecting and finalizing that item. Do one of you feel strongly about the food? Then that person should be in charge of catering. Maybe you have your heart set on a real DJ – then that’s your task! Make sure to ask the other person if there are any specifics to keep in mind while making the selection – and always make the final booking decision together as a team. If you found a great DJ who you love and the price is within the DJ budget, go over your final selection with your partner before signing the contract to ensure all their questions have been answered too. Even if the other person has no input about what color flowers are on the end caps, they will be thankful you included them in the final say.
There are bound to be some disagreements during the planning process but remember that you are a team, and planning a wedding takes a lot of time and hard work! The difficulties you have during this phase are not necessarily a reflection of the state of your relationship. You are totally allowed to take a break from planning if things become too stressful, and just focus on each other for a few days. It’s easy to get wrapped up in the process, and forget the reason you are doing it in the first place. A wedding is only one day – your marriage is the rest of your life. Start making it strong now!
Chez Wedd Specials for 2011 and 2012 Couples
If you attended the Chez Wedd bridal show last night at the Allan House, and were one of the first 50 brides in the door, you got a bridal bag with special coupons and goodies in it. If you couldn’t make it or didn’t get a bag, not to worry – you can still take advantage of my special offer to all 2011 & 2012 wedding couples just by telling me you want the ‘Chez Wedd Special’ when booking. (Expires 7/31/2011)
Here is what I’m offering:
- Free 16×20 print with any paid Engagement or Bridal session
- Free upgrade to an 8×10 26 page basic wedding book with paid ‘Essential’ wedding collection
- Free 8×10 26 page custom designed photo guestbook with paid ‘Complete’ or ‘Preferred’ wedding collection
My remaining 2011 dates are filling up quickly, so shoot me an e-mail or give me a call at 512.981.7434 to set up your complimentary consultation today! We can discuss your wedding plans and create a package suited specifically to your needs and budget.
Ellen + Dave: Married! Becker Vineyard Wedding
My first text on Friday came from Ellen at 7:30am. “Ummmm, I can’t stop laughing – SNOW!” Sure enough, I looked outside and there was a fine white dusting over everything. And of course, true to Austin weather, the weekend before was in the high 70′s.
Just about everything in town was closed due to the crazy weather which meant no mani/pedi for the bride that morning. Plans for the day had to be rearranged for hair, makeup, getting ready and who was going where. It probably would have made anyone else lose their minds but, despite everything, Ellen just smiled and laughed like everything was perfect. She was marrying her love that day, and nothing else really mattered…so when we got to the salon, I poured the champagne and we toasted simply to love.
The day may not have gone exactly as planned, but it was perfect just the same.
“I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned the hard way that some poems don’t rhyme, and some don’t have a clear beginning, middle and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the most of it without knowing what’s going to happen next.” ~ Gilda Radner
Ellen & Dave, thank you for being so lovely together. I was honored to be part of your perfect day.
Special thanks to these wonderful wedding professionals:
Hair: Hailey at Salon Intuitions
Makeup: Zoraima Pelaez
Ceremony & Reception: Becker Vineyards
Photo by Daniel
Photo by Daniel
Photo by Daniel
Photo by Daniel
Photo by Daniel
Photo by Daniel
Photo by Daniel
Photo by Daniel
Photo by Daniel
Ring Photo by Daniel
Photo by Daniel
Photo by Daniel
Photo by Daniel
Photo by Daniel
Photo on Left by Daniel
Trish’s Tips: #1 – Wedding Day Timelines
I decided to start an ongoing topic called ‘Trish’s Tips’ to talk about some things I did during my own wedding planning that I think really made the difference in the overall experience of the day, plus anything new I’ve come across since then that I think you might benefit from for your own planning.
Tip #1 – The Wedding Day Timeline!
You’ve heard it before…and I’ll say it again – Your wedding day is going to fly by. Looking back at my own, I was actually stunned by the time 11pm rolled around and the reception was over. I thought to myself, How could this day have taken so long to plan but go by so quickly? It’s just not fair! And then I think I actually stomped my feet and poured myself another glass of champagne.
Having leisurely time to sit and relax, enjoy your family and friends, and just revel in the excitement of it all is of the utmost importance on your wedding day. You should have time to focus on the day, take it all in, enjoy it and just be able to live in the moment. Having to rush around and try to make up time once you are behind can cause a lot of stress. One of your best defenses against losing your mind on your wedding day (besides the wine) is padding your timeline.
Some of you may have just said, “Wait – I need a Timeline?” Yes, I said Timeline. Do yourself, your family, friends and vendors all a favor and create a timeline for the entire day and include anyone with a role to play in the wedding. If you have a wedding planner or Day of Coordinator, they will be able to help you do this. You may consider making a different timeline for each group of folks that has only the ‘Need to Know’ info on it – such as parents – so it will be very simple for them to know when and where they should be at any given time. This timeline should include when you plan to wake up, time to arrive for hair/makeup for each person, when each person needs to be dressed, time you will get dressed, time and place of formal photos, when and where to meet for transportation or when to arrive at the venue pre-ceremony…you get the picture! If you want, you can check out my actual wedding timeline doc right HERE. Please feel free to take it and do whatever you’d like with it if it will help you out!
Ahhhhh, the inevitable wedding day lag. In my experience, it’s usually the hair and/or makeup that makes the ladies fall behind schedule. Knowing this, give yourself and your girls some extra time (just in case) by starting a bit earlier than you think is really necessary or allowing for more time than you think it will take – anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour more.
Padding the timeline is also GREAT for photographers because then we have plenty of time to capture all your fun details, you getting ready while looking relaxed, happy and stress free, AND (if you have chosen to do so…) still have time to do the First Look and get all the formal photos out of the way while the ladies hair and makeup are still fresh. If you haven’t heard of a ‘First Look’ yet, I’ll go over that in more detail in my next Trish’s Tips post. (OR just Google it right now and you’ll find a ton of great info about it. Jasmine Star actually has some great info about it on her blog right HERE!)
Julie | Bridals at the Allan House
We had big plans for Julie’s bridal session. BIG PLANS I tell you! Aaaaand then it was raining on our shoot day. Ohhh the horror! You absolutely can NOT do a gritty, urban bridal shoot when it is raining and expect to have a pristine dress when you are done. So, we went to plan B: Stick with the traditional stuff and keep the dress safe. luckily I convinced this gorgeous bride to do an after session with her hubby. So, we’ll get to the gritty stuff soon…but for now – check out this loveliness taken during her Austin, TX bridal session at The Allan House.
Julie, you are a knock-out! I’m still shocked that Drew didn’t buckle at the knees at first sight of you coming down that aisle. (I think all your bridesmaids did.) Thanks again to Whitney at The Allan House for everything during the bridal session and the wedding. It was a beautiful evening!
