Wedding Day Guide

Wedding Guide + Vendor Recommendations

Congratulations on your engagement, and thank you for entrusting me with your once in a lifetime day! I’ve compiled a list of tips from my own experiences and tips from other brides to make your planning a bit easier, and your photos the best they can possibly be! Below is a list of other vendors I recommend that I have personally worked with and thought they did an amazing job or come highly recommended from other brides!

After our consultation, I will send an update the week of your big day that way we can confirm all of the details and adjust anything that needs adjusting!

Perfection

It's okay if not everything is perfect! As a perfectionist myself it's very hard for me to say that, but I will say that some of the best memories that my brides have chosen as their favorites are when something didn't go quite as planned. So allow your perfect day to be perfectly imperfect, it reduces the pressure too!

Details

Send me a save the date/invitation, any other little detail that you’d like in the photographs of the day of your wedding! It’s easy to say we’ll remember the day of, but those things are pretty close to last on our minds on our wedding day, I love capturing the little details so share and send as much as you’d like. 


Hangers

Hangers - I try to bring them, however it doesn’t always make it in my bag. Different colored, crazy hangers on each dress can take away from the photo, I recommend bringing a wooden hanger for each dress you’d like photographed, it just brings everything together that much more, it’s also a nice little favor for your bridesmaids ;) 


Accessories

Have your rings, garter, jewelry, vail, shoes and any other accessory at the location when I am set to arrive, this ensures not having to wait until later to do those photos, and leaves more time for the ones of you and your new Mr. or Mrs. :) 


Snacks

I can’t recommend bringing snacks and drinks enough while you’re getting ready, it’s a long process to get several women ready, have some snacks, water, wine, mimosas, to keep the ladies from getting a little hangry. It’s a good stretch of time between getting ready and dinner time! 


Music

Have fun! Have some music playing when you’re getting ready, it’ll make for some good candid photo moments! 


I'm here for YOU!

If you need help in anyway, please don’t hesitate to ask, I’ve definitely got a wedding planner cap, I also have a bride’s advocate cap I can put on for any minor annoyances that might occur during your day, so just say the word ;) 


Parent Dances

If you’re participating in a father/daughter dance, there’s nothing more awkward than seeing your photos and your dad looking like he has his hands close to your rear end, I recommend doing a traditional hand on his shoulder, while other hands clasped style dance with him! Leave the borderline hip/booty area for your new groom. 


Mental Pictures

Take mental pictures throughout your day, it goes much faster than we might think, sometimes those moments where we just stop and look around for a second or two are the only time we can stop to appreciate all of the amazing people that have come in support of your big day, take as many as you’d like! 

Speeches

HIGHLY...HIGHLY...HIGHLY recommend to your maid of honor and best man to write down their speeches. A lot of the time, it’s those who are most confident without writing anything down that end up losing every word they were going to say, we can save the moment with recommending this, plus they’re much better photos when they take their time to read how they feel about their best friend or sibling getting married without searching for their words.

Find The Time

Find the time to dance and have fun, and EAT! Sometimes, I don’t even get to capture the bride and groom out on the dance floor aside from the traditional moments and dances, be sure to spend your day doing what you want, and enjoying it! 

Bridal Party Attire

Depending on how you feel about the appearance of your bridal party, and your photos, I recommend leaving their ceremony attire one for the duration of the reception, on those hot summer days, I know it’s hard for the guys to leave suit jackets on, but believe me, photos of only vests and bare skin might not be worth it to you, or changing into jeans and a t-shirt...or it might! Just be sure to share with them your preference beforehand!

Bridal Suite

Getting ready area - I know this isn’t always in our control, but I would recommend opting for using a common room rather than a tiny bathroom with that crazy yellow lighting if at all possible! - I do bring lighting along with me, so don’t worry if this is not possible! 

Pinterest Board

If you have a wedding Pinterest board please feel free to share it with me! It will really give me a feel for what your preferences are for your big day!


Surprises

If you and your groom or bridal party are planning any fun/silly/sweet surprises, please let me in on the secret so I'm sure to capture the moment!

Unplugged Ceremony

This is obviously TOTALLY up to you, I'm sure you've seen the photos where almost every guest at the wedding is holding a phone up to take pictures during the ceremony, some even step into aisles to do so causing the photographer to miss important shots. I encourage you to consider an "unplugged" ceremony, and remind guests to be present during this beautiful occasion, so you all have great memories, and the photos show those emotions!


VENDOR RECOMMENDATIONS

Hair + Makeup Artists:

  1. Savannah Gordon - 740-731-1491 | https://www.facebook.com/savannahvgordon/
  2. On Call Artistry - Jennifer Pincelli -614-738-8571 | www.oncallartistry.com | jenni@oncallartistry.com

DJ Services

  1. Night Music DJ Professionals - https://www.facebook.com/NightMusicDjProfessionals/
  2. DJ Helker - 615-657-8682 | www.djhelker.com | djhelkers@gmail.com
  3. DJ Steel - Music for all occasions - Jim Sanders | 614-735-6359 | mrpittsburgh9@gmail.com
  4. Jon Bauer | 740-654-1855

Venues

  1. Old Blue Rooster
  2. Little Brook Meadows
  3. Heart of the Country Event Barn
  4. The Riser Barn
  5. The Exchange at Bridge Park
  6. The Henry Manor

Catering

  1. Hoggy’s
  2. Smokehouse 740

Bakers - Cakes/Cupcakes etc…

  1. Clearcreek Cakes and Bakes