5 Wedding Day Must-Haves Your Photographer Wants You To Know About

All right, you’re getting married and you want to make sure you have ALLLL the things ready... and trust me, I know, weddings are notorious for having so. many. details. As your photographer, I want to make sure we have documented all the little things that make your day unique because I know you didn’t just throw things together. Odds are, wedding day decisions were made with a lot of thought. Plus, I want to make sure we’re doing what we can to prep for your day so it goes as smoothly as possible.

1. The Details.
   We know how much a particular scent can bring us back to a vivid memory and whether you’re wearing your grandmother’s heirloom ring, or hairpiece, so much of your wedding day is well thought out and meaningful.
   
   These are the details I certainly don’t want to miss:
   - Bouquets, Boutineers, etc.
   - Your Shoes
   - Any + all jewelry (necklaces, bracelets, earrings)
   - 2 Invitations (yes, 2, please)
   - Wedding Programs
   - Perfume
   - Garters, Belts, etc.
   - Hair Pins, Headbands, etc.
   - Vow books, I love these
   - For the Grooms: Belts, Watches, Cologne, Cufflinks, Shoes, etc.
   I’m going to want to have all of the details handy when I arrive on your wedding day to put together a beautiful flat-lay for both you and your groom.
   Pro-tip: Make sure both the bride and groom’s wedding bands are together in one place and handy!

2. The Dress Hanger.
   One of my favorite wedding shots is of the dress before it comes to life (i.e. before the bride gets in it). Remember to grab a pretty hanger to have your gown on. Doesn’t have to be a special order or anything super fancy but an old plastic hanger is definitely a no-go. I don’t care how much you spent on your dress, $50 or $5000, it deserves a pretty hanger to be photographed in. A simple wood hanger as pictured is a classic you can’t go wrong with.

3. In the event of rain.
   Order a cute umbrella. Better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it, am I right? The clear umbrellas photograph nicely and tend to go with just about anything. Like this clear umbrella, I found on Amazon. If you need umbrellas for the whole bridal party, this 12 pack is a great option for your wedding party or to provide for guests.

4. Put together a family shot list.
   This is almost a requirement for me to have before your wedding day. I want a shot list with names for both bride + grooms side. This makes my job wayyyy easier. Instead of calling out generic titles, I have names to call out to make sure we don’t miss ANY family shots. Odds are, I probably can’t memorize everyone’s name but having a list helps keep things running smoothly and takes a lot of the coordinating off of the bride + groom (which is my goal whenever I can).
   
   If you need an example of a more generic shot list I use, click here.

5. Double-check your timeline.

   If you don’t have a wedding planner, fear not. I’ll be more than happy to help you put together a timeline for your day because I’m often one of the people who are helping usher you through your day and try to keep things on track. I’ve been able to absorb tips from other weddings I’ve been a part of and learn what works and what could go smoother. If there are any last-minute changes to your timeline, I don’t care how late, please let me know! Timelines are not a hard and fast rule for the day but it does help me, your photographer, keep myself on track and anticipate what is coming next. Things may run a little behind (that’s actually totally normal!) and I’m more than fine with it because I don’t want you to rush, rush, rush through the most important day. I want to protect the real, emotional, and precious moments you and your soon-to-be-husband will have.

These are my personal wedding day must-haves that I know will help your big day run smoothly and ensure that all the details can be documented effortlessly and intentionally. You get ONE DAY (usually) and I want to make sure I’m doing everything possible to prepare and help things feel totally dreamy.

If you ever have any questions, please reach out and ask, I’m always happy to walk with ya, every step, alllllll the way to the aisle… and then I’ll be at the end of it to make sure I get the perfect shot! 🤪 

Photo by Charisse Kenion.

Photo by Morgan Sessions.