Three Tips for having a No 'First Look' Wedding

One of the things I will forever love about our job is how unique each and every couple is. From learning the story of how they met, to learning the friends and family most important to them, all the way down to the wedding day details they decide to choose, we love getting to know the couples we serve :) That said, one major detail that we find varies from couple-to-couple is whether or not to have a first look. While many feel they have to have one, others prefer not to and feel it’s just not their style. 

Today’s blog is for the couples in camp no first look!  Rather than try to convince you of the reasons I think you might love a first look (I already wrote a blog on that here!) today I’m going to walk you through three must have tips for a relaxed wedding day timeline WITH the traditional “aisle moment”. By the end of this blog, you’ll be more prepared to make an informed decision that is best for you and your significant other.

1) Take all possible photos before the ceremony

Most people know that you might take photos with your bridesmaids pre-ceremony, but something many don’t consider is taking individuals with family, too! Any images you want of just you with parents, siblings, and grandparents can be taken before the ceremony along with bridal party and individual bridal portraits. This way, your post ceremony to-dos can look a bit like this:

5:00- Ceremony begins 

5:30- Ceremony ends > Recessional > Cocktail hour begins 

5:35- Immediate family photos 

5:55- Full bridal party together 

6:05- Bride and groom portraits 

6:25- Portraits end > Get bustled and ready for introductions 

6:30- Cocktail hour ends 

2) HIGHLY consider a 75-90 minute cocktail hour

After reading the prior timeline if you are thinking, “20 minutes? That doesn’t seem like much!”, you are totally right! Compared to an engagement session that lasts one to two hours, 20 minutes is a super fast window. We can make magic happen in 20 minutes if we need to for sure, but if you like the idea of a more relaxed and enjoyable portrait time with your hubs-to-be, a longer cocktail hour is just the ticket. This allows you to have more variety in locations, posing, and simply more bride and groom portraits to choose from in your final gallery! BONUS: With 90 minute cocktail hours, you can even sneak a drink or two in at the end with your guests! 

3) Make sure your ceremony start time leaves light for photos

Often we’ll hear people say they don’t want a first look, and that they also want their ceremony just before sunset so their guests can enjoy the view while at cocktail hour. Now, you can absolutely take all of your photos in the dark (and we have all the most up-to-date flashes and equipment to do so ;) ). But if you find yourself liking the the images you see showcased on our portfolio/Instagram then having sunlight is an absolute key ingredient. Let’s say the sun sets on your wedding day at 6:00. In a perfect “no first look” timeline world, the timeline would look like this:

4:00- Ceremony begins 

4:30- Ceremony ends > Recessional > Cocktail hour begins 

4:35- Immediate family photos 

4:55- Full bridal party together 

5:05- Bride and groom portraits 

5:40- Portraits end > Bride and groom grab a cocktail with guests 

6:00- Sun sets > Cocktail hour ends 

This way all of your photos are in daylight and your guests can still see a gorgeous sunset before they head into the reception. 

There you have it- our three must do tips to use when not doing a first look. I hope this provided you a visual of what a “no first look” wedding could look like in an ideal world to get both your traditional aisle moment AND dreamy photos! That all said… check in with yourself to see if you are having one of these thoughts now:

• But this is still not enough time for portraits of just me and my groom/bride

• I would like to be able to fully attend & enjoy my cocktail hour with friends & family

• I get nervous at the idea of not seeing my person until 4:00 or 5:00 pm on a day that’s supposed to be about the two of us

 If this is you, be sure to check out our blog that specifically focuses on why you might love having a first look. After reading both, you can compare the pros and cons to see which feels right for you. But please remember this- no matter what you decide in the end, your wedding is sure to be one of the best days of your entire life. And when you get down to it, celebrating your love is all that really truly matters.

Happy Planning!

Ashley

3 tips for selecting Pinterest-worthy beach engagement session outfits

Saying yes to your fiancé when he proposed was easy. Choosing a beachy and meaningful engagement session location was also probably pretty easy (no shortage of beautiful beaches here in Florida). But choosing the perfect outfit for that engagement session? Well I think I speak for all woman-kind when I say this part is not so simple ;) 

That’s why today I’m telling you my three best tips for choosing the perfect styles for your tropical or beachside engagement session. By the end of this blog, you’ll have a solid starting point to take with and run as you’re dreaming up those perfect Pinterest-worthy outfits! (Bonus- as a photographer, these tips take into account what looks good on camera, too!) Keep scrolling:

1) When in doubt, go for pastels and neutrals

The number one thing that can make engagement session outfits look awkward is a mismatch of patterns and colors. We recommend simple outfits- Pastel and neutral colors often photograph best! It’s better to coordinate outfits with complimentary colors, rather than matching, and to go for a mix of solids and patterns.

For example- don’t both wear blue pants and a white shirt. If you go too matchy-matchy it can start to look like a 1999 family Christmas card (anyone else besides me have to do the matching family photo shoots?!). Instead, if you’re wearing a white dress patterned with blue flowers, put your beau in a solid blue shirt to tie in the colors of your dress without matching completely. 

In terms of colors, the beautiful beaches here in Florida have white sands, various shades of blue waves, soft green plants in the dunes, and tan grasses blowing in the breeze. Wearing bright red or purple is probably going to distract from the natural beauty of your location, whereas pastels and neutrals will compliment it. 

2)   Skip the blue jeans

This probably goes without saying.. but when was the last time you actually wore jeans to the beach? Make sure when you’re choosing your outfits the vibe of what you’re wearing fits the scene. If you’ve chosen a coastal park or beach, play up the space! Try to think of what you might actually wear to those places, and then take it up a notch (it’s an engagement session, after all!). Avoid things like jeans, heavy/thick materials, or black. 

3)    Choose two different outfits and styles

Our engagement sessions are two hours long, so I always encourage our couples to choose two totally different outfits and styles for the session to have a little variety. A more formal outfit might be great for your save the dates, but it’s also nice to have something in more casual attire to print and frame in your home, or use for the wedding website. 

Beach formal? This is where it gets tricky. If your guy absolutely wants to wear a suit, I always suggest navy, or a blue blazer mixed with khaki pants to perfect that beachy formal look. To compliment this, I find a maxi dress always looks formal enough without being overdressed or stuffy. If a suit is too dressy for your fiancé, I also say khaki pants and a white button down is forever a classic combination that looks good on everyone, and also compliments a dress for you!

In terms of your casual outfit- stay true to yourself! Our engagement sessions involve a lot of walking, twirling, or sitting. Choose something you can move in without constant readjustment or fear of getting dirty. Many of our clients will choose a shorter, more casual dress paired with khakis and a nice t-shirt or navy shorts and a short sleeved button down on their groom-to-be. 

4)   Bonus tip!

Ladies, choose something that moves with that ocean breeze! When you’re looking at fabrics, it’s always a fun idea to select something light and billowy for those sunset pictures right next to the ocean. As you’ll see below, it makes for really fun motion and movement in your images. 

There you have it- my best three tips for choosing the perfect beach engagement session outfits. If you haven’t chosen a photographer yet for your engagement session, we sure would love to be a part of telling your story! Inquire here. 

Still looking for more inspiration? You’re in luck! Bridget and Will, who I featured above, got a whole blog dedicated to their engagement session! Check it out here. 

Happy planning!

Ashley 

6 Wedding Day Moments to Plan for in Your Timeline

I heard it said a thousand times, and yet, I was surprised at just how quickly our wedding day flew by. From the moment I woke up, I felt like there was so much to do, so many people to talk to, so many photos we wanted…. Before I knew it, we were heading to our honeymoon cabin and it was all over. 

I know I’m not the only one who feels this way- I’ve heard so many past clients say something similar, like Kristin: “Thank goodness I hired you and Justin! So much happened so quickly that I don’t think I’d remember hardly anything without the beautiful photos!” 

With all that said, I can’t preach enough how important it is to PLAN time for all the people and moments you want on your wedding day! If it’s not on the schedule, unfortunately, it’s probably not going to happen. That’s why I’m sharing 6 of my favorite special moments that you should consider incorporating into your wedding day timeline- 

1) Saying your own vows

Your wedding day is THE day to say it all. There’s no opportunity more romantic to say everything you feel for your partner: how they better you, the things you love about them, your hopes for the future. If you feel nervous about saying your own vows in front of your guests, create a few minutes you can read them to each other privately. If you decide not to say your own vows or your church doesn’t allow it, we’d highly encourage you to, at minimum, take the time to write it in a letter you can exchange on the wedding day. This is a once in a lifetime moment, and planning it into your day is something you’ll truly never regret.

2)   A first look (with someone!)

If you’ve read our blog 5 reasons to consider a first look, then you know how special that time was to Justin and I (Truly one of my favorite moments of my entire life). That said, everyone should choose what feels right in their gut when it comes to seeing each other pre-ceremony or not! If you don’t decide to do a first look with your future spouse, we also love the sweet moments that unfold when a bride plans a first look with her dad, or a first look with her bridesmaids after she’s in her wedding gown. Any and all first looks are precious in our book!

3)    A final private dance

I’ll say it again- the wedding day is truly a whirlwind and flies by. Before you know it, your guests are lining up outside, sparklers in hand, to send you on your way to newlywed bliss! Why not plan a private last dance, just the two of you, before you run to that getaway car? Such a sentimental dance to truly take a last moment and soak it all in.

4)   Time to see your guests at cocktail hour

One huge benefit our first look couples really love is the opportunity to mingle with guests at cocktail hour! Everyone is truly SO thrilled to see the bride and groom, and I love photographing those candid hugs and pure excitement as guests get to congratulate the newlywed couple. Even if you decide not to do a first look, I’d highly encourage a 90 minute cocktail hour so you can catch the last 15 minutes and enjoy some casual time with your nearest and dearest.

5)   Quality time with the people who mean the most to you

From your parents, to your maid of honor, to your future in-laws, there are usually SO many people to thank for helping the wedding weekend come together. I love when brides and grooms plan time into the day to give hugs, gifts, or notes of gratitude to those who have supported them through it all. It’s truly always a beautiful and candid time full of emotion that we love to photograph.

6) A Reception room reveal

After all the time, money, and planning that went into creating a gorgeous reception for your friends and family, its so fun to get the first glance when it all comes together! Definitely plan for 5 minutes in that timeline before the reception doors open to see the space your dreamt up in all it’s glory (and give your wedding planner the hug she deserves!)

If you love candid, emotion-filled wedding photos, you really can’t go wrong by planning some or all of the moments above into your wedding day timeline! Making time for the people and memories that matter most, on the day that matters most, is something you’ll never regret. 

Want more wedding planning advice? Check out these family photo tips! 

XO 

Ashley