Your wedding day is so much more than one day of your life

WEDDING Planning Guide

Tips & Resources

Wedding planning can be so overwhelming, and I want to do everything I can to make this experience so postive and special for you. I want your wedding day and photos to be everything you’ve dreamt of! I have a more detailed, physical guide I’ll give you soon, but here are some online resources for now :)

Wedding Photography

Planning Document

This is usually linked in the email with your Contract or shared directly from Google Drive! Let me know if you need help finding yours! I know there’s a lot of files to keep track of.

This document has a family shot list template, timeline examples, and places to share all your dreams and visions with me.

Timeline

Planning extra time between events on your wedding day is truly the best thing you can do. Here’s a cheat sheet of how much time I recommend for photographing each part of your day.

  • Getting Ready: 20 minutes for details, 20 minutes for candids, 30 minutes to get dressed  

  • First Look: 15-20 minutes

  • Couples Portraits: 20-30 minutes

  • Group Photos: 30-45 minutes for family, 30-45 minutes for wedding party

  • 30 minutes of rest before ceremony

  • Ceremony: 20-30 minutes

  • Cocktail Hour: 30 for extra group photos & signing license, 30 for mingling with guests.

  • Reception: 2-3 hours

  • Sunset Photos: 15-20 minutes

  • Send-Off: 5-10 minutes before coverage ends

Walk through a wedding day

Family Photos

shotList Template:

  • Partner 1 & Partner 2 + 1’s Mom, Dad, Siblings, Grandparents (Start with the biggest grouping and then break it up from there!)

  • Partner 1 & Partner 2 + 1’s Parents, Siblings

  • 1 & 2 + 1’s Parents

  • 1 + both Parents

  • 1 + Mom

  • 1 + Dad

  • 1 & 2 + 1’s Siblings

  • 1+ 1’s Sibling

Family photo tips

Frequently asked questions

  • One of my favorite print shops is Mpix! They’re a premium print lab at an affordable price. 4×6 prints start at 36 cents (cheaper than Walgreens and better quality!!!). I order the E-surface option and they’re perfect.

    I don’t recommend ordering prints from Walgreens or CVS. If you are on a time crunch and need same day prints, then order the matte option. The colors don’t print super accurately at drug stores, but the matte paper makes them look a little bit better. This is okay if you’re ordering table numbers you’re going to throw away or something. I do love Walgreens option to make a photo puzzle and have gifted those to my family!

  • It really depends on what’s important to have captured! I typically arrive at the tail end of getting ready!

    • For 6 hour Packages: 2-8pm fits everything pretty well!

    • For 8 hour Packages: 12-8pm, 1-9pm, or 2-10 pm!

      Feel free to reach out if you have questions or need help deciding :)

  • I like have 30 minutes for both Wedding Party & Family photos, but having up to 45 doesn’t hurt. It feels good to have extra time if possible, but I know the day is super busy :)

  • Absolutely! Sometimes 6 or 8 hours just isn’t enough! Extra hours of wedding day coverage are $400/hour. Message me anytime throughout the planning process and we can easily update your contract!

Photo by Annie Ritter-Jones Photography

Text me anytime!! 425-263-6928
Or, we can FaceTime or Zoom whenever!! Here’s my calendar to schedule something!

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