As wedding photographers, we get to see the in on out of a wedding. We have picked up a few tips along the way that will hopefully help you on your wedding day. Enjoy!
1. Most Important!
The most important thing about your wedding is the love between you and your fiance. It is important to not lose sight of what the day is about. The more relaxed and fun the day is for you and your family, the more memorable the day will be. The food will be eaten, the flowers will die, even the dress will be put away, but the memories of the day will last forever!
2. Professional Planners.
This is an absolute MUST for every bride. A professional wedding planner can make a HUGE difference in how your wedding day plays out. Your wedding day goes by so fast! The last thing that you, your family, and bridal party should be doing is worrying about all of the little details. I could spend all day going over the details that need to be taken care of and are easily missed. A professional wedding planner may be more affordable than you think!! They can help you with your budget and point you in the right direction with vendors. They also have the insider tips with local vendors on the best way to get the wedding of your dreams!
If you are thinking about having a friend coordinate you big day, think again. Your friend or family member may have good intentions, but 9 times out of 10 that person doesn’t have the experience or knowledge that goes into a wedding. The thing that breaks my heart the most is seeing family members (especially the mother of the bride) cleaning up after the wedding. A wedding planner takes care of everything allowing you, your family, and bridal party to enjoy the day as it should be!
I highly recommend the following event planners:
Panache Planners or A Day to Cherish
3. Set the date!!
If you are a budget bride, then avoiding the busy season will save your hundreds, if not thousands of dollars! Avoid the months of May, June, October, November, and December.
When choosing the time of the ceremony, consider how long your ceremony will be and how long your photographer will need for formal photographs. The best time of day for photographs outside is an hour before sunset. Check out this website to determine the sunset time on your wedding day.
4. Location! Location! Location!
If you plan to get married in a church, be sure to cover all of their rules and guidelines. Many church’s do not allow flash photography or will not allow decorations. Before booking the church, know what to expect. Even though the ceremony is the most important part of the day, it will be the place where you spend the least amount of time during your day. You may not want to spend 1/2 your budget on a church.
For a possible money saving tip, book your ceremony at the reception site. Many places like Point West, Grand Harbor and Mckee Jungle Gardens offer beautiful ceremony and reception sights. For a more budget friendly locations, check out the City of Vero Beach Website. I suggest the Grand Pavilions for the ceremony and the Riverhouse for the reception. Don’t cheap out on the seats for the ceremony. From experience, the guests will get in the way of the photographer if they are not seated. When possible, use the same chairs for the reception and the ceremony.
5. Getting the most for you money!
Talk to your wedding planner about how to get the most for your money. A great tip, like using your bridal bouquets as centerpieces is a great way to get the most out of your flower budget.
Another great tip, is to not waste your money on the table cameras. There will be at least one or more guest per table with a digital camera. You will receive SEVERAL emails with pictures from your guests!
6. Booking your Photographer!
Choosing your photographer is one of the most important decisions you will make when planning your wedding. Your photographer is with you through out the day. It is important that you have a photographer that you connect and get along with. Take the time and really get to know your photographer.
One great way to do this is to do an engagement session! You taste the food before you book the caterer, you do a makeup/hair trial before the wedding day, so why not do a trial run with your photographer. Doing an engagement session allows the photographer to know how you photograph. They will know your best angles and the best way to get that natural smile! There are also many ways to use those engagement photos in your wedding.
Doing photographs before the ceremony can allow you to get more photos and arrive to the reception earlier. I highly suggest doing all of the individual family shots and bridal party shots before the ceremony. This can be done without the bride and groom seeing each other! On average, formal photographs take about 45 minutes to an hour. Talk to your photographer about splitting up the time. Be sure to communicate with your photographer your expectations and ideas for your formal photographs. If photographs are the most important thing to you, then 45 minutes may not be enough time.
Get the bridal party excited!!!!!!!!! The more fun you and your bridal party have, the better and more creative your pictures will turn out! 
Your photographer is the only vendor you will continue to work with after the wedding. Make sure that you are clear and understand what your package includes before booking. Communicate exactly what you are wanting to do with your photos after the wedding. Each bride is different in what they want.
Many wedding advice websites will tell you to buy the High Resolution CD of your images, so that you can print off your own pictures. This may not be such great advice! You may spend up to $500 on a CD, only to become frustrated and receive low quality prints. Think before you purchase that CD. Would you rather spend an extra $500 on a CD and risk getting terrible prints, or would you rather spend the $500 on quality prints that won’t fade over time.
Do a lot of research before booking your photographer. Talk with them and get to know them. Book them because you love their work and you feel that they will have your best interest at heart.
