Welcome
A NOTE ABOUT THIS GUIDE
I'm so excited to be working with you and I can’t wait to get to know you better over the next several months. I know photography is one of the larger investments you're making for your wedding day and I'm so honored you chose to work with me!
Now, I've photographed over 300 weddings since 2014 and I've noticed that there are certain questions that I get asked a LOT (even by those of you who are working with a planner or planning a really simple wedding). There are just a lot of moving pieces when you're planning an event! And when your photos are so important to you, it's really helpful to get your photographer's perspective on certain things.
Thank you again for choosing to work with me, and please don't hesitate to let me know if I can offer any additional guidance throughout the wedding planning process!
xo
Corrie
I'm a big fan of engagement sessions for a few reasons. Not only do they allow you to get comfortable in front of the camera, they also give you the opportunity to showcase your personalities in a more casual setting that is significant to the two of you. I've created an entire page dedicated to outfit tips, location ideas, timing considerations and more!
Engagement Session
plan your session
There's a big difference between looking at yourself in the mirror at a hair and makeup trial and actually seeing how that hair holds up in the elements and how that makeup photographs. When it comes to being confident in your choices on your wedding day, photos are invaluable!
If you're considering a Bridal Portrait Session, I recommend a full trial run of hair, nails, makeup and your bouquet. We'll typically spend 1 hour shooting at bridal sessions and it's nice to have something to hold to make your hands feel a little less awkward!
When it comes to choosing a location for your bridal portrait session, I recommend using locations that are well manicured, clean, and have great variety in indoor and outdoor locations.
Bridal Portrait Session
Wedding venues are usually a wonderful place to start - especially historic homes and resorts that have well manicured areas. We want to keep your dress as clean as possible and still get a lot of amazing images inside and outside.
When it comes to selecting a date for your bridal portrait session, another great thing to keep in mind is the weather. In order to avoid being too hot during the summer months or too cold during the winter months, I highly recommend Spring and Fall. However, I'll shoot anytime and anywhere there's great light!
Many venues charge a fee for portrait sessions. Although inconvenient, the fee is often worth it in order to have use of their getting ready room and other venue services. I typically have to work with the venues on times, but I love to shoot bridal portraits in the afternoon as late as we can to get that softer evening light. However, if your venue has strict hours, I am happy to work with their allotted times.
Make sure to bring your jewelry, your veil and your shoes to your bridal portrait session!
Dress
Undergarments
Shoes
Veil
Bouquet
Ring(s)
Hair pieces and jewelry
Water bottle
Bridal Portrait Session Checklist
Retouching a sunburn, tan lines or sunspots is pretty difficult in post production, and can mean extra retouching fees (depending on the severity). Try to stay away from the sun or use a great sunscreen for at least a week before the session, if not longer.
If you decide to get a sunless tan, make sure you do a practice run (way before our session so it has time to wear off if needed) with your product of choice to make sure it doesn't turn you orange.
sun / skin care
When it's time to tan for the bridal session, make sure you do it a few days in advance so it's less likely to come off on your gorgeous white gown if you sweat.
Also note: sunless tanning products have come a long way in recent years, but certain ones still may photograph a bit more orange-y than they look in person.
NEXT TIP
Time of day is super important for bridal sessions. Wedding gowns tend to be made of some pretty reflective materials, so it's imperative that we choose the right time of day to reduce glare and reflections on the dress. We want you to be glowing, but not because you're reflecting the sun! I recommend shooting the last hour or two before sunset.
BE OPEN TO THE RIGHT TIME OF DAY AND LOCATION
Get a bouquet and bring all your accessories. You'll want your veil, any hair pieces, and all jewelry. Get your ring cleaned (and a manicure for those nice closeup ring shots). If you have your wedding band, you might want to wear that too!
BRING A BOUQUET + ACCESSORIES
NEXT TIP
Is the person you're bringing positive and uplifting? Do they make you feel confident or do they make you feel stressed? Bring someone who will add love, lightness and laughter to your shoot. It's totally normal to feel a little nervous about having portraits done, but having a fabulous, familiar person there can make you feel more confident.
If you feel more comfortable with nobody watching, that's fine too! I can help you with your dress and everything myself (and I definitely bring the positivity and love).
BRING THE RIGHT PERSON TO THE SESSION
(Hey, also - consider leaving all the cell phones in the car. Trust me, you'll enjoy the shoot much more without trying to dedicate part of your brain to texts, phone calls and pictures. It can be really distracting to you (and to me, if your friend is snapping photos on their cell phone throughout the session) so it's best to just unplug for a little while and enjoy the moment!)
NEXT TIP
If you're planning to hire a hair and makeup artist for your wedding day, you should definitely use them for your bridal session. A bridal session is like a test run of how your dress, hair and makeup (and bouquet) will all come together and how it will all photograph. It's also your chance to make sure your hair and makeup artist hears your vision and can give you what you're looking for, especially if it's someone you've never worked with before!
hair and makeup
In regards to hair and makeup, here are three considerations:
- Make sure your artist isn't making your face a shade lighter or darker than your body!
- I highly recommend AGAINST using any kind of fiber lash mascara; it does not photograph well at all.
- If you're planning an asymmetrical hair style for your wedding day, remember that during the ceremony you'll be standing with your right side facing the crowd/my camera. If you want your hair on that side, think about it not being so "big" that we can't see your beautiful face!
NEXT TIP
During your bridal session we'll be traipsing all over creation (probably) and your shoes will get dirty. It's somewhat unavoidable. Since shoes are more of an accessory that is photographed with the details on the wedding day, you can wear any pair of shoes under your dress for the bridals (I suggest something comfy with the same height heel that you had your dress altered for) and save your pretty bridal shoes for the wedding day. The one exception would be if your dress is shorter and your shoes are actually visible all the time!
PROBABLY DON'T WEAR YOUR ACTUAL WEDDING SHOES for this session
On this note: I know you really don't want your dress to get dirty. I don't either! We will definitely hold it up as you walk around, and do everything we can reasonably do to avoid dirt. Many brides still ask about bringing a big sheet of fabric or plastic to put underneath the dress whenever we set it down, and my advice on that is this: the dress won't lay right with a big piece of fabric or plastic under it, you won't feel as mobile and free and the photos will suffer. So think about it - how many times are you going to get to wear this dress? Twice.
This is kind of a Y.O.L.O. situation (except I guess it's Y.O.G.T.W.T.D.T - You Only Get To Wear This Dress Twice) and I encourage you to have fun with it - lay in the (clean) grass, walk through the field...and get it dry cleaned before the wedding. Some bridal shops even let you bring it back for a spot cleaning!
NEXT TIP
I know how daunting it can be to try and wade through the sea of vendors and find the amazing people. If you're looking for someone to point you in the direction you need to go, check out this list I pulled together of my favorite local vendors!
Vendors
View vendor list
That moment the Bride and Groom see each other for the first time on their wedding day is magical. And this is true whether the couple chooses to wait until the bride walks down the aisle or chooses to do a “first look’ prior to the ceremony!
First looks — a private moment couples choose to spend together prior to the wedding ceremony — have become more popular over the last few years. Over half of my couples this year have chosen to do a first look.
While I consider myself someone who value tradition, there are definitely a few good reasons to consider a first look. Here are 4:
Is a First Look Right for You?
Once the ceremony begins, the day takes off quickly. A ‘first look’ is an opportunity to enjoy some quiet time alone, enjoy each other’s company, and reflect on all this day means before your day takes off.
Wedding days can be a whirlwind and they tend to fly by. There’s much to do, and a lot of people to see and to catch up with. I always encourage my couples to take a few minutes every so often during their wedding to stop and soak in everything that’s happening.
1. A first look cuts through the chaos of the day.
When there is no first look, the majority of the portraits have to be taken after the ceremony. Family pictures are generally done as soon as the ceremony ends because it’s the easiest time to round everyone up. Next up is full bridal party, and then bride and groom portraits. This averages about 1 hour and 45 minutes, or can take up to 2 hours while your guests are waiting at cocktail hour.
A first look opens up time prior to the ceremony for full bridal party pictures and, sometimes, for a few bride and groom portraits (although I do prefer to do bride and groom portraits at sunset). This allows the couple to get the most out of cocktail hour, which makes the rest of the evening feel less rushed.
3. IT MakeS more time for Pictures without sacrificing cocktail hour OR HAVING A SUPER EARLY CEREMONY.
If you’re expecting poor weather on your wedding day, it might be best to plan on a first look because it gives you more options for pictures. If it’s pouring rain after the ceremony, you’ll be thankful you had pictures done in advance.
4. IT HELPS US Avoid possible bad weather
This one's for all you cryers out there (of which I am one). If you know the tears are going to fall the first time you see your other half the day of your wedding, a first look will give you time to freshen up before the ceremony.
First look or not, the first time you see each other on your wedding day will be special!
2. YOU'LL have time to freshen-up after crying
Wedding Day Timeline
building the perfect
Whether you choose to do a first look or the traditional first glimpse of each other from the back of the aisle, I will work with you on making sure you have the best timeline and plan for images.
If you're choosing to go traditional, we'll try to plan time before the ceremony to take bride/bridesmaid photos and groom/groomsmen photos at separate times. But we'll also need time after the ceremony for family photos, combined wedding party portraits, and couple's portraits. Many brides & grooms are surprised to learn that these photos will take up about an hour and a half between the end of the ceremony and the start of the reception, so on a traditional schedule, planning a fun cocktail hour for your guests with refreshments and entertainment should probably rank pretty high on your must-haves list!
Also, if you choose a traditional aisle reveal, it's going to be really important to keep sunset time in mind when planning your ceremony time. If your ceremony happens too late in the day, there won't be enough daylight left after you're married to get wedding party, family photos and couples portraits in my signature natural light style. If it's very important to you to have your ceremony too late in the day, maybe reconsider whether or not you want to do the first look. Of course if absolutely necessary, we can do photos after dark with flash lighting. But they won't be the same style you see all over my website and portfolio!
If you're doing a first look, photos can be done all at one time, usually taking about 1.5-2 hours pre-ceremony (although when possible, I always try to push some of the couples portraits to later in the day so we can grab some of that gorgeous golden hour light)!
If the forecast is calling for rain, fear not! Rainy days can still be beautiful. Take Brad and Megan's beautiful Hillside Ranch wedding last year - it rained the entire day and it was still beautiful!
If rain is in the forecast, I recommend ordering some clear umbrellas for you and your wedding party on Amazon. These umbrellas by Totes are a great product that I've used, or you can find some cheaper ones in sets of six on Amazon.
Rain Tips
It also might be good to re-evaluate whether or not you want to do a first look to get portraits before the bad weather rolls in (like if the early afternoon won't be rainy but the evening is forecasted to be storming) and/or portrait locations to make sure we can still shoot in natural light - even if it means heading offsite.
If you don't own a pair of cute wellies, now may be a great time to order a pair - even if you're just wearing them in between shooting locations.
If you're not working with a planner, it might also be a good idea to check in with your entire vendor team to make sure they're aware of the weather.
Hair and makeup may need to be tweaked to withstand humidity and if your wedding is outdoors, DJs and bands may need to take extra precaution to protect their gear. A quality rental team can also minimize the amount of mud at outdoor events.
While I can't guarantee that rain on your wedding day is good luck, we can put a plan in place to ensure a beautiful day and beautiful images.
Rainy day weddings may require a little more flexibility and creativity, but there isn't any reason why they can't be as beautiful and as joyful as sunny weddings!
Wedding Day Details
I love capturing all the little details you've carefully chosen to be a part of your wedding day! Once we arrive at your wedding, I need about 45 minutes to capture and style details. I recommend choosing a getting ready location filled with natural light and, if possible, please keep the space free from trash and clutter (or just make sure your girls are prepared to do some quick tidying up when I get there)!
It would be wonderful if you could put all of your rings, jewelry, shoes, veil, perfume, invitations and other keepsakes together in one spot for me. You can unwrap your dress but don't worry about styling it - I'll take it from there!
Dress
Dress Hanger
Engagement & Wedding Rings (clean)
Shoes
Veil
Bouquet
Ring
Hair pieces
Jewelry
Invitation Suite ( 2 full sets with envelopes + stamps)
Any other paper stationary you may have like program cards.
Bridal DETAILS Checklist
His shoes
Socks (if they're special)
Cuff Links
Tie or Bow Tie
Pocket Square
Boutonnière
Vows Book
Ring
Anything else he'll have that is special or sentimental
Vows Book
Any other sentimental keepsakes you would like to include
I once had a bride bring her grandmother's hand mirror. This is completely optional - but if you have something sentimental you'd like styled with your details, I love including family heirlooms in our detail shots.
BONUS: I'd love to have a few cuts of the florals you'll be using throughout your wedding day. If your florist will supply me a small bucket of extra pieces so I can incorporate those in your detail shots, that would be marvelous!
GROOM DETAILS Checklist
I always try to take a photo of your rings by themselves during the flatlay details portion of your day. Try to have your engagement ring cleaned or clean it yourself. To clean at home, soak your ring in warm water with dishwashing soap for 20 to 40 minutes. Then gently brush the stone with a soft toothbrush, rinse and repeat if needed.
The Rings
For family portraits, we''ll usually start with your whole immediate family (grandparents, parents, siblings, neices, nephews). Then we'll work down the list you provide me and get photos like you & your mom or your partner and their grandpa!
On the questionnaire that I sent you, I'll ask you for a list of specific groupings, special situations (such as divorces or handicapped family members & more), and I specify that you shouldn't feel pressure to get every family member into this time because we can always take a few group shots at the reception.
Scroll down a little to see the list of typical groupings that I do for inspiration!
Family Formals
Bride + Groom + Bride's Parents + Bride's Siblings + Bride's Grandparents
Bride + Groom + Bride's Parents + Bride's Siblings
Bride + Groom + Bride's Parents
Bride + Groom + Bride's Siblings
Bride + Mom
Bride + Dad
Bride + Groom + Groom's Parents + Groom's Siblings + Groom's Grandparents
Bride + Groom + Groom's Parents + Groom's Siblings
Bride + Groom + Groom's Parents
Bride + Groom + Groom's Siblings
Groom + Mom
Groom + Dad
(Note: think about if you'd like to include unmarried partners in family photos too, so we can discuss how to handle it ahead of time!)
family Portrait Session Checklist
This list is just a starting point, and I'm happy to take any requested family portraits as long as time allows! Each grouping will take an average of 4 minutes, so keep that in mind as you plan.
Consider Unplugging
If you've been to a wedding recently, you may have seen a sign from the happy couple asking for their guests to remain "unplugged" and mentally present during the ceremony.
And while it might seem like a strange requests to ask guests to put down their phones, there's a pretty good reason for it! You made a big investment in photography and I'm sure one of the last things you want on your wedding day is for our photos of your ceremony to be filled with iPhones, iPads and people standing in the aisle with their own cameras. In order to help me do the best possible job capturing your wedding, I recommend asking guests to unplug during the ceremony!
Get this one here on etsy from pearlypaperdesign
1. If you're getting married in the summer months, a "not-so-heavy" snack or lunch time before portraits is always a good idea for you and your bridal party to avoid hungry bellies and passing out!
2. If it's going to be hot, a cooler of cold waters and frozen washcloths can help keep a wedding party cool - especially if your men are wearing lots of layers.
3. Make sure and have your bouquet delivered in time to make an appearance for the detail shots and for your first look. Often they are delivered in water and need to be dried off before use. Having towels handy can help.
4. If you're planning on having a first look with your bridal party or a parent, they often feel more comfortable being fully dressed in their wedding attire. (And on that note, whoever is helping you put your dress on should be dressed in their wedding attire by that time too!)
5. If your reception is at a separate venue, I ask that we add a little extra time so that I can run over to the venue to capture it while it's still "untouched" by guests.
Additional Tips
6. I always recommend the bride go into hiding 30 minutes before the ceremony at the absolute latest. Guests typically arrive early to weddings.
7. To help make family portraits go smoother, it's best to have a breakdown of what portraits you'd like and it's really wonderful if both sides of the family have a chance to have their input on what portraits they'd like before the wedding. Supplying me with a list ahead of time, I can go over it and make sure we shoot things in an order that is efficient and won't leave anyone out (there will be a place to relay this on the questionnaire I send you)!
8. During the cocktail hour and the reception, either my second shooter or I will probably always be somewhere nearby. If you'd like a photo with someone, go ahead and grab our attention!
9. I'd love to help you plan your timeline. Take a sec to grab my Timeline Guide (even if it's just to get your mind around how this works), and email or text me if you'd like my input!
One of the best ways to make your wedding memories last is by ordering
an album. These high quality professionally designed albums come in a
variety of linen & leather colors.
These aren’t the same albums your parents' wedding photos came in.
They’re modern, lay perfectly flat and look incredible on a coffee table.
Albums
more details
I can't wait to start planning with you and getting to know you! If you haven't scheduled your engagement session yet, let's get that in the books. Feel free to email me any time at corriechildersweddings@gmail.com.
If you have any questions or would just like to chat, I'm here for you. I hope this guide helps make the process of planning your wedding details much easier and less stressful. I can't wait to see you soon! Thank you so much for taking the time to read through my guide!