WEDDING + ELOPEMENT GUIDE

Welcome friends! I put together this wedding + elopement guide as a tool to hopefully help you create an authentic day that feels real to you both and to pass on some wisdom that I have gathered throughout the years. This guide includes portraits to consider during your day, lighting (a personal favorite), some unconventional places to consider when getting married, and just keeping things really grounded as you create your journey towards marriage. Onward my friends…

Creating and planning your wedding festivities is so exciting. There can be many elements to consider, getting design creative, and often comes with a lovely wedding to-do list. My first and strongest suggestion to any couple is to create a day that really rings true to who you are. Let me repeat that, create a day that is completely true to who you two are and makes YOU happy!

Don't be afraid to step out of the box. It’s okay to give yourself permission to say no to things that perhaps the wedding industry makes you feel like you have to have, or just doesn’t vibe with you two. Be bold and make a wedding + elopement that's completely your own. Whether that's choosing to get married on top of a mountain or in your family backyard, saying your vows during a first look, or shaking off any wedding traditions that just don't quite fit; I'm here to tell you that you can do things your own way to keep it truly sincere.

I'm also here not just as your wedding photographer but as a resource and a friend. I work closely with my couples to help create portraits that really reflect who they are. Whether that's helping you choose an unconventional place to get married, placing together your wedding day schedule so you have plenty of time, lighting tips, vendor recos, or if you simply need to grab a beer or coffee to talk, I'm down. Whatever it may be, just know I'm here for you.

UNCONVENTIONAL VENUE

For some couples, beginning their wedding + elopement planning starts with finding a place to share the day together. There can be a variety of factors when trying to find an amazing spot for the day… location, vibe, available date, and cost. I truly believe it all comes back to staying true to who you are and creating a day that really fits you. If a big open room wedding just isn’t your thing, there are other options! Think a backyard wedding, the beach, or an unconventional place such as a brewery, greenhouse, or National Park. With a little out of the norm thinking and some planning, you can create an environment that speaks to you two and those in your circle.

Above all, give yourselves the time and space to sit down and write out what your wedding or elopement looks like for you two when looking at a place to celebrate the day.

LIGHT

I do love myself some beautiful natural light. Natural light is one of the best types of light to capture you in. It is a beautiful element to factor in throughout your day. I've dropped below a few main areas where natural light can bring your portraits to life.

GETTING READY: Lamps and overhead lights mixed with natural light can create a orange-ish tone in your portraits. I suggest getting ready for your day in an area with lots of windows and natural light. You can open up the area you're getting ready in by pulling back the curtains or opening up the blinds. The area you get ready in should be a space where you feel relaxed, have room to breathe, and feel at home.

CEREMONY: If you're planning for an indoor ceremony, natural light can truly be your best friend with large windows, skylights, or doors to bring in lots of natural light. This will give you stunning portraits and an opportunity to light up those real moments. For outdoor ceremonies, things to consider with light are the time of day and direction of light. For ceremonies later in the morning or in the afternoon, the light can become a little harsh but not to worry. With this time of day, you can "backlight" yourselves or place the sun behind your officiant or alter area. Or direct light yourself, which will place the light directly or evenly on you both. Something to consider with this is it may be a bit direct on you both and you may pick up some shadows on your facial features. However, this does give things a very modern look.

I'm happy to help assist with placement for lighting and provide some additional information where the sun will be for your date and time of the ceremony. You can always find a bit of shade for your ceremony to give you a break from the mid-day sun. For ceremonies in the evening, I can work with you on your day-of schedule so you'll have time to capture your ceremony, couple portraits and any group portraits before the sun goes down and any daylight is lost.

GOLDEN HOUR: We've all experienced those beautiful warm sunsets in all their grand tones as they drop over the horizon. Golden hour is the hour before the sun sets and it's when the light has more air to cut through. Therefore it's softer and contains warmer tones which gives you that gorgeous light in your portraits. Utilizing this time, also known as Golden Hour, is something I always try to place into every wedding schedule. Just as long as you two are good with it and it works for you!

RECEPTION: Receptions most often come after the sun has set or in a more low light area. Typically I will keep shooting with the natural light available until the dance party starts and then I will use my flash. For bands or DJ's or venues with their own lighting setup or colored uplighting, I’ll kindly ask them to keep the colored lights or dance party lights off for the first dance, special dances, or toasts since this can give off different colors on your skin tone. No one wants their skin tone to be purple from the venue’s uplighting.

GETTING READY

The time getting ready before your wedding or elopement is such a sincere time. Whether you're getting ready separately or together, it's the quiet time to yourselves where the day begins to feel very real. Below are a few tidbits to help capture the authenticity of this time.

LIGHT: Like I mentioned above, getting ready in a room with a lot of natural light is a dream.

TIDYING UP: Most of the time, you've got one space and a lot of getting ready to do. With this, there might be wedding party suitcases, clothes, hair and makeup tools, water bottles, and food. It can all get a bit scattered. When I arrive, I normally help clean up a bit and shift a few things around so you won't get too much of that clutter in the background of your photos. Keeping suitcases and such in a closet or another room is also very helpful. If you want to have your wedding party or family lend a hand in keeping things neat, I also suggest this too!

THE TWO OF YOU: Getting ready for the both of you is equally a special time. I recommend having a room full of natural light for both of you (maybe give the groom + groomsmen a different room other than the basement to get ready in). I also suggest throwing off the conventional norms. If you’re having an elopement or smaller wedding, it’s okay to get ready together. Yes yes, I know this sounds a little out of the box but consider it if you'd like to have that extra time spent together. It's your day so of course, do what speaks to you both.

HAIR + MAKEUP: If you have the ability to bring in someone for hair and makeup, I always suggest this. Normally the hair and makeup individuals are great about keeping things on schedule and spending a quality amount of time on you both so you look and feel your best. Before the bride or brides, hop into their dress, I'll ask if hair and makeup to do some last minute touch-ups by a window or a naturally lit area so we can get some stunning portraits of you.

FIRST LOOK

Over the seasons of photographing weddings + elopements, the first look is something I really recommend. The first look is time for just you two to see each other before the ceremony. You two can laugh, cry, hug it out and express all that you're feeling for each other. For the fellow introverts (I feel ya!) it really gives you the opportunity to convey what you want to each other without having to do it front of all of your guests. You can also exchange personal vows during this time or do something special for just the two of you… swap gifts, listen to some music, venture around the mountain or beach, celebrate with a toast… whatever you want to do!

Having a first look is not only sentimental but it can also take some stress off of you with the wedding day schedule. Along with the first look, you can also take couples portraits, family portraits and/or wedding party portraits before the ceremony if you'd like since you’ve already seen each other. That way you can enjoy the rest of the day's festivities instead of rounding people up for photos after your ceremony.

COUPLES PORTRAITS

I work closely with my couples to create a day and a photo schedule that prioritizes photos for you two. I suggest placing in two timeframes for couples portraits: a time after your first look (or directly after the ceremony if you opt out of a first look) and a time during Golden Hour. During the flow of your first look (or directly after your ceremony), you two are connected, emotional, and so happy to see one another. This is a wonderful time to stay present and celebrate time for just you two. During Golden Hour, I'll normally sneak you two away before the last light of the day to get in a few more sentimental portraits as the sun drops. Sometimes stepping in front of the camera can bring about some nerves so I've created a quick guide here to help provide some tips and details on what to expect. A few key things from the guide to keep those photos real and full of love are…

Do what feels normal to you. If I give you direction, feel free to make it your own. You know how to love on each other better than anyone so if it feels awkward, adjust it and I’ll help along the way. Just breathe, be yourselves and know I’ll provide space for you both.
This is a combined effort. Think of the mantra “show up for your space”. I’ll capture you two in the most honest way and you two put your love into each other. Without any love in it, it just becomes photos of poses and landscapes.
Move A LOT. Basically keep on moving the entire time. Whether that’s swaying, sweeping away each other’s hair, playing with each others hands, giving each other some playful nudges… again, feel free to make it your own.
Don’t worry if it’s been a little bit since I’ve given you direction. That just means you two are absolutely crushing it and I’m just working on getting amazing photos. So not to worry or feel you have to ask what to do next. Just keep doing you!

UNPLUGGED

With our social media always in reach and our ability to take photos at the snap of a camera phone, I suggest an "unplugged ceremony". This is when you kindly ask your family and friends to refrain from taking photos during your ceremony. This can help your friends and family truly be present during the day and not be so concerned with getting that perfect photo for social media. It also lets me capture the true genuine reaction of your two and your guests while you’re walking down the aisle; instead of capturing photos of people capturing photos and blocking the view of you walking down the aisle.

All in all, having an unplugged ceremony places everyone’s energy and attention into enjoying the love and emotion of the day and between you two. If you choose to not have an unplugged wedding, then I do suggest requesting that guests don’t get into the aisles to take pictures and refrain from using their camera flash.

WEDDING PLANNER

Don’t let this umbrella-holding-doesn’t-want-to-be-photographed wedding planner fool you. She’s the person that makes the wedding day go-round in a beautiful, smooth sailing fashion. No matter if your wedding is big or small, a wedding planner is the glue that keeps it together. I know it sounds way better to save some money and have a family member or close friend handle everything but I have been apart of those wedding days and yes, they were beautiful (of course!) but there is seriously nothing better than a good, prepared wedding planner that anticipates what’s going to happen. They make sure your vendors/guests/wedding party are where they need to be and on time, has an insanely good rain plan, and most of all, takes all that weight off your shoulders from all the little things/decor/schedules/communication and does it for you. If you need some good wedding planner recommendations, just ask and I’m happy to share!

AND ABOVE ALL

Weddings and elopements have their own unique, beautiful and unscripted moments and remember to embrace it all. Truly have a wedding that is your own, one that you'll look back on 30 years from now and say "that was really us in every way". With trust and collaboration, we'll create portraits that will bring you right back to the emotion of your day and last a lifetime.