so excited to be capturing your big day!

To help you feel prepped and confident heading into your wedding, I’ve put together a guide with my best tips, tricks, and everything you can expect in the lead-up to your day. From timeline suggestions to photo must-haves and day-of reminders, it’s all here to make the process smooth and stress-free.

Can’t wait to celebrate with you and capture all the love, laughter, and little in-between moments!

So a couple of months before your wedding, I’ll be sending you a wedding day timeline questionnaire. This questionnaire will help me develop a timeline that will best fit your needs, as well as time for photos!!

Now the key is to always leave some extra time and don’t cram in too much in a tight schedule. Always leave some wiggle room, cause to be honest.. nothing goes as planned on a wedding day…it’s just bound to happen. Make sure to plan for things that may take longer than expected, that way everyone feels relaxed and not rushed/stressed.

Here is a sample timeline I’ve created to help guide your day! There is one with a first-look and the other is without a first-look:

When I arrive on your wedding day, I’ll begin by photographing your detail shots—also known as flat lays. These are some of my favorite images to capture because they showcase the little things that are uniquely yours: your style, your story, and the personal touches that make your day special.

To make this part of the day smooth and efficient, please have all your items set aside in one spot (a small box or shoebox works great!). If you're getting ready at different locations, please keep all rings with the bridal items, including the groom’s ring, so I can photograph them together.

HIS : shoes, ring, ring box, bowtie or tie, tie clip, pocket square, watch, cologne, cuff links, vow book, etc.

HERS: Invitation suite, shoes, ring(s), ring box, bracelets, earrings, necklace, hair pieces, vow book, perfume. veil. florals, etc.

Tip: Ask your florist to include a few loose blooms and greenery for flat lay photos. These little extras go a long way in elevating your detail shots and tying everything together beautifully.

In terms of lighitng, I recommend starting your ceremony approximately 2 hours before sunset. You can easily look up the exact sunset time for your wedding date on Google by searching:

“sunset time [wedding date] [location]”.

Starting your ceremony 2 hours before sunset allows for the best natural lighting and ensures we have ample time for all your formal portraits—including family photos, wedding party photos, and couple portraits—just in time for that dreamy golden-hour glow.

Formal family portraits typically take place immediately after the ceremony, so it’s super important that family members stay in place rather than wandering off to cocktail hour.

This part of the day usually moves quickly—I typically have around 20 minutes to capture all the key family combinations—so having everyone ready and nearby helps things run smoothly and ensures no one gets missed!

You can send this to me in a Word doc, email, Google Doc—whatever’s easiest for you!

Having names in advance allows me to call people over directly by name rather than saying things like “bride with dad and stepmom,” which can avoid any family dynamic awkwardness and makes the process feel more natural and personable!

Example below of a formal family shot list:

Once family photos are wrapped up, we’ll gather the entire wedding party—bridesmaids and groomsmen—for group photos!

If you're doing a first look, we may capture full wedding party photos before the ceremony, which helps free up more time afterward for couple portraits and a smoother flow into the reception.

Once family photos are wrapped up, we’ll gather the entire wedding party—bridesmaids and groomsmen—for group photos!

If you're doing a first look, we may capture full wedding party photos before the ceremony, which helps free up more time afterward for couple portraits and a smoother flow into the reception.