T H E
WEDDING E X P E R I E N C E A Guide for all Kari Anne Brides
W E L C O M E Hello Bride-to-be and Welcome! This is such an exciting time for you! I’m sure your mind is racing with all that needs to be planned. It’s all very exciting , but it can also be somewhat overwhelming. You’re planning the day that you’ve been anticipating your whole life and yet you only get one shot at it! By the time you get the hang of it, the planning is over! My goal as a wedding photographer is to make this one aspect of the planning processs simple. Photography is more than just images, it’s a real part of your day. Not only do you deserve beautiful images, you also deserve an amazing photographic experience. The goal of this guide is to help you plan your wedding day in a way that will allow me to provide you with the BEST experience possible. Since we’re official, the next step is to plan your engagement session and then start chatting about wedding day details as we get closer to your date! I’m beyond excited to be working with you!! I cannot wait to get to know you two during your engagement session!!
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GET TO KNOW K A R I You may have already gotten a hint of this already... but I LOVE what I do! Documenting your wedding day is such an honor!! Since we’ll be spending a lot of time together on the big day, I want to make sure you really feel like you know me! I’m a lover of puppies of all shapes and sizes, rearranging my furniture and I cannot resist a delicious glass of red wine! My marriage is the greatest blessing to me and I’m really excited for you to experience the same feeling!
W E D D I N G D AY FAV O R I T E S You may not realize this but every photographer has parts of the wedding day that they favor! Below you can read through three of my favorite parts of the wedding day and why these moments are close to my heart!
BRIDAL DETAILS I love starting off the day with beautiful details! I consider this my “warm up” time. These details allow me to be creative from the moment I begin shooting on your wedding day. I love having this time to prepare for the rest of your day! 3
BRIDE & GROOM PORTRAITS
AFTER THE CEREMONY
Portrait time with the bride and The first few moments after the groom is hands down my favorite part ceremony are so special as well! This is of the day! This is when I produce when the couple gets to hug, laugh and my best work and when my couples cry with those that they are closest to. really get to enjoy their wedding day. It’s emotional and it’s so very special! I especially love the moment when the I love documenting this part of the groom sees his bride for the first time! day!
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
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Engagement Session Intro
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Ceremony Prep & Tips
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Engagement Prep Tips
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Tips & Tricks
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Planning Ahead
57
The Family Formals List
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Preparing Your Groom
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Your Romantic Portrait Time
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Sample Timeline Breakdown
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Rainy Wedding Days
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Wedding s through the Seasons
62
Reception Planning
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Preceremony Prep
69
The Controlled Exit
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Bridal Details & Timing Tips
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Creating Your First Heirloom
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The First Look
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Your Online Galler y Explained
50 The Daddy / Daughter First Look 5
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YOUR
ENGAGEMENT
SESSION Now that you have picked a date, a photographer
Your engagement session can be scheduled anytime
and probably a venue as well, you can celebrate!
before your wedding day. I normally suggest booking
Those are some of the toughest decisions in wed-
it at least 3-6 months in advance to avoid stress. Be-
ding planning and you can cross them off your list!
cause my weekends are filled with weddings, I shoot
Hooray!! Now on to the fun stuff.... like your en-
engagements on weekday evenings, normally from
gagement session! I include engagement sessions in
5-7pm depending on the light and the time of the
The Wedding Experience because I truly believe that
year. In the winter months, 3-5pm is a normal time
they are a VITAL part of the entire process. During
frame for an e-shoot! As you start to plan for your
your engagement session, you’ll have the chance to
engagement shoot, you will need to start brainstorm-
get to know me, experience how I shoot and how I
ing about location ideas. I LOVE it when couples
handle posing and lighting. This session will make
pick a location that is special or sentimental to them
a HUGE impact on how the wedding day flows. I’ll
in some way! If you can’t think of anywhere specific
arrive on your wedding day already knowing how
that you would like to shoot, I can help you decide
you two interact, what your best poses are and how
on a location! As long as the light is great, I can
to photograph you in a genuine way! What I will
make ANY location look awesome! I shoot at farms,
learn about you during your engagement session is
campuses, downtown alleys and even on trains!! I’m
invaluable! You will feel like such a pro on your big
serious! Do not shy away from crazy ideas! The
day because of the great practice you had during your
more creative, the better! Be sure to keep reading to
engagement session, and that’s how it should be!
find out more about outfit ideas and inspiration!
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ENGAGEMENT PREP It’s always a little intimidating to have your picture taken .... even if it’s just a photo on an iphone that is taken by a friend. We still want to look nice, make sure nothing is in our teeth and that our hair is behaving! I realize that preparing for your engagement session can be a little overwhelming. Here are some tips for outfits and accessories that will make the e-shoot preparation a little more managable!
- Don’t try to MATCH...try to pick outfits and accessories
- Most often, couples like to have one casual, everyday outfit
that coordinate instead. If everyone wore the same exact color
and then one outfit that is dressier! This will give your shoot
at their e-shoot, how boring would those images be?
two totally different “looks”. I recommend beginning with the dressy outfit first!
- Don’t be afraid to be BOLD! Accessorize and make your outfits your own! Scarves, bold necklaces and fun shoes are al-
- Make sure you’re comfortable in what you’re wearing. And
ways welcomed!
ladies, if the top is super low cut, that will limit the amount of angles I can shoot from.
- MOST PATTERNS are actually ok.... however, graphics are not favorable for portraits. If you’re wearing a pattern, make
- BE ON TIME! The sun is only out for so long ! The later you
sure it’s not overwhelming and distracting.
arrive, the less time we have to shoot! And nobody wants that!
- Empty your pockets! Literally. You don’t want to have key
- Clean the ring! I love to shoot a few rings shots while you
chains or phones showing through your pockets. (This is for
change outfits! The cleaner the better!
the guys especially!) - Relax! You don’t have to be a pro at this! I’m going to help
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- Forget the “photo shoot” part! You’re not there for me, I’m
you along the way and it’s going to be a blast! Enjoy this time
there for you!! I’ll definitely be sure to get killer shots of you
together, and make a date out of it! Plan dinner afterwards and
buys but more importantly, I’m there to document this
celebrate!!
incredibly special time! Just be yourselves :)
As you plan... - Planning your wedding can be exciting + fun + stressful all at the same time! Through all of your planning and discussing of the future, I’m sure you both agree that your wedding day is merely one in many days that you will share together. One of my favorite ways to keep my future hubby topof-mind was to spend a little time during our engagement coming up with a few surprises for him on our wedding day.
Ideas for Him I decided to write a brief note to him each day of our engagment for him to review later on. Perhaps you want
PLANNING AHEAD
to gift your groom on the wedding day or create another personalized sentiment for him to enjoy. A few amazing ideas from my past brides: - Custom Watches - Thoughtful letters of love - Custom Cufflinks or socks
Communication & Expectations Be sure to set expectations for your groom! Don’t expect him to gift you if you haven’t discussed it first! Remember, our guys can read our minds; if wedding day gifts are important to you, be sure to let him know :)
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ENGAGEMENT SESSION Approximate Start Times WI N T E R
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SUMMER
Dec-Mar 3-5pm
Jun-Aug 6:30-8:30pm
During December through MidMarch you can plan on your engagement session taking place around 3-5pm. However, the time changes in Mid-March and so that will make the start time one hour later.
Summer engagements, just like all engagements, take place two hours before sunset. This will hopefully mean that the shoot will be during the cooler part of the day.
SPRING
FA L L
Apr-May - Varies
S e pt-Nov - Varies
The sunset time drastically changes throughout the course of these two months and so our shooting times change as well. You can plan on approximately 5:30-7:30 in April and 6:00-8:00 in May.
The sunset time changes drastically during these three months. In Sept, you can plan on 5:30-7:30 until the third week and then you can plan on 5:00-7:00 until Mid- Oct. After the first week of Nov, 3:00-5:00pm.
LOGISTICS: - I photograph engagement sessions on weekday evenings because my weekends are dedicated to photographing weddings! - I love shooting at gorgeous locations. I recommend two locations max for engagements. A general rule of thumb is the more locations and outfits, the less images, but the more variety you’ll have! - I can do sunrise sessions if necessary! We require sunrise shoots for those who want to take portraits in a very crowded location. - I love to travel to our shoots! However, if I have never been to your desired location, I may need some advice on where to park!
P R E PA R I N G YO U R G R O O M
P R E PA R I N G YO U R G R O O M
If you’re a bride that is a little anxious about how your
expect. First of all, I highly recommend sitting down with
groom is going to react to this whole “picture” thing, you’re
your guy and showing him one of your favorite
not alone. I receive many emails from brides who are wor-
engagement sessions that I have photographed. Spend
ried that their groom won’t be into it and I have great news
some time together scrolling through a few blog posts, this
for you.... you both are more photogenic than you think!
will allow him to gauge what his expectations should be. I
I’m constantly surprising couples by discovering their
also recommend that you
hidden modeling skills and our most common response
allow for plenty of time to get to your shoot! There is
from our Kari Anne Grooms is “That wasn’t as bad as I
nothing worse than when a couple shows up late, and they
thought! It was actually fun”. Boom! Mission
have been arguing in the car! That is definitely going to put
accomplished! When the groom says that taking pictures
your groom in a bad mood! Last but not least, remember
was FUN, we have done our job well! Your engagement
to have patience with him, and don’t assume that he’s not
session is supposed to be fun and relaxed, not forced or
going to have a good time... I think you’ll be surprised how
awkward. As you prepare for your shoot, there are a few
much you will both enjoy your session!!
things that you can do to help your groom know what to
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YOUR
WEDDING D AY
Here’s the page that can be somewhat intimidating! The TIMELINE! I know this isn’t the most exciting aspect of the wedding day, but
SAMPLE TIMELINE
this is the one thing that can make or break your photography! These next two pages will outline an ideal wedding day working off of a 2:30 ceremony timeframe. This is an ideal timeline based on a traditional Ceremony with no First Look. If you’re interested in doing a First Look for your Wedding day, I have included timline adjustments we will need to make in the next few pages! Remember that all wedding days are different, and your timeline may differ due to travel times and unique situations.
After the details have been photo-
Reception Details
12:00-12:30
Bridal Details 12:30-1:30
graphed, it’s time for the bride to
You and your groom are all ready to
get into her dress! This is a big mo-
go! If everything has gone according
ment! I usually ask the mother of
to plan, this is a fantastic time for
the bride and all of the bridesmaids
you to collect your thoughts, pray
to be dressed by the time the bride
with your bridesmaids or spend a
is ready to get into her dress. This
few minutes chatting with your
ensures that everyone will look nice
groom before the ceremony (we’ll
in those images. After the bride is in
keep you hidden of course!). If we’re
her gown, she can put on her jewelry,
running behind schedule a bit, this
veil, shoes, etc. and I will shoot some additional bridal portraits! If the reception is in the same loca-
Every bride loves having those beau-
tion as the ceremony (or very close
tiful shots of her bridal details. It’s
to), I will use this time to shoot the
an important part of the story and I
reception decor UNTOUCHED.
love having some time to shoot the
If the ceremony and reception are
dress, shoes, jewelry, invitations, etc.
in different locations, I recommend
These shots allow me to get warmed
having a cocktail hour outside of
up for the rest of the big day. I nor-
the main reception area if possible
mally like to allow at least 45 min-
so that I can grab some great shots
utes for this part of the day. While
of your reception before the night
I’m shooting details, I’m also captur-
begins and guests start laying down
ing some shots of the bride and her
purses and coats on their seats!
Groom Time 2:00-2:15
Ceremony 2:30
time serves as a cushion for the rest of the day! It’s time to get married!! Most ceremonies are 30-60 minutes long. If your ceremony is longer than 30 mins, we’ll make adjustments to the timeline! Cherish these moments! Your ceremony will pass by so quick-
1:30-2:00 Bridal Prep
If your groom is getting ready in the same location (or close by), I’ll try and give you a few moments alone
2:00-2:30 Bride in Hiding
ly! Please let me know if you will be dismissing your guests from your Ceremony or plan to greet them
with your ladies while I capture a
with a receiving line as that will defi-
girls getting ready! If the groom is
few portraits of him getting ready!
nitey affect the timeline of the day!
getting ready nearby, I will sneak
I usually just ask him to put on his
away to photograph the boys close
jacket and fasten his cufflinks. If you
to 40 minutes before the Ceremony-
have a gift for him, I’ll definitely be
since it always takes them less time to
there to photograph that as well!
get dressed! 19
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THE TIMELINE CONTINUED... I include 8 hours of coverage so that
Family Portraits
2:45-3:15
Bridal Party A Few “Just Married” Portraits Portraits 3:15-3:45 3:45-5:00
Cocktail Hour 4:00-6:00
Reception Begins!
6:00
I can be present for the main events of the reception and about an hour of dancing! If you’re interested in having your exit photographed, there are several options for this!
Family formals normally take place
You can either add additional cover-
immediately following the ceremo-
age or plan a faux exit with just your
ny. It’s best to save all of the family
bridal party! We have had GREAT
formals until after the ceremony be-
success with this and the party never
cause ALL family members will be
stops! Email me about this if you’re
present at that time.
interested in learning more! Now it’s time for Bridal Party shots!
Even though your wedding day will
I buffer in extra time throughout the
pass by in an instant, I want to make
day just in case we have some unex-
sure that you and your new HUS-
pected things that hold us up! This
BAND can take a few minuntes
is a fun and easygoing time for you
away from all of your guests to spend
to spend with your bridal party! I
time soaking in your love togther. I
usually recommend limiting our
like to leave at least an hour for your
We’ll need about 30 mintues for
bridal party shots to no more than
portaits together so that you can
family formals and I will send a
2 locations (especially if everyone is
have time to unwind and enjoy one
questionnaire before the wedding
driving separately). We’ll get a com-
another. Depending on the time of
where you can list out the shots that
bination of formal poses as well as re-
year, I’ll usually steal you both for
you want. I recommend shooting
laxed shots of you hanging out with
a few minutes of your reception to
portraits outdoors if possible so that
these amazing people! After we’re
grab another set of glowy portraits
they resemble more natural family
done with bridal party shots, we can
just before sunset.
portraits, especially if the ceremony
dismiss your party so that they can
location is dark!
catch a bit of your cocktail hour!
Most of my couples have chosen to
This is when the bridal party lines
include a cocktail hour (or two!) for
up for introductions and the party
their guests between the Ceremony
begins!! By this part of the day, my
any Dinner. Please let me know if
timeline isn’t as strict. I work off of
you would like to join your guests
the natural light and so after the
for any of your cocktail hour and
sun is set, my portrait time is over
we’ll be sure to adjust our timeline
and I begin focusing on the recep-
appropriately!
tion events!
The Exit
8:00 A P P ROX I M AT E T I M E S : DETAILS & PREP : 1.5 HOURS FIRST LOOK & PORTRAITS : 30-40 MINS BRIDAL PARTY : 30-40 MINS FAMILY FORMALS: 30 MINS EXTRA PORTRAIT TIME : AS MUCH TIME AS YOU’LL
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GIVE ME!
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WEDDINGS &
SEASONS Portrait & Timing Tips for: WINTER , SPRING, SUMMER & FALL WI N T E R
SUMMER
Winter weddings are gorgeous! However, they do take
Summer weddings are amazing! I love that there is so
some additional planning simply because of the sunset
much daylight! In some months, the light will last until
time. The hard part about a winter timeline is the fact
8:30pm! So, if you’re having a summer wedding, you’ll
that the sun sets around 4pm. This means that all of
need to plan on having a few minutes to slip out of the
your portraits have to be done before then! This isn’t
reception for your sunset portraits! You will NOT re-
a problem if you’re having a late afternoon wedding.
gret this! This is the absolute best light of the day and
However, if you’re planning on having a late evening
you’re going to want to have portraits during this time
wedding, you may have a bit of down time from 4pm
period. Usually these portraits happen during dinner
until the start of the ceremony. You will also need more
or open dancing so that no one even notices that you’re
coverage time as well.
gone for a few minutes!
SPRING
FA L L
Spring weddings are wonderful because they are the
Fall weddings are my favorite! This is probably because
perfect temperature! However, I recommend having
my husband Ryan and I got married in the fall! I love
plenty of Claritin and Zyrtec on hand just in case aller-
the temperature and the colors! Most of my fall brides
gies start to flare up during portrait time. Spring wed-
worry about color, and I just want to encourage you that
dings normally mean the potential for some blooms! If
all I need is one tree with some color in order to make
we happen to find any type of blooming tree or plant,
it look like fall! A little bit of color can go a long way!!
it will be worth it to give us a few minutes for portraits
Your portrait time will vary depending on your wed-
with it! You’ll LOVE the result!
ding date! We’ll be sure to discuss this when we approve your final timeline!
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PRECEREMONY
Let the day begin! This portion of The Wedding Experience really sets the stage for the entire wedding day. The next few pages will share tips and tricks that will ensure a seamless morning of bridal preparation and beautiful portraits!
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GETTING READY It’s the morning of your wedding! Hopefully all of the
Will you and your groom be exchanging gifts during
little details are taken care of and you’re relaxing with
this time? If so, who would you like to deliver them?
your best friends while your hair is being done. If cer-
Are there certain women in your life who would ap-
tain items haven’t been checked off of the to-do list, it’s
preciate seeing you get into your gown? Some brides
time to hand them over to someone else. Delegation is
want very few people around for this moment. Other
a key part of a stress-free wedding day. I know it’s hard
brides love having aunts and grandmas present! It’s
to hand over the decorating duties and all of the last
totally up to you! A few other things to consider.... as
minute things that need to be done, but it really is im-
you get ready to put your dress on, refrain from put-
portant to relax the morning of your wedding. The rest
ting any jewelry on. I love shooting all of those final
of the day is going to be fast paced and filled with a lot
steps once you’re in your gown! Speaking of the gown,
of emotions! Take advantage of this down time! There
if your gown is on a plastic hanger, try to make a note
are a few things to consider about the “getting ready”
to bring a wooden hanger along for picture sake. If you
portion of the day. Do you want to share a “first look”
forget, no big deal! I’m a pro at finding wooden hangers
with your dad or any other person who plays a huge role
at venues! Keep reading along for more “getting ready”
in your life?
tips to help you prepare!
I can’t give advice about wedding day photography without sharing one of my own photos! My photographer helped me plan the getting ready portion of my wedding day so that I could get this wonderful getting ready shot! 27
-Kari
THE
WINDOW
EFFECT
By having just a simple window in the bridal prep area, I am able to create beautiful portraits with soft light. I prefer natural light so the more windows, the better!
EVERY LITTLE D E TA I L
RINGS, SHOES, JEWELS ... The whole day begins with the DETAILS! This is one of my favorite parts of the wedding day, because it allows me to prepare and get my creative side warmed up for the rest of the day! I photograph a bride’s details in a way that matches and showcases the style of the entire wedding day. So, in some ways, the details set the stage for the look of the whole wedding and I love having ample time to stylize, and shoot everything from the dress, to the jewelry, to grandma’s handkerchief ! To the right, you’ll find a list of the most common details that I shoot. I ask brides to gather any details they have before I arrive so that I can walk in, say hello, give you a big hug and then begin with all the goodies! (Please assure your mom
W H AT T O B R I N G
{
dress veil / hair pieces rings (all three) shoes bouquet & bout jewelry perfume invitation suite borrowed & blue
that I will take GREAT care of the dress, I promise!) 31
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D AY- O F R E M I N D E R S
G AT H E R the goods.
If possible, collect all of your details before I arrive so that I can begin quickly and have more time for some “getting ready” shots of you and your girls!
Sometimes, depending on the theme and “look” of the wedding day, there may be some
EXTRA elements.
extra elements that you could include when you gather your details. For eample, if you’re having a country themed wedding, you could include a piece of burlap or lace. If you’re having a rustic themed wedding that includes some wooden elements, maybe save a small piece of wood for me to use when I’m shooting your rings and jewerly. This REALLY makes for beautiful, consistent album spreads!
KEEP
all three ring s. BRING the bouquet. 33
The most common detail missing when I arrive are the rings! Moms, officiants and planners will tell you to hand over your wedding band to the best man before the day begins. However, it’s actually better to hand it over during the bridal party portraits so that I can shoot some great ring shots in the AM! If you forget, no worries, I can always shoot the ring shot at the reception if there is extra time! Don’t forget the Bouquet! Have the bouquets and bouts delivered to the bride’s getting ready location (or wherever I’ll be taking detail photographs). No worries, if it’s hot, we’ll be sure to keep it in water as much as possible before the ceremony! 34
When you’re planning a wedding day timeline, the best advice I could give is to ADD CUSHION TIME! Sometimes the most simple things can take an extra 20 minutes and then all
TIMING TIPS
of a sudden, the whole morning is thrown off. I have seen “getting the bride in her dress” take almost 40 minutes because of a button malfunction. It’s a smart idea to add in an extra ten minutes here and there so that we have some wiggle room to work with! This way, if one part of the day gets thrown off by 20 minutes, I can help you compensate that time in other areas. There are so many different things to think about when you’re planning a wedding day, and so here are some tips for the preceremony timeline! I realize that every single wedding day is different and so not all of these tips will apply to every wedding day schedule. Something else to consider is that not EVERYTHING will go as planned, and I promise you, that is completely normal!!
GETTING IN THE DRESS
CREATE A CUSHION
My second shooter will photo-
I’ll instruct you to get into your
A 10 minute cushion every now
least their makeup done be-
graph the guys getting ready if
dress close to a window and it
and then is a GREAT idea! It’s
from your getting ready location
fore I start because who wants
they are getting ready in the same
would be fabulous to have your
amazing how fast time slips away
and your venue!
a ton of shots without their
location as the bride or within
bridemaids dressed when you’re
the day of !
makeup on?! Nobody.
10-15 mins.
getting in your gown!
BOUQUETS AND BOUTS
TRAVEL TIME
HAIR & MAKEUP
You will need your Bouquet &
Be sure to think about the travel
I encourage brides to have at
Bouts for your First Look! Have
time and TRAFFIC to and
them delivered to the room where the bride is getting ready. 35
GROOMSMEN PREP
36
VEIL OPTIONS If you’ve opted to do a first look, I recommend that the bride only wear her veil when she comes down the aisle and I recommend this for three different reasons. 1. This is something new for your groom to see when you’re walking down the aisle! 2. A lot of times, during a First Look, the groom is so excited to see his bride that he accidently pulls the veil out when he throws his arms around her! And 3. Saving the veil for the ceremony ensures that I will get some “Just Married” portrait time with the couple because EVERY bride needs to have a “Veil Blowing in the Wind” shot of their own! This isn’t a rule that we ask all brides to follow, it’s simply a suggestion that my brides are absolutely thrilled with! I usually recommend removing your veil after your final portraits so that it doesn’t accidentally get pulled out.
THE BRIDAL BOUQUET There are so many expenses when it comes to wedding planning. Many brides have to prioritize what they want to invest in. I just want to give a little tip that can save money and make a huge impact on the way your images turn out. If you’re having trouble making a decision about your florals, here is what I suggest. I recommend making your bridal bouquet a big priority! When I’m photographing a wedding, if the bride has a gorgeous bouquet, I can make the entire day look like there were beautiful florals everywhere! I can use the bridal bouquet to spruce up bridal details, reception details AND even bride and groom portraits as well! The bridal bouquet is a focal point for me when it comes to your photography, and so I highly recommend getting your DREAM bouquet and investing less on the bridesmaids bouquets since they will not be photographed nearly as much! 37
TO
FIRST LOOK
or not?
The First Look has become quite popular amond brides for it’s ability to increase the amount of portrait time available and to
From your photographer:
smooth out the flow of the day. About half of my couples have chosen to do a First look and as your photographer, I can make any situation work! On the next page you will see adjustments to
As a traditional bride, I knew that I wanted Ryan to see me for the first time as I was coming down the aisle. I really had a hard time deciding not to do a First Look since it seemed very popular on all of the wedding websites I was looking at. However, I am SO happy that I decided to wait! The moment that my Father gave me away + Ryan was able to see me is a time that I will never forget!
the timeline that should be made if you decide to incorporate a first look into your wedding day. Deciding between a First Look or waiting to see each other at your Ceremony is an incredibly personal decision to be made only between you and your groom. You shouldn’t feel pressured to choose one over the other and I am more than happy to discuss this with you if you have any questions!
Here is the image to prove it!! If you aren’t crazy about doing a First Look but would like to talk with each other before your Ceremony, the above images shows an alternative for you! Kimberly and Scott chose not to do a first look but wanted to spend a few minutes together before the Ceremony! If you decide this option is for you, I’ll find the perfect location for you and your groom to be close to eachother (all while keeping you hidden :). I’ll capture a few images for you and then give you as much time as you need before we get prepared for the Ceremony to begin.
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F I R S T L O O K | Your Timeline Up until this point, the timeline looks pretty similar to a day with no First Look. I’ll still arrive in plenty of time to photograph your details and reception space (if reception space is in an alternative location).
2:00 - FIRST LOOK I will find the perfect location for my couple’s First Look prior to the getting ready portion of the day! Don’t stress about that one bit! I will make sure the location is private and as secluded as possible.
2:15 - 2:45 PORTRAITS After the bride and groom take their time with the First Look, I will begin taking a few romantic portraits of the two of them while the initial excitment is still present! I will find the locations for these shots as well! Remember, the LIGHT determines where we shoot and so I can’t decide on portrait locations until the day-of. As we shoot these portraits, the bridal party can start making their way to us for Bridal Party portraits!
2:50 - 3:20 BRIDAL PARTY PORTRAITS Now it’s time for Bridal Party shots! I buffer in extra time throughout the day just in case we have some unexpected things that hold us up! One way to make sure we stay on schedule for bridal party portraits is to have someone put the boutonnieres on the guys BEFORE they arrive for portraits. During Bridal Party portraits, I will be sure to include both formal and fun shots!!
3:30
BRIDE IN HIDING
4:00-4:20
RECEPTION DETAILS
If Ceremony and Reception are in the same location
4:30 - 5:00 CEREMONY 5:15 - 5:45 FORMAL FAMILY PORTRATS 5:30 - 6:30 COCKTAIL HOUR Since we’ve already completed bridal party portraits, your bridal party can head to cocktail hour while we capture a few.....
5:50 - 6:20
JUST MARRIED PORTRAITS
Please let me know if you would like to joing your guest for a portion of cocktail hour and we can adjust accordingly
6:30 RECEPTION We’ll return to your reception space with enough time to organize your bridal party for your Grand Entrace! Time for Cake Cutting, Important Toasts, Delicious Dinner + First Dances!
8:00 END OF COVERAGE
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FOR THE BRIDE
FIRST LOOK E X P E C TAT I O N S
Bride’s (whether or not you do a first look), if you have never seen your man cry or get emotional, you can’t expect him to be overly emotional on your wedding day. Some guys just embrace their brides and never cry.... and that’s OK. Some guys show very little emotion when their bride is coming down the aisle and that’s ok too. Just enjoy this amazing day, and try not to put any expectations on him. If you take this advice to heart, I could potentially be saving you a lot of disappointment on your day. One thing I’ve have noticed is that the stress and nerves that come with a wedding day can sometimes make it hard for some grooms to truly express their emotions. It’s just a lot to take in all at once. This is a great reason to discuss whether or not to share a first look and also another great reason to give some grace to your guy! Sure, you desetve to feel beautiful, but my encouragement to you is to enjoy this time together, no matter what his reaction is like!
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The Daddy / Daughter
FIRST LOOK This is for all of the brides who have a sweet spot in their heart for their dad. I have to admit that Daddy/Daughter first looks make me a little teary. For a lot of dads, this is when everything feels real and it hits him... “My baby girl is getting MARRIED!” These are precious moments to photograph and I highly encourage any daddy’s girl to make time in their timeline for this moment. It doesn’t take long at all! The hardest part is making sure dad shows up on time! If dad doesn’t show up on time, the whole timeline can get thrown off, or we’ll have to skip the daddy/daughter first look. Another sweet idea we’ve seen is having the father of the bride escort the bride to her first look!
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THE CEREMONY Here it is! The moment everyone has been waiting for! The music is playing and the guests have been seated. Ushers make their way to the back of the church, and the coordinator is lining up the bridesmaids while giving the musicians a 5 minute warning. The bride is about to walk down the aisle to the love of her life..... and if she’s like most girls, she’s dreamed about this moment for a long time! Vows will be shared and promises will be made... this is what it’s all about!! In a world full of wedding blogs, Pinterest and bridal magazines, it’s easy to be overwhelmed and consumed by the “prettiness” of the event. While details do matter and planning is necessary, it’s important to never lose sight of the real purpose of this amazing day: YOUR NEW LIFE TOGETHER AS A COUPLE!
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ORDER OF CEREMONY
LIGHTING
PROGRAMS & D E TA I L S
C O O R D I N AT I O N
Ceremony lighting is really important. If you get married out-
I have seen so many couples do so many AMAZING things
The BEST advice I have for the program-making process is to
Hiring either a full event planner or just a day-of coordinator
doors at 12pm, the lighting will be extremely harsh and not
during their ceremony. I’ve photographed couples washing
remember that not EVERY guest needs a program! We printed
is SO important!! Brides realize very quickly that if they do
only will there be harsh lines of light on your faces, you will
each other’s feet, symbolizing that they want to serve each other
a program for everyone attending our wedding but quickly real-
not have someone in charge of the coordination of the day,
also be squinting. I suggest planning an outdoor ceremony 2
for the rest of their life. Some couples share in communion
ized that most families only took one. We ended up with over
that responsibility will automatically fall on the mother of the
hours before sunset if you are having a FIRST LOOK. If you
while some light a unity candle. I’ve seen sand ceremonies, rope
100 extra programs! Yikes! Also, before ordering your
bride, the photographer or the BRIDE! When a
are not interested in sharing a first look, then I would suggest
ceremonies and the signing of the family Bible. The options are
programs, have SEVERAL people check it for spelling and
photographer is in charge of the timeline and the coordina-
having your ceremony 3 hours before sunset to ensure that you
limitless!! As you plan your ceremony, make sure you design it
grammatical errors. Programs and the ceremony decor are
tion of the day, the images will suffer. All of my most stressful
will have plenty of time for all of your portraits afterwards.
to be exactly what the two of you envision it to be. This is your
things that the bride can plan in advance but then delegate the
wedding situations were caused by a lack of organization and
The lower the sun, the more romantic the lighting. If you are
day!!
actual job of setting it up to a friend or coordinator. The last
coordination. It’s so important to make this a priority. If you
having an indoor ceremony, it is always best to have EVEN
thing a bride needs to be doing the morning of her wedding is
need any recommendations on wedding coordination services
lighting at the altar. If there are two spotlights on the bride
running around setting up floral arrangements! This leads me
I would love to share some of my favorite vendors with you!
and groom, I will not be able to expose the rest of the bridal
into my next column!
party. It is better to have soft, even light acorss the whole altar.
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Helpful Tip s & Tr i cks
an d a few more!
Having photographed several amazing weddings, I’ve picked up a few bits of helpful information that could help you make the most of your day!
1. Personalize, Personalize!! One of the best parts of your
3. Your bridal party needs to eat too! Even though you
wedding day is celebrating what makes you unique as a
may not feel hungry, I can assure you that your bridal
couple! Don’t be afraid to inject personal touches for your
party will definitely need nourishment thoughout the day.
guests to enjoy throughout the day. Your guests will enjoy
I’ve seen couples deliver Subs or have pizza available - just
learning the little things about you two!
make sure you have something for your amazing party as the day goes on!
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2. Don’t forget to eat! This may sound silly, but with all of
4. Don’t stress over wedding favors! I’ve seen so many
the activities surrounding your day, it is very easy to forget
favors get left behind or simply forgotten. If you’d like to
to eat a healthy breakfast and to pack snacks throughout
include them, I suggest making them part of your table
the day. You’ll need all of your energy!
decor!
4. If you plan on stopping at a few different portrait lo-
attend to those things, but also to spend time with friends
cations or have a large bridal party, I highly recommed
and family gathered to celebrate you!
reserving a party bus or limo (stocked with snacks of course!). This makes travelling to locations a breeze and
7. Tasks to Delegate - it can be easy to forget these things
keeps your party occupied if they will be waiting for us to
and remember, people want to be helpful to you!
shoot a few couple portraits! 5. I highly recommend bringing along a small makeup kit
- Collecting decorations + momentos at end of reception
for touching up your bridal make up throughout the day!
- Distributing tips + final payments to vendors the day of - Checking into hotel + bringing overnight bag along
6. If possible, try to take off work at least a few days in
- Placing drinks + snacks on Limo/Bus
advance of your wedding. There are so many last minute
- Packing gifts + cards into car at the end of reception
things that pop up and you want to be able to not only
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We have an escapee!
Sample List for FA M I LY F O R M A L S Michael and I absolutely love meeting our couple’s families on the wedding day! Family formals are normally our first interaction with them and so we love to have a game plan for this part of the day! Eight weeks before the wedding, you’ll receive a questionnaire from us that will ask you to list out the family formals you want us to capture. Here is a sample family formal list to help you start preparing what shots you need. We do have to limit the family formal time in order to ensure that we have plenty of daylight for your romantic portraits. However, any large family group shots that we don’t accomplish during family formals, we can be sure to capture at the reception!
B&G with Bride’s Immediate Family (Parents, Siblings, Grandparents, Nieces, Nephews) B&G with Bride’s Parents B&G with Bride’s Siblings Bride with her Parents Bride with Mom, Bride with Dad B&G with Bride’s Grandparents B&G with both sets of Parents B&G with Groom’s Immediate Family (Parents, Siblings, Grandparents, Nieces, Nephews) B&G with Groom’s Parents B&G with Groom’s Siblings Groom with his Parents Groom with Mom, Groom with Dad B&G with Groom’s Grandparents B&G with all family members if time allows
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R O M A N T I C P O RT R A I T S If we’re being honest, all of the wedding day images are important, but the real favorites are almost always from my time with the Bride and Groom! These romantic portraits of just the two of you will be the images that you frame beside your bed or over your mantle, and they will also be the images that will fill your album for generations to enjoy. These images are always my favorite not only because of their beauty, but because this is such a sweet portion of the day. For this brief moment in time, you will be alone with your groom on your wedding day. You will have a chance to love on each other and really connect before the craziness begins! Romantic portraits are normally done after the ceremony (or after the fist look) and then I LOVE shooting a few “just married” portraits after the ceremony as well! If I can, I’ll try to steal you away for a few minutes during sunset; it’s such a romantic time for bride and groom portraits! If you’re not interested in a first look, we will make sure to include a lot of time after the ceremony for these portraits!
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THE CASE OF A
RAINY W E D D I N G D AY
One of the most frequently asked questions that we receive during wedding season is “Soooo, what do you do if it RAINS?!”. I want to reassure you that even if it rains, you will still have beautiful portraits and BRIGHT colors in your images! Overcast skies mean vibrant colors! I know that rain isn’t ideal, and no bride would wish for rain on their big day, but if it happens, it happens..... and it’s going to be JUST fine!! Some of our best weddings have been on rainy wedding days! Here are a few things to remember: 1. All I need to create natural light portraits on a rainy wedding day is a porch! Just one porch! 2. Let me worry about the pictures. You have enough to think about. If there is a chance of rain, I’ll be sure to do some extra scouting to find a covered location or two, for us to use for you first look, romantic portraits and bridal party portraits. 3. Take it one step at a time. Don’t think about your entire day and what will happen if it rains. That will only overwhelm you! Definitely have a rain plan for your venue, but then let your vendors do the work of handling the rest of the day if rain is in the forecast. 61
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y o u r b r i d a l p a r t y. Lets chat about your bridal party! This is when the fun REALLY begins! I know from experience that all brides want their closest friends to have an AMAZING time during their big day, and I will make sure that happens! Bridal party portraits should be a ton of FUN! After your ceremony (or if you decide to share a first look), depending on the locations and the timing of the day, your bridal party will join us for portraits! If all goes well, we will be able to accomplish ALL of your bridal party protraits BEFORE the ceremony. This means that your guys and gals will be free to mingle at cocktail hour if they wish! If there are flower girls and ring bearers involved, they can either join us for the preceremony portraits or we can take one final group photo after the ceremony, before family formals. Be sure your groomsmen arrive with boutonnieres on, and your bridesmaids arrive with bouquets!
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R E C E P T I O N D E TA I L S
The party is here!! Receptions can be a blast! However, it’s important to make sure that you have your event well thought
Much like the ceremony, you have the freedom to make your reception your own! It’s your party, it should be exactly how you
out. This is the job of your coodinator and your DJ/Band. Your caterer will also play a big role in the design and set up of
want it to be! Here is a list of some key events that happen often at receptions:
your event. Every aspect of your reception affects the overall outline of the evening. For example, if you’re not having a plated meal, your reception will need to be set up in a way that allows movement. Guests will need to be able to find the food stations easily, and there will be a mixture of dinner tables and hightop cocktail tables. This will encourage guests to mix and mingle. If you are having a plated dinner, you will more than likely need escort cards, full place settings and space for all of your guests to be seated comfortably. Whatever the style of your event, make sure that you plan out all of the aspects of the evening. Your coordinator and DJ can help you set up the evening so that guests won’t leave early or experience long periods of waiting for the next thing to happen. 65
- Bridal Party Introductions
- Welcome by Father of the Bride
- First Dance
- Blessing
- Daddy-Daughter Dance
- Cake Cutting
- Mother-Son Dance
- Toasts
- Anniversary Dance
- Bouquet and Garter Toss
- Money Dance
- Large group portraits with friends
- Traditional Religious Dances
- The exit of the Bride and Groom 66
RECEPTION TIPS
The fun has begun! It’s time to relax, dance and celebrate!! Your reception should be a BLAST! The last thing you need to be worrying about is your timeline. Your coordinator and DJ should take care of making sure that everything stays on schedule so that you can enjoy your night. Here are some helpful tips that will help your reception flow smoothly.
- GUEST CONSIDERATION : Take your guests into consideration when planning your timeline. If you have a lot of elderly guests that will not be staying until the very end, make sure you schedule the cake cutting at a relatively early time so that they can be a part of it. Grandma’s love seeing this sweet tradition!
- KEEP IT MOVING : Chat with your coordinator about how you can plan your reception in a way that will keep guests engaged and moving all night!
- MAKE IT YOUR OWN : If you want to have a special dance with your grandparents, do it! Make your reception a reflection of who you are and don’t feel tied to traditions. Also, make sure you give your DJ or Band a “Do Not Play” list if there are some songs you really don’t want to hear during your reception!
- DON’T GET CAUGHT UP in the formalities and the details. Sure, details are pretty and fun to photograph, but they can steal the joy of the day if you get too caught up in them. Plan your centerpieces, welcome table, etc. well before the wedding date, and teach your coordinator or family friend how to set them up so that you aren’t even thinking about those things the day of !
- RECEPTION COVERAGE : If you haven’t purchased enough coverage time for your photography to last until the exit, that’s ok! We have several options! (See next page!) I recommend planning your timeline so that you can have at least one hour of dancing photographed. The guests who dance during the first hour will still be dancing in the third hour! One hour of dancing will be enough time to really capture the joy of your reception!
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RECEPTION:
C O N T RO L L E D E X I TS
Exits! If your coverage ends before your exit, you have the option of planning a faux exit with your bridal party! Instead of saving your exit until the very end, you can plan a faux exit with just the members of your bridal party and a few family members! This allows us to have more control over these shots and the party NEVER has to stop! In most cases, no one even notices that the bride and groom are missing for a few minutes! Also, it’s almost impossible to tell that the whole wedding party isn’t there waving sparklers and sending off the happy couple! This idea allows our couples to save money and still have all of the shots that they dreamed of !
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HEIRLOOM ALBUMS
Ryan and I have always said that we would grab my camera, his guitar and our wedding album if our house was on fire! Could we always build another wedding album if something happened to this book? Yes. However, there is something special about creating your first heirloom. I only receieved digital files of our wedding photos and it took me over 2 years to make our wedding album!! I’ll be honest, now that I have it, I look at it almost every day! I especially love sharing it with our friends and family; there are so many more wedding day stories that I’ve heard simply by jogging the memories of our guests. Having digital images is wonderful, but having a printed keepsake that tells a visual story of our wedding day is priceless! Since I believe so deeply in the power of your custom album, I include our 20 page, 10 spread Heirloom album in all of my wedding collectons. Right after your wedding, I not only begin my editing work on your images but I also create a pre-designed album template for you to approve or make changes to once you’ve seen all of your images. As the person that is literally with you the entire day, I love designing an album that tells the whole story of your day from beginning to end! To maintain the integrity of your wedding day, I allow my designs to fill as many pages as necessary and you can add those additional pages!. Once you’ve approved your wedding album design, I submit your album for printing and should have it to your within 6 -8 weeks!!
S AY T H A N K YO U WI T H A PA R E N T A L BU M : Ryan and I didn’t have any trouble picking out our parent’s Christmas gifts the year we got married! Our parents did so much to make our wedding incrredible and so we decided to surprise them with their very own images on Christmas morning! After the wedding chaos is over and life returns to normal, or if you want to surprise your parents with their very own albums from your wedding for Christmas, let me know before October 1st so we can get them ordered! 71
ACCESSING YOUR GALLERY + CLIENT PORTAL All of your wedding photography-related materials can be accessed through your client portal. You may access your portal anytime by using the “For Clients” Tab on my website: www.collectionsbykarianne.com. Your username should be your full name (all lowercase) and you may reset your password by clicking on the “forgot password” link. Please let me know if you run into any problems while accessing your gallery materials!!
DOWNLOADING PHOTOS: You will be able to download your edited images directly from your online gallery, and they will be high resolution! This process is very simple! All you have to do is click the “downwards arrow icon” and you will be prompted to enter your name and email. Once you enter your name and email, you will be asked if you want to download just that one photo or if you would like to download all photos! Your photos will download directly to your “Downloads” folder. If you do decide to download all of your photos at once, please be patient as they are large files.
ORDERING PRINTS: You can actually order professional prints from within your online gallery as well! By clicking on the “Order Print” option, you may choose from a variety of print sizes. Once your order arrives, I will hand-deliver it to your door! If you are intersted in purchasing large wall art (such as a canvas or metal print) please let me know and I would be happy to do an in-home consultation with you to deterimine the appropriate size, material, etc. You are more than welcome to print images on your own (I include a print releaese with your images too!). However, I would warn you to avoid Walmart, Target and Costco. I cannot promise that your colors will print true-to-life if you choose to print at those stores.
GALLERY EXPIRATION: Your wedding day gallery will remain active for 1 year after your wedding date. During this time, I HIGHLY recommend backing up your files in multiple locations to ensure that they are as safe as possible.. Please keep in mind, the
YOUR ONLINE GALLERY
safety of a digital files is never guaranteed, that is why I believe in the power (and longevity!) of printed products.
SHARING, WATERMARKING & EDITING: Years ago you had to order prints of the images that you wanted to have forever. That isn’t how we work around here! I want you to have ALL of your memories in your possession forever and ever! I also want you to share your images freely and without any hesitation. This is why your images are delivered via an online gallery! This means that you don’t have to wait on a package in the mail, and you’ll have access to them wherever you are! I’ve listed some important information that will help you understand your online
You have the freedom to share your images in any way that you choose! These are your images, and I want you to love them so much that you can’t help but share them! I don’t believe that it is necessary to watermark my images. I kindly ask for some type of credit whenever you use an image on social media! I just have ONE rule when it comes to what you can and cannot do with your images: please do not re-edit your images. Let me do that hard work! : ) However, if you have an image or two that you want to print at a very large size and you find an imperfection, I’ll gladly perfect it!
gallery and all that it can do on the next page! Enjoy! : )
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THANK YOU! Last, but certainly not least, THANK YOU for trusting me with your special day. I am so honored to be the one capturing your memories, and I cannot WAIT to celebrate alongside of you! Enjoy this season of planning but also remember that your MARRIAGE is more important than the wedding. The wedding will come and go in a matter of hours, but your marriage needs to stand the test of time. Continue to make time for one another, even with all that needs to get done. As you continue to plan, please feel free to contact me with ANY questions you may have along the way! Your pre-wedding questionnaire (found in your client portal should be available for you to fill in as you go! I hope this guide has been helpful as you continue to plan and prepare for your wedding day! Always, Kari