Thistle + Wood Photo: Wedding Welcome Guide

WEDDING GUIDE

TIPS, TRICKS & RESOURCES TO CREATE A SEAMLESS WEDDING DAY

LET’S TAKE A PEEK:

pg. 04

HELLO & THANK YOU

pg. 08

WHAT TO EXPECT

pg. 10

ENGAGEMENT SESSION

pg. 14

TIMELINES

pg. 18

GETTING READY

pg. 20

FIRST LOOKS

pg. 26

PORTRAITS

pg. 38

CEREMONY & RECEPTION

pg. 44

TIPS & TRICKS

pg. 48

VENDOR RECOMMENDATIONS

Signed, sealed, delivered... I”M YOURS! You are now officially booked with ME (Shelby)and I cannot wait to get this adventure rolling! I want to thank you. I am truly honored and I can’t wait to spend the coming months growing excited along with hearing about the details for your day. In my eyes, this relationship is a two-way street and that mutual understanding of each other is what will help create incredible photos.

Wherever you are in your planning journey, something may like: “Shelby, I got this.“ or maybe instead: “HELP ME PLEASE!!” This guide will lead you through the stages of our planning AS WELL as some tips and tricks to help your wedding day run smoother. From engagement

session, to timelines, and all the way to vendor recommendations, this booklet will answer a lot of questions, and quell some panic that may be rising up within you. My job description may be “your photographer” but truly I am here to serve you in anyway I can to help make this process more beautifully meaningful and less stressful for you both You are amazing and this journey will be even more so! I am truly so grateful to be walking with you in the season and cannot wait to see what is in store for us

A SEEKER OF LIGHT + AUTHENTICITY

I am Shelby - the redheaded ball of energy behind the camera! You will find me being a goofball, tripping over my words, and encouraging you to be joyfully you at our session. I am a quiet, introvert by nature, however I transform into an extroverted, giddy person when I get behind the camera because I have a deep love for creating space for people to feel safe enough to be themselves. It’s one of the most beautiful things to me.

Photography is my passion - especially when it comes down to documenting love stories in authentic, adventurous ways.

When I am not out and about about with my camera, you can find me watching a period drama or nature documentaries - most likely submerged in my Chickfil-A nugget meal. I am fascinated with people and human behavior and LOVE learning about other people. (You can find a quick summary of me on the left) I constantly aim to fill my day with God by seeking His light and wisdom in every way I can. Also, don’t even get me started on my obsession with Scotland, Canada, and all of the natural parks here in the states - I have a goal to visit all 63 parks in my lifetime!

I am so excited to begin our adventure together, and I hope this guide will help make even the smallest details flow seemlessly together for you.

Myers Briggs: ISFP (The Adventurer)

Love Language: Quality Time

Ennegram: 9

WHAT TO EXPECT.

I am here not only to make your photography process easier, BUT also your wedding planning. By now I have attended over 200 weddings, so use my experience to your advantage! My hope is that working with me is consistently three things: collaborative, authentic, and peaceful.

COLLABORATIVE

One of my goals in my business is to try an answer questions before you can think to ask them. I love working with my couples to bring some ease into the process. It is quite enjoyable for me to get to know my couples individually so I can adapt my process to best fit the pacing they may need. From the time you get this guide to the time I deliver photos, I want you to feel comfortable chatting with me about different things throughout the wedding planning process. I am an open book and I LOVE answering questions, and at the end of the day I want to serve you well!

AUTHENTIC

You probably know by now that authenticity is a biggy for me. You are beautifully unique and THAT is what I love to document. The authentic you that radiates within. Your photos, better yet your WEDDING, should be a reflection of that. Props, staged moments, any ideas of looking perfect can feel fabricated and can take away from the actual authenticity of the day. So, I encourage you to focus on what is in front of you - each other and the life you get to share together. So be yourself I promise you will never be more beautiful

PEACE

Peace - a value in life I hold so dearly. I focus more on friendship over me just being that vendor who shows up on your wedding day to work. We are humans, and human desire connection. So for me it’s connection over transaction. I want you to feel comfortable communicating with me, and I want our foundation to be one of ease! I am also very go with the flow and don’t like to over analyze details. Documenting the season of your life is one of the greatest blessings I could ever receive so you better believe it will make it fun!

MY GIFT TO YOU!

You JUST got proposed to... now what are you going to do!? Forget Disney World, you are getting your pictures done by ME!

Every single one of my wedding collections come with a complementary engagement session. This means it is FREE! It’s such a great way for us to hang out, see how I shoot, and to document your story. It’s completely optional so don’t feel any pressure to use it!

...now, I’m sure you’re thinking, “What will I wear?!”

DON’T FAKE IT - BE YOU!

We all want to look good for photos but you can look good and STILL be you! Meaning if you hate dresses, don’t wear one just because it looks nice. If your man hates skinny jeans don’t force him! Feeling comfortable in front of the camera begins with how you’re feeling and what you’re wearing. So wear what you love!

NEUTRALS + EARTH TONES FOR THE WIN!

I have found with the best colors are darker, earth-toned colors. This can be burnt oranges, maroons, hunter greens, browns, mustard yellows, + grays. Even denim and white photograph beautifully! The best combos usually have someone wearing a lighter color and the other is in darker clothing. BUT that is not a rule. I am the furthest thing from a fashion expert!

TO PATTERN OR NOT TO PATTERN?

Patterns are definitely yes! However it’s usually best when one person embraces the pattern and the other goes solid.

CASUAL? FORMAL??

A lot of people don’t know which to choose when deciding on what to wear. BUT good news... you are allowed two outfit changes if you so desire! A lot of my couples do a formal outfit and then switch it up to a casual to get the best of both worlds!

DON’T OVER THINK IT.

Choosing an outfit for your session is tough. Believe me I have been in your shoes. But it’s not something that makes you stressed to the max. Just don’t overthink it! Plus if you’re still having doubts I found it helpful to browse Pinterest for outfit looks - If you are as visual as I am, sometimes you might need that help. I also have a inspo board I can send you!

TIMELINES

The schedule of your day is the single most important piece to make sure things run smoothly. If you are not working with a coordinator or planner, it’s important that you and I work together and create a schedule that will not only give me time to do my best work, but allow the day to be stress-free. A schedule is a great guide to help the day run as smoothly as possible!

With that said, it is also important to have some sort of flexibility on wedding days because more often than not they will fall behind. That is okay - I am totally used to it, so I create my schedules with some wiggle room and have learned to be adaptable when it comes to flow of the day of. The best thing you can do is sit back, trust me, and enjoy every second while we do the hard work for you. (we love it!)

The timeline on the next page shows an example schedule with the first look - this schedule is pretty ideal, BUT it doesn’t mean yours has to look like this. This gives you a visual example of photo times and an overall visual of what I have found to work best! A few months out from your wedding we will create a schedule for your day - so don’t worry a thing about it I gotcha!

sunset photos are my favorite part of a wedding day. Usually between the busy, couples can sneak out and soak in those last moments of sunshine.

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The first question I generally get before a wedding is “how long should we set aside for portraits”? Easy answer: your first look should happen about 2.5 hours before your ceremony, which means bride & groom should be ready to go about 3 hours before the ceremony. More complicated answer: depending on the size of your bridal party, size of family, how much time the two of you want for portraits, whether there is any travel involved, etc. will all indicate the perfect timing.

First look: ~10 minutes

Bride & Groom portraits: 45 min (less if there is no travel involved)

Bridal Party: 30 minutes

Family: 15-20 minutes

30 minute buffer before ceremony for arriving guests & to freshen up CEREMONY RECEPTION

Bride & Groom portraits: 15-20 minutes about an hour before sunset

Keep in mind this is just an estimate, so your schedule may look a little different. But I have found this general system to flow best so we are not rushed AND there is some breathing room before the ceremony. One of the best things? Knocking out all or most of the photos allows you to be free earlier so guests won’t have to wait as long. It’s amazing for everyone!

TAKE NOTE: this schedule is for those that desire a first look. This means seeing each other and having time together BEFORE your ceremony. This isn’t for everyone and that’s OK, however scheduling-wise it’s about the best thing you could do. Plus having a private moment with your love with no one else around?! How can you say no?

~2.5 HOUR CHUNK

SAMPLE PHOTOGRAPHY TIMELINE

This is based on a 4:30 ceremony time (this was an August wedding IN Seattle) who booked an 8 hour package

Photographer arrives

COVERAGE BEGINS: Getting ready photos (dress, shoes, details)

Bride hair & make-up complete

Bride gets into dress

Bride & photographer leave for first look (groom already in place)

Bride & groom first look

Bride & groom Portraits

2:45 All bridal party arrives ready to go for portraits!

Bridal party portraits (bridesmaids + groomsmen)

3:30 All family arrives ready to go portraits!

Family formal portraits

Everyone tucked away for arriving guests

Ceremony begins

Ceremony ends // Cocktail hour begins

Extra time for wedding party, family photos, etc

Bride & Groom join cocktail hour when ready

Photographer takes photos of reception set-up

Guests seated for dinner

Grand entrance

Dinner served (photographer takes break & eats)

Photographer steals away couple for sunset portraits (sunset at 8:00 pm)

Toasts begin

Cake cutting

First dances

Open dancing begins

COVERAGE ENDS

If bridal parties are getting ready near one another, I can shoot both parties. If not, this is where a 2nd photographer comes in handy.

The groom needs to arrive about 5 minutes prior to this.

Obviously this is dependent on time of year, please refer to a sunset calendar to better plan for sunset photos. Typically I like doing them ~ hour before sunset. If you’re getting married in the winter or somewhere where the sun is setting before dinner, let’s chat about splitting your portrait time differently!

If the night goes on longer than this you’ll need to add extra time.

GETTING READY

The getting ready portion of the day is such a fun and memorable part of a wedding because that’s where all the true nervousness and excitement is so evident.

However, the thing that is often forgotten about this part of the day is how chaotic it can be. How cramming 8 bridesmaids, the make-up artist, the hair stylists and the photographers into a single room filled with make-up, curling irons, hairspray, duffel bags, garbage cans, water bottles, food, and clothing can start to feel over crowded and LOOK very cluttered. The goal of amazing getting ready images is space & light.

I love inviting friends and family to help you get ready! It creates such fun and candid moments!

This is why I often recommend couples consider their getting ready space instead of leaving it until the last minute...and it doesn’t have to be limited to a hotel room. Looking at homes on VRBO or Airbnb are a great option as well — they tend to have more interesting and lovely backgrounds AND better light. And just more room to spread out and not feel crammed.

IF you are getting ready in a hotel room, consider getting an extra room OR asking friends if their room can be cleaned and used as a clutter-free zone — aka: people’s belongings are not allowed to be there! Are you getting ready at your venue?

Perhaps there is a whole separate room where the dress can be photographed free of clutter. In both of these options, light is something to take note of as well. I typically like to be able to shoot in a room with all of the lights off, so this means lots of good natural light. Mixed light of any kind (natural light + lamps + overhead lights) tend to lead to odd skin tones.

Keeping the getting ready space clean add so much more to photos. I will tidy up small things, but the definition of my job is to document the day. So if your getting ready space is a mess then I will document what I see. If you don’t care about how the space looks than leave it be - at the end of the day I want your wedding to reflect your authentic self! These are just simple ways to making your photos pop even more

FIRST LOOKS

First looks have easily become one of the most beneficial “modern” additions to a wedding day. Tradition has it that typically a bride & groom would see each other as they walked down the aisle, however nowadays, seeing one another BEFORE the ceremony has become fairly popular. I often tell people that if they want the work they see in my portfolio, I need time, and a good amount of it. First looks impact this greatly. Not convinced? Here are a few more points why I love them:

1) On average, you get to spend about 4-5 hours MORE with your significant other on your wedding day (that’s huge!)

2) First looks are almost ALWAYS more emotional and meaningful than seeing each other down the aisle (afraid you’ll miss that “epic moment” down the aisle? I’d say 99% of my couples STILL got

choked up walking down the aisle even though they saw one another...music & having people present = all the feels.)

3) They allow you to enjoy time with your friends during cocktail hour because we aren’t scrambling for photos. Bring on the apps and drinks and go mingle!

4) We aren’t rushed to do your portraits, family portraits, AND bridal party during cocktail hour (not rushed = better photos).

5) You’d likely not need to add more time to your already packed schedule to accommodate more portrait time.

In all, I won’t force any of my couples to do a first look, but I often encourage it for many other reasons besides just getting “more portraits”. It really does make things run very smoothly and I’d be sad if you didn’t at least consider it.

I LOVED SHERRY + MATT’S FIRST LOOK

— THEY WERE SO ANXIOUS AND EXCITED AND GOT TO EMBRACE AND BE TOGETHER BEFORE THE DAY TOOK OFF.

Spending time on your wedding day is important. I mean you ARE getting married, why not make the most of it?!

Do what feels right in your heart. First look or not - it will be incredible.

YOU CAN MAKE YOUR DAY AS DETAILED OR SIMPLE AS POSSIBLE! THERE ISN’T A RIGHT OR WRONG WAY TO DO IT! AS LONG AS IT REFLECTS YOU BOTH AND BRINGS YOUR STORY TO CENTERSTAGE. FOCUS ON YOUR HEARTS AND THE DETAILS THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO YOU AND IT WILL BECOME QUITE A DAY TO REMEMBER.

I love being involved in planning out a wedding day schedule. Not meaning I overpower all other vendors and needs, but getting a great variety of photographs requires shooting in different parts of the day with different light. Your portraits will be the ones you hang on your walls, the ones you show your grandchildren, and the ones your parents will hold as keepsakes forever!

You most likely seeing a good bit of my work by now, so you probably want to similar to what you’ve seen. The best way I can make that happen is for you to trust me - both before and during the wedding day. The couples who get the “Shelby look” are the ones that sit back and enjoy their day - focusing less on worry and stress and more all the time and memories with their person. I’m here to do all the hard work for you: keeping you on your schedule, picking the best locations, finding the best light, and crafting the day to bring your story to life. I am here to make you laugh, hand you tissues, maybe even pray for you, but above all else I’m here to be your friend through every step!

BRIDE + GROOM

It’s very common to feel nervous about being in front of the camera - I felt it too! But I’ve also taken time to learn how to create a comfortable environment for you guys to be yourselves.

I am always talking and encouraging you when I shoot, so I hope to make our time together fun and easy! I like to take my time to scout out where will be shooting before hand, but then rely on instinct to take me through the day. This is why i will arrive a little earlier on wedding days - so I can get a quick location scope in! I am VERY go with the flow and don’t try to control things. Instead I have learned to be adaptable and ready for things to move around. Some things will change on a whim while others may feel more expected. Either way, I am all about going with the flow of the day and creating space for you to be present!

With posing, I always start with the base pose and add movement; I will also encourage you guys to make it your own. Ladies, if you enjoy kissing his cheek don’t let me stop you! Kiss away at any time. Do you like slow dancing during the sunset? Let me get some music going for you! Doing what I say isn’t the photo law, but don’t worry I always have prompts ready to help you out!

You will find that I am very directive when I take photos, but I also encourage you to play and love on one another within the prompts I give you!

All you need to succeed and taking photos is love. Already love each other? Good. You are already pros at taking photos

WEDDING PARTY

Wedding party portraits are some of my favorite pictures! It’s so fun getting to know the friends and families of my couples - getting to hear about their story with the bride and groom. I love incorporating that into these pictures! Here are a few things that could help make these images more fun and feel less like a chore to check off:

Bride and groomsmen parties need to be ready 30 minutes before their scheduled photo times. Trust me, it makes things run all the more smoothly! When I arrive to a venue not only do I scope out places for the bride and groom, but I also look for places that were accommodate the size of the wedding party. As mentioned previously, I vocalize a lot of my prompts and I’m quick about it. So we won’t be stuck taking these photos for an hour. We will rock through them so we can get to your party!

Wedding parties don’t have to be boring. Feel free to add personal elements to bring all the personalities to the moments. Dogs count for that ;)

I LOVE switching up the traditional poses for some candid prompt. It helps make photo taking more fun and easy!

FAMILY PORTRAITS

The formal family portraits are the most straightforward part of my day — we will take time to capture numerous combinations on each side of the family as well as a few of the new families all together. This process can be long, tedious, and surprisingly overwhelming for some couples, so it’s the only part of the day where I shoot from a defined shot list. I have all my couples fill out a questionnaire about eight weeks before the wedding sharing which family members will be in these photos. From there, I create a list of all possible combinations (you with mom, you with dad, you with mom & dad etc.) that is then approved before the wedding and it’s what we use to make this part go as quickly and painlessly as possible! You can expect this portion of the day to be anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour (depending on the size of the family).

Also, keep in mind that NOT ALL extended family needs to be present. If there’s a cousin or someone important you’d like a photo with, that’s certainly something we can do after the ceremony, during cocktail hour or later in the evening.

I am big on not only documenting my couples, but also the guests that attend. Your people are important and I want to make sure we document that!

CEREMONY + RECEPTION

Lighting in locations during the wedding - the part of the day I feel like it’s talked about the least. I can’t control situations for my clients, but there are a few things you can do to help me set me up for success and make an impact on your final images - no matter the venue!

On the day of, I always location scout at or near the venue and make some suggestions for you for portraits, bridal party, and family. However, if you have a special place in mind, let me know before your day so I can take a look at it to see if it’ll be a good fit during different types of weather, light, and if it will work into our timeline. During the wedding (ceremony and reception) there are a few questions worth asking before you make any final decisions that will vastly improve the quality of your images and now they will feel. Keep in mind these are things you don’t have to do. Just things to think about!

IF YOU’RE HOLDING AN OUTDOOR CEREMONY:

- What will the lighting be like during the time of your ceremony? Will you both be in direct sunlight? Only one of you in the shade? If important, before the wedding take a look at what the light is like or research some imagery to see what to expect. Perhaps that means moving you both into the shade or tilting the ceremony set up slightly so you both are not squinting into the sun?

- Will there be anything above or behind you - a gazebo, arch, or standing on a stage?

Sometimes these things will play a part in what expect with your images and if they are casting shadows or not.

- Is there enough space for me to walk around the perimeter of the ceremony space? If so this will allow for a lot more variety in your images. (i.e. images of your parents, bridal party, etc.)

IF YOU’RE HOLDING AN INDOOR CEREMONY:

- Will there be available lighting during the ceremony? Is there any natural light or will it be only ambient/artificial light? If it’s artificial light, perhaps we can improve this with adding hanging lights, candles, or spotlights.

- Does your venue allow flash photography?

RECEPTION SPACES ARE IMPORTANT TOO:

What lighting are you providing during dinner? Hanging lights? Candles? All of these impact mood and photos because they change the temperature in which I’m adjusting my white balance. I do use flash + off camera flash during reception, but ambient light can still affect the look of my images with flash as well. Where is the head table and what is behind you? I.e. is it a full set of speakers, a catering table or is it a nice clean background?

I suggest double checking this just to see what might be in the majority of your images. When people stand for speeches will they be near you were standing in their seat? I prefer near you so I can get the reactions of both of you!

I will say, don’t let the section stress you out! Just share some details with me, especially if I haven’t shot in this particular location before. It will help me feel prepared in and get you the best images possible!

I always ask the DJ to arrange a big group photo at weddings - they are my favorites!

IT CAN BE SO EASY TO GET LOST IN THE PACING OF A WEDDING DAY. TRUST ME IT FLIES BY. I ENCOURAGE YOU TO TAKE TIME TO PULL AWAY, WHETHER ALONE OR WITH YOUR FIANCÉ TO SOAK IN MOMENTS AS THEY PASS -YOUR FEELINGS, THOUGHTS, DESIRES. THIS DAY IS THE START OF A JOURNEY TOGETHER SO LET IT BE SOMETHING MEMORABLE!

TRICKS

TRIPS

1. THE WEDDING COORDINATOR

If you’re having a wedding of more than 50 people, consider hiring a planner or at least a day-of coordinator that is not related to the wedding in any way (not also a guest or friend). He/she will be able to curb all questions and concerns so you can spend time “floating” through your wedding day and not trying to figure out how you ended up six placesettings short or how the DJ needs an extension cord or who should be getting ice for the white wine to start chilling. While friends/guests seem like a great idea, they too like to mingle, have a few drinks and enjoy themselves. Having a dedicated person whose job it is to help make your day run smoothly not only saves your sanity, but it makes my job easier so I won’t have to be the one running around trying to figure out when guests will be seated for dinner so I can set up my lighting.

2. UNPLUGGED WEDDING

Consider asking guests to put away their cell phones, iPads, cameras and electronics during the ceremony. I’ve had so many almost-amazing moments ruined by large iPads or iPhones being held up in the aisle way. Without all those distractions, your guests will be able to focus solely on the two of you, and the reason they’re there. Instagram can wait.

Having an unplug the wedding is one of the best decision you can make. Tip have your efficient make an announcement for the ceremony to guess about putting away phones to enjoy the ceremony

3. STARTING YOUR DAY

Your wedding day can be a hectic one — consider starting your day with a dedicated breakfast/time with your spouse or completely alone. My husband and I got breakfast together on the morning of our wedding and it was the most peaceful/fun way to calm our nerves and start our day.

4. HAIR & MAKE-UP

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5. DETAILS

As the bride it is important to have all your details together ready for me to go once I arrive. I will start

photographing them first so have everything together ready for action! This includes all three rings, shoes, florals, invite sweet, anything else special to you.

6. WRITE OUT YOUR VOWS PRIOR TO YOUR WEDDING DAY

Your vows are so important; don’t wait until the last minute to add another thing to do on the day of. You have so many things to think about on your wedding day. Take time for this one beforehand and pour your heart out!

7. RAIN

Rain can be a horrible or can be a beautiful thing! Mindset matters. By now I have had so many rainy weddings, so I am ready to make the best out of twhat seems like the worst. Don’t stress but focus on the beauty of it - the people who came to celebrate you and the time you get to rejoice.

8. SET ASIDE ALONE TIME

I’ve mentioned this a few times already in this guide because it is THAT important. Make time to be alone on your wedding day together. It is the most peace giving, intentional thing you can do!

AND MOST IMPORTANTLY

Every once in a while, STOP and look around. Take a mental snap shot of what is going on. Breathe in, breathe out. You’re getting married!

VENDOR RECOMMENDATIONS

A few of my favorite people & businesses in the industry. All of these individuals I have either personally worked with and/or admire their work and process. I’m always updating this so if you have a personal experience with someone, I’d love to hear it!

WEDDING PLANNERS:

Smooth As Butter | https://www.smoothasbutterweddings.com

Sweet Magnolia | https://sweetmagnoliawedding.com

VIDEOGRAPHY:

Aura + Endi Films | https://auraendifilms.com

Sevenfoot Films | https://www.sevenfootfilms.com

Wedflix | http://wedflix.tv

Native Tree Film | https://www.nativetreefilms.com

FLORISTS:

Flaura Bontanica | https://www.flaurabotanica.com

Thicket Creative | http://www.thicketfloraldesign.com

Evergreen Florals | http://abideinevergreen.com

MAKE-UP ARTISTS & HAIR:

Ashton Huffman | http://www.makeupbyashtonn.com

Stehpanie Maloney | https://www.beautydefinedmakeup.com

Erin Ryser | https://www.erinryser.com

Maerooksbeauty | https://www.instagram.com/maerooksbeauty/

Anna Clair | https://www.hairbyannaclaire.com

DJS: Tommy Pirone | https://www.pironedjs.com

Brian Sires | https://www.ampdentertainment.net/djsires/

RENTALS:

Emily Aitkens | https://emilyaitkenevents.com

Prissy Plate | https://www.theprissyplatecompany.com

OFFICIANTS:

Smooth As Butter | https://www.smoothasbutterweddings.com

Blake Baggott | blakeweddingofficiant@gmail.com

DRESS SHOPS: Sentimetalist | https://thesentimentalistatl.com

INVITATIONS & DESIGN:

East + West Designs | https://eastandwestdesigns.com

Square Wedding Press | http://squaredweddingpress.com

YOU ROCK.

Wow. You got through that entire packet without crying. Congrats!

Thank you for taking the time to read this over and begin this journey with me. I know it was a lot! Truly it is an investment into making your wedding a seamless, cherished process, and creating a solid foundation for our relationship + communication. You are wonderful and I am beyond excited to rock this with you