wedding guide
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your engagement session
wedding timeline planning
after your wedding day
Perfect engagement sessions require a bit of planning — I’ll share some tips!
An example of the special moments to capture during the events of your wedding day.
A timeline of what to expect in the weeks following your wedding.
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welcome to the family I am so excited that you have made the decision to work with Michelle Cox Photography on your wedding day! I am honored to be with you during your wedding journey. As you move forward with all of your plans please don’t forget that I would love to help you however I can. Feel free to reach out if you need recommendations, advice or if you just need to vent — I am here for you! I’m looking forward to getting to know you better and excited for this adventure!
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vendor advice
frequently asked questions
our future together
Some of my favorite vendors share their best planning tips.
I’ve answered some of the questions most commonly asked by my clients.
I’d love to work with you beyond the wedding day and capture life’s big moments.
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your engagement session As you are considering your engagement session, there are some important things to consider to make sure that you get the best images and experience possible. Here are some things to consider to hopefully make this process a little easier for you!
plan your session around ideal light It’s all about the natural light! Finding the best light helps create photographs that feel fresh, timeless and genuinely you. Ideally all sessions begin 1.5 hours before the expected sunset during “the golden hour,” when the light is the dreamiest. To get the most out of your session, arrive a few minutes early and be ready to start on time. We’re only able to shoot when natural light is still in the sky, so we’ll want to take advantage of every minute we have together before the sun goes down. If you’re wearing two outfits, save your favorite one for the second half, and if you’re wearing one, arrive in that.
choose a location that is perfect for you both The location of your portrait session is up to you! For most of my sessions, outdoor, open-air environments are always my first choice. I love shooting in wide-open natural spaces because the light is divine, especially during golden hour. You want to consider whether a crowded, public location is ideal or if you would feel more at ease in a private, romantic setting. Your focus should be feeling the most comfortable and natural at a given location so you can feel your best in the photos. It will resonate in your images.
nerves on edge? If you are feeling nervous about getting good images, make sure you do your best to relax before the session and remember that this is ALL about you and your love together as a couple! • • • • •
Don’t try to “squeeze” the engagement session in on a busy day. Take time to enjoy the process and soak it in. Do your best to eat beforehand so you are not hungry (or hangry)! Relieve a little “getting ready” stress and make an appointment at the salon for hair and makeup. Have a drink before the session! I know this sounds odd but it might take the edge off and help you feel a little more comfortable. Bring champagne to the session — It makes a great prop for images but can also help you feel a little more relaxed.
style tips For her: Do what makes you the most happy and wear what makes you feel the most beautiful. I always recommend long, flowy dresses because they flatter the female body. Pastel and neutral colors translate really well to many locations so that is also recommended. To relieve the stress of the engagement session day, get your hair and makeup done for the session. You can use this as your hair and makeup trial (to see how it all looks in photos) or you could just do it so there is one less stressful thing to consider that morning. Whatever your plan is, do what makes you feel the most confident and sexy for your session. For him: Long, fitted pants and closed-toed shoes are the most sophisticated and masculine looks for men. They draw attention away from his legs and feet and place it where you want it: on his handsome face. Solid shades of gray or navy are a strong compliment to most women’s outfits, and I recommend no patterns or visible logos on clothing. Layers on men look great on camera, so don’t be afraid to get a little creative. Blazers, vests and coats raise the level of any look.
coordinating outfits for both looks I recommend selecting those softer, lighter tones and avoiding ultra-bright, bold colors or patterns. The camera loves shades of soft pink and muted blues, mixed with sophisticated light neutrals like heather gray, creams, leather brown and white. Feel free to vary the shades of the colors, too. That softer color palette fits beautifully into a natural environment, and can easily be paired in so many different ways. Keep in mind that your outfits will look the most cohesive on camera when the color palette and wardrobe pieces coordinate, but don’t actually “match.” In fact, I recommend that you avoid thinking about “matching,” and instead think about what “fits” together. This will create more visual interest, and allow each personality to shine through.
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wedding timeline planning Timelines can be intimidating. Where do you start? Is there enough time? What if things run late? The best you can do is put together a schedule that offers a little cushion and plenty of time for everyone to enjoy the party.
About 7-8 weeks before your wedding, you can expect to hear from me about starting to plan out your wedding photography schedule. I like to wait as long as possible to make sure that YOU have all of your details sorted out, but I also want to make sure that we give ourselves enough time to modify a timeline if needed. From my experience, about two months before the wedding is the prime time to do this. Together we will sort out all of the details and times to make sure that you get the most out of your wedding photography. Here are a few things to consider about your timeline, and these are also generally what I find most important from the photographer perspective. • Do you have hair and makeup appointments? If so, where and when are those taking place? • Where is the wedding party getting ready? Two seperate locations or something in close proximity? • Are you planning on greeting your new spouse on the aisle, seeing each other for the first time there, or are you interested in creating a private moment with just the two of you for a “first look”? • Will you be hosting a cocktail hour between the ceremony and the reception coverage? • What time will dinner be served? Is the meal plated, family style, buffet or other? I know it seems like a lot, but I want to make sure that we prepare accurately so that on the wedding day you have NOTHING to worry about!
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on your wedding day Your wedding day will be over before you know it. Make the most of those precious moments by following some of my advice below. Above it all, have fun.
The BIG DAY is finally here! Below is a small list of some things to remember on the wedding day so that we can make everything on the timeline go a little smoother.
prepare your gown Unwrap your gown and have it hanging on your gorgeous wedding hanger first thing that morning. This will make it not only photo ready but it could prevent wrinkles in the wrapping.
gather the details In a small shoe box (maybe even the box for your wedding pumps) place all of your wedding details inside. That way we’ll know where everything is when I arrive! This could include your jewelry, garter, the rings, your Mrs. Box, a clean copy of the wedding invitation and any accents of lace or ribbon you might have to accompany these items.
start your day with a solid meal Ensure that you eat breakfast on your wedding day, and stay hydrated. It will be a long day for you and I want to make sure that you are prepared for it!
plan the delivery of your letters/gifts If you and your fiancé are planning on exchanging letters and/or gifts, have them ready to go with a plan on who is delivering the gifts to the other. Also, remember that if you would like me to capture those beautiful moments, we can unwrap/open during the “getting ready” portion of the day.
delegate notes to a bridesmaid If you have tips or hand written notes for your vendors, make sure you give those to one of your trusted bridal party members to keep until the end of the evening. You don’t want those to get lost in the shuffle of the day.
enjoy your special day Finally, and most importantly, enjoy every beautiful and wonderful moment of your wedding day. Make time to hug and say hi to every single person and do not stress or worry about ANYTHING!
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after the wedding Whew! That was one heck of a party. Now what?
Thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of your wedding day! I am sure with the hustle and bustle of the day and the coming honeymoon you might not remember what comes next so let me refresh your memory.
1-2 weeks You can expect a sneak peek of a few of my favorite wedding photos from your big day posted on my Instagram and Facebook. If you see any posts make sure that you tag yourselves and your friends! Also, make sure you check both Facebook and Instagram — they might not be the same images!
2-4 weeks Generally it will take 2-4 weeks to get your wedding photos after the wedding day. Once I have completed the culling and editing process, I will upload the images to a link and send you that immediately. After that I will mail you a USB drive with all edited images included on it.
4 weeks The wedding album design process will be initiated once you have received your USB drive.
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wedding album design process Your album will tell the story of your day, from getting ready to the reception, and all of the love in between.
the album options I offer various sizes of leather bound layflat wedding albums - 8x8, 10x10 and 12x12. Whether your package came with an album or not, you can add on an album or upgrade your album size at any time prior to starting the design. A standard album comes with a maximum of 100 images at base price. It is possible that more may be added for an additional fee. Contact me directly about all pricing information.
the design process The album will be designed by my graphic designer, however, I will be overseeing that process to make sure that you get exactly what you want and need. You have the ability to choose up to 100 photos to include in your album. Once the images are chosen, we will start designing from there. There is no rush on the design process, take your time on choosing the images — I want it to be exactly what you want!
album proofs Every time we do a design change it can take 1-2 weeks to redesign the albums. At each point, I will send a draft for you to review and approve. You will have the option to change the design 2 times after the initial design. As we go through the process, take the time to review the album proof together as a couple and to revisit it a few times before making changes. Once you make the final approval and all changes are complete, we will send your custom album to printing. From there it will take 4-6 weeks to have your album delivered to you.
image selection tips Select equal number of bridesmaid and groomsmen photos. Select similar number of bride and groom portraits. Don’t skimp on the ceremony. Select at least 12 images. Details! Select as many details as you’d like, I will use these as fillers. Let me know what 3 -5 photos are your absolute favorite of the bunch.
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vendors Your wedding day is so important to me and I want it to be the best it can possibly be! If you are looking for any other vendors on your day, I have some recommendations below. I have worked with all of these companies/people and would not recommend them if I didn’t trust their professionalism and creativity. Feel free to tell them I sent you!
Event planner/coordinator Urban Allure Events
www.urbanallureevents.com nicole@urbanallureevents.com Chicago, IL
Haviland Events
www.havilandevents.com kelley@havilandevents.com Chicago, IL and Richmond, VA
Event planning, coordination, floral design & decor Kensington Florals & Events www.kensingtonevents.com Enquiry@kensingtonflorals.com Skokie, IL
Floral design La Petite Fleuriste
www.lpf-design.com lori@lpf-design.com Chicago, IL and NW Indiana 14 | M IC H E LLE C OX P HOTOGRA P H Y
Wedding invitations Xoxo Invites
www.xoxoinvites.com info@xoxoinvites.com
Calligraphy Calligraphy by CT
info@calligraphybyct.com Chicago, IL
Bakery
Videography
Amy Beck Cake Design
Working Anchor
amybeckcakedesign.com cakes@amybeckcakedesign.com Chicago, IL
Velvet Dessert
www.velvetdessert.com info@velvetdessert.com Chicago, IL
workinganchor.com Sean@workinganchor.com Chicago, IL
Makeup artistry Beautie by Katie
www.beautiebykatie.com kriordanmua@gmail.com
Hair & makeup artistry Music Operation Getdown DJs www.operationgetdown.com/ hello@operationgetdown.com
Mindy City Hair
www.mindycityhair.com mindycityhair@gmail.com
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frequently asked questions You’re planning your wedding – of course you have questions. I’ve compiled a list to put your mind at ease. If you have a question that isn’t listed below, please don’t hesitate to ask.
how long will it take to get my wedding photographs after the wedding day? Generally it will take 2-4 weeks to get your wedding photos after the wedding day. Once the images are done being culled and edited, I will upload them to a gallery and send you the link first. After that I will mail you a USB drive of all edited images.
when can we start my wedding album? The wedding album design process can start at any point after the images are ready and you have the files. I usually initiate conversation about the design process via email the day after your USB drive has been delivered. NOTE: I cannot start the design process until you choose the images for the album so that is the biggest determiner of the album start and completion timeline.
when we start planning the wedding schedule, do we do that in person? I am completely flexible on this — I can meet you in person, we can chat on the phone or we can use Skype — whatever is best for you! I understand that two months before the wedding life can get hectic so please let me know what is best for you and I will definitely work around your schedule.
if I need to add additional time to the wedding package or an additional photographer, can I do that? YES!! Before we make that decision, let’s chat about your wedding schedule to see what makes the most sense and if we agree together that you need more time or another photographer, we can definitely add that in. Feel free to email me about the à la carte rates.
do you need to know who the other wedding vendors are on the wedding day? I would love to have a complete list of your wedding vendors before the wedding day! I enjoy reaching out to everyone and introducing myself beforehand so that on the wedding day we are all working together on making your day the best that it can be. It can make “day of ” communication a little smoother if we all have E-met already.
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our future together Welcome to the Michelle Cox Photography family.
I am so happy to have been a part of your wedding journey — it has been a joy getting to know you both throughout this whole process. Lucky for us this journey doesn’t need to end! I am excited to stay connected with you through all of the next chapters of your life, for whatever you need in photography. The majority of my clients call me back again for anniversary sessions, private events and family portraits, as their families grow. My best clients seem to come from my previous clients — let’s keep that trend going! If you REFER A FRIEND to Michelle Cox Photography, I will give your friend a discount and YOU a special gift for sending them over. Referrals are a powerful thing in my business and I want you to know how much I appreciate your kindness. Thank you for all of the love and support that you have given to my business — I am honored to have worked with you. Stay in touch, friends!
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