A Sample from Jenna & Matt’s Day at Whist Weddings

Ceremony prep is one of the most important parts of the wedding day. There’s so much anticipation and that tends to make people both excited and nervous during that time. I love capturing those emotions!

In planning for wedding days, I’m often asked how much time to leave for photography (a great question) before the ceremony. The following are some important things to consider with your timeline, as well as which details and which people to include.

Timing for Ceremony Prep

Timing is everything on the wedding day. When I have clients who have special details they would like to cover (rings, flowers, dress, invitations, etc.) the following is what I often suggest. I believe it works best to leave an hour to an hour and a half for details and bridal prep photos. About 30 minutes of that time will be dedicated to details. The next 30 minutes is for focusing on the bride as she gets dress and ready.

And what about the guys? Plan on 30-45 minutes for the groom and his attendants prior to the ceremony. Deciding to leave more time (and how much more) may look different for each couple. It depends on things like whether or not they are doing a ‘first look,’ and their bridal party size. (Unsure if you should do a ‘first look’? You may find this post and my FAQ page helpful!)

What Details Should Be Included

What is important to you? Maybe it’s a locket that belonged to your Grandmother, some cool Millennium Falcon cuff links (see Matt’s below!), your weddings bands, dress, etc. I always ask clients what is important to them because some are very sentimental and others not so much. Pro tip: if you are really into all the details, you may want to have one of your invitations and excess fabric on hand to include in photos.

Maybe you aren’t a detail person – that’s ok! I’ve had plenty of clients who really just want candids of the people present while they are getting ready. Tell your photographer what is/isn’t important to you! I definitely don’t want to spend time on things that really don’t mean much to my clients.

Who Do We Include in Ceremony Prep Photos

I say it again and again, every wedding day is different. Some brides will have one attendant helping them get dressed, others may have eight! Having attendants dressed and in the background of the bride’s prep photos is always best. If you aren’t planning on a ‘first look,’ I often recommend leaving some time after everyone is dressed to get photos of the bride/groom with each of their attendants. Its something quick, easy, and meaningful that you can complete before the ceremony starts. This isn’t the time to get photos with your whole family (aunts, uncles, cousins…) – save that for later! It can get confusing and hectic if lots of people who aren’t in the bridal party are visiting while everyone is getting ready.

If present, parents are often involved in ceremony prep photos. For example, Jenna and Matt have really sweet relationships with their parents. We had Matt take a few moments with his Mom to get her situated with her corsage. Jenna planned a first look with her Dad. It was so sweet that I just have to share some of those pics with you!

I love planning out the day with my couples. It’s so important to have an idea beforehand of how the time will be used for your ceremony prep.

Are you planning a wedding? Get in touch to talk about how we can capture all of your moments!