Ahhhhh! I'm So Excited!

Let's Chat About Your Big Day

Hey there! Words cannot express how honored I am that you are trusting me to capture your big day. Weddings are incredibly special and meaningful – and I know that every small detail is chosen carefully to represent who you are as a couple and the love you have for one another. Photographing weddings aligns with the heartbeat of my mission at Remnant Photography. I’m passionate about capturing photos that you can cherish today and tell your story with tomorrow – and I’m excited to do just that for you!

A wedding only happens once, which is why it is important to me to capture all of the emotion, the joy, the big and small moments and everything in between. I have created this guide to answer some of the most frequently asked questions that brides have regarding photography on their wedding day, as well as some of the things I wish I had known or asked ahead of my own wedding day! If you have any questions while reading through this guide, I’m just a text or phone call away and would be happy to chat through any of it. 

What To Expect

details questionnaire


Ahead of your wedding day, I will send a questionnaire that asks a number of questions about logistical details of the day, which photos you are most excited about and all of the information I need to make the day run smoothly from a photography standpoint. Oftentimes photos play a large part in the overall schedule of the day, which is why it will be important that we are on the same page so we can keep things moving while capturing it all on camera. I sincerely appreciate you taking your time while filling out this form and of course, asking any questions you may have while doing so. 

natural portraits


While there will certainly be moments throughout the day that require more posed shots, my goal is never for the images I deliver to feel stiff or unnatural. When it comes to things like bride and groom portraits or photos of your bridal party, you can expect me to give more “prompts” than “poses.” So, be ready to do more than just smile at the camera; let’s have some fun! Movement and comfort are key to making photos appear more natural to who you are! 


Things to Consider

Details

One of the first things I will do when I arrive is take detail photos – these are a beautiful way to capture the elements you carefully chose to reflect the two of you for your wedding. They can include things like your printed invitations and stationary, engagement and wedding bands, bouquet or any extra florals, perfume or cologne, vow books and shoes. I’m happy to include any details you’d like included, but these are some of the most popular.

First Look

Usually, first look is a wholehearted yes or a hard no from people, but there can be some major benefits to doing a first look ahead of your walk down the aisle. I’ll share those in a bit, but for now just know that determining whether or not you plan to do a first look is one of the big decisions that can influence the timeline and flow of your day.

Lighting

It’s important to keep lighting in mind while choosing the location of your ceremony, setup of your reception and while specifying where you want portraits taken. If you keep scrolling, I go into detail on what I would recommend to achieve the best possible photos – both in light and dark situations.

Weather

It’s the one thing you’ll be afraid to do as your day nears, but pretty please – check the weather. Be prepared for more than just rain. It may be extremely hot, chilly, rainy or even snowy (if your wedding is in the winter). You’ll want to think through what each of these could mean for the various parts of your day. Have backup photo locations in mind in the case that the unpredictable Michigan weather we all know and love decides to throw a wrench in your plans.
let's talk about


The First Look


Let’s talk first look. As I said, first look is typically a wholehearted yes or a hard no from people. But hear me out because there are some major benefits to doing a first look before you walk down the aisle. Let’s break it down! 


Here are some of the pros:


  • Getting To Your Reception Quicker – There’s often an urgency in the air when photos are taken between ceremony and reception and that can cause less natural photos. 
  • Less Frustration – We’ve all been to the wedding where we sit and wait for photos to be taken between ceremony and reception. If you plan to serve hors d'oeuvre and/or alcohol, this can help guests pass the time. However, if not it can become a frustrating experience for guests. 
  • More Time For Bride/Groom Photos – These are the photos that you are most likely to print and cherish from your wedding day, so you don’t want to rush them. 
  • Intimate Moment – If you tend to get nervous or don’t love having all of the attention on you while your emotions are on full display, a first look may be a good idea! It’s a perfect way to share an intimate moment with your spouse-to-be while also calming those big nerves that every couple feels before walking down the aisle. 


Here are some of the cons:


  • Less Time To Relax – Things will feel a bit more rushed before the ceremony, since you’ll be “out and about” having photos taken. 
  • You Won’t See Each Other For The First Time Walking Down the Aisle – Some people don’t care much about this these days, but some people love having that special moment in front of all the people who love them. 
  • It Might Feel Like The Big Moment Already Happened – By choosing a first look, you may feel like you’ve already shared your big moment. 
  • Possible Added Stress – Once the couple has seen one another, everyone chills out a bit more, which normally means there will be more people around while you are waiting for the ceremony. 


Whichever option you choose, the day will be equally as beautiful. I’m sure you can tell I’m 100% in the “first look” boat. In fact, I convinced my now husband on this subject for our own wedding day. I loved having our first look in private, but for some they look forward to that big moment when they walk down the aisle. I’ll be there to capture all the emotion either way. However, deciding to have a first look or not can play a big factor in your timeline, so make sure we’re on the same page ahead of time so everyone can plan accordingly. I have included sample timelines of each in the next section for your reference. 



Sample timelines of the big day

No First Look

This is your wedding day, so don’t get too caught up in thinking your timeline needs to look exactly like one of these. These are just sample timelines that have worked really well in the past. Each timeline is a typical 8-hour wedding day.

1:00 p.m. Getting Ready & Detail Shots
1:30 p.m. Bride Gets Dressed/First Looks with Bridesmaids, Parents, etc.
2:00 p.m. Bride and Bridesmaid Portraits
2:30 p.m. Groom and Groomsmen Portraits
3:30 p.m. Guests Arriving at Ceremony Shots
4:00 p.m. Ceremony Starts
4:30 p.m. Family Portraits
5:00 p.m. Full Wedding Party Portraits
5:15 p.m. Bride & Groom Portraits
5:45 p.m. Bride & Groom Enter Reception
6:00 p.m. Reception Begins
8:00 p.m. Bride & Groom Sneak Out for Portraits
9:00 p.m. Photographer Leaves

With A First Look

This is your wedding day, so don’t get too caught up in thinking your timeline needs to look exactly like one of these. These are just sample timelines that have worked really well in the past. Each timeline is a typical 8-hour wedding day.

12:00 p.m. Getting Ready & Detail Shots
12:30 p.m. Bride Gets Dressed/First Looks with Bridesmaids, Parents, etc.
1:00 p.m. Bride & Groom First Look
1:15 p.m. Bride & Groom Portraits
2:00 p.m. Bride & Bridesmaid Portraits
2:30 p.m. Full Wedding Party Portraits
3:00 p.m. Groom & Groomsmen Portraits
3:30 p.m. Guests Arriving at Ceremony Shots
4:00 p.m. Ceremony Starts
4:30 p.m. Family Portraits
5:00 p.m. Bride & Groom Enter Reception
5:15 p.m. Reception Begins
8:00 p.m. Photographer Leaves
the portraits


Bride & Groom


Ultimately, this day is all about the two of you and the love you have for one another! The day can be busy, fun, hectic, exciting and all of the emotions, but don’t forget to carve out time to capture photos of the two of you. Take time to think through where you’d like these photos.



Wedding Party


More than likely, your wedding party is full of all your best friends. Let’s capture that in your photos! One tip for wedding party photos is to make sure you have one girl and one guy who are able to round everyone up and make sure they are at the pictures on time. This will keep your day moving along and save you some added stress! 



Family


This can easily be one of the more dreaded moments of the day, but with just a few simple things it can become an easy and memorable part of your day. Here are a few of my tips for making family photos go as smoothly as possible! 


  • Mom & Dad – This was a big one for me! All of my large family portraits were taken after the ceremony in front of the stage. However, I had carved out time earlier in the afternoon to get pictures of just my parents and I. Unfortunately, we didn’t think through that detail for my husband and the only pictures he has with his parents from our wedding day are in front of a stage with less-than-ideal lighting. It’s one of my regrets from my day, and I don’t want you to make the same mistake! Carve out even 5-10 minutes somewhere that you each can get photos with your parents. The other part is making sure that time is created when your parents will be on site – possibly closer to the ceremony or afterwards if there is an ideal place outside.
  • The List – Have a list of groups you want photos with and be specific with names. This will be included in the questionnaire I send over. Think through the order of these photos as well, to minimize people stepping out and back in for a photo. Please use names; I know it’s tedious, but you’ll thank yourself later! 
  • Keep Things Moving – Ahead of the big day, find a loud relative or friend who is willing to help round up people for each shot. Bring that list you created and give it to that person to shout out. This is key to making family photos fly by! 
  • Announcement – Have the minister announce for the family to stay after you’ve made your exit from the ceremony. This will help eliminate people wandering off into the reception space. If there are certain people you would like to be in photos that may not assume that being the case, you may want to say something to them before the day of so they know to stay as well. 
the lighting


Inside


When having your ceremony and/or reception inside, lighting can be tricky. Natural light is key! Windows add a huge element when it comes to lighting inside. So, if you have the option to choose a space with windows, do it!


If windows are not an option, it’s okay! Lighting may be a bit more difficult – but that’s why you’ve hired a professional! In a case of dark lighting, the best thing for me to do is use flash. I normally avoid flash as much as possible, but if it comes down to you getting great photos or not, flash it is! 


Make sure there are no crazy colored or harsh lights on your faces. Harsh light can actually be worse for photos than no lights at all. 



Outside


When having your ceremony and/or reception outside, the lighting can be just as difficult. Many people think it’s best to have the sun right on you so it lightens up your face, but for me it’s the opposite. When the sun is directly on you, it adds shadows and causes you to squint. The sun being behind you just looks so much better! So if possible, have the sun behind you!