Your wedding day should be about so much more than photos. As wedding photographers and videographers, we obviously love those cinematic, dreamy shots, but we love them even more when they happen naturally. You know, when you’re actually enjoying your wedding day instead of worrying about what’s happening in front of the camera.
Here are a few of our favorite ways to plan a wedding that isn’t completely photo-focused while still getting the photos and wedding video you’ll love looking back on.
Allow for a slow timeline
Start your morning early or cut out any extra photo-ops to allow for a slow, stress-free day. Photo and video look best when you’re not under pressure.
Give yourself extra time between getting ready, the ceremony, portraits, and reception. Things will run behind at some point, and having a little breathing room means we have flexibility to adapt to any hiccups.
We’d much rather have you relaxed and present than rushing from one thing to the next just to stick to a perfect timeline.
Utilize post-ceremony efficiently
Make it to your cocktail hour and knock out family portraits in 15 minutes or less. Hold family members post-ceremony and roll through portraits — this way we don’t have to go looking for anyone!
Having a family photo list ahead of time also makes this process so much smoother. Give your photographer the important combinations, designate someone who knows your family to help gather people, and let us take it from there.
This is especially helpful for couples planning a Lancaster, PA wedding or Philadelphia wedding where you may have a large guest list and limited time between the ceremony and reception.
Get the photos you actually want, then go enjoy cocktail hour.
Keep your inspo light
Your wedding photos should be everything you ever dreamed of. However, a hefty inspo list and high expectations for photos don’t allow your day to flow as naturally. A shot list is wonderful, but so are your candid selves!
Send your photographer the photos you love, but don’t feel like every single image needs to be recreated.
Some of our favorite photos are the ones that happen in between the things you planned — laughing with your friends while getting ready, your partner making you giggle during portraits, or a completely unplanned moment on the dance floor.
If you’re looking for candid wedding photography in Pennsylvania, trust your photographer to capture those moments as they happen.
Make sure the dance floor is bumping
Get the dance floor going early. Have your DJ start with a banger and make sure, as the bride and groom, you’re out on the floor. Props like cowboy hats and light sticks add to the fun.
Your guests will follow your lead. If you’re sitting at your sweetheart table all night, they’re probably going to be sitting too. Get out there, dance with your people, and let yourself have fun.
This is also when we get some of our favorite wedding photo and video moments. The messy, loud, completely unplanned moments are the ones that make your wedding gallery and video feel so unique.
Pick a point of contact
The last thing we want to do is bug you with questions and timing on your big day. Dedicate a bridesmaid, parent, or day-of coordinator to this role.
Having someone to guide the wedding party, family, and your vendors takes the stress out of photos. And if you have a planner or day-of coordinator, even better! Let them handle the timeline and vendor communication while you focus on getting married.
Don’t forget to actually enjoy your wedding
This one sounds obvious, but it’s easy to forget.
You spent months, or maybe years, planning this day. Once it finally arrives, give yourself permission to stop thinking about the timeline, the photos, the decorations, and whether everything is going perfectly.
It doesn’t have to be perfect.
Your photographer and videographer are there to document the moments you might miss, so you don’t have to spend the entire day trying to make those moments happen.
Take a minute with your new spouse. Hug your friends. Eat your dinner. Get on the dance floor. Sneak away for five minutes if you want to.
Those are the moments you’ll remember.
We Love a Stress-Free Day That’s All About the Vibes
At the end of the day, we want you to have a wedding that feels like you.
Whether you’re getting married in Lancaster, Philadelphia, or anywhere in Eastern PA and beyond, your wedding doesn’t need to revolve around your photographer or videographer. We’ll get the beautiful portraits, the family photos, the details, and all the candid moments in between.
You just need to be present enough to enjoy them.
Less worrying about the camera. More living in the moment. More dancing. More laughing. More of the people you love. That’s our kinda wedding day! Let’s get in touch.
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