The Wedding Schedule | Hudson Valley Wedding Photography
A GOOD SCHEDULE is KEY to a smooth wedding. For one day, there are more things to coordinate than you’ve ever imagined, but it’s important to remember that every great wedding has a happy bride. Here are a few tips to keeping the stress low and the sentiment of the day intact.
- Start with a timeframe. Not just the standard allotment for the ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception. Build in getting dressed, drive time between locations, even time for a snack if it’ll be a while before the dinner. The worst feeling is running late, seeming as if the day is unraveling right before your eyes.
- Wedding Day time is like light speed. Include in your schedule MORE time than you think will be needed. By doing this, you can expect the unexpected and have enough time to deal with it. Then if nothing goes off course, the worst case scenario is that you’ll have a few extra minutes to relax and take it all in.
- Don’t forget about the Photography. You’ve seen those big, iconic images of the bride and groom that are so impressive, and you want your photography to look just like that for your album. Keep in mind that those were not done during the 30 minutes between the ceremony and the reception along with all of your other family/group shots. Those couples took extra time with the photographer to be creative, often breaking away to other locations, either before or after the ceremony.
- Give the “First Look” a second thought. More and more couples are taking the time before the ceremony to first see one another, when it is more intimate and less rushed. The feelings can be just as intense, your makeup, hair, and flowers are the most fresh, and the photography is amazing as a result. Then after the ceremony you won’t have to rush through all the combinations of poses, and you and your new spouse can enjoy the moment with each other before the party begins.
- Build in Flexibility and Trust. Remember that even the most well thought out plans will have bumps and unexpected twists. It’s important to trust the professionals you’ve hired to do what they do best, and everything will be successful at the end of the day: You’ll be married to the man or woman who you love.
