THE GUIDE

helpful tips and tricks for making your wedding day a success!

the guide

hey there

My name is Sierra and this is my husband, Logan.

We’re so excited to help make your wedding days smooth, organized and more streamlined than ever before. In our experience photographing weddings, we’ve learned a few important lessons: First, no two weddings are the same, but there are a lot of similarities. Second, on a wedding day, shooting the right things at the right time with enough time can make or break the client’s experience and the quality and consistency of the images as a whole. Third, the two things guest remember most is if the music and food are good. 
No matter what gets thrown our way when we meet with a couple, whether they’re doing a first look or not, traveling to one, two, or even three locations, having a non-religious wedding, a Catholic Mass, a intimate elopement, or whether they have a budget/need for eight, nine or ten hours, we’ve developed a tried and true guide of all the information we have experienced. 
Friends, we hope our information saves you as much time as they saves us, bring you less stress, more peace and fresh
confidence on the wedding day, and help you love and experience your wedding day the way you deserve. 

And never forget that we’re cheering for you every step of the way!

xoxo,

Sierra

tips for stress free wedding planning:

- Utilize a wedding timeline: This is not one of those fly by the seat of your pants type events. Make an outline of what's going to happen and stick to it. 

 -Delegate: If someone else is fully capable of doing it and you trust them completely, then loosen the reigns just a tad and let them handle it. 

-Prep your emergency bag: Your wedding is going to be an extremely long day. You may need to pack a few supplies to help you get through it all. I'm talking about: stain remover, a minature sewing kit, double sided tape, safety pins, bobby pins and other items to touch up your makeup later in the evening.

- Prepare tip envelopes for vendors: It's not uncommon to tip the vendors at your wedding. My personal suggestion is to prep tip envelopes and give them to someone you trust, so they can make sure your vendors get them on the big day. 

-Think about vendor meals: This is another thing people forget all about. When you're planning the number of people who are going to be eating, make sure you include a few for vendors.

-Establish "No Wedding Talk" Time ASAP: Wedding planning is stressful and can take over your entire life and relationship. Make sure you have some sacred time to just be with your love and enjoy life.

Figure out your priorities: Figure out what needs to be done and when, so you're not running around trying to do things like get a marriage license on the day of your wedding. 

Narrowing down your wedding wants

Let's have a little fun. How does playing a quick game of THIS or THAT sound?

hiring a full service wedding planner

Buying / renting decor for the event(s)

or

getting a day-of coordinator

or

diy projects to save some coins

All inclusive wedding venue

or

Hiring multiple vendors 

Amazing, jaw dropping venue

or

Somewhere that is ok & convenient

Bigger guest list & less food

or

Smaller guest list & more food

Rock out with a band

or

Get down with a DJ

Off season wedding 

or

Marry during the Spring or Summer

Leave for honeymoon after reception

or

Post wedding brunch

Get married as soon as humanly possible

or

Leave more time for the planning

take advantage of the wisdom of others:

Sometimes the easiest thing to do to make sure you get everything that you want on your wedding day is to ask someone else about their day. Below you have a list of questions to ask a few of your recently wed friends.

- Favorite memory from your wedding?
- Number one piece of advice for planning?
- One thing we have to do on our wedding day?
- Thing you worried most about that didn't even matter on the day?
- What part do you wish you spent more time planning?
- What do you wish you spent less money on?
- Logistics you wish you'd thought about?

wedding planning timelines

WHEN YOU GET ENGAGED:
- Decide on your budget
- Start gathering names and address of guests
- Narrow down your potential date down to two or three days
- Start looking for a venue
- Create a wedding website

12 MONTHS BEFORE: 
- Begin shopping for wedding dress
- Choose your bridal party
- Finalize your date with the venue and vendors
- Book a block of hotel rooms for out of town guests

11 MONTHS BEFORE: 
- Begin planning ceremony and reception
- Make an appointment with a florist to discuss details including bouquets, centerpieces and all that jazz
- Book a caterer

10 MONTHS BEFORE: 
- Finalize guest list
- Set up gift registry if you haven't already
- Begin search for wedding officiant
- Start planning wedding and reception music

9 MONTHS BEFORE: 
- Purchase your dress
- Potentially start the alteration process

8 MONTHS BEFORE: 
- Purchase hair accessories
- Order any jewelry that will be worn
- Plan, and potentially book your honeymoon (if you're going out of the country)

6 MONTHS BEFORE: 
- Proof, print or order your wedding invitations
- Test hair and makeup

5 MONTHS BEFORE: 
- Make rental arrangements

4 MONTHS BEFORE: 
- Choose significant other's attire
- Purchase any remaining bridal accessories
- Plan, and potentially book your honeymoon (If you haven't)
-Send out save the date cards

3 MONTHS BEFORE: 
- Book wedding night accommodations 

2 MONTHS BEFORE: 
- Address, stamp & send your wedding invitations
- Finalize the menu

6 WEEKS  BEFORE: 
- Purchase your wedding bands
- Confirm needed numbers with florist

4 WEEKS BEFORE: 
- Finish any DIY project that you were working on

2 WEEKS BEFORE: 
- Get your marriage license
- Creating your wedding day schedule and pass it to the important participants
- Give final head count to caterer
- Finalize seating charts
- Confirm vendors' arrival time

what are your wedding planning personalities?

Who you are and how you go about planning things will more than likely translate right into your wedding planning. No biggie. It's just nice to be aware of who is more capable of handling what so it's a team effort.

Want to plan the wedding with our guests in mind

Me Or WE

Want to plan the wedding with our wants & need at the top of the priority list.

ME OR WE

want to eliminate as many unnecessary to-dos as possible

ME OR WE

Like to make list and will often use them to stay on task

ME OR WE

Like the idea of planning bits and pieces each day

ME OR WE

Type A all the way, and great at planning

ME OR WE

ME OR WE

am not planner, in the slightest, & is very disorganized 

ME OR WE

Absolutely obsessed with planning things online, we are talking google docs, pinterest, the whole nine.

ME OR WE

Like planning the "old fashioned" way. Magazines, vision boards. Real photos & tear outs. 

ME OR WE

Wants to have a clear schedule of when things should get done and who is doing them. 

ME OR WE

are More laid back, in general

Planning your Engagement Portrait Session

I am so excited for your portrait session! Whether we’re capturing your sweet family, or celebrating a special moment in your life, like an engagement or anniversary, I'ms so honored to help you create memories you’ll cherish for a lifetime. I’ve created this section of the guide to help you get the most out of your photos, and by the time you’ve read through this, you'll have all your questions answered and feel more than ready and prepared for your session. Then I’ll take care of the rest! Your only job is to be yourself, laugh a lot and let us create photos you’ll love forever. I can’t wait to get you in front of the camera!

Choosing the time & date: 
I’m a natural light specialist because I believe that natural light, from the sun and its reflections, create photographs that feel fresh, timeless, and truest to you. I begin most portrait sessions two hours before the scheduled sunset during “the golden hour,” when the light is the dreamiest. Use a sunset calculator online to determine the scheduled sunset for the date and location you’d like to do your session. Then, just subtract two hours to figure out your start time. Remember, the sun sets much earlier during the colder months of the year and much later during the warmer months, so make sure to factor that in when choosing your portrait session date, especially if you’re taking off work or have evening plans afterward. To get the most out of your session, please plan a buffer when getting ready so you can arrive a few minutes early to your session 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.

QUICK TIP: Weekends fill up fast and far in advance, as does the fall season. You can get a Fastpass to the front of the line by scheduling mid-week or off-season.

Selecting the right location: 
The location of your portrait session is up to you! Most of my clients choose to showcase the natural beauty of our home state. For most 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. There are great options all around the state, so even if you've never seen a photograph in a specific spot before, I’m always up for exploring a new spot together!

Think outside the box: 
This is the time to think outside the box! I encourage you to brainstorm unique locations that you might have special access to that most people don’t. For example, maybe you, or someone in your personal or professional network, can secure permission to a location that would otherwise be off-limits, like a beautiful private estate, country club or resort. Maybe it’s a family ranch, upscale hotel or even a boat, airplane hanger or a rooftop view. The sky is literally the limit! Spend a few minutes thinking about it and checking around. You’ll be surprised with what you come up with. Plus, if something seems out of reach, just remember: you never know until you ask! My clients have secured permission to some pretty amazing places in the past. I have some great go-to locations around town that we can always hit, too. Just let me know which type of session you’d love and we’ll go from there! Easy peasy. Your portrait session includes travel time anywhere in the 50 mile radios of the Salem area. If you’d like to go somewhere outside the city, I’m up for the adventure! I love traveling and am actually on the road quite a bit. I’ve done different types of sessions from coast to mountains, everywhere in between, so if I’m already going to be in or near an area you’ve always dreamed of doing your photos, and we can coordinate our schedules, let’s set it up. I’d love to make it work! If you’d like me to meet you in a destination outside of Oregon for your portrait session where we don’t already have plans to visit, just let me know and I can get you a custom quote.

Styling your session:
Want your photos to look more editorial? Bring a little extra something with you! Fresh flowers bring an extra “wow” factor to just about everything, especially when they’re attached to
something else, like a bicycle basket, tree swing, tent, picnic basket, balloons or car bumper. Whether you want to incorporate larger items like classic cars or bikes, or smaller ones like blankets, hats, champagne - even planning for just one extra styled item could be a fun way to make your session more unique.

Style Tips: Feminine

Don’t Be Afraid to Dress It Up:
Have you thought about rocking a romantic gown, tulle skirt or flower crown but just never had an occasion for it? This is your chance to do it up! Remember: There is no such thing as “too dressed up” when it comes to your portrait session, so don’t be afraid to have some fun! If you don’t want to add a new permanent piece to your collection, a lot of my clients love Rent the Runway for their session because it’s such an affordable way to feel like a million bucks. Other clients love having a great excuse to bring a new permanent piece (or two!) into their closet!

Quick Tip: There’s no such thing as too dressed up

Say Yes to the Dress:
Dresses and skirts look most stunning because they really flatter every female body, especially on camera — which is probably why the red carpet is always full of so many dresses and not very many pantsuits! I recommend avoiding pants and shorts for your session, and saying yes to a dress or two instead. Long, full-length, flowy dresses and skirts look amazing on camera because they bring extra movement to the photos. Especially when juxtaposed with nature, like grassy fields, desert, forest, plains or beach. Consider softer fabrics like chiffon or tulle which allow for beautiful movement in the images.

When considering the length of your dresses or skirts, it’s also a good idea to factor in whether or not there will be little ones in your photos. If you have smaller children, we’ll likely have you sitting or crouching on the ground to interact up-close with them. Cute, shorter cocktail-length dresses photograph beautifully, but if you have little ones in your photos, a floor-length dress or skirt, or perhaps a cute midi-skirt, will make moving around with your kids much easier, and look perfect on camera, too.

If you’re an expecting mother, we always recommend floor-length gowns or maxi dresses. These dresses create the best silhouettes to flatter your figure and really highlight your bump. A lot of expecting mothers love to incorporate flower crowns or headpieces as well.
One or Two? It’s Up to You!

You can bring one outfit set or two! Most clients who choose two outfits will bring one “wow” dress, and then another slightly more casual dress that has a “date night” feel. But if you want to bring two “wow” dresses and forgo the more casual dress altogether, give yourself permission to do it! The camera loves runway-esque apparel and so do I! Remember, though, you don’t have to bring two looks if it’s too stressful to coordinate or if you’d rather just stick to one fabulous look. One outfit that you love will be so much better than one outfit you love and another you’re not very excited about. And if you stick with one outfit set, you won’t have to spend any of your time time changing half way through, so I’ll be able to sneak in a few more photos! So, one or two? It’s really up to you!

Choosing Colors:
When choosing colors for your outfits, I recommend selecting softer, lighter tones and more muted shades. By avoiding ultra-bright, bold colors, it will help bring all the attention to your faces and let the eye focus on the way you feel about each other. The camera loves shades of soft pink and muted blues, mixed with sophisticated light neutrals like heather gray, creams, leather brown and white. That softer color palette fits beautifully into almost all natural outdoor environments, and especially compliments the lush greenery we have here.

Flattering Your Features:
In my experience, every woman, regardless of her shape has an area of her body that she’s self-conscious about, so recognizing what area that is in advance is key. Choosing flattering silhouettes and colors that complement your natural features is the best way to ensure you’ll love the way you look in your photos. Three-quarter length sleeves create an awesome slimming effect on all arms, so be on the lookout for an option with a longer length sleeve. You could also bring a cute jacket, blazer or cardigan along, too. Skinny straps or strapless dresses have the opposite effect on arms on camera, so I recommend avoiding those whenever possible if your goal is a set of slimmer-looking arms. Heels elongate women’s legs, making them look fabulous. Closed-toed heels in particular look great on camera because they carry out the line of your leg all the way down to your toe. If your toes are showing in a peep-toe heel, you might want to schedule a pedicure before your session so you don’t regret letting your feet show. These little tricks make all the difference!

Quick Tip: Bring a pair of easy-to-kick-off flats to wear when moving from place to place in between photos. Your feet will thank you later!

Make a Statement
Pairing an accessory or two with your outfit can really help bring some extra dimension to your images, and be a nice tie-in when you’re coordinating with a group. Statement necklaces bring a lot of pop to the photos, while the smaller, delicate ones are not as noticeable on camera. On the flip side, having those dainty jewelry pieces can add femininity and bring even more attention to you, your emotions, and the rock on your hand! Belts, bracelets and earrings bring great visual interest, so choose one or two that don’t compete for attention. Fresh floral in a crown can be a really romantic touch for you or your girls as well.

Go Pro: Hair & Makeup:
Professional hair and makeup is on the top of most clients’ checklists because it looks amazing on camera and removes the stress of getting ready on your own. This is the time to treat yourself! Whether it’s lash extensions or blown-out hair, professional hair and makeup will give you an extra boost of confidence in front of the camera, and it always photographs like a dream. If you’re working with a makeup artist, have her apply your makeup in natural light, if possible, so that it looks fresh and not too heavy. Plus, that’s the type of light we’ll be shooting in, so it’ll give you the best expectation of how it will translate on camera. Most of my clients feel like their professional makeup is “too much” at first, since it’s more than you would wear on a normal day, or that they're false lashes look too big, so if you feel that way at the beginning, don’t worry! Good makeup artists know how to get it all just right for the camera — and my clients always love the final result. If you need a recommendation for hair and makeup, I work with the best in the business and have a go-to team! They’re sweet as pie, talented as heck, unbelievable professionals and wonderful people. You’ll LOVE them! Just let me know and I’ll send you their information. I know they’ll take good
care of you!

Quick Tip: Confidence. It’s always the best accessory.

Skip the Spray Tan:
Although it might seem counter-intuitive, I recommend that you do not get a spray tan before your session, even a few days prior, because it tends to photograph orange even when it’s applied subtly and by a professional. Your actual skin tone will photograph the most beautifully and naturally.

Show off the ring: 
I will always try to get a shot of the ring on its own and on your hand during your engagement session. Your ring will be center stage, so give yourself permission to get it cleaned and your nails done, too! To make your ring really sparkle in photos, have it professionally cleaned by your jeweler ( They will clean it for free !) or use appropriate jewelry cleaner before your session.

Style Tips: Masculine

The Best Fit:
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. So, for your session, it’s best to leave the shorts, sandals and jeans at home, too, as well as any pants that are loose or baggy. Fitted dress pants or fitted colored pants work best on camera. Solid shades of gray or navy are a strong compliment to most women’s outfits, whereas pinstripes or plaid patterns tend to distract the eye. I also recommend staying away from graphics and logos.

Layered Looks:
Next time you walk by a store like J. Crew, you’ll notice the male mannequins and models are always wearing several layers at once. Layers on men look great on camera, so even when it’s hot outside, trust us when I say that it’s worth an hour or two of discomfort for photos that will last you both a lifetime. Adding another layer will bring extra dimension and visual interest to your photos. Blazers, vests and coats up the level of any look. If the temperature permits, he could even consider adding a v-neck sweater with a pop of color from a long-sleeved collared shirt and tie underneath. Don’t be afraid to get a little creative with layers!

Mix It Up:
Many guys love to mix a suit coat, blazer or sport coat with a different pant color. It adds some extra visual interest, and breaks up the color tones. I’m a big fan of this fresh take on a timeless classic.

It’s All in the Details:
Brown leather dress shoes compliment almost every look, whether he’s wearing a full suit or a blazer and colored pants. Ties, bow-ties, pocket squares, colored socks, belts, tie clips, suspenders, vests and watches are sharp compliments to any outfit for men and boys alike. If you bring two outfits to the session, you can start with a traditional necktie and belt, then switch to suspenders and a bow tie for your second look. If two looks are too stressful, no problem! One will do the trick! You can still mix and match accessories to compliment both of the dresses without doing a full change during the session. So, either way, it's a win.

How to Prep Your Man:
Most men aren’t overly excited to take photos for two hours, because they don’t have an expectation of what’s to come and why it’s so important to you. Take fifteen minutes to educate and empower your guy. Tell him why you chose me and my style of photography. Express to him how much it means to you. Trust me, once he knows it’s important, he’ll light up the camera for you! The most common thing I hear from guys before photo sessions is this: because of a bad experience in the past, they don’t like taking photos or don’t think they’ll be good at it. By the time we’re done, though, they can’t believe how fast it went and just how much fun they had!

Prepping for family portraits

Coordinating the Crew:
As you’re coordinating your outfit with your family, 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.

How to Mix Colors:
The goal for coordinating a family is to visually break up the colors and shades so that you’re not all wearing the same color on top and bottom. The more we can mix that up, the better. I encourage you to think about planning each outfit with “dominant colors” and “accent colors” in mind. A dominant color is the color that you see the most in an outfit, while an accent has a smaller piece of visual real estate. When you’re planning each family member’s outfit, if you can aim for each person to have a different dominant color, and then tie in and vary the accent colors, it’s going to look great all together.

For example, if you’re wearing a blush dress, soft blue earrings and nude heels (blush being your dominant color), then he could wear a navy coat with a white button-down and gray pants, paired with brown leather shoes and maybe even a blush pocket square (making navy his dominant color). Your daughter could wear a soft blue top with a white tulle skirt (making a soft blue her dominant color) while your son wears light beige pants with navy suspenders and a white button down (making white his dominant color). Now each person has their own dominant color while still incorporating a few touches of the others that will pull all the looks together. This will break up the color visually and highlight each personality. Most moms choose their dress first, and then build the rest of the family’s outfits based around that.

Remember, I recommend selecting those softer, lighter tones and avoiding those ultra-bright, bold colors. 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.

Mixing Up the Pieces:
If you have multiple children, don’t feel like you need to put them all in the same type of outfit. For example, one of your daughters could wear a dress and flats, while the other wears a skirt and boots. One of your sons could wear a bow tie, while the other one wears suspenders. Mixing up the wardrobe pieces will bring a great visual interest to the photos.

Prepping Your Little Ones:
Before your session, pack a bag with snacks, water and any small objects (like toys or lollipops) that might help me get their attention when it’s time for them to look at the camera. If they are old enough to understand you, it’s a good idea to prepare them for what’s to come before the session starts. Explain how much the photos mean to you so they know to be on their best behavior. A lot of families discuss and pick something fun in advance as a treat after the session if they’re good listeners, like an ice cream cone, for example. It also helps if they’re bellies are full and they’ve has some good rest beforehand. Once you prepare them physically and mentally, then feel free to give them (and you!) grace! They’re little, and I know that some days don’t always go as planned. I’ve seen it all and will make sure to get you great photos, regardless of their moods. My goal is to make this as fun and stress-free as it possibly can be for you and your family!

I have created a few Pinterest boards to help get your creative juices flowing

Want to shorten your guest list?

Sometimes your friends and family have a big influence on your guest list, and that can be great for some people and guest, but if your guest list is busting at the seems, than here are some questions you both should go over for each guest

1. How would you feel if you were not invited to their wedding?

2. Do you want to spend 15 whole minutes talking to them on your wedding day?

3. Do you know their last name? *without checking social media

4. Have to seem them in the last 6 months?

5. If they invited you to dinner next weekend, would you really want to go?

who's invited?

Bridal Shower

Wedding party, family & friends

bachelorette party

wedding party, close family members & friends

Rehearsal dinner

wedding party, family & out of town guest

THE WEDDING

Wedding party, family, friends & others

the first look:

I know you've heard of it: the coveted first look. Everyone is doing it, but you aren't sold. I get it. When I first heard of it I was like, "No Way! That's against tradition". And, that is true. It breaks the mold on everything we know of weddings, goodbye to the days of waiting until the doors fling open to see what the bride went with for her wedding dress.

If you would have asked me a while back, I would have told you, don't do it. But today, I say let's roll with it. Highly recommend would be an understatement. Here are a few reasons why:

no more hiding

You probably feel like I'm joking here, but I'm not. This is actually a highlight. You don't have to run around, duck and dodge from your significant other because, well, they have already seen you. 

you get to spend more time together

No need to lock your better half up in a dungeon until it's show time. You get the chance to be taken to a private location, with absolutely no distractions. So you get to have all of their attention. 

it's a smart decision for the sake of time

You get to take alot of your photos prior to the wedding because your significant other has already seen you in the dress. which means you are that much closer to the dance floor and enjoying your day. Say bye to the thought of missing all of cocktail hour. 

you get more photographs

Ok tradition aside, you're going to get more photos. and, technically that's like maximizing your dollars. I don't think anyone would be against that.  

so much more time for emotions

 I know it is all about those real, raw emotions and this point is reason enough to consider it. Your spouse sees you and they totally break down and bawls their eyes out. Well, guess what, no one is rushing you to get on with the show. You have time to take this precious moment in. 

say "see ya" to a large chunk of stress

The day is already stressful. I totally get it! The first look allows you to have a fun moment and get some alone time prior to having all eyes on you. 

**If you and your partner can't agree on a first look, here are a few other options:
- first touch
- first hug
- first read
- first gifts
- first song
- first poem
- first prayer
- first call
- Partial first look; this could be that your hair, makeup and nails are done and you show up wearing sweats. So they still don't get to see you in the dress just yet. 

MORNING WEDDING TIMELINE
7:00 AM - Hair & makeup / Getting ready
8:30 AM - Vendors arrive / Setup starts
9:00 AM - First look & couple's portraits
9:30 AM - Family pictures
9:30 AM - Doors open/ Pre-Ceremony music starts playing / Guests enter
10:00 AM - Invite time
10:15 AM - Ceremony starts
10:45 AM - Ceremony concludes
10:45 AM - Cocktail hour starts/ Addition- al family photos
11:30 AM - Brunch starts
12:15 PM - Toasts
1:00 PM - First Dance
1:30 PM - Cake cutting/ Dessert
2:45 PM - Couple departs
3:00 PM - Guests depart
3:00 PM - Breakdown commences
4:00 PM - All vendors out

Whew, you have no clue how many times every wedding photographer all over the world has been asked about a wedding timeline, or asked to weigh in on when things should be done. Which makes complete sense, we are the peeps taking the photos, so I'm putting one in to help you out. This could be one of those things you totally didnt know that you needed, I am giving you the wedding time line breakdown for some of the most common wedding times.

Complete wedding timelines

EARLY AFTERNOON WEDDING TIMELINE
9:00 AM - Hair & makeup / Getting ready
9:30 AM - Vendors arrive / Setup starts
10:30 AM - Getting ready photos start
11:00 AM - First look & couple’s portraits
11:45 AM - Family pictures
12:30 PM - Doors open/ Pre-Ceremony music starts playing / Guests enter
1:00 PM - Invite time
1:15 PM - Ceremony starts
1:35 PM - Ceremony concludes
1:40 PM - Cocktail hour starts/ Additional family photos
2:30 PM - Lunch starts
3:00 PM - Toasts
3:30 PM - First Dance
5:00 PM - Cake cutting/ Dessert
6:15 PM - Couple departs
6:30 PM - Guests depart
6:30 PM - Breakdown commences
7:30 PM - All vendors out

Whew, you have no clue how many times every wedding photographer all over the world has been asked about a wedding timeline, or asked to weigh in on when things should be done. Which makes complete sense, we are the peeps taking the photos, so I'm putting one in to help you out. This could be one of those things you totally didnt know that you needed, I am giving you the wedding time line breakdown for some of the most common wedding times.

Complete wedding timelines

LATE EVENING WEDDING TIMELINE
1:00 PM - Hair & makeup / Getting ready
4:30 PM - Vendors arrive / Setup starts
4:30 PM - Pre- Ceremony photos
5:30 PM - Couple arrives
6:00 PM - Doors open/ Room ready for guests/ Pre-ceremony music starts
6:30 PM - Invite time
6:45 PM - Ceremony starts
7:00 PM - Ceremony ends/ Guests move to cocktail hour
8:00 PM - Guests move to dinner
9:30 PM - Cake cutting/ Dessert served/ Toasts
9:45 PM - Dancing
11:45 PM - End time/ Guests out
12:45 AM - Breakdown/ Vendors depart

Whew, you have no clue how many times every wedding photographer all over the world has been asked about a wedding timeline, or asked to weigh in on when things should be done. Which makes complete sense, we are the peeps taking the photos, so I'm putting one in to help you out. This could be one of those things you totally didnt know that you needed, I am giving you the wedding time line breakdown for some of the most common wedding times.

Complete wedding timelines

COCKTAIL PARTY STYLE RECEPTION TIMELINE
3:00 PM - Vendors arrive for setup
4:30 PM - Doors open/ Room ready for guests/ Pre-ceremony music starts
5:00 PM - Invite time
5:15 PM - Ceremony starts
5:30 PM - Ceremony ends
5:30 PM - First round of food comes out/ Bar opens
5:30 PM - Music starts inside
6:30 PM - Pre-sunset portraits
6:45 PM - Dinner rounds of food come out
7:07 PM - Sunset
7:15 PM - Toasts
7:30 PM - First dance
8:00 PM - Couple's "Thank You" toast followed by cake cutting
9:00 PM - Couple and guests depart
10:00 PM - Breakdown done/ vendors out

Whew, you have no clue how many times every wedding photographer all over the world has been asked about a wedding timeline, or asked to weigh in on when things should be done. Which makes complete sense, we are the peeps taking the photos, so I'm putting one in to help you out. This could be one of those things you totally didnt know that you needed, I am giving you the wedding time line breakdown for some of the most common wedding times.

Complete wedding timelines

SEPARATE CEREMONY & RECEPTION TIMES
9:00 AM - Hair & makeup / Getting ready
11:00 AM to 1:00 PM - Vendors arrive for ceremony setup
12:00 PM - Wedding party and family photos start 
1:30 PM - Doors open/ Guests begin to arrive/ Pre-ceremony music starts
2:00 PM - Ceremony invite time
2:15 PM - Ceremony starts
3:00 PM - Ceremony ends
3:00 PM - Vendors start to arrive for reception set up
3:30 PM - Guests gone from ceremony site
4:00 PM - Ceremony site cleaned up/ Vendors depart
4:30 PM - Doors open/ Guests begin to arrive/ Am- bient music starts
5:00 PM - Reception invite time/ Cocktail hour starts
6:30 PM - Move guests into dinner
6:45 PM - Buffet opens/ Dinner served
7:00 PM - All guests have food
7:15 PM - Toasts
8:00 PM - First dance
8:05 PM - General dancing music starts
8:05 PM - Second set of pre-sunset portraits 8:26 PM - Sunset
8:45 PM - Dessert
9:45 PM - Last Call
9:55 - Last Call
10:00 PM - Guests Depart
11:00 PM - Breakdown/ Staff departs

Whew, you have no clue how many times every wedding photographer all over the world has been asked about a wedding timeline, or asked to weigh in on when things should be done. Which makes complete sense, we are the peeps taking the photos, so I'm putting one in to help you out. This could be one of those things you totally didnt know that you needed, I am giving you the wedding time line breakdown for some of the most common wedding times.

Complete wedding timelines

MORNING WEDDING TIMELINE
7:00 AM - Hair & makeup / Getting ready
8:30 AM - Vendors arrive / Setup starts
9:00 AM - First look & couple's portraits
9:30 AM - Family pictures
9:30 AM -Doors open/ Pre-Ceremony music starts playing / Guests enter
10:00 AM - Invite time
10:15 AM - Ceremony starts
10:45 AM - Ceremony concludes
10:45 AM - Cocktail hour starts/ Addition- al family photos
11:30 AM - Brunch starts
12:15 PM - Toasts
1:00 PM - First Dance
1:30 PM - Cake cutting/ Dessert
2:45 PM - Couple departs
3:00 PM - Guests depart
3:00 PM - Breakdown commences
4:00 PM - All vendors out

Whew, you have no clue how many times every wedding photographer all over the world has been asked about a wedding timeline, or asked to weigh in on when things should be done. Which makes complete sense, we are the peeps taking the photos, so I'm putting one in to help you out. This could be one of those things you totally didnt know that you needed, I am giving you the wedding time line breakdown for some of the most common wedding times.

Complete wedding timelines

EARLY AFTERNOON WEDDING TIMELINE
9:00 AM - Hair & makeup / Getting ready
9:30 AM - Vendors arrive / Setup starts
10:30 AM - Getting ready photos start
11:00 AM - First look & couple’s portraits
11:45 AM - Family pictures
12:30 PM - Doors open/ Pre-Ceremony music starts playing / Guests enter
1:00 PM - Invite time
1:15 PM - Ceremony starts
1:35 PM - Ceremony concludes
1:40 PM - Cocktail hour starts/ Additional family photos
2:30 PM - Lunch starts
3:00 PM - Toasts
3:30 PM - First Dance
5:00 PM - Cake cutting/ Dessert
6:15 PM - Couple departs
6:30 PM - Guests depart
6:30 PM - Breakdown commences
7:30 PM - All vendors out

Whew, you have no clue how many times every wedding photographer all over the world has been asked about a wedding timeline, or asked to weigh in on when things should be done. Which makes complete sense, we are the peeps taking the photos, so I'm putting one in to help you out. This could be one of those things you totally didnt know that you needed, I am giving you the wedding time line breakdown for some of the most common wedding times.

Complete wedding timelines

LATE EVENING WEDDING TIMELINE
1:00 PM - Hair & makeup / Getting ready
4:30 PM - Vendors arrive / Setup starts
4:30 PM - Pre- Ceremony photos
5:30 PM - Couple arrives
6:00 PM - Doors open/ Room ready for guests/ Pre-ceremony music starts
6:30 PM - Invite time
6:45 PM - Ceremony starts
7:00 PM - Ceremony ends/ Guests move to cocktail hour
8:00 PM - Guests move to dinner
9:30 PM - Cake cutting/ Dessert served/ Toasts
9:45 PM - Dancing
11:45 PM - End time/ Guests out
12:45 AM - Breakdown/ Vendors depart

Whew, you have no clue how many times every wedding photographer all over the world has been asked about a wedding timeline, or asked to weigh in on when things should be done. Which makes complete sense, we are the peeps taking the photos, so I'm putting one in to help you out. This could be one of those things you totally didnt know that you needed, I am giving you the wedding time line breakdown for some of the most common wedding times.

Complete wedding timelines

COCKTAIL PARTY STYLE RECEPTION TIMELINE
3:00 PM - Vendors arrive for setup
4:30 PM - Doors open/ Room ready for guests/ Pre-ceremony music starts
5:00 PM - Invite time
5:15 PM - Ceremony starts
5:30 PM - Ceremony ends
5:30 PM - First round of food comes out/ Bar opens
5:30 PM - Music starts inside
6:30 PM - Pre-sunset portraits
6:45 PM - Dinner rounds of food come out
7:07 PM - Sunset
7:15 PM - Toasts
7:30 PM - First dance
8:00 PM - Couple's "Thank You" toast followed by cake cutting
9:00 PM - Couple and guests depart
10:00 PM - Breakdown done/ vendors out

Whew, you have no clue how many times every wedding photographer all over the world has been asked about a wedding timeline, or asked to weigh in on when things should be done. Which makes complete sense, we are the peeps taking the photos, so I'm putting one in to help you out. This could be one of those things you totally didnt know that you needed, I am giving you the wedding time line breakdown for some of the most common wedding times.

Complete wedding timelines

SEPARATE CEREMONY & RECEPTION TIMES
9:00 AM - Hair & makeup / Getting ready
11:00 AM to 1:00 PM - Vendors arrive for ceremony setup
12:00 PM - Wedding party and family photos start 
1:30 PM - Doors open/ Guests begin to arrive/ Pre-ceremony music starts
2:00 PM - Ceremony invite time
2:15 PM - Ceremony starts
3:00 PM - Ceremony ends
3:00 PM - Vendors start to arrive for reception set up
3:30 PM - Guests gone from ceremony site
4:00 PM - Ceremony site cleaned up/ Vendors depart
4:30 PM - Doors open/ Guests begin to arrive/ Am- bient music starts
5:00 PM - Reception invite time/ Cocktail hour starts
6:30 PM - Move guests into dinner
6:45 PM - Buffet opens/ Dinner served
7:00 PM - All guests have food
7:15 PM - Toasts
8:00 PM - First dance
8:05 PM - General dancing music starts
8:05 PM - Second set of pre-sunset portraits 8:26 PM - Sunset
8:45 PM - Dessert
9:45 PM - Last Call
9:55 - Last Call
10:00 PM - Guests Depart
11:00 PM - Breakdown/ Staff departs

Whew, you have no clue how many times every wedding photographer all over the world has been asked about a wedding timeline, or asked to weigh in on when things should be done. Which makes complete sense, we are the peeps taking the photos, so I'm putting one in to help you out. This could be one of those things you totally didnt know that you needed, I am giving you the wedding time line breakdown for some of the most common wedding times.

Complete wedding timelines

How long does things really take?

a little break down on how much time is needed to photograph each part of your day

Getting Ready

(90 minutes)

We start the day by dividing and conquering. I take bridal details, while Logan or my second photographer takes bridal hair and makeup candids. In our experience, it takes me about 45 minutes to an hour to photograph the bride’s details (dress, shoes, rings, jewelry, perfume, invitations, bouquet etc.) thoroughly and with plenty of variety. We always start by hanging the bride’s dress together, because it tends to be a two-person job. From there, the second photographer helps me organize all the details (put them into a pile, remove small price tags, grab the right lenses, etc.) while I focuses on the detail setup. Once I am set and has everything I need, I shoot the details while the second photographer spends the remainder of the time taking candid photographs of the bride and bridesmaids hanging out in their robes and getting final touches of hair and makeup.

We allow 45 minutes for the bride to get on her dress and the groom and groomsmen to get on their ties and coats for a few reasons. First, sometimes we show up and the bride has more details and photo requests than she originally included in her wedding day questionnaire, like photos of her and her bridesmaids popping champagne on the bed, for example, or a gift
from the groom that she’d like special pictures of, or even a first look with her Dad that she didn’t know or decide she wanted until the morning of her wedding. If that happens, we’ve built 15 extra minutes of pad time into this section, so that extra requests won’t put us behind.

Second, sometimes there’s a snag with the dress, or the bridesmaids all want to have their hair and makeup touched up one more time, or something else that sets back the timeline at the last minute.

Third, the bride and groom are usually getting ready on different parts of the property, so the extra time gives the second photographer a chance to walk to the groom’s getting ready room, clean it up (if the guys haven’t yet) and still get great shots.

* We don’t go to multiple getting ready locations, so if the bride and groom are getting ready on completely separate properties, we just do some quick mock getting ready photos of the groom when he arrives to the venue for the first look — right before he sees her for the first time.

first look

(30 minutes)

Walk to the first look: If we get the bride and groom dressed and out the door on time, we’ve found that it takes about fifteen minutes to stage the first look. Even if the first look spot is close to the getting ready room, we never want to underestimate how long it takes for a bride to walk in her heavy gown, long veil and high heel. Allotting fifteen minutes gives us five minutes for the couple to each get to the location, five minutes for the bride to get hidden and the groom to get in position and five minutes to explain to both of them what’s going to happen, what to do and kindly ask any family members who are creepin’ for a sneak peekin’ to respect the couple’s request for privacy.

The first look: Even though the actual first look moment only takes a few minutes, we like to give our couples 15 minutes for this so the bride and groom have a chance to see each other, embrace, talk for a bit, soak it all in, retouch makeup (if needed) and finish early — which gives us more portrait time!

We can’t emphasize this enough: if the bride and groom get to the first look on time, 99% of the time the rest of the timeline stays on schedule. If they don’t, that’s where things get off track. The beginning of the day is where we, as the photographers, have the least control — because of all the surrounding people who can stop a bride or groom from getting out the door. So, it’s critical to make sure the hair and makeup artist, the bridesmaids, any friends or family members in the room and the bride are all aware and kindly reminded on the day of the wedding that getting her out the door is more important than steaming the dress (again), retouching makeup or any of the last minute request that pops up. We want to serve our clients the best way possible. That means kindly, warmly, professionally advocating for everyone to stick to the timeline, especially for the first look.

Couple Portraits & Individuals

(30 minutes)

Our goal here is three-fold: 10 minutes of bride and groom portraits in one location, 10 minutes of individual portraits in another location (5 minutes each) and 10 minutes of bride and groom portraits again. That way, if for some reason something goes awry later in the day (like inclement weather) and you’re not able to do husband and wife sunset portraits, you’ve still gotten bride and groom portraits in two distinct locations and your individuals as well. So, even in the worst case scenario, you’ve got what you need to feel complete, and have great photos, even if the weather takes a turn for the worst.

the Ladies

(15 minutes)

We always start with the girls because a) they’re the most excited, b) we want them with fresh hair and makeup and c) if we go a little longer with them, it’s easy to make up time with the guys later. We begin with individual photos of the bride and each of her bridesmaids. That takes about five minutes, depending on the size of the bridal party and if the bride has any special requests, like a photo of her and her sisters, as an example. From there, we still have ten minutes to get several distinct poses with the whole group, as well as supplementary detail shots of their bouquets. Most of the time, this section runs closer to 20 minutes long because getting variety with these pictures is often more important to the bride for her memories and wedding album (and our social media and blog!) than the guys, and the girls typically enjoy their time in front of the camera more, so we spend more time with them.

the whole group

(15 minutes)

We do this in the middle so that the girls don’t have to wait around for the guys. Also, so the guys can bring chairs from the ceremony site if it’s a large bridal party. By the time we get the chairs setup and everyone organized, it’s been five minutes (at least). From there, we have five to ten minutes to get three different looks. We typically don’t move them from their positions in the group once we have it set when it’s a large group (we mix the guys and girl up at the beginning boy-girl-boy-girl) but we'll ask them to do different things where they’re standing to give us more variety for the client’s final gallery. If they’re a smaller group, we’re able to mix it up more in a shorter amount of time.

the gentlemen

(15 minutes)

This runs just like the girls’ section. We do individuals first and then the whole group. Since the girls are less mobile than the
guys (because high heels and soft grass are enemies), this gives sisters a 15-minute head start if the immediate family portraits are somewhere else on property (or there’s no first look and it’s time to leave for the ceremony.) We do our best to find a place for the immediate family photos that’s a) out of sight from arriving guests and b) in or near the same place as the bridal party photos. That way, the chairs are still there (if we need them), we’re easier to find for the arriving family members and the bridal party members who are part of the immediate family don’t have to go anywhere/ can help call, rally, and wrangle family members for us. Don’t be afraid to recruit helpers on the wedding day. It’s a beautiful thing!

the family

(30 minutes)

We allocate 30 minutes for immediate family photos as close to the ceremony start time as possible, but with enough time so that the guests haven’t arrived yet. We have a printed list from the bride and groom that we get from them in their questionnaire which helps us run through family combinations quickly. Thirty minutes gives us enough time to get the bride and groom with each side of their immediate family and small breakouts, too, like the bride with her dad, the bride with her mom, the bride with her mom and dad, the parents together, etc. Any family shots beyond the immediate extended family photos (like aunts, uncles, etc.) typically takes additional time, so we’ll add 15 minutes to this section when those photos are requested, but we’ll always make sure to end 30 minutes before the ceremony start time to avoid guests seeing the bride and/or family members getting antsy, as well as giving us time to shoot the ceremony setup.

Hide, rest, & retouch + Ceremony

(60 minutes)

This window is crucial. It gives our couples time to hide away from their guests, relax and retouch before the ceremony, and it
also gives us a shooting cushion if for some reason the timeline gets behind. If we’re at a detail-heavy wedding, Sierra will
actually shoot most of family photos by myself while the second photographer gets a head start on the details of the ceremony (and sometimes even reception) decor. If, for some reason, though, we’re both needed during family photos, to manage a large extended family group, for example, this time slot gives us a window of time before the guests arrive to get those detail shots untouched.

On average, we find that most ceremonies start five to ten minutes late and last about twenty minutes. If it starts on time and gets done early, that’s just a bonus for us because of all the photos we have to get during cocktail hour. For traditional, religious hour-long ceremonies, we've included separate timelines where this is reflected.

Couple sunset portraits

(30 minutes)

As soon as the bride and groom come down the aisle, I grab the couple and whisks them off for couple portraits while the second photographer shoots the rest of the recessional. Then, the second photographer joins me and our bride and groom. We’ve found that doing these right away is helpful for a few reasons. First, that glowy golden light is our favorite and helps us produce the dreamiest portraits for our couple. Second, when we do those photos right away, we don’t have to pull the bride and groom away from their friends and family at cocktail hour. We get to bring them to cocktail hour when we’re done. Third, if it’s a cloudy day or on a property with tons of buildings that are blocking the light, waiting until the end of cocktail hour is risky because it might be too dark by then. Fourth, we need the 30 minutes right before the guests are brought into the ballroom to shoot the reception details and get a big room shot, since it's usually not set until then. So, that’s why we do husband and wife photos first!

The only exception to this would be during a summer months when the sunset is scheduled for well past a normal dinner hour. In that case, we'd talk with the bride and groom in advance, and build in a time during the reception to sneak out for golden hour.

Reception details & Cocktail hour

(30 minutes)

We find that we usually have to wait until the very last few minutes before the doors open for entrances to take the full-room reception shots because the waitstaff are setting up until the very last minute. While I am shooting details, if the second photographer can get more cocktail hour shots during this time or the couple signing the marriage license, even better!

Side note: In our experience, at modest budget wedding reception venues that are family-owned and/or rent the space but don’t provide anything else, where the bride and groom are responsible to provide almost everything, we didn’t have a problem getting the family or planner setting up the reception to have all the decor set (including plates, glasses and silverware) before the ceremony. However, at established, corporate-owned luxury properties, like hotels and resorts, oftentimes the room can’t be set until 15-30 minutes before guests arrive. Why? Because the catering manager would have to pay the entire staff for an extra hour to two hours to come early to polish the silverware, clean the glasses and set everything — and that’s just not practical for them. So we’ve learned to work quickly with whatever we’re given!

Reception

(120 minutes)

We tell our clients that if they can do grand entrances and first dances when they walk in, toasts in-between salad and dinner service, and cake-cutting right after dinner, they can have all the major milestone moments completed in 90 minutes. That leaves 30 minutes for open dancing photographs. In our opinion, that’s plenty of time before it all starts to look the same. It usually keeps the dance floor hotter for longer, too, because no one’s being pulled off the dance floor for milestone moments. Some couples opt to add more hours here, if loads of open dancing shots are really important to them or if they have a grand exit planned.

bridesmaid-posals

The world gave your proposals, prom-posals & now the one that is sweeping the wedding scene: bridesmaid-posals. I am about to show you just how much i love some stores. Are you ready for a DIY bridesmaid-posal breakdown that is sure to make your besties melt? I figured you were. 

what to buy & where you can find it:

target
- "hello gorgeous" mug | Or | any jaw dropping mug
- barefoot bubbly pink moscato 
- faux succulent

Hobby lobby
- 16.5 in x 11.88 in. large box

amazon
- makeup bag
- ivory crinkle cut packing paper
 
white barn
- any single wick candle
I personally love the limoncello or midnight blue citrus



Not only is a website for your wedding pretty eco-friendly and a super easy way to share information with guests pretty much all around the world, but it's just a smart idea. This is the 21st century after all. 

THE BASICS:
- name
- date
- important times
- locations
- countdown

TRAVEL: 
- airport information
- where to stay
- how to get around
- what to do in town

YOUR STORY:
- how you met
- when you knew
- the proposal
- a day in the life

PHOTOS:
- across the years
- engagement photos
- venue photos

RSVP: 
- attending | not attending
- number of guests
- mailing address
- dietary restrictions
- meal choice

FAQS:
- rsvp deadline
- plus ones
- are children allowed
- what to wear
- parking
- indoor or outdoor
- accessibility
- photos & social media rules

REGISTRY:
- link

SCHEDULE:
- pre-wedding activities 
- day-of wedding
- post wedding events

CONTACT:
- phone or email

WEDDING PARTY:
- list of wedding party
- photos of wedding party

the wedding website

wedding food ideas

I remember a time when the only thing you were guaranteed to be served at a wedding on the food front was practically chicken. Now there are a ton of options. Quite literally tons. Incase you don't believe me, here are a few of them. 

Fajita + Taco Bar

Whew, do you really want your guest to Taco bout your party or not? Not only are fajitas and tacos super cost effective, but your guest have the option of build- ing their plate just the way they like it.

Filet Mignon w/ Green Beans

Ok, this sounds like super fancy. If you have a super upscale wedding I could totally see your guest being treated like royalty with Filet Mignon.

Fried Chicken, Mac & Cheese & Biscuits

Yes, it’s basically a southerner’s dream. Although it is chicken it isn’t the standard baked chicken that I know your mind went to when I mentioned wedding chicken earlier.

Chicken & Waffles

Sweet & savory. Your guest would die of happiness. I just know it. 

Wood-Fired Pizza

Ok, I'm just going to say it. I am happy with anything involving pizza so not only does this sound like a great idea, it sounds delicious. 

American Barbecue

Imagine it is the Fourth of July, but at your wedding. Bring out the grill and all of the food that comes along with it. 

Butternut Squash, Fresh Fruit & Steak

This is kind of perfect regardless of the type of wedding. It's a nice alternative to the baked chicken. 

Pretzel Bar

You know what is better than a pretzel bar? Not much. I don't believe there are a lot of things that are better than fresh pretzels. 

Sushi Station

There are people out here in the world that this is perfect for. No judgment here. 

French Fry Station

I know i'm not the only person who would be ridiculously excited if I saw a station full of french fries. 

Build Your Own Burger Bar

Combine this one with the french fry station and you're in business. 

Pasta & Salad

A great way to give your guest a sit down experience while also saving your pockets. 

Lobster & Mashed Potatoes

Fancy is an understatement here. People would never want to go home. 

Breakfast Buffet

Personally, I believe that breakfast is good at all times of day. Some would argue and say that this should only be served at morning weddings. 

Elevate your details

I have my couples have ALL of their details with the bride on the wedding day. This gives me the opportunity to photograph them interchangeably & in the same light

1. Gather everything

It's so important to gather up everything before the morning, yes, including the grooms' details, into a box or bag. That way when I get there I will be all ready to get to work! I don't want anything left out and want to mix and match yours and your loves' items together.

2. think details

I always bring my styling kit full of ribbon, vintage stamps, ring boxes, etc. But none of these items have any sentimental value to you, so here is where you need to use your imagination.

3. Heirlooms

Heirloom details can seem very vague, but really think about what means a lot to you. Dig deep and find those little sentimental items. It can be great grandma's lace handkerchief, a garter made out of your mom's dress, the vintage hairbrush that has been in your family for generations, photographs from your grandparents' wedding. By surrounding yourself with these items it can add depth and meaning to an already amazing day.

4. make it personal

You may also add in your own styling items, you can purchase your own ring box, could be vintage or a new velvet monogrammed one, ticket stubs from your first date, vintage scissors, anything that would add dimension.

5. atmosphere

Light is one of the biggest parts of great photography. And, to be honest, grooms get ready in horrible light majority of the time. It's normally in a dark back room, that doesn't have big windows, a light an airy space like the bride does.. When looking at your images they should all be cohesive and look the same, you will notice a stark difference if your details are photographed in one space and his in a totally different atmosphere.

Want to shorten your guest list?

Sometimes your friends and family have a big influence on your guest list, and that can be great for some people and guest, but if your guest list is busting at the seems, than here are some questions you both should go over for each guest

1. How would you feel if you were not invited to their wedding?

2. Do you want to spend 15 whole minutes talking to them on your wedding day?

3. Do you know their last name? *without checking social media

4. Have to seem them in the last 6 months?

5. If they invited you to dinner next weekend, would you really want to go?

wedding songs

Who doesn't love good music? I know that I do. Sometimes it's difficult to know what songs to add to your wed- ding playlist. Sometimes the DJ, or live band, has you covered and often times they want to know what songs are you dying to hear. This somewhat hefty playlist should definitely help you out.

- all of me: john legend
- a thousand years: christina perri
- I wanna dance with somebody: whitney houston
- marry you: bruno mars
- my girl: the temptations
- don't stop believin': journey
- uptown funk: bruno mars
- make you feel my love: adele
- i'm yours: jason mraz
- i gotta feeling: the black eyed peas
- let's stay together: al green
- september: earth, wind & fire
- happy: pharrell williams
-  hey ya!: outkast
- sweet caroline: neil diamond
- crazy in love: beyonce
- thinking out loud: ed sheeran
- signed, sealed, delivered: stevie wonder
- ho hey: the lumineers
- dancing queen: abba
- I won't give up: jason mraz
- marry me: train
- all you need is love: the beatles
- aint no mountain high enough: marvin gaye
- cupid shuffle: cupid
- blurred lines: robin thicke
- can't stop this feeling: justin timberlake
- livin' on a prayer: bon jovi
- twist & shout: the beatles
- because you loved me: celine dion
- single ladies: beyonce
- cha cha slide: DJ casper
- the time of my life: bill medley
- endless love: diana ross
- how deep is your love: bee gees
- BEST PART: DANIEL CAESAR FT. H.E.R
- I COULD FALL IN LOVE: SELENA
- WONDERFUL WORLD: SAM COOKE
- SPEECHLESS: DAN + SHAY

- like a star: corinne bailey rae
- dont change: musiq soulchild
- as: marsha ambrosius & anthony hamilton
- say you won't let go: james arthur
- adorn:: miguel
- at last: etta james
- love you i do: jennifer hudson
- when a man loves a woman: percy sledge
- a moment like this: kelly clarkson
- the only exception: paramore
- perfect: ed sheeran ft. beyonce
- at your best: aaliyah
- like a natural woman: aretha franklin
- lucky: jason mraz ft. colbie caillat
- slow jam: usher ft. monica
- thinkin' bout you: frank ocean
- COVER ME UP: MORGAN WALLEN
- LOVIN' ON YOU: LUKE COMBS
- BIG, BIG PLANS: CHRIS LANE
- ANYTHING SHE SAYS: MITCHELL TENPENNY
- YOU DA ONE: RIHANNA
- DANCE FOR YOU: BEYONCE
- EGO: BEYONCE
- CHEERS (DRINK TO THAT): RIHANNA
- BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE: ED SHEERAN FT. KHALID
- SATURDAY NIGHTS: KHALID
- WATERMELON SUGAR: HARRY STYLES
- ADORE YOU: HARRY STYLES
- SUPERSTAR: LUTHER VANDROSS
- RODEO: LIL NAS X FT. CARDI B
- PLEASE ME: CARDI B FT. BRUNO MARS
- ATTENTION: CHARLI PUTH
- THAT'S WHAT I LIKE: BRUNO MARS
- SUCKER: JONAS BROTHERS

- until the end of time: justin timberlake ft.beyonce
- angel of mine: monica
- never too much: luther vandross
- dangeriously in love: beyonce
- just the way you are: bruno mars
- glamorous: fergie ft. ludacris
- shake it off: taylor shift
- raise your glass: pink
- your love: nicki minaj
- halo: beyonce
- good life: kanye west ft. t-pain
- forever: chris brown
- sugar: maroon 5
- my girl: the temptations
- here comes the sun: the beatles
- my best friend: tim mcgraw
- all my life: kc & jojo
- wobble: v.i.c
- watch me: silento
- billie jean: micheal jackson
- firework: katy perry
- someone you loved: lewis capaldi
- everything i wanted: billie eilish
- if the world was ending: jp saxe ft. julia
- cuz i love you: lizzo
- baby, you make me crazy: sam smith
- juice: lizzo
- just us: dj khaled ft. sza
- mood 4 eva: beyonce
- feels: kehlani
- love language: kehlani
- focus: h.e.r
- suge: dababy
- bop: dababy
- 10,000 hours: dan + shay ft. justin beiber
- sweetener: ariana grande
- 7 rings: ariana grande
- good time: niko moon

- ALL OF ME: JOHN LEGEND
- A THOUSAND YEARS: CHRISTINA PERRI
- I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY: WHITNEY HOUSTON
- MARRY YOU: BRUNO MARS
- MY GIRL: THE TEMPTATIONS
- DON'T STOP BELIEVIN': JOURNEY
- UPTOWN FUNK: BRUNO MARS
- MAKE YOU FEEL MY LOVE: ADELE
- I'M YOURS: JASON MRAZ
- I GOTTA FEELING: THE BLACK EYED PEAS
- LET'S STAY TOGETHER: AL GREEN
- SEPTEMBER: EARTH, WIND & FIRE
- HAPPY: PHARRELL WILLIAMS
- HEY YA!: OUTKAST
- SWEET CAROLINE: NEIL DIAMOND
- CRAZY IN LOVE: BEYONCE
- THINKING OUT LOUD: ED SHEERAN
- SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED: STEVIE WONDER
- HO HEY: THE LUMINEERS
- DANCING QUEEN: ABBA
- I WON'T GIVE UP: JASON MRAZ
- MARRY ME: TRAIN
- ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE: THE BEATLES
- AINT NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH: MARVIN GAYE
- CUPID SHUFFLE: CUPID
- BLURRED LINES: ROBIN THICKE
- CAN'T STOP THIS FEELING: JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
- LIVIN' ON A PRAYER: BON JOVI
- TWIST & SHOUT: THE BEATLES
- BECAUSE YOU LOVED ME: CELINE DION
- SINGLE LADIES: BEYONCE
- CHA CHA SLIDE: DJ CASPER
- THE TIME OF MY LIFE: BILL MEDLEY
- ENDLESS LOVE: DIANA ROSS
- HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE: BEE GEES
- BEST PART: DANIEL CAESAR FT. H.E.R
- I COULD FALL IN LOVE: SELENA
- WONDERFUL WORLD: SAM COOKE
- SPEECHLESS: DAN + SHAY
- UNTIL THE END OF TIME: JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE FT.BEYONCE
- ANGEL OF MINE: MONICA
- NEVER TOO MUCH: LUTHER VANDROSS
- DANGERIOUSLY IN LOVE: BEYONCE
- JUST THE WAY YOU ARE: BRUNO MARS
- GLAMOROUS: FERGIE FT. LUDACRIS
- SHAKE IT OFF: TAYLOR SHIFT
- RAISE YOUR GLASS: PINK
- YOUR LOVE: NICKI MINAJ
- HALO: BEYONCE
- GOOD LIFE: KANYE WEST FT. T-PAIN
- FOREVER: CHRIS BROWN
- SUGAR: MAROON 5
- MY GIRL: THE TEMPTATIONS
- HERE COMES THE SUN: THE BEATLES
- MY BEST FRIEND: TIM MCGRAW
- ALL MY LIFE: KC & JOJO
- WOBBLE: V.I.C
- WATCH ME: SILENTO
- BILLIE JEAN: MICHEAL JACKSON
- FIREWORK: KATY PERRY
- SOMEONE YOU LOVED: LEWIS CAPALDI
- EVERYTHING I WANTED: BILLIE EILISH
- IF THE WORLD WAS ENDING: JP SAXE FT. JULIA
- CUZ I LOVE YOU: LIZZO
- BABY, YOU MAKE ME CRAZY: SAM SMITH
- JUICE: LIZZO
- JUST US: DJ KHALED FT. SZA
- MOOD 4 EVA: BEYONCE
- FEELS: KEHLANI
- LOVE LANGUAGE: KEHLANI
- FOCUS: H.E.R
- SUGE: DABABY
- BOP: DABABY
- 10,000 HOURS: DAN + SHAY FT. JUSTIN BEIBER
- SWEETENER: ARIANA GRANDE
- 7 RINGS: ARIANA GRANDE
- GOOD TIME: NIKO MOON
- LIKE A STAR: CORINNE BAILEY RAE
- DONT CHANGE: MUSIQ SOULCHILD
- AS: MARSHA AMBROSIUS & ANTHONY HAMILTON
- SAY YOU WON'T LET GO: JAMES ARTHUR
- ADORN:: MIGUEL
- AT LAST: ETTA JAMES
- LOVE YOU I DO: JENNIFER HUDSON
- WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN: PERCY SLEDGE
- A MOMENT LIKE THIS: KELLY CLARKSON
- THE ONLY EXCEPTION: PARAMORE
- PERFECT: ED SHEERAN FT. BEYONCE
- AT YOUR BEST: AALIYAH
- LIKE A NATURAL WOMAN: ARETHA FRANKLIN
- LUCKY: JASON MRAZ FT. COLBIE CAILLAT
- SLOW JAM: USHER FT. MONICA
- THINKIN' BOUT YOU: FRANK OCEAN
- COVER ME UP: MORGAN WALLEN
- LOVIN' ON YOU: LUKE COMBS
- BIG, BIG PLANS: CHRIS LANE
- ANYTHING SHE SAYS: MITCHELL TENPENNY
- YOU DA ONE: RIHANNA
- DANCE FOR YOU: BEYONCE
- EGO: BEYONCE
- CHEERS (DRINK TO THAT): RIHANNA
- BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE: ED SHEERAN FT. KHALID
- SATURDAY NIGHTS: KHALID
- WATERMELON SUGAR: HARRY STYLES
- ADORE YOU: HARRY STYLES
- SUPERSTAR: LUTHER VANDROSS
- RODEO: LIL NAS X FT. CARDI B
- PLEASE ME: CARDI B FT. BRUNO MARS
- ATTENTION: CHARLI PUTH
- THAT'S WHAT I LIKE: BRUNO MARS
- SUCKER: JONAS BROTHERS

the father-daughter dance

Ok, if you want to see someone turn into a puddle of tears, then let's just keep talking about the father-daughter dance. There are few things on earth that almost every single girl dreams of, but for most, this is one. Don't quote me on that as i have absolutely no research to back it up. 

seriously though, this moment is truly  one of the most touching moments of the entire wedding, and i get the struggle you're facing. there are alot of songs out there, and you want to make sure you pick the perfect one to dance with your father to. 

well, let me help you out just bit. here are some of the top father daughter dance songs.


- my little girl: tim mcgraw
- dance with my father: luther vandross
- unforgettable: natalie cole & nat king cole
- my girl: the temptations
- count on me: bruno mars
- daddy: beyonce
- daughters: john mayer
- hero: mariah carey
- my wish: rascal flatts
- your song: elton john
- sunshine of my life: stevie wonder
- to make you feel my love: bob dylan
- lullaby: billy joel
- you'll be in my heart: phil collins
- love me now: john legend
- ready set go: billy ray cyrus
- i lived: one republic
- one call away: charlie puth
- don't blink: kenny chesney
- roots and wings: miranda lambert
- god gave me you: blake shelton
- isn't she lovely: stevie wonder

top registry items

WEDDING REGISTRY DOs

WEDDING REGISTRY DON'Ts

A few tips before we hop in:

- Set up your wedding registry as soon as possible
- include your website link on all wedding stationary
- give a range of options and price points
- send hand written thank you notes

When it comes to the wedding gift registry, there may be a ton of things you "need" and a few things you actually need. That's not for me to decide at all. But, I know that alot of people struggle with figuring out where to start and what to put on their wedding registry so here are some ideas of the most popular items.

- take your wedding registry down right after the wedding. wait a few months for everyone who hasn't had the chance to purchase something yet. 
- use your invitation to advertise where you're registered at. Send them to your website and let the website take care of the rest!
- ask for money straight out. instead say something like: * help us take our dream honeymoon or * help us get the downpayment on our forever home. people are more likely to fork over cash if they know exactly what it will be used for. just keep that in mind when asking. 

- mixer
- pots & pans
- measuring cups
- cookie sheets
- gift cards
- cooling racks
- spatula
- tongs
- serving utensils
- ice cream scoop
- plates
- knife set
- bedding
- towels
- wash cloths
- vacuum
- throw blanket
- cake stand
- soap dispenser
- shower curtains
- rugs

- glassware
- Luggage set
- blender
- sheet sets
- wine | bottle rack
- throw blanket
- bathrobes
- bar tool set
- picnic pack
- crock-pot
- waffle maker
- pillows
- luggage tags
- electric wine opener
- steamer 
- bluetooth speaker 
- camera
- clean robot
- tv
- planters
- bathtub caddy

choosing table names:

Really quick I want to give you a few ideas for your table names at your reception so your guests can find their seats and you can add a ton of personality to the special day.

1. Standard Table Names

2. Cities you've traveled to

3. Favorite TV Shows

4. Favorite Movies

5. Favorite Literary Figures

6. Superheroes

7. Words for "Love" in other languages

8. Colors

9. Favorite Bands

10. Famous Couples

11. Animals

12. Significant years in your lives

sendoff ideas

There was a time not long ago when people chucked rice at the couple.  I mean, that was absolutely adorable, perfect for sunday dinner, joking here, but now people are getting really creative with how they are sending the couple off. Here are some ideas... that are not rice.


1. Flowers and Petals
2. artificial Snow
3. Leaves
4. Birdseed
5. Ribbon Wands
6. Bubbles
7. Confetti  (indoors)
8. seeds
9. Aromatics
10. Feathers
11. Sparklers
12. Cap Guns
13. Glitter (eco-friendly)
14. rice
15. Pom Poms
16. balloons
17. Paper Airplanes
18. Glow Sticks
19. Eco-fetti
20. Ribbon & Bell Wands
21. Heart Shaped Confetti
22. Rainbow Sprinkles
23. Spirited Cheer Poms
24. Mini Beach Balls
25. Sky Lanterns
26. White Streamers
27. Cheery Flags
28. Napkins
29. Bells
30.  Second-line parade
31. Kazoos
32. Marshmallows
33. Silly String
34. Pinwheels
35. Herb Toss (Mint, Basil, etc)
36. Light Saber
37. Harry Potter Wands
38. Colorful Smoke Bombs
39. Maracas

thank you, friend!

I know I just gave you a lot to think about. I created this guide to help make your wedding planning experience something you’ll look back fondly on for years and years to come. At the end of the day, though, the location you choose and the outfits you select won’t matter nearly as much as the memories you make together. Your future memories are the most important thing to me, and I want your wedding to be a time for you to just be yourselves and enjoy it. Have fun together. Laugh a lot. And I’ll take care of the rest!

xoxo,
Sierra