As a wedding photographer, I've found that there are three areas on your big day that can fall into a black hole. I know it sounds a bit dramatic, but these areas are often overlooked. Time is always a finite resource, so here are some helpful tips to help you overcome these wedding day black holes and help make your day flow more smoothly.
Tip 1. Hair and Makeup
Everything on your wedding day flows from hair and makeup. Why? Because your wedding portraits can't begin until you are finished with hair and makeup. In my years of experience, this is the one place where not enough time is accounted for on your wedding day. I wish there was a secret formula, but my best advice is to add more time to the schedule so that you are finished with hair and makeup when your photographer arrives.
So here are my suggested time allotments for bridesmaids, the mother-of-the-bride and you, the bride.
Makeup: 20-30 minutes per bridesmaid and the mother-of-the-bride and 45-60 minutes for the bride
Hair: 30-45 minutes per bridesmaid and the mother-of-the-bride and 60-90 minutes for the bride
I know it seems like a lot of time, but you'd be surprised how fast the time flies. I always say, pad in more time whenever possible to ensure you have enough time to get ready for your special day.
Tip 2. The Bridal Party
The bridal party are some of your closest friends and family. They know how important this day is to you, and yet there is always a late bridesmaid or groomsmen. They got stuck in traffic, they forgot their socks and the list goes on. There is not much you can do about mishaps and other unexplainable delays, but here are some tips for the bridal party.
Groomsmen
Have your groomsmen get dressed first, and have them put on everything except their jacket. Suspenders, bowties, ties, cuff links, adjustable waists on trousers, all become obstacles on the wedding day. So have your groomsmen start earlier than they think they should to avoid delays when it's time to start taking photos.
Another stumbling block are boutonnieres. Make sure they are delivered on time and have a person designated to help pin them on the groomsmen. My second photographer and I are experts in pinning on flowers, but having help in this department is always nice to help move things along.
Bridesmaids
Have your bridesmaids get their hair and makeup completed first. Even if you have a team of hair and makeup artists, have them start earlier than you. You want to be ready just before you need to get into your dress. So let them get a head start and allow yourself to relax and enjoy your day before getting ready.
It's important for bouquets to arrive on time and to designate someone to dry them off, especially for the bride. Fresh flowers are beautiful, but they arrive in water and they need to be dried off before holding them.
Tip 3: Family Formals
To make family formals run smoothly, give your photographer a list of all the immediate family members. I have a section of my timeline questionnaire that allows couples to fill in all of their immediate family so we can check them off as we go. Here are some other tips to make the family formals run smoothly.
Skip the receiving line
This tradition has almost gone by the wayside, but there are still times when couples or their parents think this is a good idea. It's up to you, but a receiving line is the definition of a black hole and can significantly delay your family formals.
Put it in your program
Put in your program, towards the end, that you need all immediate family to stick around for family formals. They should know this, but there are always a few that are hurrying off to the cocktail hour or stripping out of their tie and jacket and have to put it all back on for family formals.
Put someone in charge
Having someone in charge to call out family names is a great way to help move things along, especially if your family is large. The wedding photographer doesn't know everyone at the wedding by name, so having a cousin, aunt or family friend who knows the players can really help things run smoothly.
Tell them at the wedding rehearsal
Often, most, if not all, your immediate family will attend the rehearsal dinner. So, why not remind them when family formals are happening on the wedding day.
Right after the ceremony can be a hectic time. It's understandable. Everyone wants to hug you, say congratulations and tell you they love you. So using these tips can help alleviate a black hole that happens around family formals.
I hope you find these tips helpful. Remember, your wedding is a live event and things may go awry no matter how much you try to plan out every minute. The most important tip I have for you on your wedding is enjoy yourself. The day goes by so fast. You start planning a year ahead of the day, and when the day finally comes it goes by in flash. So smile, laugh and squeeze the one you are a marrying a lot, because at the end of the day, your love for each other is the most important part of your wedding.
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