It’s been almost five years since Danny and I celebrated our wedding. Almost five years since the butterflies and the beautiful flowers, the couldn’t-have-been-better weather and my too-tight corset.

Heading into our wedding, I knew that not everything would turn out perfect (although I definitely didn’t anticipate getting locked out of the house and ending up late to my own ceremony as a result!), but I had pretty reasonable expectations. I wanted to savor the start of this marriage journey. I wanted to be able to be present with my family and friends, and especially with my bridesmaids and Danny, since I knew I would be spending most of the day with them. I wanted to create memories that were as beautiful as any bit of the decor.

It’s a good idea for couples to go into their weddings with those kinds of goals. We always ask our couples what they most want to remember about their wedding day, and almost all of them respond that they want to remember how much fun they had with their friends and family, no matter whether something goes wrong. With that kind of attitude, it’s hard to fail.
So what should a couple do to set can’t-fail expectations about their wedding photography?

First, find a photographer whose style and vision aligns with yours. I’ve covered this topic before, but it bears repeating: You need to hire a photographer you love, because the way he or she captures your wedding day will be the way you remember it for the rest of your life.

Second, listen to your photographer’s advice. Your photographer will know how much time you need to allot to capture the portraits you want, and the time of day and locations required to produce photographs similar to the ones you fell in love with in his/her portfolio. Share your ideas ahead of time so the photographer will be prepared to create any specific images you would like.

Third,  remember that your wedding day is yours. It is unique. It is a compilation of your creative ideas and your personality and the presences of your friends and family and the vision of the vendors you put together to build your wedding team. The overall look and feel of your venue, the quality and quantity of lighting and decor, and the weather on your wedding day will all affect the look of your wedding photographs. Remember that your wedding photographs will reflect your day — not someone else’s. Don’t get caught up in trying to recreate Pinterest pictures or staging elaborate scenes or driving far out of your way to shoot portraits at a location that doesn’t have any pertinence to your wedding day. Embrace your wedding’s uniqueness; embrace capturing your wedding as it really is.

Go into your wedding day excited — and prepared. Then create memories — and photographs — you’ll treasure.

~ Laura