It is easy to plan a wedding right? WRONG! Most brides are doing this for the first time, and it can be very overwhelming. There are so many details- the dress, the silverware, the location, all the vendors vendors vendors! Add in that your wedding is a destination for both you and your guests- WHOA!
Here are some tips to help your day go seamlessly and to allow you to have the best time…and for you to max out your photographers time as well. After all, the photos are going to be the only thing that you can tangibly have after the memories fade, well that and your partner!
TIP 1: Hire a Professional Photographer- a Local One
Ok, so you probably guessed that would be my first tip, but really it is true. It can make a world of difference, and at the end of the day your photography is all you have after the wedding. It may mean cutting corners on other expenses, we all know professional photography is not cheap, but I have never had a client say to me, “I really wish I had saved some money and had sub-par photos but fancier chairs”.
A professional photographer should create a solid timeline for you and your vendors to follow. If they are local to your destination wedding then they should know the best spots for photos and the best time of day to shoot those photos. They should offer high-end service and high-end products, hopefully an album as well as a second shooter and digital images. All my Collections offer beautiful albums to ensure my clients have something to flip through year after year that will not fade or come apart.
TIP 2: Timeline for all your Vendors- and Stick to It!
If you are working with a professional planner or even just a professional photographer they should both give you a timeline to help organize the day. The last thing you want is your guest waiting around for you without snacks and drinks while you are off taking forever with family photos…or for the DJ to start the first dance and the photographer to be off eating dinner. I have been to too many weddings where guests are sitting at their tables without food or drinks listening to endless speeches. A good wedding planner or photographer will suggest that toasts begin after all meals have been served but while people are still seated and have something to do, like finish their meal. If you have not hired a planner or photographer there are plenty of timeline worksheets online for your to download and create on your own, and then share with all your vendors so the DJ is on the same page as the caters.
TIP 3: Invest in Lighting
Investing in lighting with a professional lighting company (not your DJ!) is always worth it. Lighting has an incredible impact, not just on how a room looks, but also how the people in it will feel. A skilled lighting designer knows how to manage the light in the room to create the right ambience at the right time – from romantic and intimate to fun and energetic.
TIP 4: Prepare for All Weather
If you are planning an outdoor wedding be prepared, especially if it is a wedding in the mountains. Have some umbrellas on hand and always error on the cooler side with heaters around the bar and in the tent for those cooler nights. If you are on the beach, umbrellas for the Sunday and hand-fans are great options to keep your guests cool. And perhaps a back-up plan for an indoor location? Not always a bad idea…
TIP 5: Don’t Be Shy with your Vendors
Your wedding vendors should be your go-to, most-trusted experts during the planning process. When working with them, you should feel free to really explore what it is you want—maybe it’s serving a late-night snack instead of a first course or doing a bridal portrait session rather than an engagement session. The bottom line is that you should feel like you can have an honest conversation with them about what it is you want. Their job will be to tell you what you can and can’t make work given your wedding budget.
Crested Butte Wedding Photography by Third Eye Photography.
We at third Eye Photography treat each wedding with care and creativity unsurpassed by other Crested Butte wedding photography studios. Your wedding day is carefully crafted to offer one of a kind unique photography.
Third Eye Photography is an award-winning photography studio based in the Gunnison area although we do travel all over the world to photograph weddings.
Creative. Stylish. Luxury. These are the words typically used to describe Third Eye and our staff of photographers.
We take pride in creating wedding photos for our clients that are works of art and unique to each individual couple.
Third Eye Photography offers Crested Butte wedding photography coverage in the Crested Butte area, including but not limited to, Crested Butte, Mt. Crested Butte, Gunnison, Paonia, Buena Vista, Denver and the surrounding areas.
Not looking for a Crested Butte wedding photographer? Please be sure to consider us for your family and children photography needs in the Crested Butte area.
We are located conveniently in Crested Butte. Please call or email us for more information. Rebecca@3rdeyephoto.net