Useful Tips Before Your Wedding Day

What You Need to Bring in Your Trunk

• An umbrella in case of rain (Transparent is best).
• Some ballerinas or other comfortable shoes for women (at least during the photo session). I need you to be able to move easily and don’t have pain when you walk.
• Instant Stain Remover pencil, such as Tide To Go (for the dress)
• Kleenex: if you cry, if your head is sweating. It’s always useful.
• For the groom: a second (or third) shirt: you will probably be completely wet.
• Props: if you want props for a special picture (ex, thank you panel, sunglasses, balloons)
• A Lint Roller: Especially if you have a fur coat or a pet.
• Double-side tape: depending on your dress.
• A Sewing kit for the dress and the suit, just in case.
• Make-up foundation to fix the disaster after you cry.

Choose the right place for Preparation.

A big room with light, and set yourself close to the windows to have natural light for the make-up. Make-up is always done with natural light. And natural light is better for pictures.

Clean the room before your wedding photographer arrives.

Take off all the plastic bags, the plastic bottle and all what could catch the attention of the picture.

Have Everything Ready

Have your shoes, jewels, rings, dress, veil, perfume bottle, flowers, petals, ribbon, suit, watch, etc.
Have everything unpacked and ready to be photographed, so I can take pictures.

Stationery

If you want a picture of your rings/band/jewels/watch with your stationery, make sure to bring one invitation and save the date, envelope, and wax stamp for the pictures.

Refuel Your Strength Before the Wedding

• You could be the most beautiful girl in the world, with the best make-up artist. If you don’t sleep enough, you will look tired. So sleep the night before! 😀
• Eat: take some energy. (Preferably before you put the glossy red on your lips).

Champagne / Whisky

Champagne always helps people relax during the preparation. If you bring champagne, we can take funny pictures when you open the bottle.

Make sure you have nice glasses (and not cheap plastic cups).

Exchange letter and Make a Surprise to Your Beloved One

The letter exchange or gift exchange usually takes place during the preparation, but it could be whenever you want. It could be a simple letter or a more sophisticated gift. Make sure your photographer is around to immortalize the moment.

Do you know how to bustle your dress?

Some wedding dresses with a long train can be especially tricky to bustle, and you can easily waist 20 min.

You might do it yourself or need help from family members/friends.

In both cases, ensure you know how to do it before the D-Day.

Beware of translucid material.

Some dresses made with delicate material can be a bit transparent, which can cause people to notice dark underwear.

Bring a nice wood Hanger

For the bride’s dress, the bride’s maid’s dress, and for the groom. A nice wood hanger is always nicer than a cheap plastic one.

Crochet Hook

If your dress has plenty of tiny buttons, a crochet hook can be useful.

Reveal the Dress

We can plan a reveal-the-dress moment (when the dress is still on the hanger or once you are wearing it) and take pictures of the dresses together.

Bouquet

Does anyone bring the bouquet? It could be a « special » moment to take in the picture.

Men’s Preparation

If you have the time, it could be a good opportunity to do something fun with your best men (ex, a barber shop).

Do you have Glasses? Avoid blue light-blocking glasses.

Unlike regular glasses, they present a vivid color (blue) you don’t want to see in all your images.
If you have the option, contacts are best.

Watches

Avoid the Apple watch (or other similar big modern watch), and favor beautiful, timeless classical watches.

Shirt

There are three kinds of shirts.

• Some are made for cufflinks (without buttons at the sleeves)
• Some are made with buttons where you can’t add cufflinks. Those are the most common.
• The rental ones usually have both options.

I recommend bringing an extra white shirt if you get wet or dirty.

Underneath T-shirt

If you are planning to wear an underneath T-shirt:

• Bring a new one.
• The V-neck works great.
• Make sure that we can’t see the T-shirt collar once the shirt is buttoned up.
• Same as the shirt, bring extra in case you sweat a lot.t

Tie

• If you want a special knot for your tie, I strongly recommend that you practice before the wedding day. You don’t want to waste 10 min on a YouTube tutorial, especially if your venue doesn’t have wifi.
• You don’t need a tie clipper if you are wearing a vest.

Bow Tie

There are two kinds of bow ties: the clip-on ones and the traditional ones made of one piece of fabric.

If you get a clip-on one, wear it an afternoon a few days before the wedding to make sure the system works and that the bow tie does not fall on the ground every 10 min.

If you have one piece of fabric, practice before the D-Day!

Pockets stitched: which one should be open?

You will have to cut the stitches on :

• The back of your suit jacket (vents or flaps) so the suit can move freely.
• The front left pocket of your suit if, and only if, you use a pocket square.

The stitches on the back pant pockets should NOT be open.

Pocket square

Those can be surprisingly tricking: they can fall in the pocket, or they can take a weird shape.

There are tons of options to fold your Pock Square (flat, triangular, flowers, etc).
Go to YouTube, pick a tutorial, and practice before!

Tip: Sometimes, I have seen guys using a piece of cardboard to have the pocket square stay in place in good shape.

Suit’s Button

Do you have tailor-made suits with two or three buttons? If so, you leave open the last button.
The last button on the jacket sleeve (surgeon cuff) must be open.
The last button of the vest must remain open.

Some back pocket pants and front pocket have pockets that are sewn. It’s made on purpose, so the suit/pants look nice on you. Don’t open and don’t use those pockets.

Keep your Pockets empty.

Clear your pocket from wallets, car keys, and phones. They would create an ugly pump in your pants. Keep all your pockets empty.

Men’s Boutonniere

• Be careful with the size of the boutonniere. If it’s too big, it won’t be nice, and it will probably fall. For example, a rose you found in a bouquet is too big.
• The boutonniere has to be pinned on the LEFT side of the jacket.
• If you use a pin, we should not see it!
• Ask your florist for an extra pair of pins, given they can be bent during the process.
• The best system is a magnetic system.
• You can have someone special (your mom, grandma, mother-in-law) pinning it.

First Look, Parents

It’s an option some brides and grooms like to consider.

Ex: Your father comes to pick you up to drive you to your fiance. Your father may bring the bouquet or offer you a gift at this moment.

Bride and Groom First Look

If you want to take a first look before the ceremony, I recommend you choose a nice place with no guests/family. A moment just both of you will be stronger, and better for the pictures.

You can shoe between the traditional first look (the bride coming from behind the groom), or the “modern” one (the couple standing at the corner of a wall, starting by touching fingers, expecting a few words before seeing each other).

What Are The Best Places for Bride and Groom Photos?

Wide open space. Not too many people and no guests! I need you to feel at ease and not be distracted by your guests.
If we have enough time, we can go to several locations!

Be Sure That The Location For Your Photo Session Is Still “Available.

You want to go to a park or special place to do your photo session. Be sure that nothing will take place here on this day (ex, no festival).

How to pose? What to do?

• Natural: You are not a model, so let’s be natural.
• Fun: Try to have fun. It’s only when you really have fun that pictures are good. Improvise!
• Complicity: The key word for loving pictures is complicity. You don’t have to look each other in the eyes all the time, but we need to feel something between you!
• It’s the woman who comes to the men. Men should not bend. Girls, when kissing, push on your feet to go kiss your guy!
• Use your entire body: when you kiss, all your body should be engaged. So do it for real, with passion: not loose hand.

How to pose? What NOT to do?

• Avoid looking directly at the camera all the time.
• Guy: when you kiss, don’t go down to her, even if she is small! You don’t want to look like a grandfather.
• Don’t look down all the time when you walk.
• Try not to hold your dress all the time.
• Groom: I want your pockets empty! (phones prohibited)

Girls should pretend to walk in a line

The best way to walk is to put one foot in front of the other as if walking in a line.
Walking legs wide open looks like a guy walking.

Photo With a Car

Will you have a special car? If yes, let’s think of a nice place to take a picture. It could be in front a nice building/lake, or the long of a road. But not in the parking!

Special Picture?

I am totally open-minded. If you have seen a picture/idea you want to reproduce, I don’t see any problem trying to reproduce it if it’s possible, of course.

Bridal Party

We usually do those pictures before the ceremony.

For couples who prefer to discover each other at the church, the process should take between 15 and 30 minutes, depending on how « stage » you want your pictures.

Chairs & Stools

Three or four nice chairs could be useful for staging nice group pictures. You can also use other unexpected things (e.g., barrels or boxes).

Family Groups

Make a list of all the groups you want to be photographed. Print the list and give it to someone in charge of calling people.

We can finish all the group pictures after the ceremony if needed.

It would be nice to have big group pictures for everyone.
Your photographer will need a place fully in the shadows (or fully in the sun), and will need to climb on something.

Officiant’s dress code

Make sure your officiant is dressed in a neutral color (black, grey). Gently tell them to avoid vivid colors such as red (except if you want the attention to be focused on them an not on you).

Guests and pictures

I have no problem with guests taking pictures as far as they stand in front of my camera.
So if you can tell your guest not to be in front of me. Especially during the entrance!

Important points

• Your entrance’s order.
• Everyone walks slowly and lets at least a 15-foot distance for each couple.
• Wearing a pant? Empty your pockets!
• Do you plan to walk in with both of your parents? If yes, have each of them holding you by the arm. Avoid having one walking just behind you, or he/she won’t have any pictures.
• Rings: who gives the rings? Best Men? For Kids under three years old, ask an older one to help.
• Do you put the rings on a special « pillow »? If yes, I may want to take pictures before the ceremony.
• When you exchange the ring, make sure your fingers don’t hide the ring, and make sure I can see your hand and the ring. Turn your hand to me if needed.
• Tell the officiant I will be there!
• Do you want to take a picture with or sign the certificate?

Flower Girls – Ring Bearer

Do you have kids throwing flowers? If yes, train them before.

Make sure the tallest one is behind the smaller ones

The Bride’s Veil

Tell me who will take you off your veil and when, so I will be ready. And take it off, SLOWLY.

Symbolic Ceremony

Sand, treasure box/time capsule, whisky mix, plant potting, rubans.
Stand behind the table facing your guests!

Outdoor Ceremony

How to set up your guest.

For guests:
The best for the guest is to have the sun on their back or in their face (even if you may squint). But avoid having the sun coming from the side.

For you:
Sun in the face or in your back.
Most of all, you must both have the same light on you! Avoid having one part to the guest sitting in the sun and the other one in the shadow.

Kiss, Kiss, and Have the officiant out.

Once you are introduced as husband and wife, don’t forget to kiss again and again for 10 long seconds.
Also, before the ceremony, gently ask the officiant to move away from the “hotel” when you are kissing (at least 10 feet left or right).

Do you plan a special exit?

It’s time to be creative.

• You can do a dip kiss in the middle of the aisle.
• Or you can do piggyback,
• You can high five your guests,
• You can put your arms in the air

Confetti? Bubbles?

Do you plan anything special? Petals? Rice? Bubbles? Confetti? Ask your best men to provide everything to your guests.

Sunset Photos

Depending on the month and the sunset time, I may ask you 10/20 min to take pictures before the sunset.

I am also here for your guests.

Your parents, or your maid of honor and her husband, might want a picture together. I am here for them as well.
Tell your guest to come toward me and ask for their picture!

Grand Entrance

Do you plan something special for your arrival? It could be a good opportunity for pictures.
You can tell your bridal party now, so they have time to find a good idea.

IMPORTANT:
Make sure there is nothing (not a table) in front of the door you plan to do your entrance.

Avoid seating in Front of a window.

If you sit just in front of a window, you may risk having some flash reflection on the glass. Here, I would recommend covering the glass with a delicate fabric.

What to avoid on your table

Avoid Tall Flowers or High Decorations just in front of you! Otherwise, they may hide you in some pictures. If I need to use a flash, you may have some ugly shadows on your face.
Regarding the bottles, make sure they don’t hide your face and body from me. Make sure not to have any plastic bottles or cans.

Toast

Who is doing this?

Where will stand the people who do toast?

Lightning of the venue

If the DJ offers you an option to add lights, I strongly recommend you take it.
Lasers: most DJs use lasers (green or red) on the dance floor…well they will probably be on the pictures, too, if you choose this option.
If you have any color theme for the light, let me know.

Smoke machine

If the venue allows it, I suggest the DJ to use a smoke machine. It diffuses the light and really changes the aspect of the pictures.

Cigar Time

If you plan that, let me know! We can set up something with flashes.

First Dance

• The slow: the easiest dance ever created for the groom who doesn’t like to dance (and sometimes also for the bride).

• Who should you face? If you plan to make some specific move, you want a picture of. Make sure to be facing me to do that.

• Turn off the light. If you are holding a “simple event” without a DJ, remember to turn off the major lighting or at least dim it.

Surprise

Do you plan any surprises for your guests, such as fireworks? Cake? Other? Let me know.

Grand Exit, Sparkler, and Lanterns

Let me know if you plan any of this.
If you plan to use sparklers, I recommend buying the longest ones, 36 inches.
If you plan sparklers or lanterns, buy a bunch of torchlighters.

Creative Night Pictures: ex with stars?

Do you want some?
You will have to stay still, so wait before being “too drunk.” :D.

Your photographer needs to eat something

Like everyone on the big day, I need fuel.
So I ask for lunch if the coverage starts in the morning (ex, a sandwich).
And I ask for dinner. The best would be to be served among the first ones so I can quickly eat, be ready for anything during dinner, and have more time to set up the light for the first dance.
I eat everything.

Photo booth?

1/ Let me know if you know where I should install the photo booth.
Here are the common recommendations:

Tell me as well when would be the best moment to install it.

2/Any image you want me to use?

3/ What names do you want me to use (ex, Nick for Nicholas, etc)?

4/ Password for the gallery: Your name(s)?

Guest Book

1/Make sure to have a pen for it. I recommend an acid-free Sharpie photo pen, so it do market on the other side of the pages in the future.

2/ Where should I put it? On the gift table?

Parking

Most of the time, parking is not a problem in Minnesota, but in the big cities, it could become one. Let me know if there is any special instruction to park. (Well, do be honest, until now, I have never struggled to park in the USA, but so many times in Paris that I prefer to ask!)

To Shot List for big weddings

I usually always understand who is who and try to focus a bit more on the bridal party and the family members. But at weddings with 300 guests, I might miss someone important, especially if it’s a shy person.

If you want to be sure I don’t forget anyone important, provide me with a list of the most important VIPs.

Limit the list to a small number ( ex 10-20). If you put your 300 guests, it will not make sense.

Pieces of information

Did you provide me with all the information I need? Address? Schedule? Phone numbers?

Enjoy the Day despite Unexpected Events

There is always some unexpected event. You have probably dreamed of this day for many years, and you clearly know what it should look like. Be aware that you may face some minor unexpected events.

Don’t forget that you are here to enjoy, so don’t be in control; take it easy, relax, and have fun!