Black and white photo of a bride and groom walking down the aisle after their wedding ceremony.

tips + tricks FOR WEDDING PLANNING

A joyful wedding couple shares a tender moment with their bridal party celebrating behind them in a film strip style photo.

Bride in white lace robe holding wedding dress in front of ornate mirror during bridal preparation.

A vintage black and white photograph shows a woman in a striped dress and hat sitting on a stone wall.

been there, done that.

I've been in your shoes before and completely understand how daunting it can feel to plan an entire wedding.

Before you open Pandora's box, remember this: Your marriage is more important than your wedding day. It is so easy to get caught up in the planning, trying to keep up with the wedding trends, finding the perfect vendors, trying to control and cultivate every single detail about the day.

Put more energy into creating the marriage of your dreams than the wedding of your dreams. Your day will go by in the blink of an eye, but your marriage lasts forever. Prepare in your relationship, have the hard conversations, and posture your heart towards serving and caring for your spouse for a lifetime.

Be present in your day, focus on the moments and the memories, not the epic Instagram-worthy photos.

Close-up of smooth white textured paper surface with subtle grain, ideal for backgrounds or stationery design.

A romantic wedding photo collage featuring couples sharing intimate moments outdoors in golden hour light.

first looks AND SUNSETS

tips and tricks FOR WEDDING PLANNING

Before setting your ceremony time, consider sunset time and whether or not you’ll be doing a first look. If you’re not doing a first look, your ceremony time should be at least 2 hours before sunset. You need enough time after the ceremony to do family portraits, full bridal party photos, and bride + groom portraits.

If you are doing a first look, you have the option to complete most photos before your ceremony.

In the summer months when sunset is later, I often like to bring couples back out after the reception entrance for quick sunset photos while guests eat.

Bride in lace gown sits before ornate mirror in bright room, while a cozy kitchen with red cabinets is shown above.

getting ready PHOTOS

Want to know the secret to those perfect getting ready photos on your wedding day?

The room!

Here’s what makes a space optimal for photos:

Natural light, baby. Give me allllll the windows! This allows the space to be bright enough to get those dreamy photos without compromising their quality.

Bright walls are essential. If you are surrounded by wood paneling with orangey tones, that orange will reflect on your face creating muddy skin tones. Bright walls keep tones clean and true to color.

Elbow room is key! You do not want to be tripping over each other’s feet for hours. Pick a space that’s roomy and allows you all to get ready without major collisions.

BONUS: You can always rent a cute air bnb if your space doesn’t quite hit the mark!

Couple sharing a romantic almost-kiss embrace on a charming small town street at golden hour sunset.

Two people lying on a rooftop parking deck with legs up against a wall, city skyline and church visible at sunset.

Couple sharing a romantic moment in a sunlit meadow, man in straw hat and woman in floral top sitting in green grass.

A couple stands hand in hand before a rustic weathered barn with a silo, surrounded by lush green vines.

Couple standing in a lake during golden hour, embracing and smiling, surrounded by autumn trees and rocky cliffs.

Couple sitting together in tall green grass field, sharing a tender moment during an outdoor engagement photo session.

Couple sitting on steps of historic building with ornate architecture, sharing a romantic moment outdoors.

Couple holding hands walking through a lush green field on a cloudy day in a romantic outdoor setting.

Couple sharing a romantic moment on a bench outside a historic red brick building with white trim and autumn flowers.

A couple embraces outdoors near a river, woman in green dress leaning on man in white shirt, with autumn trees behind.

A couple embraces warmly at golden hour, woman smiling softly at camera while man holds her with eyes closed.

Couple sitting closely on a wooden bench submerged in a calm lake, surrounded by autumn trees at golden hour.

Sepia-toned photo of a couple embracing outdoors, man in cowboy hat kissing womans cheek while holding her bump.

Couple embracing romantically in a charming brick alley, wet pavement reflecting warm lights in an urban setting.

Couple sharing a romantic moment by a river in autumn, surrounded by golden trees and warm fall colors.

Couple sharing a piggyback ride by a river surrounded by golden autumn trees in a romantic outdoor setting.

Couple embracing against a rustic brick wall with vintage signage and warm lights in a charming urban alley.

Couple embracing romantically by a rustic metal fence surrounded by lush green trees and tall grass in a countryside setting.

Couple posing together outside a rustic brick building with concrete steps during golden hour.

Couple sitting on a blanket by a river in autumn, surrounded by golden foliage, sharing a romantic embrace.

A couple holds hands and runs along a sandy riverbank surrounded by vibrant autumn foliage in warm orange and red tones.

A couple sits closely on a bench outside a brick building, sharing a romantic moment with fall flowers nearby.

Close-up of a smooth, muted sage green textured surface with subtle natural variations and a matte finish.

don't skip the ENGAGEMENT SESSION

Why you should always do an engagement session with your wedding photographer:

You get to know your photographer! An engagement session is the best way to establish a relationship with one of the people who you will spend the most item with on your wedding day.

It helps you get comfortable in front of the camera. Most people are not used to being in front of the camera, and an engagement session can help ease allll the nerves. You get to know how your photographer works and it will help you feel more relaxed and natural on your wedding day.

You get beautiful photos with your love to remember this season of life. This one is a no brainer, but your engagement photos can have so many uses - save-the-dates, wedding invitations, guest books, wedding centerpieces, wedding website, and more!

Close-up of a smooth, light gray textured paper surface with a subtle grain pattern.

Bride in wedding veil reading vows, with black and white photo of bride adjusting veil above.

Bride and groom walking hand in hand down a scenic countryside path on their wedding day.

private moments

8 ways to incorporate private moments in your wedding day timeline:

Private vow or letters

Private dinner in a separate room from your guests

Private last dance

10 minutes to grab a drink and chat after the ceremony

5 minutes after your first look before photos start

Getaway car straight out of the ceremony

Stay outside for 5 more minutes after sunset photos before re-entering the reception

Go back for an outfit change together

A romantic wedding collage featuring three polaroid-style photos of a bride and groom sharing tender moments outdoors.

VEIL or no veil?

I see you. You want to look and feel 1000% you on your wedding day but cannot decide if you’re in to wearing a long veil, short veil, lacey veil, pearly veil, or skip it all together!

Here are 4 reasons why the veil always wins:

The photos, man. If you’ve seen them, you love them. There is truly nothing dreamier than pics of you two under that feathery white fabric. Floor-length or cathedral veils are best to give you those romantic vibes.

They give you that *bride* feeling. There’s a reason that they put a veil on you and the bridal shop right before you say yes to the dress. A veil brings everything together. It brings the wow factor as it cascades behind you walking down the aisle.

It allows you to add a little cha-cha-cha to your look! You could choose a classic satin gown and create a whole new feeling by adding on an embroidered veil.

It’s such a great asset for details photos!

Close-up of a smooth, off-white textured paper surface with a subtle grain pattern, ideal for backgrounds.

Polaroid-style wedding collage featuring bridesmaids in black dresses, a bride and groom portrait, and groomsmen toasting.

KIND WORDS

A row of five simple hand-drawn star outlines arranged horizontally in black and white.

“I cannot say enough about Liz. Not only are her photos beautiful, she works well with her clients and she handles some of the most difficult situations with such care and understanding.” - Diandre M.

the perfect FIRST KISS

How to get the perfect first-kiss photos at the altar:

Kiss for more than one second! Count one Mississippi, two Mississipi, three . . . . five Mississipi. The longer you’re kissing, the greater the chance for a perfect, in focus photo.

Ask your officiant to step aside during the kiss. It is best if they actually step aside before they announce that you may kiss. This will prevent them from not only being right behind you but also to bot be right next to you as you kiss. They can easily tuck behind the wedding party for the best results.

Kiss again in the aisle! Go for the dip. Not only does it make for another kissing opportunity but how sweet to be surrounded by the people that gathered to celebrate you!

Put your flowers down! I can’t tell you how many times brides accidentally hold their flowers in front of their faces! A rule of thumb I always tell brides is to keep your flowers down by your belly button.

A couple dances in a golden field, with a close-up of elegant wedding invitation featuring botanical illustrations.

SAVE THE DATES, INVITATIONS, RSVPS - when should they be sent?

Save the dates: 6-8 months before wedding

Invitations: 6-8 weeks before wedding date. If your wedding is out-of-town, be sure to send them at least 12 weeks before to give a little extra time for guests to arrange travel plans.

RSVPs: Your RSVP date affects way more than you think it will! Set this deadline to be at least one month before your wedding date. You need these numbers to make final plans with your caterer, venue, wedding planners, and to make seating charts and place cards.

Collage of wedding reception polaroids featuring guests dancing, groom holding Busch Light cans, and couple cutting cake.

TAKE A step back

Something will more than likely go wrong on your wedding day. It’s inevitable.

There is no such thing as a perfect wedding day. Things will go wrong, people will be scrambling, and you won’t be able to control every little detail. Emotions leading up to and on your wedding day can be high and that’s okay.

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to have “the best day of your life.” Your wedding day is just the start of so many amazing days to come! If you focus on being present, letting go of control, and being ready to embrace all the emotions, I promise you, your day will be packed full of beautiful memories.

Close-up of a smooth, off-white textured paper surface with a subtle grain pattern.

Elegant flat lay with white peonies, a wedding book, and black ribbon on a neutral background.

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Dark green quilted fabric texture with grid pattern stitching, ideal for upholstery or fashion design backgrounds.

Ornate circular seal design with text and decorative elements arranged in a symmetrical pattern.

Smiling female photographer holding a DSLR camera outdoors in a green park during golden hour.

tips + tricks FOR WEDDING PLANNING