TABLE OF CONTENTS
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AMANDA WOSE PHOTOGRAPHY
Wedding Planning Guide
Welcome!
I am SO excited you're here! Being engaged is SUCH a special time in your lives and I'm so excited for what's to come. I know how important beautiful wedding photos are to you, so I've created this guide to help you prepare for your big day! I'm so EXCITED to support you through this process and to help ease the stress of planning. As always, feel free to reach out at any time if you have any questions along the way!
MY WHY
I love photographing weddings because there's nothing like serving a couple and their loves ones on the most beautiful day of their lives. It’s such a joyful and EXCITING time in your life, but I totally understand how overwhelming the wedding process can be! I’m here to walk you through every step of your photography experience, from making you feel confident in front of my camera with constant direction to helping you craft the perfect wedding timeline. At the end of the day, planning is so incredibly fun, but the really awesome part is that you’ll become husband and wife. I love celebrating that with you because marriage has been one of the biggest blessings in my life. I’m here to encourage you as you make your journey towards marriage and prepare for your big day!
Crow Entertainment
Bachelor Boys Band
Mixing Maryland
Floret and Vine
Days of May
Bay Blossoms
Bridals by Elena
Lovely Bride DC
BHLDN
ENTERTAINMENT
florists
bridal BOUTIQUES
Painted by Pippa
Oh Eleven Studio
Empress Stationery
INVITATIONS & calligraphy
Sugar Bakers Cakes
Buttercream Bake Shop
Sweet Hearts Patisserie
cake
Kristen C. Artistry
Behind the Veil
Miranda Paige Beauty
hair and makeup
BE Videography
Bowen Films
Abidoodle Productions
videographers
Social Graces Events
The Hitched Company
Cheers Darling DC
planners & coordinators
preferred vendors
engagement session PREP
Engagement sessions aren't just about getting cute photos for save the dates! More importantly, engagement sessions are when you'll learn all of my posing tips and tricks. It's also our chance to spend time together and get to know each other! All this means that by the time your wedding day arrives not only will you feel totally confident in front of the camera, it'll feel more like an old friend has arrived when I walk through the door!
what's included
Because of how important these sessions are, all of my couples receive an engagement session with their wedding collection. I offer three different levels of engagement sessions, from short and sweet local sessions to adventurous destination sessions abroad!
WHAT TO WEAR
I recommend wearing two outfits: One dressy and one casual. Feel free to go all out for your dressy outfit, and think "date night" for your casual outfit! My biggest piece of advice is to wear outfits that COMPLEMENT each other, not match. Keep reading for more style tips and outfit ideas!
HOW TO BOOK
Because my weekends are dedicated to weddings (just like yours!), I only schedule engagement sessions on weekdays. You'll be able to choose your engagement session date anytime after booking!
TIPS FOR SUCCESS
BE ON TIME: We typically plan your start time based on sunset time. If you are late, it cuts into the sunlight we have available! No one wants dark photos, so arriving on time will ensure we have gorgeous light to work with for your whole shoot!
BRINGING THE DOG: I adore ALL the cute pups, so naturally, I LOVE it when you bring them along! The best way to include them is to have someone else bring your dog during the last 15 minutes of your session, or choose a session location that is less than 5 minutes away from your home. Contact me so we can work out the details!
CLEAN THE RING: Your ring will be a focal point of many photos, and I'd love to grab a few up close shots of just your ring while you change outfits! Cleaning it will ensure it's nice and sparkly for photos!
EMPTY YOUR POCKETS: Especially for guys, make sure you don't have anything in your pockets! I am more than happy to store phones and keys in my bag, or ladies, you can bring along a little purse to keep everything in.
RELAX! You don’t have to be a pro at this! I’m going to help you along the way and it’s going to be a blast! I don't expect anything from you. Enjoy this time together and make a date out of it! Plan dinner afterwards and celebrate!!
GET YOUR NAILS DONE: Make sure your nails are freshly painted, or spoil yourself with a trip to the salon! Chipped nails will be noticeable in your photos. Neutral colors and pastels photograph beautifully and will match any outfit!
BRING COMFY SHOES: If you're wearing heels, bring a pair of flip flops or comfortable shoes to walk from spot to spot. Your feet will thank me later!
outfit ideas
I have had the opportunity to work with many incredible wedding planners, from day of coordinators to full service planners! They can provide help for your wedding day in a way that no one else can. They also give me the opportunity to solely focus on taking your beautiful photos while they keep the timeline going throughout the day! There are typically many different types of services planners offer, so here are a few to consider for different aspects of planning:
VENDOR MATCH-MAKING
Some planners offer the option of helping you with "vendor match-making." They will sit down with you and ask you what you're looking for in your different vendors, and offer the best suggestions within your budget. From what I've heard, the amount of money you save doing this by knowing where to invest more (AND finding vendors that are the perfect fit) saves you more than what you pay! Plus, you'll have a dream team that will be amazing for your wedding!
STYLING SERVICES
Many planners also offer day-of styling services in addition to planning. This means they will be in charge of setting up your spaces and the design. They'll add a beautiful, creative touch and since they've worked alongside you up to your wedding day, they can carry out your vision perfectly. This also means mom won't be running around trying to set everything up! They have you covered!
BENEFITS OF A DAY-OF COORDINATOR
If nothing else, this is the BEST thing you can do for your wedding in this area!! It is so crucial to have a go-to person the day of that can take care of the logistics and answer questions. Otherwise, this burden typically falls on your mom, maid of honor, or even yourself. They are there to run the day and make sure everything goes smoothly. This typically also includes planning the month before your wedding. Once that one month mark hits, they will take over and conquer the last minute planning details for you. What a stress reliever!
FULL-SERVICE PLANNING
If you want wedding planning to be as stress-free as possible, this is the route to go! They will be there from your engagement all the way until the end of your wedding day. They are there to take care of all the planning for you, so you can relax and enjoy being engaged. They work alongside you to create the perfect vision for your wed- ding day, help you choose vendors, create your timeline, work out the logistics, and everything else that goes into planning. They basically become your best friend during the process, because just about everything is off your plate!
wedding planners
getting ready
CHOOSE A SPACE WITH LOTS OF WINDOWS
If you're trying to decide where to get ready, this is HUGE! I always opt for spaces with lots of windows. When it's time to get into your dress, I will likely direct you to a clean area that has lots of window light coming in!
GATHER YOUR DETAILS
If you can, please have all of your details gathered before I arrive! My biggest recommendation is to put them all in one box or bag so they are all in one place. This includes:
All 3 rings | Full invitation suite | Your jewelry | Shoes | Bridal dress
Veil | Hair pieces | Perfume | & anything else you want photographed!
HAVE YOUR BOUQUET ARRIVE BEFORE I START SHOOTING
If possible, have your florist deliver your bouquet and boutonnières BEFORE I am scheduled to arrive. This ensures they will be included with all of the other pretty details! To really elevate your details, ask your florist to leave a few extra sprigs of greenery and blooms!
RING BOX
This is just a bonus tip here, but purchasing a velvet ring box in your wedding colors will help to personalize your details! My favorite places to buy them isThe Mrs. Box!
GETTING IN YOUR DRESS
Make sure to have it in the timeline that your bridesmaids, mom, and anyone else you want to help you get into your dress be ready AT LEAST 15 minutes before your schedule time. This ensures they can be included in these special photos!
GROOMSMEN PREP
My second shooter will photograph the guys getting ready if they are getting ready in the same location as the bride or within 10-15 mins. If you want this photographed, ensure it is on the timeline or you have communicated it directly to me!
HAIR & MAKEUP
I would encourage you to have hair and makeup scheduled to be done around 30 minutes before you're scheduled to get into your dress. This gives you some buffer time in case we run behind!
FIRST LOOKS
There is no pressure to do one... however, there are SO many benefits and reasons why 90% of my couples do opt for one!
So you might be asking... what is a first look?! Well, let me tell you! A first look is when the couple arranges a private time to see each other before the ceremony. The only people present will be the two of you and your photographers and videographers! First looks are very popular for so many reasons! There are so many incredible benefits of doing one!!
Although I love this so much on a wedding day, I also always encourage my couples to do whatever they want to do. Because at the end of the day, it’s their wedding, and what they prefer matters the absolute most! So although I love it so much, I do want their day to go however they envision. This is just meant to help you decide whether it’s right for you, and why I recommend it so much!
Benefits of a First Look
Throughout the chaos of a wedding day, it will very likely be your ONLY alone time! It allows you to have a chance to talk and enjoy hanging out with each other. Groom, you get to TELL your bride how beautiful she looks as soon as you see her! You get to extend your day TOGETHER by 2-3 hours.
Your only alone time.
My brides LOVE this because your hair and make up is totally fresh for all of your portraits. You don't have to worry about touching up before photos because you just had your hair and makeup done! Your bridesmaids will LOVE you for this as well!
With a first look, you can ENJOY taking all of your wedding portraits and not feel rushed. Plus, you'll receive MORE variety in your portraits because of the extra time! It makes taking photos a lot more enjoyable because you aren't trying to squeeze them all in!
Fresh hair and makeup
More portraits in your final gallery
You can finish the majority of your wedding photos before the ceremony begins. We will jump right into bride and groom + bridal party photos after the first look! We can even photograph your family portraits before the ceremony.
Logistically, it's a dream!
Once we do any remaining family formals directly after the ceremony, you can actually go enjoy cocktail hour or start the reception! If any of your bridal party aren't family members, they get to enjoy ALL of cocktail hour!
So many couples say their nerves went away after they saw each other! It helps you to feel more relaxed and make the ceremony more enjoyable. Plus, you’ll probably remember your ceremony better because you weren’t so nervous. The whole thing would probably be a blur otherwise!
You can enjoy cocktail hour
It diminishes nerves.
If you and your dad are especially close, a father daughter first look is one of the SWEETEST things you can do with your dad. It gives him the opportunity to see you and your whole look before everything gets crazy, and a special time for you to connect. These easily become one of my FAVORITE parts from past weddings because they are so emotional and sweet! You'll be surprised at how emotional your dad gets when he sees you for the first time. If you want this in your timeline, let me know so we can add in an extra 10 minutes to make this happen!
A first look with bridesmaids has become one of my FAVORITE things on wedding days!! Especially if most of your girls haven't seen your dress yet, it's the perfect way to show it to them and to capture their priceless reactions at the same time. It typically only takes about 5 minutes during the getting ready portion of the day. The only challenge is making sure every- one is dressed and put together by the time you have your dress on, so good communication with your girlfriends is a must if you want to add this into your timeline!
FATHER/DAUGHTER FIRST LOOK
BRIDESMAIDS FIRST LOOK
unplugged
ceremonies
If you’re not familiar with unplugged ceremonies, they are essentially when you request that your guests turn off all of their devices for the ceremony. This allows the photographer to work more freely with no worry of getting guests in their shots! As a photographer, there is nothing worse than trying to photograph the bride coming down the aisle and have someone stick their phone out in front of you (yes, it happens ALL the time!).
I think these are a GREAT idea, and I’ve had many of my couples do them with amazing success! I also did it at my own wedding and am so glad I did! Guests are typically very respectful if you ask them to not be taking photos during the ceremony and it will reflect in your photos. This especially shows in the wider shots; you’ll either see a lot of guests holding their phones up for photos, or your guests sitting and enjoying the moment!
To make this happen at your ceremony, I recommend first having a sign at the entrance of the ceremony that encourages guests to put away their devices! You can also include a short and sweet line on your ceremony program that requests that no one has their devices out. You can also request your officiant to announce it a few minutes before the ceremony starts, to reenforce what they’ve already read!
Not only will your photographer love you, but a beautiful thing happens: your guests are sitting and enjoying the moment you two become husband and wife, instead of staring at their screens. What a beautiful way to encourage your guests to unplug for a short amount of time to enjoy such a special moment with the two of you.
UNPLUGGED CEREMONIES
FAMILY FORMALS
About 1-2 months out from your wedding, I will send you your online wedding questionnaire! This is where you can give me the exact shot list for your family formals. I do ask that the list is no longer than 20 groupings (anything past that we can grab at the reception!) Here is an example shot list for you to get started:
BRIDE’S SIDE
Large group photo (parents, step-parents, grandparents, siblings)
Bride & Groom with each set of grandparents
Bride & Groom with parents, siblings
Bride & Groom with parents
Bride & Groom with siblings
Bride with mom
Bride with dad
GROOM’S SIDE
Large group photo (this is everyone: parents, step-parents, grandparents, siblings)
Bride & Groom with each set of grandparents
Bride & Groom with parents, siblings
Bride & Groom with parents
Bride & Groom with siblings
Groom with mom
Groom with dad
Sunset portraits are literally the BEST ten minutes of portraits you'll get on your wedding day. Typically we'll sneak out for 10 minutes during your reception (in-between events, of course!) or right after family formals to grab a few of these! Trust me, they are WORTH IT and are those dreamy, swoon-worthy photos you see all over Pinterest with the glowy lighting.
They also give you another chance to slow down and connect with each other, away from the chaos of your big day!
Here are a few things to know:
- Bring the veil + bouquet! This looks DREAMY with sunset lighting!
- If it ends up being overcast, don't worry! I've had SO MANY overcast and rainy weddings end up having a beautiful sunset. In fact, the photo on the right here was that EXACT scenario! This sunset was a complete surprise! If the sun isn't peaking out, we might still sneak out for some extra portraits for variety!
sunset portraits
RECEPTION EXIT OPTIONS
There are SO many options when it comes to exits. Sparklers, bubbles, glow sticks, rose petals... the list goes on and on!
If your coverage ends before your exit, you have the option of planning a "mock" exit with your bridal party. This is more common than you may think. Instead of saving your exit until the very end, you can plan a mock exit with just the members of your bridal party and your immediately family members. This allows us to have more control over these shots and the party never has to stop. In most cases, no one even notices that the bride and groom are missing for a few minutes. Also, it’s almost impossible to tell that the whole wedding isn’t there waving sparklers and sending off the happy couple. This idea allows my couples to save money and still have all of the shots that they dreamed of.
Whatever you choose, be sure to coordinate with your venue and your photographer! Many venues prohibit sparklers and may require that even biodegradable items (such as flower petals) be completely cleaned up afterwards.
RAINY WEDDING DAYS
One of the most COMMON questions I get asked is, what happens if it RAINS on my wedding day? While this isn't always ideal and doesn't match the sunny day you imagine while planning, I want to encourage you that you can still have GORGEOUS photos, even if it's rainy! Here are a few quick tips to keep in mind:
1. Overcast skies = perfect lighting. Sunlight, especially mid-day, is actually very harsh. Rainy days give that perfect, soft, natural lighting, no matter where you take your photos! This gives you perfect lighting + the ability to use a lot more locations. It also tends to make colors look more vibrant. Don’t get me wrong, I love golden, sunlit photos… but overcast has its advantages as well.
2. Let me worry about the photos. On your wedding, the only thing you should have to worry about is being the bride! :)
3. Be willing to go outside! Most of the time when it’s raining, it’s a lot of light sprinkles and not long, huge downpours… going outside is still definitely doable! I typically will find areas that have large trees to cover my couple & bridal party, or overhangs on the side of buildings. I also bring along cute, clear umbrellas to a wedding day (enough for an ENTIRE bridal party) that keep you almost totally dry, even when you’re not under anything! And they look adorable! All photos I’ve ever taken outside in the rain hardly even LOOK like it’s raining.
4. Have a rain plan. Especially if you are having an outdoor wedding, this is very important! Be sure to communicate to your vendors what they should do if it rains on your wedding day. That way, if the situation arises, they will already know what to do and you won’t have to worry about a thing.
I hope this guide serves as an amazing resource for you as you plan and prepare for your big day! If you'd like to chat about having me as your wedding photographer, I'd love to connect with you soon. I photography just 15 weddings per year and the calendar fills quickly, so click the link below to inquire about your date ASAP!
xoxo,
Amanda
thank you!
INQUIRE
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