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Wedding Guide
engagement session tips, timeline guidance, vendor recommendations & more!
Welcome
A NOTE ABOUT THIS welcome guide
We’re so excited to be working with you and we can’t wait to get to know you better over the next several months! We know photography is one of the larger investments you're making for your wedding day and we're so honored you chose to work with us!
Even if you're working with a wedding planner or you're planning a simple wedding, there are likely still a lot of moving pieces left leading up to your big day.
Having photographed more than 150 weddings over the past few years, we have experienced a lot on wedding days! So, we thought it would be beneficial if we put together a guide that walks you through everything from timelines to engagement sessions and inclement weather.
- KRISTA & scott
Thank you so much for booking us and please don't hesitate to let us know if we can offer any additional guidance throughout the wedding planning process!
We’re big fans of engagement sessions for a few reasons. Not only do they allow you to get comfortable in front of the camera, they also give you the opportunity to showcase your personalities in a more casual setting that is significant to the two of you. We've created an entire page dedicated to outfit tips, location ideas, timing considerations and more!
Engagement Session
Tips for your session
Vendors
WHO WILL MAKE YOUR DAY INCREDIBLE
Over the years, we've learned the important role quality vendors play in creating a stress-free wedding day. We've worked with many of the vendors below and we can't recommend them enough! This is not a paid list - we chose these vendors for both the quality of their work as well as their professionalism on the actual wedding day.
Vivid Vibes Event Planning
Aisle & Co
The Finer Things Event Planning
Nicki Paige Collection (Charleston,SC)
WEDDING PLANNERS
Petals and Leaves
Vessel Floral and Event Design
Madison House Designs
Dalay Ket Event Design
Connells' Maple Lee Flowers and Gifts
FLORAL DESIGNERS
ALC Productions
Kodjoarts Videography
Prodigy Weddings
Wedding Stories in Motion
ViDEOGRAPHY
Bosc + Brie
Cameron Mitchell
Franklin Park Conservatory Catering
Made From Scratch
CATERING
Josh Staley Productions
Mark Dantzer Productions
The Chuck Taylors Band
Encore L'amore
Platinum Music
DJ & BANDS
Shannon Goode
The Bridal Bar
Alison Feamster
Kali Co Court
Angie Warren Artistry
Alter Image (Charleston, SC)
HAIR & MAKEUP
Short North Piece of Cake
Sauer Cakes
Pistacia Vera (macarons)
Suisse Shop
Scrumptious Crumbs
CAKES
La Juene Mariee Bridal
Henri's Cloud Nine
Wendy's bridal
White Of Dublin
Sofyano (Mens)
B. Loved Bridal
WEDDING DRESS
Aiden & Grace
Lost & Found
RENTALS
Cheer up press
The Paper Vow
Script One Four
Ampers and Design Studio
Invitations
Ampers and Design Studio
The Paper Vow
Script One Four
CALLIGRAPHY
Jean King & Damien King of United Marriage Services
OFFICIANT
There's a big difference between looking at yourself in the mirror at a hair and makeup trial and actually seeing how that hair holds up in the elements and how that makeup photographs. When it comes to being confident in your choices on your wedding day, photos are invaluable!
If you're considering a Bridal Portrait Session, we recommend a full trial run of hair, nails, makeup and your bouquet. I typically spend 1-2 hours shooting at bridal sessions and it's nice to have something to hold to make your hands feel a little less awkward!
When it comes to choosing a location for your bridal portrait session, we recommend using locations that are well manicured, clean, and have great variety of locations.
Bridal Portraits
One of the biggest advantages of a Bridal Portrait Session is that they can serve as a practice run for the big day that you can SEE
Wedding venues are usually a wonderful place to start - especially historic homes and resorts that have well manicured areas. We want to keep your dress as clean as possible and still get a lot of amazing images inside and outside.
When it comes to selecting a date for your bridal portrait session, another great thing to keep in mind is the weather. In order to avoid being too hot during the summer months or too cold during the winter months, we highly recommend Spring and Fall. However, we'll shoot anytime and anywhere there's great light!
Many venues charge a fee for portrait sessions. Although inconvenient, the fee is often worth it in order to have use of their getting ready room and other venue services. We typically have to work with the venues on times, but we love to shoot bridal portraits in the afternoon as late as we can to get that softer afternoon light. However, if your venue has strict hours, we are happy to work with their allotted times.
Make sure to bring your jewelry, your veil and your shoes to your bridal portrait session!
Dress
Undergarments
Shoes
Veil
Bouquet
Ring
Hair pieces and jewelry
Bridal Portrait Session Checklist
That moment the Bride and Groom see each other for the first time on their wedding day is magical. And this is true whether the couple chooses to wait until the bride walks down the aisle or chooses to do a “first look’ prior to the ceremony.
First looks—a private moment couples choose to spend together prior to the wedding ceremony—have become more popular over the last few years. About half of our couples this year have chosen to do a first look.
While we consider ourselves people who value tradition, there are definitely a few good reasons to consider a first look. Here are 3 reasons to consider a ‘first look’:
Is a First Look Right for You?
If you're wondering whether a first look is right for you, stop here.
Once the ceremony begins, the day takes off quickly. A ‘first look’ is an opportunity to enjoy some quiet time alone, enjoy each other’s company, and reflect on all this day means before your day takes off.
Wedding days can be a whirlwind and they tend to fly by. There’s much to do, and a lot of people to see and to catch up with. We always encourage our couples to take a few minutes every so often during their wedding to stop and soak in everything that’s happening.
1. A first look cuts through the chaos of the day.
When there is no first look, the majority of the pictures have to be taken after the ceremony. Family pictures are generally done as soon as the ceremony ends because it’s the easiest time to round everyone up. Next up is full bridal party, and then bride and groom portraits. This generally runs into cocktail hour.
A first look opens up time prior to the ceremony for full bridal party pictures and several bride and groom portraits (Don't worry we will get a couple "just married" glow pictures and sunset pictures if the weather allows). This often allows our couples to join in on cocktail hour for 30 minutes or so to mingle with guests so it isn't a rush to mingle with everyone at the reception.
2. IT MakeS more time for Pictures without sacrificing cocktail hour.
If you’re expecting poor weather on your wedding day, it might be best to plan on a first look because it gives you more options for pictures. If it’s pouring rain after the ceremony, you’ll be thankful you had pictures done in advance.
And reason 3b is for all you cryers out there. If you know the tears are going to fly the first time you see your other half the day of your wedding, a first look will give you time to freshen up before the ceremony.
First look or not, the first time you see each other on your wedding day will be special.
3. Avoid possible bad weather and/or have time to freshen-up after crying
Wedding Day Timeline
building the perfect
Whether you choose to do a first look or the traditional "no see before the ceremony" we will work with you on making sure you have the best timeline and plan for images.
If you're choosing to go traditional, you'll need two different sets of photo times: images taken before the ceremony and images taken after the ceremony.
You'll need to plan for about 45 minutes of pre-ceremony bridal photos (bridesmaids and bridal photos) and about 30 minutes of pre-ceremony groom photos (groomsmen and groom photos) at separate times. You'll also need 15 minutes of combined bridal party portraits, 20 minutes of combined family portraits and at least 30 minutes of couple's portraits after the ceremony if you're not doing any portraits together until after the ceremony. We do plan some cushion time into the morning segments to account for anything running over 10-15 minutes.
Whether you're planning a first look or sticking with tradition and not seeing your groom until you walk down the aisle, we have tips to help make planning your timeline as easy as possible!
If you're doing a first look, photos can be done all at one time, taking an average total of 1-1.5 hours pre-ceremony (although we also LOVE grabbing just the two of you for a few additional bride and groom photos at sunset!)
If you choose a traditional aisle reveal, all we ask is that you keep your ceremony time in mind when planning your wedding.
If you're planning a sunset ceremony or an evening ceremony, it's best to do all photos before the wedding, as daylight is crucial to getting amazing portraits for your families, bridal party and your couples portraits. Making sure we have enough time while the sun is up is a great way to make the traditional ceremony work.
12 p.m.
Krista arrives at Bride’s getting ready location and Scott arrives at Groom’s getting ready location.
12pm - Getting Ready
Note: We do arrive a bit early to get the layout of the ceremony/reception space if you are getting ready at the same location. If not, we still pop in early to say hello and start details. Ideally by the time we arrive, hair and makeup is close to finishing. If something is going to delay the beginning of the day, it’s often HAMU since sometimes hair just does not want to play nice!
1:15 p.m.
Groom + groomsmen depart for ceremony site.
1:15pm - Guys Depart
1:30 p.m.
Bride and bridesmaids depart for ceremony location.
1:30pm - Ladies Depart
1:45 p.m.
The first look takes place.
1:45 First Look
Note: The First Look can take place at the getting ready location, ceremony, or reception location. It’s up to you! Although we’re happy to make recommendations.
2:00 p.m.
Bride & Groom + bridal party portraits.
2:00pm - Portraits
3:30 p.m.
The ceremony takes place.
3:30PM Ceremony
Note: Guests will usually start to arrive 30-45 minutes prior to the ceremony start time. We like to be finished with all formals by 3pm to account for guests arriving. If you are okay with your guests seeing your before the ceremony - let us know and we can adjust the timeline.
4:00 p.m.
Family portraits.
4:00pm Family Portraits
Note: We do family portraits right after the ceremony because everyone you need will be easy to grab. If you can give your family notice that we’ll be taking pictures immediately after the ceremony, that will also ensure that no one wanders off. We’ll help you create a list of family portraits before the big day.
4:30 P.M.
Additional Bride & Groom Portraits
4:30pm Portraits
Note: We love to grab some extra "just married" photos of you! Afterwards, you can join in on cocktail hour to mingle with family and friends and eat those delicious appetizers you picked out!
5:15 p.M.
Announce into reception
5:15pm Reception
Note: Give yourself a couple minutes of buffer time if you need to bustle your dress, want to pop into the bathroom, grab a drink or just relax for a second with your groom!
5:20 P.M.
First Dance
5:20pm first Dance
5:30 P.M.
Welcome toasts & salads followed by speeches and entrees.
5:30pm Dinner
6:30 P.M.
Sunset Portraits
6:30pm Sunset Portraits
We’ll make sure to grab you two about 30-45 minutes before the sunsets. This is usually the best light of the day! We will write it into the timeline and make sure your DJ or Band know we are taking you outside for a couple portraits! This time can change based on the time of year.
6:45 P.M.
Dancing begins
6:45pm Dancing
7:15 P.M.
Cake cutting followed by bouquet toss.
7:15pm Traditions
8:00 P.M.
Photographers Depart
8:00pm Photographers Depart
12:30 p.m.
Krista arrives at Bride’s getting ready location and Scott arrives at Groom’s getting ready location.
12:30pm - Getting Ready
Note: We do arrive a bit early to get the layout of the ceremony/reception space if you are getting ready at the same location. If not, we still pop in early to say hello and start details. Ideally by the time we arrive, hair and makeup is close to finishing. If something is going to delay the beginning of the day, it’s often HAMU since sometimes hair just does not want to play nice!
2:00 p.m.
2:00pm - LADIES ARRIVE
Bride and bridesmaids arrive at ceremony location and take pre-ceremony group photos.
2:30 p.m.
2:30pm - GUYS ARRIVE
Groom + groomsmen arrive for ceremony site & take pre-ceremony group photos.
3:30 p.m.
The ceremony takes place.
3:30PM Ceremony
Note: Guests will usually start to arrive 30-45 minutes prior to the ceremony start time. We like to be finished with all formals by 3pm to account for guests arriving. If you are okay with your guests seeing your before the ceremony - let us know and we can adjust the timeline.
4:00 p.m.
Family portraits.
4:00pm Family Portraits
Note: We do family portraits right after the ceremony because everyone you need will be easy to grab. If you can give your family notice that we’ll be taking pictures immediately after the ceremony, that will also ensure that no one wanders off. We’ll help you create a list of family portraits before the big day.
4:15 P.M.
Bridal Party and Bride & Groom Portraits
4:15pm Portraits
Note: Depending on what was taken before the ceremony, this normally takes about 45 minutes. Remember this is the first time the entire day that you two are getting photos together. We want to make the most of this time and have LOTS of time to take photos around the property and different combinations.
5:15 P.M.
Introductions & First Dance
5:30pm Introductions
Note: Give yourself a couple minutes of buffer time if you need to bustle your dress, want to pop into the bathroom, grab a drink or just relax for a second with your groom!
6:00 P.M.
Welcome toasts & salads followed by speeches and entrees.
6:00pm Dinner
6:45 P.M.
Sunset Portraits
6:45pm Sunset Portraits
We’ll make sure to grab you two about 45 minutes before the sunsets. This is usually the best light of the day! The sunset times change depending on the year - if you ever have a question on what is he best time to sneak out for these gorgeous photos just send over an email!
7:00 P.M.
Dancing begins
7:00pm Dancing
7:30 P.M.
Cake cutting followed by bouquet toss.
7:30pm Traditions
8:30 P.M.
Photographer’s Depart
8:30pm Photographers Depart
If the forecast is calling for rain, fear not because rainy days can still be beautiful! They often provide gorgeous sunsets and beautiful lighting! They give the ground what I like to call the "bachelor" feel. You know when all the girls or guys arrive to the bachelor house on the first night and the walkway is wet!
If rain is in the forecast, we recommend ordering a few clear umbrellas on Amazon. It also might be good to re-evaluate portrait locations to make sure we can still shoot in natural light - even if it means heading offsite.
Rain Tips
If you don't own a pair of cute Wellies, now may be a great time to order a pair - even if you're just wearing them in between shooting locations to save your bridal shoes.
If you're not working with a planner, it might also be a good idea to check in with your entire vendor team to make sure they're aware of the weather. Hair and makeup may need to be tweaked to withstand humidity and if your wedding is outdoors, DJs and bands may need to take extra precaution to protect their gear. A quality rental team can also minimize the amount of mud at outdoor events.
While we can't guarantee that rain on your wedding day is good luck, we can put a plan in place to ensure a beautiful day and beautiful images.
Rainy day weddings may require a little more flexibility and creativity, but there isn't any reason why they can't be as beautiful and as joyful as sunny weddings! We always look for covered patios, awnings, umbrellas and thick trees! We don't want you to worry about a thing when it comes to rain and we will have a game plan figured out on your wedding day!
Sunset portraits have easily become our couples favorite time of the day during the reception and we love it too!
We steal you away for about 10-15 minutes for these portraits. This is a perfect time for you two to take a breather and enjoy your time together as husband and wife.
Sunset Portraits
We figure out exactly when sunset is happening on the day of your wedding and plan to head outside about 30-45 minutes prior to sunset time.
We put the sunset portraits into the timeline and share it with the planner, DJ or Band to make sure everyone knows when it is happening. We also check in with important vendors a couple minutes before we take you outside.
These portraits become our couples favorite portraits and often hang in their homes. We hope you will enjoy these photos as much as our previous couples do! They are usually a little bit more romantic than the portraits done earlier in the day because of the soft dreamy light that arrives at sunset time.
Wedding Day Details
We love capturing all the little details you've carefully chosen to be a part of your wedding day! Once we arrive at your wedding, we need about 30 minutes to capture and style details. We recommend choosing a getting ready location filled with natural light and, if possible, please keep the space free from trash and clutter.
It would be wonderful if you could put all of your rings, jewelry, shoes, veil purse, perfume, invitations and other keepsakes together in one spot for us. Please unwrap your dress but don't worry about styling it - we'll hang it in a beautiful spot!
Dress
Dress Hanger
Rings (both engagement and wedding bands - KEEP them with the GIRLS)
Shoes
Veil
Bouquet
Ring
Hair pieces
Jewelry
Invitation Suite ( 2 full sets with envelopes + stamps)
Any other paper stationary you may have like program cards.
Bridal DETAILS Checklist
His shoes
Socks (if they're special)
Cuff Links
Tie or Bow Tie
Pocket Square
Boutonnière
Vows Book
Rings
Anything else he'll have that is special or sentimental.
Vow Book
Any other sentimental keepsakes you would like to include
We once had a bride bring her grandmother's hand mirror. This is completely optional - but if you have something sentimental you'd like styled with your details, we love including family heirlooms in our detail shots.
Bonus: We'd love to have a few cuts of the florals you'll be using throughout your wedding day. If your florist will supply us a small bucket of extra pieces we can incorporate those in your detail shots.
GROOM DETAILS Checklist
When we can, we always try to take a photo of your rings while you're getting ready. If possible, try to have your engagement ring cleaned or clean it yourself. To clean at home, soak your ring in warm water with dishwashing soap for 20 to 40 minutes. Then gently brush the stone with a soft toothbrush, rinse and repeat if needed.
**Make sure to have ALL the wedding rings with the Bride in her getting ready room so I can style it with the invitation, shoes, jewelry, etc.
The Rings
For family portraits, we’ll place you in the center of a large group photo with all of your grandparents, parents, siblings, spouses, etc. And then we’ll remove people and start to make smaller groupings.
We’ll keep removing family members and switch a few closer family members in and out so we get photos of you and your parents, you and your siblings, some with the groom and your family, etc. Then we’ll repeat the process with your spouse's family. The whole thing will go quicker and smoother if you let family know how the portrait process will work ahead of time.
When we send out our pre-wedding questionnaire, we'll ask you for a list of specific groupings, special situations (such as divorces or handicapped family members & more), but if you want to start brainstorming photos in the meantime, you'll find our typical list below.
Family Formals
your entire family, dressed up and together
Bride + Groom + Bride's Parents + Bride's Siblings + Bride's Grandparents
Bride + Groom + Bride's Parents + Bride's Siblings
Bride + Groom + Bride's Parents
Bride + Groom + Bride's Siblings
Bride + Mom
Bride + Dad
Bride + Groom + Groom's Parents + Groom's Siblings + Groom's Grandparents
Bride + Groom + Groom's Parents + Groom's Siblings
Bride + Groom + Groom's Parents
Bride + Groom + Groom's Siblings
Groom + Mom
Groom + Dad
Bridal Portrait Session Checklist
Please note that this list is just a starting point and that we're happy to take any requested family portraits as long as time allows!
Consider Unplugging
If you've been to a wedding recently, you may have seen a sign from the happy couple asking for their guests to remain "unplugged" during the ceremony.
And while it might seem like a strange requests to ask guests to put down their phones, there's a pretty good reason for it! You made a big investment in photography and we're sure one of the last things you want on your wedding day is for our photos of your ceremony to be filled with obtrusive iPhones, iPads and relatives standing in the aisle with their own cameras. In order to help us do the best possible job capturing your wedding, we recommend asking guests to unplug during the ceremony.
1. If you're getting married in the summer months, a "not-so-heavy" snack or lunch time before portraits is always a good idea for you and your bridal party to avoid hungry bellies and passing out!
2. If it's going to be hot, a cooler of cold waters and frozen washcloths can help keep a wedding party cool - especially if your men are wearing lots of layers.
3. Make sure and have your bouquet delivered in time to make an appearance for the detail shots and for your first look. Often they are delivered in water and need to be dried off before use. Having towels handy can help.
4. If you're planning on having a first look with your bridal party or a parent, they often feel more comfortable being fully dressed in their wedding attire.
5. If your reception is at a separate venue, add some "cushion time" so that we can run over to the venue to capture it while it's still "untouched" by guests.
Additional Tips
AFTER SHOOTING MORE THAN 150 weddings in the past few years, we're happy to share a few additional tips
6. We always recommend the bride go into hiding 30 minutes before the ceremony at the absolute latest. Guests typically arrive early to weddings.
7. To help make family portraits go smoother, it's best to have a breakdown of what portraits you'd like and it's really wonderful if both sides of the family have a chance to have their input on what portraits they'd like before the wedding. We send over a wedding questionnaire 2 months prior to the ceremony asking for the listing of family formals and all the names of everyone to keep it organized.
8. During the cocktail hour and the reception, we'll follow you around. Anytime you'd like a photo with someone, grab our attention. We love being your personal paparazzi!
9. We'd love to help you plan your timeline. If you'd like our input, don't hesitate to email or call!
We can't wait to start planning with you and getting to know you! If you haven't scheduled your engagement session yet, let's get that in the books. Feel free to email me any time at Pipersgallery@gmail.com
If you have any questions or would just like to chat, we're here for you. We hope this guide helps make the process of planning your wedding details much easier and less stressful. We can't wait to see you soon! Thank you so much for taking the time to read through our guide!