The Wedding Guide!!

Table Of Contents:

1. What To Expect From Me

2. Engagement Session

   1. Favorite Locations

   2. What To Wear

   3. Pick A Date

   4. What To Expect

3. Bridal Session

4. Bridal Boudoir

5. Vendor Recommendations

6. Wedding Day Recommendations

   1. First Looks

   2. Buffer Time

   3. Alone Time

   4. Grand Entrance/Exit

   5. Second Shooters

   6. Unplugged Wedding

7. Sample Timeline

8. Getting Ready

   1. The Space

   2. Details List

9. Family Photos

10. Self Care

What To Expect From Me 

• If you have an engagement, bridal, or boudoir session that you’d like to get on the books, we get that on the calendar first thing as ideal times get booked quickly!

• 4-6 weeks after your engagement, bridal, or boudoir session - I'll deliver your photos!

• 6 months out - I’ll send over an email to see if there is anything that I can help with.

• 3 months out - You’ll receive your wedding questionnaire so we can nail down all the important details!

• 1 month out - We confirm our plan with a meeting or phone consultation and I let you soak up that last month knowing that your photography coverage is solid and ready to roll!

• Your wedding day - I’ll be your biggest hype woman and memory-documenter. Let’s celebrate!

• 1 week after your big day - You’ll already be able to catch some sneak peeks at your highlight gallery! Yay!!

• 12 weeks after your big day - Your full gallery will arrive! This is where I always recommend making a date night to relive all of the memories

• After you receive your gallery - We design your album and wall art together!

 My Fav Locations!

I know how difficult it can be to choose a location for your photoshoot, after all, there are SO many options to choose from!

Obviously you want to choose a location that speaks to you and your vibes, but there are other things to keep in mind such as how busy the location is, what it looks like during different seasons, how the lighting is throughout the day, where the sun sets, ect.

That’s why I’ve curated a list of some of my favorite locations to shoot at!

• Schiller Park / German Village

• Scioto Grove Metro Park

• Walnut Woods Metro Park

• Creekside Park

• Columbus Park of Roses

• Downtown Columbus Rooftop Parking Garage

• Private Field in Shawnee, Ohio

*travel fees may apply, even for complimentary sessions

What To Wear

If you thought picking a location was difficult, sometimes picking what to wear can be even harder!

Here are my top tips for choosing your engagement shoot outfits:

1. Pick your location first! This will help give you something to build your outfits colors and vibes around.

2. Please, don’t match. I know, I know, matching is so cute! Just not for your photoshoot. Pick colors that compliment each other, otherwise you will just blend into one another!

3. Yes, your outfits DO effect how your photos turn out. For example: if you want warm photos, don’t show up wearing all blues. So while I can't tell you exactly what to wear, I can tell you what colors work best with my editing style: warm neutrals (tan, cream, white) and earthy tones (rust, sage or olive green, rust orange). Special shoutout to blush pink as well, because it doesn’t fit in either category but it’s one of my favorites!

4. We strongly suggest that you avoid neons, multiple patterns (so if one wears a pattern, the other wears solids). We also recommend not both wearing black/gray or all blues. Throw some color in there!

5. Don’t be afraid to accessorize! Hats, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, watches (NOT Apple Watches), that compliment your outfit are always a fav!

6. Most importantly - wear something that you are comfortable in. If you’re not comfortable, it’s more likely to show during your photos, and nobody wants that.

7. Feel free to bring more than 1 outfit, most couples do 1-2 outfits, but it never hurts to have a backup!

8. If you want a second opinion on your outfit, feel free to send me photos!

9. Are you a visual person? All of the outfits featured in the photos on this page are approved and fit my recommendations. We also have a style guide:

Let’s Pick a Date!

Now that you’ve read through all the engagement session details, hopefully you have a better idea of how to prepare and what to expect!

If you’re ready to set a date for your engagement photos, please reach out to me via email (emmaearlyphotos@gmail.com) with the following information:

• Your desired date, and 1-2 alternatives in case I am unavailable

• Your desired location (or multiple, if you need help finalizing your decision just let me know!)

• If you would like to have your hair and/or makeup done by our professional makeup artist, please let me know as well!

  Makeup starts at $125, and is done in New Albany, Ohio.

As always, if you have any questions before setting your date, don’t hesitate to shoot me an email and ask away!

Bridal Session

What is a bridal session? A bridal session typically takes place before your wedding day, and it’s a whole shoot just for you and your gorgeous dress!

You might choose to do a bridal session for many reasons. If you want bridal photos in a different location, different vibe, it’s your favorite dress ever and you just can’t get enough of it… and so on! It also gives you a chance to try out your complete bridal look before your wedding day, and get used to posing & moving around in your dress.

You can swap out your engagement session for a bridal session, or you can add one on to your services if you want both!

Bridal Boudoir

Boudoir Sessions make an excellent gift for a wedding- and we do a lot of these sessions each year. Brides often give their fiancé images the night before or the day of the wedding instead of a watch or other traditional items.

Not only is it a gift for your fiancé, but a gift for you as well!

If you like the idea but aren’t about the all white vibes, remember that you can totally personalize your session and no one said you have to wear white! I have had brides wear other light colors, or just do a non bridal specific boudoir session to gift to their partner. You’re both going to love it either way! We work with all body types, so I don’t want to hear you say you don’t look good enough to do this. I promise that you do.

Bridal Boudoir is not included as a complimentary session, therefore it cannot be swapped out.

However, you do get 50% off your boudoir session fee for booking your wedding with us! Find more details in the wedding investment guide, or reach out to me to set up a boudoir consultation.

Vendor Recommendations

Here’s a list of some of my favorite people that I’ve worked alongside with at weddings!!

Hair

Brianna Willford

Lauren Wolf Hair Design

Makeup

Savanna Twiddy

Caterer

Chef Steve

Venue

The Estate at New Albany

Wedding Day Recommendations

Throughout all the weddings I’ve photographed, I’ve picked up on several tips and things to keep in mind when planning your wedding day! Below you can find my recommendations to have a less stressful and more enjoyable wedding day.

1. First Looks

It is no secret that wedding photographers LOVE first looks. Why? Not just for the special moment and beautiful, emotive photos we get to capture when you do one, but also for the more relaxed timeline first looks allow us to create.

When you do a first look, this allows us to do photos of the two of you and group photos BEFORE your ceremony. This means we can knock out couples photos, wedding party photos, and even some family photos if you want! Doing these photos before your ceremony allows for a far more relaxed/enjoyable photo taking experience.

If you do not do a first look, we will need to take ALL couples photos, full wedding party photos, and family photos after the ceremony. This is a ton to squeeze into a short time frame, and you + your family/wedding party will likely be eager to get to your reception and celebrate. Plus, if you are getting married in the fall or winter, the sun goes down much earlier in the day and this may not leave us with any natural light for all of these important photos.

If having a stress-free, intentional day is a priority for you, I highly recommend doing a private first look and taking advantage of the time it carves out for just the two of you (which is rare on your wedding day!). Seeing your partner can calm your nerves. You will likely get more photos by doing a first look. And lastly, the moment of you walking down the aisle will STILL be special!

2. Buffer Time

I always recommend clients to build buffer time into their timelines. For example, if you expect something to take 30 minutes, build 45 minutes into your timeline so that you will not feel stressed or rushed if things are running behind. Hair and makeup can often take longer than expected!

3. Alone Time

As I mentioned earlier, time spent alone with your partner on your wedding day is rare! I highly recommend intentionally planning time (even if it is just a small slice) to spend with your partner. I love sneaking my couples away for golden hour photos then letting them have a few moments to themselves before returning. I also love private last dances!

4. Grand Exit

If I will not be staying until the end to photograph your exit, I recommend doing a fake exit instead! Sparklers still look pretty in the daylight, or you can consider doing confetti (eco-friendly please), rose petals, or other fun options.

5. Second Shooters

I am a HUGE advocate of having a second shooter at your wedding! This is why almost all of my packages already come with a second shooter built in, but if yours doesn’t, I’d highly recommend adding one. Because as much as I would like to, unfortunately I cannot be in two places at once, and that’s where a second shooter comes in.

Second Shooters can help cut your photo time down, for example, if there is space at the venue one photographer can do the bridesmaids photos and the other can do the groomsmen. Having a second photographer is also great for moments such as walking down the aisle, where one can capture the grooms first reaction and the other can capture the bride.

Overall, having two photographers can make your day a lot smoother and give you lots more photo opportunities than just one person could capture!

6. Unplugged Ceremony

I get it, your wedding day is exciting and your friends & family are probably eager to snap some phone photos! During certain parts of the day (such as the reception), this is completely acceptable; however, many guests do not realize that certain moments (such as the ceremony) are not the time to be on their phone.

I have seen many instances where a guest sticking their phone out into the aisle obstructs not only the moment as it unfolds, but also the photos I am taking as the hired photographer. To avoid having phones dangling out of the aisle and to allow guests to be more present, I strongly suggest having an unplugged ceremony

I recommend asking your officiant to make a brief announcement before the ceremony, asking all guests to turn off their cell phones and please refrain from taking photos during the ceremony. Your photos will not be ruined by phones or iPads, and your guests will be free to enjoy the moment and be present with you!

Sample Timeline

Before your wedding we will hop on a phone call or meet in person to plan your timeline together. So you have an idea of what to expect, below is a sample timeline of 8 hours of coverage with a first look.

12:00 - Detail photos & last getting ready photos

1:00 - First look & couples photos

1:30 - Bridesmaids/Groomsmen photos

2:00 - Full bridal party photos

2:30 - Family pics if time/family is there

3:00 - Chill time

3:30 - Ceremony

4:00 - Cocktail hour/ finish family photos

4:30 - Prep for grand entrance

4:45 - Grand entrance to reception

5:00 - Dinner

6:00 - First dances, speeches, ect.

6:30 - Bouquet toss, garter toss, cake, ect.

7:00 - Dance party!

8:00 - Dance party!

*** A quick note! I love doing some couples photos of you during golden hour for the best lighting. What time this will be depends on the time of year.

Getting Ready

The Space

When choosing your getting ready location, look for somewhere that is nice and open with lots of natural light. This is your wedding day, so you want to feel comfortable! If the space your venue offers for getting ready does not seem like a good fit, consider renting out a cute air bnb or boutique hotel room.

If you would like to have clutter-free photos, designate a room or corner of the room to be the bag area and try to keep most stuff in that corner.

Have Details Ready

You have likely spent time specially selecting certain details of your day, so I love to photograph them as a part of the story of your day! Please have all details gathered and ready for me to photograph when I arrive. After greeting you, I will immediately start on detail photos as your hair and makeup is being done. I recommend having these gathered in a box ahead of time.

The Detail Box

Bride:

Shoes

Jewelry

Perfume

Nice hanger for dress

Rings

Bouquet (**Please have florist deliver in time and if possible, ask for spare blooms to be used in detail shots.)

Any other special details

Groom:

Shoes

Watch

Cuff links

Cologne

Any other special details

Other:

Rings + Ring boxes

Vow books

Any stationary

Family Photos

My desire for you is to have the smoothest and most efficient family photos possible! While they can seem daunting, I am here to make them easy-breezy. Here are my recommendations:

1. Alert Your Family

Let the family members who will be in your group photos know ahead of time, and/or have your officiant make an announcement for family to gather for photos in a designated place after the ceremony. If you are doing immediate family only, make sure to have the officiant make this distinguishment.

2. Shot list

I will ask for a shot list before your wedding to have all the family photo combinations you would like. This way, I can have my assistant or a friend of yours call out who is up next. Plus, this will ensure we do not forget any photos you'd like.

3. Start Big

I recommend structuring your list to start with the biggest group first, then working your way to smaller groups so that guests who are no longer needed can be dismissed. I also suggest having grandparent/older guest photos done first so they may be dismissed earlier as well.

4. Designated Helper

Having a helpful friend or family member who know your families well and is willing to assist in making sure all included in family photos are present and ready to go can be a big help!

5. No Phone Photos Please

When a guest is taking a phone photo over my shoulder, this can confuse the people in the photo with where to look and can also really slow things down. Please have guests refrain from taking phone photos.

Self Care

Yay, you’ve made it to the end of The Wedding Guide!! I know it’s a lot of information and things to think about, which can easily create stress. This is why it is so important to take care of yourself too!

Here are some of my recommendations to help take care of yourself during your wedding planning:

1. Set Aside Time to Plan

Don't let wedding planning consume your whole life! Try setting aside certain days to plan, meet with vendors, etc. You can also make wedding planning a date with your partner! Grab your favorite take out food and make it something fun together. Lastly, if you feel overwhelmed, consider hiring a wedding planner -- they are worth the investment and can really help take some pressure off of you.

2. Focus on What Matters

Sure, there may be unexpected bumps in the process or even on the day of your wedding, but what matters most is that you are getting married! (And all of your people are going to be there, celebrating with you). The couples who have the BEST time at their weddings are the ones who really focus on what matters, and don't sweat the little things.

I’m Here For You!

Please do not hesitate to reach out if I can help you in any way beyond this guide! As a reminder, we will have a final phone call and walk through everything one month out from your wedding. If you have any questions in the meantime, I'd love to help.