BRIDAL GUIDE
I AM BLESSED TO HAVE SUCH WONDERFUL CLIENTS
& CAN'T WAIT TO GET TO KNOW YOU BETTER!
welcome
Hey there, Bride-to-be! This is such an exciting time for you! I'm sure your mind is racing with all that needs to be planned. It's all very exciting but it can also be somewhat overwhelming. You're planning the day you've been anticipating your whole life and by the time you get the hang of it, planning is over! My goal as a
wedding photographer is to make this one aspect of the planning process simple. This page highlights some important things I've learned over the years, and I'd like to pass along to ensure you have the best photographic experience possible!
If you have questions at any point throughout your wedding plans, don't hesitate to get in touch! I am here for you every step of the way.
I you have any questions, please get in touch.
look forward to hearing from you!
LOVE, addie
After photographing hundreds of weddings over the past few years, I deeply value the emotions that run far beyond your wedding day. The pure joy shared as you laugh through tears while sharing a first look, the heartfelt glance your father gives you before walking down the aisle, the toasts from lifelong friends that invite the whole room to feel how deep your bond runs. Once the champagne is flat and those flowers dry out, I'll be in your corner…praying that your commitment not only survives, but thrives from day one. I can assure you I'm already so thrilled for you as you embark on your life long adventure together!
It's the beginning....
Enjoy this season of planning but also remember that your marriage is so
much more important than just your wedding day! The wedding will come
and go in a matter of hours, but your marriage needs to stand the test of
time. Continue to make time for one another, even with all that needs to
get done!
Your Engagement Session
I encourage including an engagement session in your wedding experience because I truly believe they are a vital part of the entire process.
During your engagement session you'll have the chance to get to know
me, experience how I shoot and how I handle posing and lighting. This session will make a huge impact on how the wedding day flows! Engagement sessions are invaluable because they provide me with information about the types of images you like of yourself, how you two interact and how you respond to posing. This way, I will arrive on the wedding day already knowing what your best poses are and how to photograph you in a genuine way! It is also a great chance for you to get comfortable in front of the camera and feeling like a pro on your big day.
location
a few thoughts
Add to your photos by choosing a special location for your session!
I love when couples pick a location that is special to them in some way. As long as the light is great, I can make any location look awesome! Whether it's the local coffee shop or park where you first met your soon-to-be spouse, let me know if there is a place that is sentimental to you!
Scheduling
Sessions are scheduled at least 6-8 weeks in advance for weekday evenings. The best light is 1-2 hours before sunset. Weekend availability is very limited.
what to wear
Wear something that makes you feel comfortable and confident! My style works best with soft colors, earthly neutrals and minimal patterns. Feel free to run your outfit choices by me!
I suggest brining 2-3 outfits for some variety.
WEDDING DAY
First + foremost, my most important advice is to relax + enjoy your day!
I'll be there capturing every important moment as it unfolds, so feel to just put all your planning on the shelf, and soak it in!
GETTING READY
Getting ready to marry the love of your life with all your best friends is such a special time. The rest of the day is going to be fast paced and filled with a lot of emotions! There are a few things
to consider during this portion of the day...
GETTING READY...
Location and lighting are key! Make sure you have a clean getting ready space that is well lit with some nice big windows for natural lighting. Try to keep your getting ready space clean and organized. It may seem silly, but you don't want disorganization cluttering your wedding photos!
And lastly, make sure to pre-gather any items you'd like detail shots of (garter, jewelry, rings - all of them!, invitations, bouquet, shoes, any sentimental items, etc.). If possible, have these items in a separate bag or box to be photographed quickly and efficently when I arrive!
FAMILY PHOTOS
In my pre-wedding questionnaire, you'll be able assemble a thorough shot list that provides me with the specific names and
groupings of family members. Make sure to communicate with any family members ahead of time where and when they will be
needed.
GO UnPLugged
Consider having an 'unplugged' ceremony.
Many couples these days are opting for short & sweet ceremonies. The bride & groom don't want to stand up there too long, and we know the guests wouldn't mind getting the party started sooner.
These shorter ceremonies allow less time for me to capture those special moments.
Guest photos are fabulous! They capture candid moments throughout the evening, but I promise, you don't want them standing in the foreground of your first kiss as a married couple.
DINNER
If possible, communicate with your caterer to make sure I am able to eat when you do. If I get a head start before the rest of the
guests, I'll be finished with plenty of time to get back to shooting as soon as the first person hits the dance floor.
REception
Your vows have been said, and now it's time to party! You've spent countless hours planning the perfect celebration, and it will fly by!
Your reception is a time to enjoy the start of your marriage and appreciate the company of every person that showed up to support you both and share in your excitement! Consider having a
receiving line, join cocktail hour, or host a welcome party which allows you a chance to greet guests, and allows you more flexible time during your reception. It is easy to get caught up and let the night slip by, but I encourage you to be intentional about enjoying time at your reception TOGETHER! It sounds obvious, but you'll be pulled in all different directions once the night starts!!
Lighting
DJ lights! They absolutely enhance the party and create a fun dancing environment. If you would like to avoid wild color casts on skin tones during your first dance and parent dances, please communicate to your DJ ahead of time the desire to neutral lighting during these portions of the evening.
SParkler PHotos
A sparkler send off is such an iconic way to exit your reception! These photos are so fun and joy filled! In order to capture that ideal image, here are a few tips!
Be sure to order longer burning and smoke-less sparklers. The traditional 4th of July sparklers do not burn very long and the smoke makes it very difficult to focus the camera.
On some occasions, it might work best to stage this photo before the actual send off. It is hard to organize 100+ quests after everyone has been partying! When there is still a tiny bit of light left in the sky, we can snag a smaller group of bridal party + close family members to head outside. Then we can easily take a few extra minutes to capture the perfect sparkler photo!
RAIny Wedding Days
IT HAPPENS, AND IT WON'T RUIN YOUR DAY!
In an ideal world, there would be blue skies and a swoon worthy golden hour for every wed ding day. But here's what I've learned in case it doesn't stay as dry as you'd like!
PReperation
We'll know the forecast in advance so there are a few things you can do to best prepare for a rainy wedding.
Clear umbrellas. #1 rainy wedding day neccecity! They'll keep you dry. They're super cute in photographs. And because they're clear, they let light in and avoid casting any shadows on your faces…and I love light! You can usually find them in-store at Target, or on Amazon. Other helpful items can be towels, rain shoes (cute boots, old heels, whatever can get wet), a blow dryer (useful for drying the hem of dresses after being outside!).
flexibility
Sometimes last minute scheduling changes, or alternate photo locations can help ensure you will have the best images possible. Whether we're waiting out a shower, or changing something
up to get outside before it starts, flexibilty is for the best.
Attitude
It's your wedding day!
You've dreamt. You've planned. You've hoped. Your date was chosen long in advance, and we can't control the weather - so the best advice I can give you is to just roll with it! You're going to be left with gorgeous images, and joy filled memories no matter what the sky brings us!
THE FIRST LOOK
Whether or not you choose to do a first look is completely up to you! There's no right or wrong choice. Here are a few reasons why I love a first look!
I love photographing the emotion of your day. Taking a few minutes to greet your sweet one, just the two of you, is so wonderful. You can get all the nerves out and move forward to enjoy your day as a couple, rather than separated in secluded spaces. When you're ready to walk down the aisle, that moment can still be so full of emotion as your prepare to say your vows to one another!
First looks make your timeline a breeze by taking a lot of photos before your ceremony. Bridal party and family photos can be done beforehand so there is no rushing before the reception begins. You can take a few 'just married' portraits, and enjoy cocktail hour with your quests. A first look often means that the bride + groom are able to get more photos together. We'll do some at the first look, a few more after the ceremony, and usually sneak out of the reception to quickly take advantage of golden hour. With multiple chunks of time, you'll have different scenery, different lighting, and different levels of joy and anticipation throughout the day.
If a first look isn't for you, that's okay! That down the aisle moment is truly special and if that's how you're envisioning your wedding, YOU DO YOU! Your quest will get to experience your joy and excitement as your walk towards your soon-to-be-husband, and witness his sweet expression as he gives his new bride his first glance of the day.
Read more here
TIMELINE
Details
12:30 - 1:15
Every bride loves having those beautiful shots of her bridal details as an important part of the story. These shots allow me to get warmed up for the rest of the day.
bridal prep
1:15-1:45
It's time for the bride to get into her dress! I usually ask that the mother of the bride + all bridesmaids are dressed by this time to ensure that everyone will look great in these images. Following the dress comes the jewelry, shoes, veil, etc + some bridal portraits.
first look + portraits
2:00-2:35
In a secluded space, the bride + groom will share a few private moments of happiness as they begin their wedding day. I will then move into shooting some portraits of them together with the lingering excitement of their first moments together.
Please reach out for any specific timeline questions since all wedding days
are a little different!
Always allot more time than you think is necessary. You should not feel rushed on your wedding day!
bridal party + Immediate family
2:45-3:30
Make sure all the bouquets + boutonnières are in place before now! We'll photograph guys and girls both together and separately before everyone gets into hiding prior to guest arrival.
all in hiding
3:30-4:00
The bride will get behind closed doors so that no one sneaks a peak before her debut down the aisle.
Often this is a great time for me to quickly capture reception details + get prepped for the ceremony.
Ceremony
4:00-4:30
Most wedding ceremonies fall around 30 minutes. If yours is longer we can make adjustments. If your ceremony will be much shorter, please let me know so I can be sure to grab shots quickly!
extra portraits
4:30-5:00
If needed, we'll take any extra portraits that couldn't happen before the ceremony. I recommend portraits outdoors if possible, especially if the ceremony location is dark.
I love to take some additional time with the bride + groom for some romantic portraits together. As we get closer to sunset, the light is gorgeous + these are often favorite shots of the day!
cocktail hour
4:30-5:30
Now that the wedding day nerves have subsided, this time can be used to sneak away for a few quiet minutes together as NEWLYWEDS!
You're also welcome to join cocktail hour and enjoy your party!
The party begins!
5:45
The rest of the timing for the evening is coordinated between your catering team + DJ... please keep me in the loop!
Wedding days are full of emotion.
You'll laugh. You'll cry. Your smile will beam ear
to ear. I want all of those emotions to be so evident in your wedding day images!
As you're creating your wedding day timeline, be sure to leave ample time to enjoy
all the little moments of your day!
Your wedding should be stress free.
Certain parts of the day will be hectic, no doubt. But give yourself time to slow down. When you schedule in a few minutes to cry tears of joy with your dad as he prepares to give away his baby girl, soak it in. It's better to be a few minutes late to your ceremony
because you were appreciating a moment, than to let the day rush by you
Have a father-daughter first look, give your mom a thoughtful gift to thank her for getting you to where you are today, exchange heartfelt letters with your soon to be spouse before anyone else is around. Make plans that will allow you enjoy your day, evoke emotion with your loved ones, and celebrate every moment of beginning your marriage together!
And last, but certainly not least, I wanted to say thank you for choosing me to capture your wedding day! It means the world that you've chosen my photography and I truly get all the feels every time I get to connect with a new couple! You're starting a lifelong journey as husband and wife, and I can promise you, it is going to be good. I am SO excited to see all the beautiful things in store for your life together. Being a work-at-home mom means my days are full of juggling. But being able to stay home with our kids while doing something I love (meeting the happiest, kindest couples!) makes my heart so full.
I cannot wait to photograph your wedding day and watch your marriage thrive for years to come!
Sincerely,
Addie
THANK YOU
I CAN'T WAIT TO WORK TOGETHER!
CONtACT Addie
PREFFERED VENDORS
planners
Unique by Designs
www.ubdweddingsandevents.com
Spring Lane Event Planning
www.springlaneeventplanning.com
Alisa Marie Events
www.alisamarie.co
FloRists
Wild Indigo
www.wildindigopa.com
Olive + Orange Floral
www.oliveandorangefloral.com
Crimson Clover Flowers
www.crimsoncloverflowers.com
stationary
Heather Paperie
www.heatherpaperie.com
RSVP Love
www.rsvp-love.com
Ainsley + Elaine
www.ainsleyandelaine.com
Please reach out for any other recommendations!
I have worked with some of the best vendors in the area and would love for you to get the chance to work with them as well!
Hair + Makeup
MKUP
www.mkupbeautystudio.com
139 Beauty Co
www.139beautyco.com
Bridal apparel
Tamzen's Bridal
www.tamzensbridal.com
BHLDN
www.bhldn.com
Lovely
www.lovelybride.com
cakes + desserts
Kyrsten's Sweet Designs
www.kyrstenssweetdesigns.com
videographers
K+ A Films
www.k-a.wedding
Shawn Fisher Productions
www.shawnfisherproductions.com
decor + rentals
A to Z Events
www.atozeventrentalsofpa.com
Peachy Keen Event Rentals
www.peachykeeneventrentals.com
Venues
Linwood Estates
www.linwoodestate.com
Allenberry Resort
www.allenberry.com
Elizabeth Furnace
www.elizabethfurnace.com