My Best Wedding Planning Advice

After nearly 10 years of photographing weddings, I’ve learned a thing or two about what really makes for the best wedding day. For a day that goes by super fast, there is a lot of advice out there about what you should do or how you should plan it! So today I’m sharing the best wedding planning advice I’ve learned over the years.    

My Best Wedding Planning Advice 

Include plenty of time in your timeline 

If you are just beginning the planning process, you may be new to the idea that there are a LOT of structured elements often included in wedding day timelines. Things like the grand entrance and first dance, cake cutting, toasts, etc. Even the schedule for getting ready is often pretty structured. This is due a lot in part to tradition, but also to ensure that all of the moments that are important to the couple (or sometimes family members) are fit into the day. 

However, I always encourage my couples to consider including ample time cushions as they create their timelines. Think about the elements of a wedding day that are important to you, and leave out the ones that aren’t. 

There are SO many benefits to having more time and flexibility in your day:

• #1 – It makes for better photos!
  When you have extra time in your schedule, it allows us to capture more meaningful photos of the real moments, not just the posed ones. It also allows for more creativity in your photos because we have time to play around with ideas and more importantly, time to have FUN! 
  
• # 2 – You’ll have more time for connection. Not only between you two as a couple, but with your guests as well! When you’re rushed from one event to the next you don’t have much time to visit with all of the people who are there to celebrate you. And one of the greatest regrets couples report having about their wedding day is not having enough one-on-one time with eachother.
  
• # 3 – It’s way less stressful! Given all of the moving pieces that go into a wedding, it can be common for things to either not run on time or not go as planned. When you have extra time built into your schedule, it’s not a big deal when things run behind! You can relax and enjoy yourselves without the stress. 
  
• # 4 – You can actually stay present. No matter what, your wedding day is going to fly by. But when you have more flexibility in your timeline, you have more opportunities to be present in each moment and soak in the experience. You’ll actually get to enjoy your day, rather than just reacting to a stringent timeline.      
  
• #5 – There’s more flexibility and options. With more flexibility, you can embrace things that happen organically, and/or intentionally pivot the plans as necessary. When the timeline is tight, you only have room to stick to the plan, and no room for unplanned moments!   
  

If I had to pick only one piece of wedding planning advice to share with couples, this would be it. I think that having a flexible timeline is the key to a wedding day you’ll actually enjoy. It’s also the best way to wind up with impactful wedding photos that you’ll cherish forever. 

Looking for a Boston Wedding Photographer? 

If you are planning a Boston or New England area wedding, and still searching for your perfect fit photographer, I would love to hear from you! I’m passionate about capturing the moments of your wedding authentically, and I love hearing all about my couples’ visions for their day.