Steer clear of these 5 Wedding NIGHTMARES!
No wonder people become BRIDEZILLAS!
There is so much to coordinate, so much to plan, so many things you don’t even think about that can go wrong on your big day. I hate to say it too, but no matter how much you plan, something isn’t going to go as planned. Unfortunately I can say that from experience, and over the course of dozens of weddings in multiple languages and multiple countries, that is the common denominator.
It is not all bad of course (cause we wouldn’t bother planning extravagant weddings over and over again if it was true, right??) and if you know how to prepare and work with a professional, you can manage the madness before it even happens!
Here are 5 Wedding Nightmares You Can Avoid!
#1 - Missing the photo with Auntie
Problem: Especially when you have a large family, capturing a photo with every group of cousins and one-on-ones with Granny gets a bit complicated. Someone is always missing and no one is ever sitting still. You just walked back down the aisle holding the hand of the person you pledged to spend the rest of your life with and everyone is bombarding you with hugs, how in the world are you supposed to remember who you have and have not taken a photo with yet??
Solution: I send a questionnaire to each of my couples (not only because I wanna know all about you guys!) to get the details on who is who in the wedding and what dynamics I should be aware of even. Does Aunt A not talk with Aunt C? Is there a divorce or new step-family member that should be included/excluded in photos? Did your Uncle basically raise you and you need a one-on-one photo with him? These are things I need to know in order to plan ahead and make sure I can get though the family photos in a timely manner and no one is forgotten!
#2 - Forgetting Thank You Notes
Problem: Your day is over, your back from your honeymoon (with an amazing tan I might add!) and finally get a chance to breath… or so you thought. The stack of towels and kitchen appliances are staring back at you from their pile in the livingroom and that means you now need to figure out how to send all 150 guests thank you notes.
Solution: How about having them ready to go and only missing the personal touch before you even leave for your honeymoon? Why not stage a photo on your wedding day with a “Thank You” sign or a fun prop and approve the photo on the spot, then when you are settled back home the box of ready to be signed cards and pre-addressed envelopes are in your mailbox! Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered!
#3 - Everyone is LATE and now the Timeline is all off!
Problem: I live in Miami, have a huge family and lots and lots of friends, and I have NEVER been to an event big or small when half of the invitees arent “Fashionably Late”. It was so bad growing up that we would give those on “Cuban-Time” (Its a thing…) a start time on their invite that was 2 HOURS before everyone else. Truth.
Solution: I have helped make wedding timelines that include First Looks, or need time to change into a 2nd (OR 3rd!) dress, or multiple meals, or even a tradition where the bride gets kidnapped by the groomsmen to a nearby bar till the groom finds them (true story. And they didn’t tell the photographer to come along which I was more mad about because I missed some epic photos of them all taking Jagger shots!). Because I have done a little bit of it all, I know where buffers of time need to be added in, and what moments or photo-ops can be moved around to save time or make up for it later. A strong timeline will still have its problems sometimes, but that’s why I have Timelines B through E ready to go!
#4 - You forgot to BREATHE
Problem: Your getting ready surrounded by people, you never have a moment alone, some don’t even get a chance to take a bite of your delicious (and meticulously selected, I might add) dinner and by the time the final song of the night comes on you haven’t had a moment to look up. No one reminds you to breathe and take it all in and a full years worth of planning will go by in the blink of an eye!
Solution: I do have breathing LITERALLY written into the timeline for everyone, and that is one of the moments I don’t ever want to skip or push aside. At least 20 minutes just before you are introduced as Mr and Mrs for your reception, I make sure 2 glasses of champagne and some hors d’oeurvres are waiting for you in a secret room. You both need the time to take it in, have some alone time to let the new titles kick in and get ready for your debut!
One of the biggest reasons I want to get to know the couple I work with is so when I am there as one of the many people always surrounding you, you feel comfortable, but also know that I will blend into the background and will never intrude or get so close to make you uncomfortable. As your photographer, I will be with you from the beginning until the very end, and while I will play time keeper and try to keep things as close to the timeline as possible, I will also be there to make sure you remember to enjoy it all and take moments for yourself!
#5 - Those children are not SCREAMING for ice cream…
Problem: We love the young ones! Well we love how adorable they look in mini-adult costumes and you wouldn’t want them to miss out on the cake… but little ones run on their own schedule and some do what they want… when they want. What do we do when kids start crying in the middle of the ceremony? Or don’t want to walk down the aisle in front of 100’s of pairs of eyes?
Solution: I have learned over the years that there are many tools to the trade. Most know of the camera batteries, and extra flashes, but did you know I have an SOS kit on hand always? It includes a tide pen, a whole bunch of safety and bobby pins, and my secret weapon: Gummy Worms. Their main purpose is bribery, for kids to walk towards me down the aisle, for children to have something to chew on when they are getting antsy, but has doubled as a blood sugar assistance in a pinch one ridiculously hot summer wedding day. (My SOS kit has a heck of a lot more than that, but a photographer cant reveal all her tricks!) Depending on the child’s age as well, you may want to give them a task. Coloring a thank you card for the bride and groom, helping be an usher to make sure everyone finds a seat, or my personal favorite: entrust them with a disposable camera (or GoPro if you extra risky) and send them on a photo hunt! You will be surprised at their willingness to be involved and help!
The most important take-away from all of this should be not to stress it! Your day is going to be amazing and if you have the right helping hand and professionals to make sure every plan and detail is covered, you wont have to worry about a thing!