What to Wear to Your Engagement Session
“What the heck are we supposed to wear?” I mean, I’ve even asked photographers before my husband and I step in front of the lens. I get it. You want to look goooood while you’re frolicking with me on the beach right? Don’t worry boo, I’ve gotchu! Are you ready for my top 5 tips for choosing the perfect outfit? Ok, then let’s dive right!
Before they even start asking questions about locations or what to expect from me during our engagement session together, couples have one burning question. “What the heck are we supposed to wear?” I mean, I’ve even asked photographers before my husband and I step in front of the lens. I get it. You want to look goooood while you’re frolicking with me on the beach right? Don’t worry boo, I’ve gotchu! Are you ready for my top 5 tips for choosing the perfect outfit? Ok, then let’s dive right!
Choose Two Outfits
I know what you’re thinking “it’s hard enough to choose one, but TWO OUTFITS? Really Chelsi?” But hold on a sec because we’re going to make choosing outfits so easy even my 9-year-old could do it! Let’s give you some variety by choosing two different looks okay? You’re going to want to pull out one dressy outfit and a more laid back option.
BONUS TIP: We’re probably going to be shooting outdoors far away from the convenience of a restroom, so you may have to change in your car or behind a tree, so I recommend outfits that are easy to get in and out of.
Dress Appropriately for the Location
When choosing outfits, think about what would look good in the location we are shooting in. If we’re going to the beach, you’re going to want to put your toes in the sand, so boots and a parka are out! Considering an urban location? Try wearing something modern or edgy. A leather jacket with a pair of jeans and stilettos perhaps?
You’ve got to Move it
In the infamous words of King Julian from Madagascar, “you’ve got to move it, move it”.
Seriously though, you’ll look your best while wearing something that you are able to move in. If you’re stuck in the same position because you can’t lift your arms or your dress feels too short and you’re afraid your exposing too much leg, you won’t feel comfortable to use some fun prompts ! And you will feel self conscious the whole time which will ultimately lead to those awkward photos that you are terrified of. This also means that you should wear clothing that fits you perfectly. Nothing too loose or tight.
Choose Neutral Tones
When in doubt choose neutrals, but don’t don’t try to be twinsies with your colors. While I love color, in most cases, there’s nothing quite like soft and light neutrals in a photograph.
Consider light colors such as whites, creams or pastels.
Mix in other neutrals like denim or leather. I love a leather jacket thrown over a lace dress it's timeless yet edgy at the same time. perfect.
Coordinate your outfits using colors and textures but please don't be too matchy-matchy. There is nothing more awkward than two people wearing the same exact shirt, unless of course, you’re a cute elderly couple.
Things That Just Don’t Photograph Well
T-shirts that have any logos of insignia, no matter how small. Just say no!
Sweat Suits, tops or bottoms. This includes sweatshirts and sweatpants. This is a total party foul.
Unless we’re going for a dip in the ocean, no board shorts.
Flip Flops. I mean, I love ‘em but not at a photo session.
Accessories that you should avoid like the plague:
Chains. Anywhere: Belts, Wallets, even around your neck. Nope.
pocket knives or your phone if we can see it sticking out. You aren’t going to call your buddies during a makeout session and you won’t need your knife either. Leave them in the car!
Absolutely no baseball caps. Hats are okay, but this isn’t a sporting event, so please keep it classy!
You’re not Kanye, leave your sunglasses at home.
One Final Thought
The clothes you wear to your engagement session should be a reflection of your love story. Please don't overthink your outfit. Just wear what you feel good in. If you would never wear a long flowy dress then don't. The last thing I want is to be photographing the version of you that you think fits perfectly in a box that anyone would put you in. Be true to you and I'll be authentically me, and there will be magically made. Pinky promise!
CHELSI IS A DESTINATION WEDDING AND PORTRAIT PHOTOGRAPHER BASED IN FORT BRAGG, CALIFORNIA. HER BAGS ARE ALWAYS PACKED AND SHE’S READY TO GO ON AN ADVENTURE TO CAPTURE YOUR LOVE STORY! SHE LIVES FOR EXPERIENCING THE BEAUTY ALL AROUND US, CAPTURING UNTAMED LOVE, AND MAKING PEOPLE LAUGH. HER STYLE IS AUTHENTIC, REAL, AND EMOTIONAL. SHE BELIEVES IN LAUGHING TOO MUCH, SINGING TOO LOUD, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY LIVING LIFE TO THE FULLEST. CHELSI PREFERS CAPTURING AUTHENTIC MOMENTS THAT EVOKE EMOTION OVER PERFECTLY POSED PHOTOS.
The Last Wedding Day Makeup Tips You Will Ever Need
Hey girl! You’re engaged, planning your wedding, and feeling great! That’s aaaaammmmmaaazzing. You probably stumbled upon this little corner of the internet expecting to see a make up artist gushing over their favorite shade of lipstick and best skincare routine. Alas, you’ve stumbled upon MY corner of the internet and I’m the photographer. Let me tell ya a secret. I am not a girly girl. I rarely wear make up and in fact, I had to have someone give me a rundown on how to apply it just a few weeks ago.
So instead of hearing me gush over how complicated it all is, I asked my good friend Rachel Cail of Prati Beauti to give us her top makeup tips for your wedding day.
Rachel Cail of Prati Beauti
Ya game? Okay, let’s see what she has to say!
You NEED a Skincare Routine
I always recommend an excellent skincare routine (if you don’t already have one) beginning as soon as you can. Also you want to see an esthetician for a skin evaluation so that you know you’re using the right products for your skin type/conditions. Healthy skin makes for the best makeup application - of course just about anything can be covered, so don’t worry if you have redness or sun damage, that’s what I’m here for!
2. Don’t Forget Your Favorite Lipstick
Bring your favorite shade of lipstick with you to the trial run and also the day of wedding! Lipstick often needs touched up in between getting ready for the ceremony and photos, etc. Eating and drinking after your makeup application is often needed, yet makes the lipstick wear off! I use a product that helps the lipstick last longer, and offer straws to all my clients to help as well - but it’s always nice to have your exact shade tucked away just in case.
3. Extend Your Lashes
If you have sensitive eyes or you tear up at weddings, or feel you might at tear up at your own, get lash extensions at least one month before wedding. This way you have time to get a fill before the wedding date! Lash extensions are fabulous, they look wonderful, last weeks, and in my opinion remove the need for mascara!
4. Choose Your Look Ahead of Time
Choose your makeup look ahead of time! Match it with your theme! Is it whispy and natural, or glam like the roaring 20’s? Either way if you know what you’re looking for in advance it helps to practice the look before you see your makeup artist! Take some selfies of the makeup you like on yourself!
BONUS TIP:
If you don’t regularly wear makeup, maybe get it done at a couple different makeup counters at department stores! It’s often complementary and you can experiment with color!
Looking for more Wedding Planning Tips?
Check out these amazing ideas:
3 Reasons To Consider An Elopement
Chelsi is a destination wedding and portrait photographer based in Fort Bragg, California. She loves to travel and will go anywhere to capture your life's sweet moments. She lives for seeing the world, capturing authentic love, and making people feel fabulous. Her style is authentic, real, and emotional. She believes in laughing too much, singing too loud, and most importantly living life to the fullest and prefers capturing every single authentic beautiful moment that evoke emotion over perfectly posed photos. 
Considering an Elopement or Intimate Wedding? 3 Reasons Why You Should.
In the last few years, it seems that more couples are choosing a more intimate and wild option for their wedding day. They’re eloping. You may have noticed the trend amongst your friends and colleagues and wonder, “what makes eloping so dang popular? I’ve been growing this photo business for a while now which has afforded me the opportunity to photograph both larger weddings and more intimate affairs such as elopements. As I have experienced both, I have discovered that I am curiously drawn to untraditional intimate weddings rather than more classically large and elaborate weddings.
So today, I want to share about my obsession, why my husband and I opted to elope, and give you some perspective on why a more intimate wedding, may just be the thing for you.
All That Matters On Your Wedding Day Is Your Love Story
I’m going to spill some truth here. The moment he/she puts a ring on it, your mind goes straight to that secret pinterest board (oh don’t pretend like you didn’t make one long before you ever met each other, I see you) with ALL the beautiful wedding ideas that you have been dreaming about since you were 17. I know from experience how overwhelming it can be to make all the decisions for your wedding day (I ultimately decided to forgo the decision making, and let my MIL take over). Instead of focusing on the fact that you have found the love of your life and you are about to spend the rest of your lives together, you find yourself trying to be a wedding coordinator, master chef, and florist. Before that shiny new best friend was on your finger, you probably never even thought about coordinating a wedding or putting together a flower arrangement. It’s easy for your wedding planning to turn from being all about you and your husband/wife to be into making a perfect day that entertains everyone else. Elopements take the spotlight off the perfectly planned event and points it right on you and your love story. Eloping transforms the day from a bunch of moving parts and things that won’t matter after it’s over anyway, to what really matters anyway, the commitment that you are making to your person, the love that you share, and the beginning of your happily ever after. If after reading that sentence, you paused and were able to sigh in relief, an elopement or intimate wedding might just be for you!
2. You Can Get Married Wherever The Heck You Want
Back up Chelsi, what did you just say? I can get married wherever I want? Yup. You can get married on a beach in Hawaii, a glacier in alaska, on a boat in the middle of a lake in Italy. I know I’m not the only one who has daydreamed about such things. Eloping makes it easier to make that dream a reality. When you choose an elopement, you don’t have to worry about which location or venue is in the closest proximity to your family and friends. Instead you can choose a place that means something to the two fo you, perhaps a place that you vacationed or camped together for the first time, or somewhere you both have always wanted to go. If you are anything like me and have the wanderlust bug, a wild destination elopement might be right up your alley. Bonus, if you elope in a destination location, you can just stay there for a while for your honeymoon!
3. You Can Invest Your Money In What Matters Most
Let’s face it, throwing a traditional wedding is expensive. We’re not all millionaires, so throwing a wedding, no matter how big or small, budgeting is uber important. When planning a traditional wedding things can start adding quick. Invites, Photography, Venues, Flowers, Food, DJ, etc etc. The list goes on and on, but you get my point. It’s expensive, that’s all. It’s hard to plan the wedding of your dreams when you are on a budget and the money has to be spread through many vendors. An elopement is shorter, requires less vendors, and ultimate SAVES you money. There’s no need for food, a dj or an expensive venue. You can spend the money on the things that matter most to you. Perhaps it’s a gorgeous dream wedding dress, beautiful photos of you and your love on your wedding day, or even a video of you exchanging vows that you will show your family and friends for generations to come. The point is, when you don’t have to spend money on things that won’t matter years from now, the money can be prioritized to the things that matter most to you.
BONUS TIP:
You Can Still Celebrate With Your Family + Friends
If you have stuck with me this far, you are probably thinking “ all of this sounds amazing, but what about my family and friends?!? “. Look I get it, family and friends are a priority too. There are some options to include your family and friends on your wedding day.
Option 1: Choose a location that is still special to you close and affordable enough for your intimate family & friends to get to if they choose to come. Design it to be an intimate wedding without the expenses of a traditional wedding AND have your family there.
Option 2: Elope wherever you want, bring your family or don’t, then when you return home, throw a party for all your friends and family to come and celebrate too. You can plan a much more casual post-elopement party that is less expensive than a wedding reception. You won’t need fancy food or table arrangements. No need for favors or a live band. When you get home from your adventurous elopement, throwing a casual backyard party will allow you to make your family and friends feel included and welcome in your celebration. It is possible to exchange your vows in your dream location and still party like a rockstar with your friends. Plus, you’ll get to wear your wedding dress again. I’d say that’s a check in the yes column!
Whichever option you choose, everyone wins!
After reading this, if you are saying “heck ya” to any of these points, an elopement may be right for you. If you felt discouraged in anyway by these points, then an elopement probably isn’t your style and that’s okay too. Every single couple deserves to have an elopement or wedding that is perfectly designed to represent their love for eachother.
Ok what would you choose? Destination Elopement, Wedding, or something entirely different? Tell me what you would choose, and WHY, in the comments below!
Is A Bridal Session Right For You?
I am always shocked when clients don’t know what a bridal session is, because my humble opinion is that they are the best way to make time for photos of the beautiful couple without being stressed out on wedding day. Oh wait, a bridal session doesn’t happen on my wedding day?!? Say what?
Don’t worry, I’m gonna tell ya all about what a bridal session is and why I believe that every couple needs to have one. Ya ready, let’s go!
What is a Bridal Session anyway?
A Bridal Session is a photo session with the bride and groom that happens a day, week, or even months after the wedding day. It doesn’t really matter when it happens, the point is that the bride and groom get dressed back up in their wedding attire, go on an epic adventure somewhere gorgeous(it doesn’t have to be the wedding venue) and take the wildest most romantic photos they will ever have together.
I know you have so many questions running through your mind right now, don’t worry, I’m going to try my best to answer them all, but mostly, WHY?
Why Should I Schedule a Bridal Session?
I’m gonna shoot it to ya straight, you don’t have time for photos of the two of you on your wedding day. The wedding day timeline is so crammed with events, you need to get to your family and friends that came there to love on you, and of course there’s yummy food and cake to enjoy.
Most couples who I work with want beautiful photos in an epic location that is usually too far away from the venue to even consider. (sometimes it’s even in a completely different town or state!) And let me tell you how many times I have had to let them down lightly that they won’t have enough time for those beach shots or those epic bluff views. Gaaaahh, it is heartbreaking.
This is where the bridal session comes in. No need for broken hearts because if you choose a bridal session, you can have epic photos
and have a more relaxed wedding day.and enjoy your family and friends on your wedding day.and an epic location you’d love to get dressed up and explore together.and take the time to connect with and enjoy your new spouse without worrying about your timeline.
Ok, I’m Sold. What’s Next?
The first thing you have to do is talk to your photographer. They will be able to give you the next steps. They will likely want to determine your preferred session: A day after, week (this is likely during the honeymoon), or a month or two later.
For my couples, whether I am photographing their wedding or just their bridal session we start by determining their dream location and the time of their session. And then, we plan out the rest of their epic adventure from there.
As a wedding photographer with a few years of experience and who has photographed dozens of weddings and bridal sessions, I gotta tell you that the bridal session is the best way to go! It’s unreal how much more laid back a wedding day is when the couple knows they have scheduled a bridal session. There’s more time for photos with the bridal party and their family. They don’t have to disappear for an hour or two for photos with their photographer, leaving their guests to fend for themselves. When they choose a bridal session, they have the peace of mind that they are going to have an epic adventure post-wedding so they get to relax and enjoy their loved ones on their actual day.
The other perk, and probably my favorite, is that brides don’t have to worry about keeping their dress in pristine condition during their photos. They can frolic and play unencumbered by the thought of getting dirty. In my opinion, there is nothing better than a dirty wedding dress and messy hair in photos of newly married couples!
By no means am I trying to sell anything here. I truly and passionately believe that the couples who make their love story a priority during their wedding day, are the couples that have the most fun. I am an advocate for stress free planning, and a laid day. A bridal session can provide the peace of mind that you need to make your day easy and stress free. I would tell any of my friends or family these same things if they were planning a wedding.
If you have questions about bridal sessions or any other part of your wedding day timeline, I would love to answer anything. I’m here for ya and hope that your wedding day is exactly everything you have dreamed it will be. Before I sign off, I will leave you with some photos that were taken during bridal sessions with me. Not to try and sell you anything, but perhaps to encourage you to consider this time and stress saving experience for your wedding day.
Speaking of Stress-Free Weddings, I wrote a how-to guide on wedding planning, if you’re interested you can read it here.
Now it’s your turn, if you or someone you know had a bridal session, do you think it was worth it? Did it alleviate stress on your wedding day? If you had it to do over again, would you schedule another one? Leave me a comment and let us know!
Interested in planning your own bridal session, want to bounce some ideas around?
Best Wedding Venues In Mendocino, California| Mendocino Wedding Photographer
Hey friends! I am often asked for my favorite wedding venues on the Mendocino Coast. Honestly, that’s a loaded question because I love them all, but like anyone, I definitely have my favorites. I decided to give you a little glimpse into a few of my favorites. So here they are in no particular order:
The Inn at Newport Ranch
Driving up to this property, you will instantly feel like you have stepped onto a movie set. You may be greeted by a cow in the driveway, but most definitely by your hosts who will likely offer you a water or glass of wine. With breathtaking ocean views, gorgeous architecture, stunning interior design, and love in every corner, this is the perfect location for an intimate wedding. As if that wasn’t enough, let’s not forget the redwood lined ridge-top and coastal views. We can explore the redwoods together for your bridal session and then you can be married overlooking the breathtaking pacific ocean. This is also a perfect place for a Mendocino Honeymoon or even a quick lovers getaway. We’ve had our own staycation there and can not say better things about it!
photo courtesy of theinnatnewportranch.com
Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens
Although it has been an incredibly long time since I have photographed a wedding there, I spend a lot of time with my family and friends at Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. I had the honor of photographing a proposal there over the summer (oops a little behind on blogging, coming soon!) and wowza, look at those colors! This place is a treasure trove of color, texture, and most importantly will save you a boat load in decorating costs. Home to the Dahlia Garden and best known for their Rhododendrons, the garden is beautifully fragrant and will entertain all the senses. Oh and did I mention the ocean views? Yes, this is your all inclusive choice on the coast. Mendocino Coast Botanical has it all!
Switzer Farm
Located 20 miles north of Fort Bragg, California, this venue boasts breathtaking ocean views, a beautifully manicured garden, and a centuries old victorian farmhouse. The farmhouse home can accommodates 20 plus guests, and for those not staying with you, there are several Bead and Breakfast’s to choose from just up the road in Westport. This is the perfect place for the couple who wants to bring their family along for their big day!
Ellie’s Farmhouse
A country home is nestled among 40 acres with meadows & majestic redwoods, Ellie’s Farmhouse is a perfect place for your intimate wedding or gathering. The most unique and possibly my favorite feature of this property is the old fashioned Fire Engine from Mendocino Fire District that sits on the lawn. It’s a perfect prop for photos. The house can accommodate up to 7 overnight guests, and there is a bonus Glamping Tent that could serve as your place to snuggle up after your wedding day! There is a beautiful kitchen that is perfect for your caterer or family to prepare a meal. Every nook and cranny is full of perfect details for your wedding day!
A Few additional Venues on the coast for your consideration:
(click the words below to be taken to the venue website!)
Macculum House (I am excited to be working with Elope Mendocino on a wedding here this summer)
Mendocino Headlands State Park
Philo Apple Farm (discounts apply for anyone booking a wedding with me here)
Yokayo Ranch (I am excited to be working with his venue this summer, keep a lookout for a blog post sometime in June)
Some of my favorite Wedding Planners:
Elope Mendocino (Elopements are my jam, and I love working with Vanna, let’s make magic together!)
No matter where you decided to exchange nuptials on The Mendocino Coast, you are sure to have beautiful views and unforgettable memories!
Brides, what do you look for when you are considering from a venue? Tell us in the comments below! and for all my Wedding Professional Friends out there, What are your favorite venues here on the coast? Drop a comment and give us your best tips!
Chelsi is a destination wedding and portrait photographer based in Fort Bragg, California. She loves to travel and will go anywhere to capture your life's sweet moments. She lives for seeing the world, capturing authentic love, and making people feel fabulous. Her style is authentic, real, and emotional. She believes in laughing too much, singing too loud, and most importantly living life to the fullest and prefers capturing every single authentic beautiful moment that evoke emotion over perfectly posed photos.
Top 3 Reasons to Have a First Look on Your Wedding Day
You’re planning your wedding and it’s likely that you have heard of couples opting for a “First Look” and photos together before the guests arrive. This isn’t a new trend and I believe that it’s just how weddings are evolving in order to make way for new traditions. The idea of the bride hiding herself from her groom before the ceremony is such an antiquated tradition.
But where does this tradition come from?
Ok, so back in the day, there were arranged marriages, it was more of a business transaction between families than it was a matchmaking. It was customary for the couple to spend the morning of the wedding apart, but wasn’t uncommon (and often expected) for them to never have met at all in the first place.
I’m going to go out on a limb here and assume that your parents didn’t buy your fiance’s love and that this isn’t an arranged marriage! Ok then, why not consider ditching this tradition? Plus, who believes wedding day superstitions anyway? * carefully considers whether her marriage is doomed because she didn’t wear something blue .*
Ahem.
In all seriousness though, there are a number of reasons for couples opting for a first look. I will give you the top three reasons why I wish every single wedding that I photograph included a first look.
Full disclosure: I am a wedding photographer, so this post may be a tad biased towards making photography a priority on your big day, but that is only because I want to capture the most important day in your relationship in the most beautiful and authentic way possible. I also want you to receive all the photos that you always dreamed about. Oh, and I’m all about laid back, stress-free wedding days. Of course, if you are all about traditions and believe in wedding day superstitions, I can respect that. I am not here to tell you how to believe or pressure you into something you don’t want on your wedding day. I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you all the wonderful reasons you should consider it though. Right?!? In the paragraphs that follow, I will make the case for a first look, and in the end, you will choose whether you believe it is right for you on your big day. Because ultimately, your wedding day is about YOU!
Ready? Ok, here we go!
#1 Ditch The Wedding Day Jitters
“Cold feet”, “nerves”, “jitters” call it whatever you want, but every single person I know gets nervous on wedding day. Perhaps it’s the thought of being with one person for the rest of their lives, or maybe it’s the fact that they are about to stand in front of a large group of people and vow their love to their person, but no matter the reason, even the most laid back couples get jittery as their ceremony approaches.
It is common for my couples to mention that they were really nervous but after the first look they were relieved and ready to get on with their day. This can be especially helpful if you or your partner is prone to general anxiety or nervousness. During the first look, all that anxious anticipation melts away and a feeling of joy and excitement is left in its place, once you see each other. Honestly, it’s the most magical moment of the day, every single time.
Brides, I know you may be fretting about the fact that you have been dreaming of that “walking down the aisle” moment your entire life. You may be wondering if seeing each other before the ceremony will make that moment less special. My educated answer is “no”. I have witnessed so many authentically emotional moments from the groom even after a first look. I promise that the enchantment is not lost because he’s already seen you. In fact, because you have gotten past all the anxiety, it is more likely that he will be able to feel all the emotions more strongly. and here’s a secret- now that he’s seen you, he’s likely even more excited to marry you! I have seen all the beautiful tearful moments happen during the ceremony, even after the first look. And here’s the thing, we get to capture the moment twice because you’ve already experienced all the feels once before, during your first look. I mean, who doesn’t love a good BOGO deal?
#2 Intimate Moments Spent Alone
The first look is as intimate as it gets. You have spent so much time planning this day to be magical for both of you. Don’t you think that spending some time alone with the person you are about to marry sounds like a dream? Trust me, the time passes quickly on your wedding day. You’re going to be surrounded by tons of people all day, with little time to spend alone together. Before you know it, it’s time to cut the cake and you’ve barely said two words to your better half. If your love language is quality time and/or you want to spend an intimate moment with the one you love, on your big day, a first look is definitely for you!
Along the same lines of time spent alone, you won’t spend the majority of the day hiding from your future spouse. Truth: I have actually helped hide a bride behind a tree stump while she was on her way to the restroom (we were out in the boondocks) in order to keep her hidden from the groom. It all sounds a bit crazy when you stop to really think about it. Instead of spending the majority of your time trying to hide from each other, you could be spending magical moments together and with your family and friends (who by the way, came from far and wide to celebrate your day with and celebrate you). You could spend more time reveling in the fact that this is your wedding day instead of trying to escape your better half’s gaze. You will be able to relax and enjoy every single moment together.
#3 You’ll get MORE photos
And lastly, but absolutely not least, Weddings are excessively expensive and I know that hiring a wedding photographer is a huge investment (and if I’m blessed enough to be offered the opportunity to photograph your wedding, I know that you value your photos). Guys, there is really no better way to say this, so here it is: scheduling a First Look into your wedding day is the best way to capitalize on your investment. It’s that simple. There will be so many more portraits of just you and the love of your life. You are going to value and love all the photos of your wedding day, but the ones that will end up printed and hanging on your walls forever, will be the ones of the two of you alone together. These are the photos that you will end up showing off to your children and they may even share with their children someday. What could be better than MORE photos of the two of you together?
Bonus Tip: if you are one that wants a ton of photos of you and your love on your wedding day, but you also want to enjoy the day with your friends and family, a Bridal Session may be right for you. Click here to read Why You Should Consider A Bridal Session.
I hope that this post is helpful to any couples who have been vacillating between having a first look or not. I am obviously 100% in if you choose to have one. On the other hand, I respect that it is an important decision that should not be taken lightly. We all value different things when it comes to weddings. Your wedding should encompass all of your values and be everything you have dreamt it will be.
I will leave you with this one last piece of advise; sit down with your fiance and talk about it- go over the pros and cons of both, think hard about your wedding day and what you value most. and of course, talk to your photographer (if that happens to be me, I’m stoked!) . Ask them all the questions so that you can make a solid decision about what is right for you and your day.
Ok there it is ya’ll!
Now I’d love to hear your thoughts? Was this helpful to you? Do you understand The First Look a bit better after having read my thoughts? if you are a past bride whom chose a first look, would you agree with any of this? If you know a current bride or groom to be and you think this would be helpful to them, please, by all means, share!
Chelsi is a destination wedding and portrait photographer based in Mendocino, California. She loves to travel and will go anywhere to capture your life's sweet moments. She lives for seeing the world, capturing authentic love, and making people feel fabulous. Her style is authentic, real, and emotional. She believes in laughing too much, singing too loud, and most importantly living life to the fullest and prefers capturing every single authentic beautiful moment that evoke emotion over perfectly posed photos. 
Want To Have a Stress Free Wedding Day? Here’s 6 ways you can!
Yaaaaasss giiiirrrrrllll, this is real! You are preparing to PLAN. A. WEDDING. And not just any wedding, YOUR WEDDING!
You’ve been dreaming of this day since you were young enough to play with baby dolls and barbies. I mean, how many times DID KEN MARRY BARBIE? Well, the time for dreaming is over, because the day has come!
I’ve been there, so I know, you are so excited to be committing to forever with the love of your life, but it also can be overwhelming, a little stressful, and confusing, and maybe you’re unsure of where to even start. I TOTALLY GET IT! I am here to help, whether you’re one of my own couples that I have sent this post to, or you landed here in a panic through pinterest or google, I am so excited that you landed here. I am honored to be part of a lot of weddings and I help a lot of couples navigate the planning process. Along the way, I have noticed a few things that can help make planning and the whole wedding day so much easier! I will share them with you here in hopes that you have the best experience possible!
Pop the champagne girl, cuz you gots this! Ok, here it goes:
Budget! Budget! Budget!
Planning an entire wedding is stressful enough and the expenses add up FAST no matter how much you pinch and scrimp. So, before you even open a tab for pinterest, YOU GOTTA KNOW HOW MUCH YOU CAN SPEND. If you’re picking up the tab, sit down as a couple and figure out how much you can afford. If it’s your parents footing the bill, sit down with them and discuss how far their dollar can stretch. It’s not the funnest part of wedding planning, but in my opinion, it’s the most important!
3. Figure out your MUST-HAVES!
Even though you have set a budget, you will feel like you’re being pulled in a million different directions all at once: flatware, dishes, flowers, catering, bridal party gifts, and oooooohhhhh, what about fireworks? It’s gonna happen. So, when couples ask me, I always say, figure out your MUST HAVES try to limit it to two or three. Whatever that looks like for you. Maybe it’s dress, venue, photographer or venue, table settings, cake. Each couple is different with unique dreams, so whatever it looks like for you, just make sure that you know what your must haves are up front. Book the perfect venue for you, hire the photographer that you can connect with whose work makes your heart skip a beat, and buy THE DRESS that makes you look and feel like THE QUEEN you are! You can cut corners in other places, ask you friends to help with DIY. Maybe there’s someone in the family who makes beautiful desserts, get them on the hook. Heck, at my own reception to save on food, we prepared an entire turkey dinner, OURSELVES! When you know what is important to you, the planning process will become SO MUCH SIMPLER.
3. Time isn’t on your side, unless you schedule it to be!
I think the biggest mistake that I see couples make, is not giving themselves enough time on their wedding day. Understandably, they are trying to pack as much into their schedule as humanly possible, so they budget small amounts of time for each event, so when (trust me, this isn’t an if) run behind schedule, their whole day starts to feel stressful. If the ceremony is scheduled to take 40 minutes, give it an hour. You may start 10 minutes late and go over 10. Scheduling that tiny buffer into each event will give you the peace of mind that you need to relax and enjoy your day. If your guessing family photos will take 30 minutes, give it 50. Trust me, wrangling those family members can be tough! I could give you examples of why each thing that you plan will take longer than you think, but you’re a smartypants so you get the idea!
One of the best ways to keep the wedding day feeling calm and relaxed is to spend time talking to your photographer about how long he/she anticipates family photos taking so that you can all breathe and enjoy the experience together! (Although, a good photographer will make it seem like it’s effortless, even if they are feeling stretched for time, ahem, * insert my inner panic here * )
The truth is, It’s better to have an extra 10 minutes to enjoy talking with your loved ones, grabbing a glass of wine, or even adjusting your dress, than to be hurrying around in chaos mode because you didn’t plan enough time.
4. Empower the #bossbabe in your life!
Seriously girl, empower a bossbabe to coordinate on the day of your wedding. I’m not necessarily talking about a professional wedding planner, I’m talking a friend, family member or loved one who can help round up everyone during photos. The last thing that you or your bridal party wants to be doing during cocktail hour is running around looking for uncle bob or shouting at the top of your lungs trying to get all your family together for the right combinations of photos. The one thing that saves me a lot of time, and you a lot of stress on your day, is having someone (a friend, sister, brother, basically anyone who knows everyone) rounding up the troops for photos so that I can just call out the groups and click the photos. Skip the circus. Assign someone the task of rounding up your college girlfriends from across the room and the boys standing outside smoking cigars. Trust me, It’ll save you so much time and stress on your wedding day!
5. Hire vendors whose work you LOVE and that you TRUST undoubtedly!
This is probably the toughest part because it will require you to do a ton of research. Vendors play a huge role in the flow of your day. MOST IMPORTANTLY hire vendors you undoubtedly. Let me say that again in case you didn’t get it the first time: HIRE VENDORS YOU TRUST EXPLICITLY.
For example, if you hire someone to create your floral arrangements, make sure that they are someone who understands you vision for the day and creates a sense of ease when they explain their process to you. When you walk away from your first meeting, it should feel like love at first sight.
As a photographer, I would be remiss if I didn’t address this next issue and it’s HUGE: find a photographer who makes your heart explode when you talk to them and look at their work. They will be with you for all the important moments of your day and practically everywhere else, so it’s important that you feel like besties before you ever step foot in front of their camera. You want to make sure that you trust them to photograph your love story in a meaningful way, even if things go sideways (and they will). Thunderstorm? My photographer’s got this. The sun is too bright, no problem, my photographer knows what to do. No one set up the cake, oh yeah, photographer to the rescue. (inside tip: I am pretty much your go to girl when it comes to any emergency that may occur, I’ve set up cakes, bustled dresses, attached boutineers to tuxedos, tied shoes, and even removed stains from shirts). Your photographer will do some much more than tote their camera around on your wedding day. They will pretty much coordinate the entire day for you, especially if you don’t have a wedding planner. So make sure that the sun and moon sets on the fact that you LOVE everything that they have to offer you. The same is true for your coordinator, DJ, cater, etc. Make sure that you are certain they are the perfect match for you! You will be so much more relaxed knowing that your team is there to bring their A-Game on your big day.
6. Your wedding day is about YOU!
Lastly, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, your wedding is meant to about YOU! Make it about what you want. Whether that is eloping amongst the redwoods with just the officiant and your photographer or if that’s a humongous ballroom style wedding, make it be what you want it to be. Usually I would say consider others, but your wedding day is yours and no one else’s. Marriage is the single most important commitment you will ever make to another person, and this is the one time in your life you have permission to be selfish in your desires. While yes, you should honor others by taking their thoughts into consideration, your choices should ultimately come down to what you want. Heck if you want to wear a polka dot dress and striped shoes on your wedding day, even though that may be unconventional, YOU DO YOU! My challenge to the stereotype is WHO CARES? If it makes you happy on the biggest day of your life, GO FOR IT!
BONUS TIP
You could schedule a seperate photo session on a completely different day for you and your new spouce to get all dressed up in your wedding attire again and frolic around with a photographer. In other words, you may want to consider a bridal session to free up some time in your timeline! If your wondering if this might be right for you, check out my post Is a Bridal Session Right For You?
I hope that these few tips save you a lot of stress on your wedding day. If there are any questions that I can answer for you along the way, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
I believe in your girl! You are rad, and you’ve got this!
Chelsi is a destination wedding and portrait photographer based in Fort Bragg, California. She loves to travel and will go anywhere to capture your life's sweet moments. She lives for seeing the world, capturing authentic love, and making people feel fabulous. Her style is authentic, real, and emotional. She believes in laughing too much, singing too loud, and most importantly living life to the fullest and prefers capturing every single authentic beautiful moment that evoke emotion over perfectly posed photos.