Newly Engaged? Here’s How to Plan a Photo-Worthy Wedding
First things first, congratulations on your engagement! Now, my second question is - when you’re thinking about planning a “photo-worthy” wedding, do you mean that you’re actually dreaming about having your wedding featured in a magazine? I’ll start by saying that very few weddings do get published these days, but if your dream is to see your beautiful day featured in the media, we’ve got four of our tips to optimize your chances of seeing your wedding photos published, by focusing on what really matters for exceptional wedding photos.
FASHION
A photo-worthy wedding manifests itself through multiple categories, from style to your decor. The first, and most important category, is fashion. When you’re thinking about your wedding dress, you probably have an idea in mind (maybe an image you’ve had since childhood), and in a sense, that makes this particular shopping challenge a unique one. On one hand, you want to find the right dress, and so that can point you in the direction of traditional bridal options. However, if you’re thinking from a perspective of photography, it’s crucial to take risks and think outside of the traditional “bridal” box. Consider emerging bridal designers, bearing in mind that editors have seen it all - if you find a unique dress, you’re sure to catch their eye. One particularly strong fashion moment that comes to my mind is a bride who wore a cape to her wedding. Gone are the days of conventions - and I continue to see the trend of couples thinking outside the traditional norms of wedding fashion. Go for it! As long as you stick to your true sense of style, you can’t go wrong. And if you’re concerned - we highly recommend tapping a stylist to help you with the purchase of your dress if budget allows.
VENUE
The second element of a photo-worthy wedding is your choice of venue. Destination weddings are a big trend, and you know your guests will be thrilled if your winter wedding gives them a chance to jet out of a cold city in favor of celebrating your marriage in a gorgeous tropical destination. However, when I think about venues, to me it’s not just about picking a location, but it’s about choosing a destination that creates an experience for your guests, and for you as a couple. We shot a wedding at Brush Creek Ranch which had an itinerary of weekend activities for the guests, from dining experiences to horseback riding. Or, consider a wedding at the Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, home to the most famous swimming pool in the world, where your guests experience the hot Antibes sun, and the chance to lift a glass of champagne in your honor and cool off with a swim against the backdrop of a castle. Now I’m not playing favorites…but I’d also mention Lake Como, where you could entertain your guests in a 300-year old villa (like Villa Balbiano) that they will never forget.
WEDDING STYLE
The third element is all about wedding style - a relatively broad category that includes everything from flowers to stationery to tabletop decor. Again, like with fashion, I’d encourage you to think outside the box in an abstract way. There are incredible wedding stylists who can help you bring a particular vision to life, like Hessney & Co. or Putnam & Putnam. Who wants to have a cookie-cutter style wedding with predictable details? Not you! That’s not you, and you know it.
YOU
And finally - last but not least - remember that it’s all about you. Do not be shy about prioritizing yourself in advance of your wedding. Prioritize your health and wellness months before your wedding day, from making time for workouts that you love doing, to focusing on your mental health, too. We all know that weddings can bring up emotions, so putting yourself first in the months leading up to the big day becomes very important. When your wedding day comes, it’s all about enjoying the moments and letting go of control. I’ll say that from my perspective as a photographer, seeing your laugh and watching you be present in the moment makes all the difference in the end result of the images. Here’s more on that in our blog post on how to be a bride. Channel your energy into planning, and then when the day comes, don’t sweat it. All of the planning in the world doesn’t matter if you’re not enjoying your wedding. But when I can capture a genuine smile on your face, that’s when a wedding is truly photo-worthy.
