A FULL GUIDE TO PLANNING YOUR WEDDING FROM START TO FINISH
- Erica Triplett
- Apr 10
- 12 min read
Updated: Apr 11
Welcome, beautiful bride-to-be! First of all, congratulations on this incredibly exciting chapter of your life. Planning a wedding is such a special experience, and we know it can also feel a bit overwhelming. After all, most brides only get one shot at planning their dream day, and with so many decisions to make, it’s easy to feel the weight of it all. That’s where I come in!
As your photographer, my goal is to take some of that stress off your shoulders. I want to make the planning process as smooth and enjoyable as possible, so you can focus on the joy of this season rather than getting bogged down in details. I’m here to ensure that you have a stress-free wedding planning experience, leaving you with time to truly savor every moment leading up to your big day.
In this blog, we’ll dive into everything wedding planning—from timelines to tips—and also chat about the importance of your engagement session. It’s a great way for us to connect and get comfortable with each other before the wedding day. So, let’s make sure this journey is as fun, stress-free, and unforgettable as your wedding day will be!
Now that you’ve selected your wedding date and venue, it’s time to focus on another important piece of your big day—getting to know your photographer! This relationship is so much more than just a business transaction; it’s about creating a genuine connection. It’s essential to feel comfortable and at ease with your photographer, which is why I believe in building a friendship with each of my couples. That’s why I photograph every couple’s engagement session—it’s the perfect opportunity for us to connect on a deeper, more personal level. By the time your wedding day arrives, we’ll have already spent time together, so you’ll feel like I’m more of a friend by your side than just another vendor. This not only makes for more authentic photos, but also ensures that you feel totally relaxed and confident in front of the camera!
The Engagement Session
The engagement sessions are typically booked anywhere from 6 months to a year prior to the wedding! This helps ensure a stress-free process while sending out prints for save-the-dates. Depending on the time of year, I prefer to start my engagement sessions about 2 hours prior to sun down to ensure we have optimal lighting as well as that perfect, golden hour sun! We can explore many options for your engagement session location! I've shot in creeks, sand bars, boats, and even coffee shops! Lets get creative and unique with your session! What makes you guys feel right at home? Let's do that!
OUTFITS AND STYLING
Believe it or not, you have so much control over how your wedding and engagement photos will turn out, and a big part of that comes down to the outfits you choose to wear. What you wear can completely transform the vibe and feel of your photos, and I know it can sometimes feel stressful trying to figure out how to style and coordinate an outfit. But don't worry—my goal is to help you navigate this decision with ease. With a little guidance and education on what works best for your shoot, you’ll be able to choose outfits that reflect the style and mood you envision for your photos. Once you have a better understanding of what you’re aiming for, picking out the perfect ensemble will feel like a breeze! Let’s start by diving into some helpful tips to make your outfit selection process as stress-free as possible.
Picking Neutrals or Earthy tones | Neutrals for the most part work very well against most backdrops, especially in parks with a lot of greens or earth tones. These colors also coordinate well when one person is wearing a 'pop' of color like red or yellow. Pairing a neutral top against a woman in a red dress can really accent her in the photos. |
Don't match!- Coordinate! | Make sure when choosing a color palate, you choose to coordinate instead of match. If the woman is wearing a baby blue dress, I suggest the partner not wear the same color. Go with a gray or tan top instead |
Dress for the location | If you do want a creek session for example, I would dress for that! You may want to kick off your shoes and splash around! If you do a city engagement, dress it up! Wear the heels, the silk dress and button down shirt with dress shoes. |
Moody or Airy | If you are wanting a more airy style, I would suggest wearing lighter colors. If you are leaning more into moody, dress in earthier or darker colors. |
Refrain from- | Refrain from wearing tennis shoes (Choose a dress shoe or neutral styled shoe instead) Also, stay away from Neon colors as they can be unforgiving during the editing process. Stay clear of large, harsh patterns. Patterns that are smaller and unidentifiable at a distance are acceptable and actually give definition to the photos! Lastly, you'll both want to dress the part! Avoid only one person being dressy- if you choose to be dressy, make sure you both are :) |
Time of year | The time of year can also factor into your session. Keep in mind- winter sessions require more outfit color due to lack of foliage around. Its hard to add any contrast in photos with dead trees and gloomy skies, so add pops of color when you can! |
Tips Continued:
Shine that Ring! | I love a few good close ups of that ring! Try and make sure its nice a clean prior to the engagement session | Parking Fees or Unexpected fees | Sometimes this can cause a little stress. Be prepared to have to pay a small parking or entrance fee depending on the location of your session. |
Lip color and Hairspray | You may have to reapply that lip color or tame the fly aways in your hair due to humidity. So I suggest brining that lip stick and hairspray to reapply during the outfit change | Change of shoes | When we go walking in during your engagement, some of the walking can be difficult wearing heels! Make sure to bring a pair of flip flops just in case that walking is too much! |
Let the BIG DAY Begin!
Now, I’d love to share a sample wedding day timeline to help you start envisioning how your big day might flow. Keep in mind that while this timeline provides a great foundation, it's always a good idea to build in a little extra time—especially during those naturally more chaotic moments or when travel between locations is involved. Adding buffer time helps ensure we stay on track without feeling rushed, and most importantly, it keeps the energy calm, relaxed, and joyful for everyone involved. Your wedding day should feel like a celebration, not a countdown—and a thoughtful timeline is a big part of making that happen!
10 hour wedding day Sample Timeline (with first look)
11am-11:45am Details | Every Bride loves looking back through those beautiful details that she worked so hard to bring together. Taking detail photos adds to the documentary of the entire day and I love having optimal time to capture these stills. Starting with detail shots helps myself get warmed up as well as the girls get used to a photographer and taking photos for the day. I normally allow myself an average of 45 minutes for these detail shots. While I take details, I will get some good candid's of the girls laughing and getting ready. It's also important to have all your details set aside for me in one spot so I don't have to ask where everything is on the day of. (Check out my day of details blog to see the checklist of what you may want photographed) |  |
 | 12:00pm- 12:45pm Get Dressed | Once the details have been photographed, its time for Bride to step into her gown! It's best if all the girls and mother of bride and groom are already dressed by this time. That way, when I'm taking photos, everyone is already done up. Bride is the last one dressed for the day. you can choose to do a first look with the girls, or have them all help you into your gown - all up to you! After the gown is on, it's time for the jewelry, shoes, veil, perfume shots, and additional bridal portraits. The second photographer will take photos of the Groomsmen about 40 minutes prior to the first look. |
1:00pm -1:15pm First Look | One of my most favorite moments of the day- it's just as important to me as it is to you that we keep it between the two of you. I will find a perfect location for the first look or 'first touch' to be a private, intimate moment and without an audience. We can also make time to do a few couple's photos after the first look as well. |  |
 | Family Formals 1:20pm-1:50pm | This step can be moved to after the ceremony if there is no first look. It's best to keep the family formal list under 10 photos so that this doesn't take up too much time from the bridal party or couple's photos. |
Bridal Party Photos 2:15pm- 2:45pm | Keep in mind drive time if we are taking a bus to another location for bridal party photos. About 15 min is a normal drive time for this. Even better if everything is in one spot! I like to have about 30-40 min to take bridal party photos as well as split up to take bridesmaids and groomsmen photos. |  |
 | Bride and Groom photos 2:45pm- 3:15pm | My favorite part of the day- bride and groom photos! If anything is being cut short, please don't let it be your photos with your spouse! Afterall, this day is about you two and you have been anxiously awaiting this day for a long time at this point! Let's make the best of these 30-40 minutes and capture all that love and excitement! |
Pre-ceremony and Ceremony 4:00-5:00 | Regardless of ceremony time, the whole bridal party needs to be hidden away about 30-40 min prior to ceremony. This is the time my second photographer and I will take photos of the ceremony site as well as reception area (if in the same location). We then get in position and ready for the processional. You and the Groom take it all in and just remember the high anxiety part is almost over! The ceremony typically last about 15-30 min and then photos of everyone walking back down the aisle. DON'T FORGET that dip kiss!! |  |
 | Cocktail hour 5:00pm-6:00 | Cocktail hour is an hour where we would add family photos and/or couples photos before the grand entrance into the reception if we didn't do that already. If all formal photos are finished, I take this time to get details of the reception, candids, and any couple's or family photos that you may want. |
6:00- 6:30 Grand Entrance | Yes!! Let the reception begin! Now it's time for all the fun, food, music, and laughter! The whole bridal party will make their entrance as well as the NEW MR. and MRS.! How excting! During this time- you can choose to head straight into your first dance followed by mother of groom and father daughter dances if you choose. (This can also come after dinner and toasts) Sometimes the bride and groom choose to head straight into cake cutting. All up to you. |  |
 | 6:30-7:30 Dinner and Toasts | By this time, everyone should be nice and hungry! Dinner can take up to an hour to serve all guests depending on the size. All vendors typically get in line right after the bridal party so we can be finished and ready for the next step- The toasts! This may be a great time to snag a few sunset photos depending on the time of year! |
7:45pm- 8:45pm Cake Cutting and open Dance Floor | Lets get those photos of you both cutting your chosen dessert whether it be a tray of cupcakes or the traditional cake. Raise your hand if that's your favorite part!! |  |
 | 8:45-9:00 PM Sparkler Exit and photographers pack up to leave | Sparkler exits are optional. Since I typically do not stay through the entire night, sometimes the sparkler exit can be more controlled and you can do it with the bridal party only. Don't worry! It just takes a small amount of time to run through the sparklers and then you can jump right back into the party without anyone knowing your were gone! Just make sure to buy the extra long sparklers and have plenty of lighters. This will allow the sparklers to last longer and you can run through a couple of times! |
Should You have a first look?
One of the main benefits of having a first look is that it gives the couple the opportunity to have their portraits taken before the ceremony, which allows the photographer to capture those intimate and emotional moments in a relaxed environment. Without the pressure of time, the couple can focus on each other and enjoy the process of being photographed, resulting in more natural, genuine images. This can also help prevent rushed photos immediately after the ceremony when emotions are high, and everyone is eager to celebrate.
Additionally, doing a first look opens up more time during the evening for the couple to fully enjoy their wedding with their guests. After the ceremony, there’s typically a cocktail hour, and with portraits already taken, the couple doesn't have to spend that time away from the celebration. Instead, they can mingle, chat, and fully soak in the joy of being surrounded by their loved ones. This means less stress about scheduling photos and more time for the couple to be present and engaged in the celebration.
Many times, the bride is hesitant to do the first look due to wanting the grooms reaction down the aisle which can make the groom feel pressured and have unauthentic emotion, but not always! There are still plenty of times when I have seen a groom sob when he sees his bride down the aisle. The first look can still give you that same reaction as well as increase the amount of photos you get throughout the day.
Now that the party is over, what's next?
Why I Encourage All My Wedding Clients to Print Their Photos and Consider a Custom Album
Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. Every moment, every laugh, every tear, and every glance deserves to be cherished for years to come. In today’s digital world, it's easy to take photos, store them online, and leave them buried in a hard drive or on a phone. But I firmly believe that the magic of your wedding day is best experienced when you hold those memories in your hands, especially through printed photos.
As your photographer, I always encourage my clients to print their wedding photos directly from their online galleries, and I’d love to explain why this is so important for preserving the true beauty and quality of your images.
Printed Photos Showcase True Quality
When you look at your wedding photos online, you’re often seeing them on a screen—whether that’s a phone, tablet, or computer. While digital images can be beautiful, they can’t replicate the same rich textures and details that a high-quality print can provide. Printing your photos ensures you get to enjoy the vivid colors, the clarity, and the depth of each shot in a way that digital screens simply can't match.
Professional printers use high-end materials and techniques that can preserve those details for decades, ensuring that your photos don’t lose their vibrancy over time. When you order prints directly from your gallery, you’re guaranteeing that the images you see on your screen will be reproduced with the highest quality and attention to detail.
Creating a Custom Wedding Album
One of my favorite things to offer my clients is a custom-designed wedding album. This album isn't just a collection of photos; it's a curated piece of art that tells the unique story of your day. From the anticipation before the ceremony to the tears of joy during your vows, a wedding album crafted with intention preserves the most important moments in a way that digital albums simply can’t.
With my experience as your photographer, I take the time to thoughtfully select and arrange each image in a way that flows beautifully and highlights the essence of your day. You don’t have to worry about making decisions about which images to print or how to lay them out; I handle all of that for you. The result is a cohesive, timeless album that you and your loved ones will treasure for generations.
Creating a Gift for Loved Ones
Wedding albums and printed photos are also a wonderful gift for your family and friends. Many of my clients choose to order prints or additional albums for their parents, who will appreciate the beautiful keepsake. A well-designed wedding album makes for a thoughtful gift that can be cherished for years.
You Deserve the Best
Your wedding day deserves to be captured in the best possible way, and that includes ensuring your images are presented in the best possible format. When you print your photos directly from your gallery, you’re guaranteeing that the memories of your day will live on in the best way possible. Whether you frame your photos, make a photo book, or go for a custom wedding album, these prints will help ensure that your wedding day isn’t just a memory on a screen, but an experience you can hold in your hands and pass on for generations.
A thank you from your photographer
I’m incredibly grateful to all of my amazing photography clients—past and present—who have trusted me to capture their most meaningful moments. Your support means the world to me. I truly hope the tips, inspiration, and behind-the-scenes shared in this blog help future clients feel confident and excited about working together. Whether you're planning a portrait session, engagement shoot, or your wedding day, I’m honored to be considered as your photographer. Thank you for being part of this journey!
-Erica
