One of the most common griefs I’ve heard when people reminisce on their wedding day is how fast it went. How they wish they’d taken the time to slow down and spend more of it being present. I have gone around and asked some of my past couples to give me tips they’d want to share with others! With that, I’ve compiled a list here on how to make the most of your wedding day.
01. START THE DAY TOGETHER
Start your wedding day together, soaking in the last minutes of being “engaged” together. You can do this over breakfast, or by going out and getting coffee together before the hustle and bustle starts. You can even get ready together, something that can be really sweet and make for some precious shared moments (if you would like to see an example of what this could look like, here is a wedding I shot where they did this). Starting the day together means more intentional time for the two of you, on a day that can get busy fast.
02. DON’T RUSH GETTING READY
Going along with that earlier note, don’t rush getting ready!! Leave yourself plenty of time to relax, without a strict timeline to pump up nerves. The morning greatly sets the tone for the rest of the wedding day, so let yourself be at ease and spend the morning with those you love. Some things you can add to your morning are a fun”morning of” playlist to get the vibes going, a good breakfast (you don’t want to forget to eat on your wedding day!), and maybe a moment where you can get away and spend with your *about to be* spouse (whether that is a first look, a gift exchange, or just holding hands through the door before you walk down the aisle).
03. BE PRESENT DURING THE CEREMONY
You don’t have to rush the walk down the aisle! I am one of those brides who felt like they blinked and the wedding ceremony was over. So take your time, and while you’re at the altar, look around at who came to support you. Take in those smiling faces, the tears, the excitement. Take in your own feelings and let whatever comes, come. After your first kiss, go in for another little dip in the aisle as you walk down. CELEBRATE!!! You don’t need to rush from the ceremony to family photos.
04. FAMILY PHOTOS
That being said, right after your ceremony, give yourselves ten minutes to just soak it in and let your family pour their love on you. This is my favorite time for candids because the emotions are so high!! If candid wedding photos are a priority for you, this is a big tip I have for making the most of your wedding day. After things have settled a little bit, we’ll take family portraits, so let your friends and family to not go far after the ceremony so photos can be stress free and fast.
05. FORMALS
I highly recommend taking ten to fifteen minutes out of your wedding day to sneak away for sunset portraits around your venue. This not only gives you photos of the beautiful or sentimental place you got married at, but also gives you an additional ten to fifteen minutes of privacy on a day where many things are taking your attention. If you don’t want to leave your friends and family, something else my couples have found tremendous value in is a day-before or day-after session, where they can throw on their wedding garb again and run around the mountains without the stress of a wedding timeline or worrying about lighting. This is honestly one of my FAVORITE things to do with couples, and it allows your focus to be wholly on those who came to celebrate you on the day of your wedding.
06. PUT YOUR PHONE AWAY
At the end of the day, just be present so that you remember the moments you want as forever memories. Hire your dream team of vendors that you can trust to document all the meaningful moments big and small and then let yourself relax and celebrate.
Ultimately, making the most of your wedding day is up to you!! But I do believe if you are intentional about how you are spending your time and living in the moment, you won’t regret the memories made from this special day celebrating your love story.
