“8 Tips for a Joyful & Meaningful Wedding Day”
1. DAINTY DETAILS
Well thought out details — like stationery, jewelry, and family heirlooms — tell the story of your day. Keep everything in one place so your team knows exactly what holds special meaning to you and should be documented.
2. SERENE SCENES
The photos of your morning preparations set the scene for your wedding story, so ask your maids and men to help keep the room tidy and clear from distractions. And you may want to consider preparing an adjoining space or secondary room for larger groups.
3. EMBRACE THE UNEXPECTED
The real beauty of a wedding day is found in allowing it to unfold naturally. The flower girl may not make it down the aisle, one of your maids might break a heel, or the mother of the groom may cry herself into a puddle before portraits. These become part of the story, and allowing yourself to embrace (and even expect!) these imperfect moments will make for a much more enjoyable, stress-free day.
4. PRESENT & UNPLUG
Allow yourself to be present and phone-free on your wedding day, and encourage your guests to do the same. Ask your officiant to kindly mention to your guests to be present in the joy and emotion of your day by keeping their phones tucked away during the procession and ceremony. This will ensure we get a beautiful clean shot of you walking down the aisle without any leaning guests and glowing cell phones. Some couples also find it helpful to place a framed note at the entrance of the ceremony location as a reminder.
5. PROMPT PROMISING
Provide a healthy cushion of extra time for activities like hair and makeup and transportation to avoid feeling rushed and overwhelmed.
6. SHORT & SWEET
Be sure to let your parents and guests of honor (maid of honor and best man) know that their toasts will be recorded and used as the narration of your wedding film. We find it best if they have something prepared ahead of time and keep the speech length under three minutes. Besides, while hints of sarcasm and inside jokes help shake things up, it’s important to balance the humor with thoughtful sentiments.
7. DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY
Don’t let the day escape you! Get out on the dance floor! While you may feel obligated to catch up with every long-distance relative, or micromanage the coordination of the evening, remember this day is meant to be a celebration. Let loose and join your guests on the dance floor as a couple. I promise those will be some of your most favorite photos from the entire day.
8. GRATITUDE & GRACE
Many moving parts made this meaningful day possible, and it’s nice to show grace and gratitude for your parents, grandparents, the guests that are present to share on this special day, and anyone else you feel thankful for. While it may not be possible to greet and thank every guest or table individually, you can express your gratefulness together as newlyweds through a welcome toast or closing remarks.
Dennis Mock is a wedding and portrait photographer serving the greater San Diego area
