KRISTEN EDWARDS PHOTOGRAPHY
WEDDING GUIDE
engagement session tips, timeline guidance, vendor recommendations & more!
Welcome
A NOTE ABOUT THIS GUIDE
We’re so excited to be working with you and we can’t wait to get to know you better over the next several months! We know photography is one of the larger investments you’re making for your wedding day and we’re so honored you chose to work with us!
Even if you’re working with a wedding planner or you’re planning a simple wedding, there are likely still a lot of moving pieces left leading up to your big day.
Having photographed more than 350 weddings over the past two decades, we tend to get asked the same things over and over again. So we thought it would be beneficial if we put together a guide that walks you through everything from timelines to engagement sessions and inclement weather.
Thank you again for choosing to work with us and please don’t hesitate to let us know if we can offer any additional guidance throughout the wedding planning process!
- kristen & tom
ENGAGEMENT SESSION
We’re big fans of engagement sessions for a few reasons. Not only do they allow you to get comfortable in front of the camera, they also give you the opportunity to showcase your personalities in a more casual setting that is significant to the two of you. We’ve created an entire page dedicated to outfit tips, location ideas, timing considerations and more!
Vendors
WHO WILL MAKE YOUR DAY INCREDIBLE
Over the years, we’ve learned the important role quality vendors play in creating a stress-free wedding day. We’ve worked with all of the vendors below and we can’t recommend them enough! This is not a paid list – we chose these vendors for both the quality of their work as well as their professionalism on the actual wedding day.
BRIDAL PORTRAITS
GORGEOUS PHOTOS + PRACTICE RUN FOR THE BIG DAY
There’s a big difference between looking at yourself in the mirror at a hair and makeup trial and actually seeing how that hair holds up in the elements and how that makeup photographs. When it comes to being confident in your choices on your wedding day, photos are invaluable!
If you’re considering a Bridal Portrait Session, we recommend a full trial run of hair, nails, makeup and your bouquet. We typically spend 1-2 hours shooting at bridal sessions and it’s nice to have something to hold to make your hands feel a little less awkward!
SESSION CHECKLIST
- Dress
- Undergarments
- Shoes
- Veil
- Bouquet
- Ring
- Hair pieces and jewelry
For locations for your session, you have a few options. One is to use your wedding venue. This gives us more time to be creative and really explore our options without the time crunch of the wedding day. Another option is to go to a different location. This is a great way to get a completely different look for your bridal session and give you a bit more variety. Some ideas include:
- Philbrook Museum
- Will Rogers Park
- Front steps of the Oklahoma Hall of Fame
- Colcord Hotel
Most venues charge a fee for portrait sessions. Although inconvenient, the fee is often worth it in order to have use of their getting ready room and other venue services. Prices range from $50-250. Please let me know where you’d like to do your session and I’ll call to check the venue’s availability.
We typically schedule bridal sessions 4-6 weeks before the wedding day, depending on when alterations are complete. This gives me plenty of time to edit and deliver the photos so you can make prints to display at the wedding.
Make sure to bring your jewelry, your veil and your shoes to your bridal portrait session!
FIRST LOOKS
IF YOU’RE WONDERING WHETHER A FIRST LOOK
IS RIGHT FOR YOU, STOP HERE
That moment the Bride and Groom see each other for the first time on their wedding day is magical. And this is true whether the couple chooses to wait until the bride walks down the aisle or chooses to do a first look prior to the ceremony.
Almost all of our couples this year have chosen to do a first look. We encourage our couples to make this moment special and meaningful. Some choose to read personal vows or letters or exchange gifts during this time.
While we understand the importance of tradition, a first look has so many benefits. Here are 3 reasons to consider a first look:
01
A FIRST LOOK CUTS THROUGH THE CHAOS OF THE DAY
Once the ceremony begins, the day takes off quickly. A first look is an opportunity to enjoy some quiet time alone, enjoy each other’s company, and reflect on all this day means before your day takes off. Couples who do a first look actually get to spend more time together on their wedding day.
Wedding days can be a whirlwind and they tend to fly by. There’s much to do, and a lot of people to see and to catch up with. We always encourage our couples to take a few minutes every so often during their wedding to stop and soak in everything that’s happening.
IT MAKES MORE TIME FOR PICTURES WITHOUT SACRIFICING COCKTAIL HOUR
When there is no first look, the majority of the pictures have to be taken after the ceremony. Family pictures are generally done as soon as the ceremony ends because it’s the easiest time to round everyone up. Next up is full bridal party, and then bride and groom portraits. This generally runs into cocktail hour.
A first look opens up time prior to the ceremony to get most of the photos done. This allows the couple to get the most out of cocktail hour, which makes the rest of the evening feel less rushed.
02
03
YOU WILL GET MORE IMAGES!
Doing a first look allows much more time for photos together. You won’t feel as rushed to get portraits done, and being more relaxed will show in your images. We’ll also have more time to use different areas of your venue or even go to different locations, giving you more variety in your gallery.
Also, not doing a first look means you are waiting until the end of the day to take the most important picutures. Odds are you will be tired, hot, and ready to be done. That’s not how you should feel during the most special photos of the day!
FIRST LOOK
BUILDING THE PERFECT
WEDDING DAY
timeline
tips for a seamless wedding day timeline
Your wedding day timeline greatly impacts the types of images you will receive in your gallery. The candid moments and authentic smiles cannot be rushed or forced. Since light and location also affect the look and feel of your images, it is crucial to plan your day accordingly.
Whether you choose to do a first look or not, we will work with you on making sure you have the best timeline and plan for images. We begin photography a minimum of three hours before the ceremony (4 if there are multiple locations.) This gives us time for getting ready and detail photos, and portraits.
From our experience, we’ve found a nine or ten hour timeline is necessary if there are multiple locations (as in hotel for getting ready, church for ceremony, venue for reception.) If we have more time, even better! But even with everything happening all in one space, nine hours is still helpful to ensure a smooth day with the entire story covered.
An important thing to consider is the time of year you are getting married. If your wedding is in the summer, you have pretty much all options open to you. A fall or winter wedding means you’ll either need to have an earlier ceremony so we will still have daylight afterwards, or bride & groom and wedding party photos will need to be done before the ceremony.
Otherwise, if your ceremony is after dark and you don’t want to do a first look, please know that you will not be getting the bright, natural light look in your photos that you hired us for since flash will have to be used.
RAIN TIPS
If the forecast is calling for rain, fear not because rainy days can still be beautiful! If you don’t believe us, just take a look at Ryan & Ash’s wedding day. It rained the entire day and it was still beautiful!
If rain is in the forecast, we recommend ordering a few clear umbrellas on Amazon. It also might be good to re-evaluate portrait locations to make sure we can still shoot in natural light – even if it means heading offsite.
If you don’t own a pair of cute Wellies, now may be a great time to order a pair – even if you’re just wearing them in between shooting locations.
If you’re not working with a planner, it might also be a good idea to check in with your entire vendor team to make sure they’re aware of the weather. Hair and makeup may need to be tweaked to withstand humidity and if your wedding is outdoors, DJs and bands may need to take extra precaution to protect their gear. A quality rental team can also minimize the amount of mud at outdoor events.
While we can’t guarantee that rain on your wedding day is good luck, we can put a plan in place to ensure a beautiful day and beautiful images.
Rainy day weddings may require a little more flexibility and creativity, but there isn’t any reason why they can’t be as beautiful and as joyful as sunny weddings!
WEDDING DAY
details
We love capturing all the little details you’ve carefully chosen to be a part of your wedding day! Once we arrive at your wedding, we need about 30 minutes to capture and style details. We recommend choosing a getting ready location filled with natural light and, if possible, please keep the space free from trash and clutter.
It would be wonderful if you could put all of your rings, jewelry, shoes, veil purse, perfume, invitations and other keepsakes together in one spot for us. Please unwrap your dress but don’t worry about styling it – we’ll hang it in a beautiful spot!
BRIDAL DETAILS CHECKLIST
- Dress
- Dress Hanger (a pretty one!)
- Rings (both engagement and wedding bands)
- Shoes
- Veil
- Bouquet
- Hair pieces
- Jewelry
- Invitation Suite (2 full sets with envelopes + stamps)
- Any other paper stationary you may have like program cards.
- Vow Book
- Any other sentimental keepsakes you would like to include
- We once had a bride bring her grandmother's hand mirror. This is completely optional - but if you have something sentimental you'd like styled with your details, we love including family heirlooms in our detail shots.
- Bonus: We'd love to have a few cuts of the florals you'll be using throughout your wedding day. If your florist will supply us a small bucket of extra pieces we can incorporate those in your detail shots.
GROOM DETAILS CHECKLIST
- His shoes
- Socks (if they're special)
- Cuff Links
- Tie or Bow Tie
- Pocket Square
- Boutonnière
- Vows Book
- Rings
- Anything else he'll have that is special or sentimental.
WHEN TO EXPECT
your images & albums
- Engagement Session – 2 weeks
- Bridal Session – 2 weeks
- Boudoir Session – 2 weeks
- Sneak Peeks – 1-2 days
- Wedding Day – 4 weeks
- Photo Guestbook – 2 weeks
- Print orders – 1 week
- Canvas – 2 weeks
- Album proof – 2 weeks
- Completed Album – 6 weeks from album approval
FAMILY
FORMALS
For family portraits, we’ll place you in the center of a large group photo with all of your grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, godparents, etc. And then we’ll remove the extended family so it’s just grandparents, parents and siblings.
We’ll keep removing family members and switch a few closer family members in and out so we get photos of you and your parents, you and your siblings, some with the groom and your family, etc. Then we’ll repeat the process with your spouse’s family. The whole thing will go quicker and smoother if you let family know how the portrait process will work ahead of time.
When we send out our pre-wedding questionnaire, we’ll ask you for a list of specific groupings, special situations (such as divorces or handicapped family members & more), but if you want to start brainstorming photos in the meantime, you’ll find our typical list below.
FAMILY FORMALS CHECKLIST
- Bride + Groom + Bride's Extended Family
- Bride + Groom + Bride's Parents + Bride's Siblings
- Bride + Groom + Bride's Parents
- Bride + Groom + Bride's Grandparents
- Bride + Mom
- Bride + Dad
- Bride + Mom & Dad
- Bride + Siblings
- Bride + Groom + Groom's Extended Family
- Bride + Groom + Groom's Parents + Groom's Siblings
- Bride + Groom + Groom's Parents
- Bride + Groom + Groom's Grandparents
- Groom + Mom
- Groom + Dad
- Groom + Mom & Dad
- Groom + Siblings
Please note that this list is just a starting point and that we’re happy to take any requested family portraits as long as time allows!
CONSIDER UNPLUGGING
If you’ve been to a wedding recently, you may have seen a sign from the happy couple asking for their guests to remain “unplugged” during the ceremony.
And while it might seem like a strange requests to ask guests to put down their phones, there’s a pretty good reason for it! You made a big investment in photography and we’re sure one of the last things you want on your wedding day is for our photos of your ceremony to be filled with obtrusive iPhones, iPads and relatives standing in the aisle with their own cameras. In order to help us do the best possible job capturing your wedding, we recommend asking guests to unplug during the ceremony.
ADDITIONAL tips
01
NO FIRST LOOK?
If you aren’t doing a first look, make sure to plan 15 minutes of combined wedding party photos, 15 minutes of family photos, and at least 20 minutes of bride & groom photos.
02
PREP FOR THE HEAT
If it’s going to be hot, a cooler of cold waters and frozen washcloths can help keep a wedding party cool – especially if your men are wearing lots of layers.
03
FLORALS
Make sure and have your bouquet delivered in time to make an appearance for the detail shots and for your first look. Often they are delivered in water and need to be dried off before use. Having towels handy can help.
04
FIRST LOOKS FOR PARENTS
If you’re planning on having a first look with your bridal party or a parent, they often feel more comfortable being fully dressed in their wedding attire. The same goes for your mom as she’s helping you get dressed!
05
RECEPTION DETAILS
In order to get the best photos of your reception decor, I need 15 minutes alone with no guests in the room. We will get these photos before the ceremony if possible or during cocktail hour if it is in a separate space.
06
HIDE THE BRIDE
Photos will end at least 45 minutes before the ceremony to give everyone time to get ready for the ceremony and allow us to get ceremony space details before guests arrive.
07
THE GUYS
Tom and I don’t typically split up on the wedding day, so if you’d like pictures of the guys getting ready, they will need to be in the same location as the girls. If not, no big deal! We can capture some photos of the best man helping straighten his tie and things like that before portraits begin. That’s all we really need anyway!
08
PHOTO ANYONE?
During the cocktail hour and the reception, we’ll follow you around and get candids of you greeting your guests. Anytime you’d like a photo with someone, grab our attention. We love being your personal paparazzi!
09
START PLANNING THE TIMEILNE EARLY
Do a rough draft of the timeline as early as possible. It’s so important that we are on the same page so that everything runs smoothly. If you are working with a wedding planner, I will work with them on the photography timeline to ensure the best flow for your day.
10
WE'RE HERE TO HELP
We’d love to help you plan your timeline. If you’d like our input, don’t hesitate to email or call!
Handcrafted Albums
THE PERFECT WAY TO REMEMBER YOUR WEDDING DAY
We’re big believers that images aren’t meant to solely exist in a digital space. One day, most likely, Instagram will be gone, your phone will be replaced and images that you can physically hold in your hand will be the best way to remember those precious moments we captured.
One of the best ways to make your wedding memories last is by ordering an album. These high quality, professionally designed albums come in a variety of linen & leather colors. These aren’t the same albums your parents’ wedding photos came in. They’re modern, lay perfectly flat and look incredible on a coffee table.
PRICING
Coffee Table Album
10×10, 60 images: $900
12×12, 90 images: $1300
Additional images: $40/5 images
PARENT MINI ALBUMS
a 6×6 clone of the couple’s album
Each parent copy: $400
Coffee table albums are leather or luxury linen bound flush-mount albums with thick, layflat pages printed on photographic paper. Personalize your album with foil debossing or an image inlay.
Mini albums are a clone made from leftover materials from the couple’s album. They include the same photos, layout, and cover materials as the couple’s album and must be ordered together. If parents would like to select their own images for their album, we can add an additional coffee table album to your collection!
THANK YOU!
We can’t wait to start planning with you and getting to know you! If you haven’t scheduled your engagement session yet, let’s get that in the books. Feel free to email us any time at kristen@kristenedwards.com.
If you have any questions or would just like to chat, we’re here for you. We hope this guide helps make the process of planning your wedding details much easier and less stressful. We can’t wait to see you soon! Thank you so much for taking the time to read through our guide!