Wedding ideas and tips

This is a blog post for a picture-perfect wedding day with ideas and tips by a New Jersey wedding photographer.

 

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HI! It’s me, Miranda Suess, owner, and photographer of Suess Moments Weddings, here in Jersey City, New Jersey.  I wrote this blog to help couples planning a wedding get some guidance on how to be creative and untraditional when planning their wedding. My couples tell me they want their wedding to be memorable, but also think photography is very important. So when choosing my wedding photography services, I am always so honored that I will be the one to capture their epic wedding day. I want this FOR YOU. A wedding you want to remember, and your family and friends are talking about how fun it was! Keep reading for guidance on some creative, fun, and photography-friendly ideas and tips for your wedding.

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The Wedding Preparations

I go in much detail for picture perfect bridal prep in this blog post. But the universal rules for picture-perfect preparation photos are as follows:

• Before the photographer arrives, label and box your wedding details (invitations, rings, vows, flowers, shoes, jewelry, etc.) so they can be photographed efficiently before your photos are taken. When the photographer arrives, glam services and the wedding party should be ready.
• Leave all the clutter away from mirror views and window spaces. 10/10 times the photographer will utilize these spaces for photos of your preparations. Let’s keep it tidy 🙂
• During the photo process, expect photographers to turn off the room lights; this will help color-correct your skin tone when editing. Otherwise, you could look like a weird green/orange/pink shade.

Creative ideas

Gosh, the preparation photos are one of my favorite parts of a wedding day! It really is the first chapter of the epic story you get to tell about the journey you take. It’s filled with a roller coaster of emotions – typically very happy, anxious, and crying of joy. Here are some creative ideas to try out with your wedding photographer during the preparation of photos

• Gifting your wedding party matching or personalized attire:
  • slippers
  • robes
  • pajama sets
  • champagne flutes/cups
  • purses
• A private moment opening a letter/gift from your partner before seeing them on the wedding day
• Do you watch Instagram reels? Let’s make a before and after reel for you to show you before the dress and after the dress as a reveal for your followers to see, and for you to look back on. To do this, please save the song you want to use on Instagram!
• I never advise drinking on the wedding morning, not too much at least, but a glass to toast with champagne/choice of beverage is a fun way to incorporate in photos
• First looks – plan these out with your VIPs, like your father figure, and anyone else who holds a special place in your heart. Some brides in the past did this with their grandparents!

 

 

 

The Wedding Ceremony

I go in much detail on preparing for your wedding ceremony with a friend/family member as an officiant in this Youtube video. However, here are some universal picture-perfect tips for wedding ceremonies

• (Couple) Ask your church representative if flash photography is allowed, as this is a requirement for professional-quality indoor ceremony photos
• (Bride) Walk SLOWLY down the aisle. Think of two steps for every breath in/out you take.
• (Couple) If you have hair covering the profile of your face (facing the crowd), it will be hard to capture facial expressions; try to remember to tuck hair behind your ears if it’s possible
• (Bride) Have your maid of honor in charge of making your veil/train of the dress look nice when you approach the altar
• (Bride) Give your bouquet to someone in the front row or your maid of honor
• (Partner) Don’t keep your eyes off your bride coming down the aisle.
• (Couple) When you get to the altar together, don’t hesitate to hold hands or stand hand-holding width apart
• (Couple) For the first kiss, please hold it for three seconds, and practice the pose. If possible, do it TWICE
• (Couple) As you walk down the aisle, wave at the people you walk by. At the center of the aisle, stop, pose & kiss.
• Because you spent a lot of energy and time planning your wedding, I encourage you to please plan all their photos together, with family, and the wedding party BEFORE the ceremony – so that you can enjoy majority of cocktail hour and the reception

Creative ideas

• Plan a just-married exit with your wedding guests
  • bubbles have become more popular lately; instead of the mini bubble wands, use bubble machines to splash during the outdoor ceremony. Set 4-6 up (hide them from the photo view) to continue throughout the ceremony, or ask someone to turn them on towards the end (ring exchange) for a big wow factor as you exit
  • streamer wands are widely accepted at venues; unlike sparklers or anything to do with smoke/fire
  • biodegradable confetti canons would be cool to pop off during the first kiss. Have the canons ready near the first row for the wedding party to grab and blast off when the officiant announces, “kiss the bride.” Remember to ask your venue if these would be allowed!
• Close off your wedding aisle, have guests enter/exit from the outer side to prevent anyone from walking in the center aisle if you have candles/glass votives and a runner.
• Speaker of runners, a reflective runner is so beautiful to photograph while you’re at the altar
• Ask your officiant to announce your unplugged wedding, but allow guests to snap a photo of you both at the altar before he starts the ceremony. This makes a really cute photo op!
• Most couples elect a flower girl and ring bearer to be children; what if you had your grandparents be the flower girls and your teen cousins/siblings be the ring bearers and make a show out of it. I had a couple make their male cousins walk down the aisle with beers and sunglasses and pass them to the people in the crowd.
• If possible, plan your wedding ceremony an hour before sunset for a chance of some beautiful outdoor golden light.

 

 

The Wedding Reception

• Ask your florist/decorator to please keep the sweetheart table free of tall floral installations/candles as they will block your face during candid photos at your reception
• Ask your DJ, please no green laser lights – these make for hideous dance floor shots and I cannot remove a green dot from your teeth in Photoshop
• Plan ahead, pack a second shirt for him, and change of shoes for her. If you like to part-ay, you could sweat, and your feet may beg for comfort!
• Are you planning a dress change? Do this during cocktail hour, before the entrances, or before cake cut/after the parent dances
• As for your wedding entrances, it’s a great idea to have your guests surround the dance floor’s perimeter so photographers can capture reactions and you dancing simultaneously.
• Photographing the speeches, I will ask the DJ to please set up the speaker to the right or left of you so I can capture both reactions happening at once
• Ask your DJ to play a slow dance song and invite all the couples on the dance floor for a great photo op for your guests and you surrounded by love

Creative ideas

• Wedding entrance
  • Photobooth props for the wedding party
  • Run through nightclub sparklers held by venue catering staff
  • A thank you, welcoming, story video for your guests to watch before you enter
  • Live percussion to walk you out for a grand introduction
• First dances
  • A live instrument to perform, violinists are popular
  • Ask your DJ about cold sparklers and dancing cloud smoke for a romantic photo op
  • Choreograph a first dance from a traditional slow dance to a fun one
• Just for fun
  • Ask your DJ, to call out by table/groups to take a photo with you on the dance floor or sweetheart table
  • Ask your DJ, to make a game. They will play a 5-minute song, and pause every 15 seconds, and you have to run around to each table to do a funny pose with them.
  • Ask your DJ, before the photographer has to leave for the night, to get everyone on the dance floor to pose for a photo op
  • Pass out light-up LED soft wands/glasses for the dance floor
  • Hire a 360 photo booth for an elevated experience
• Magical Night Time Photos
  • If you mention this in advance, your photographer can carve out about 10-15 minutes to make it happen
  • See my magical nighttime wedding photos here
• Honor your pet
  • Order mini figurines to add them eating your wedding cake
  • Get creative with your bar menu drink names, featuring their name/face
• Exits
  • I do not advise this with drunk people. Especially with the use of fire.
  • Sparkler exits, please plan these as mock exits with 10-20 of the closest people around you at the time for photos, that aren’t intoxicated. The photo will focus more on you as a couple surrounded by sparkly objects, less on the people around you.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, your wedding should feel like you and how you see yourself and your guests having a memorable wedding experience. This is a list of wedding ideas and tips to make it picture-perfect. I hope you found something on here useful!
Happy wedding planning 🙂

Preferred Vendors

Check out my list of preferred wedding vendors in New York and New Jersey that will make your wedding day a little more special