welcome
did we just become best friends?
If you’re reading this, that means I get the honor of documenting your day! Chances are, I’m smiling really big right now because I’m so excited to be working with you. I can’t wait to get to know you better over the next several months! I know photography is one of the larger investments you're making for your wedding day and I’m so honored you chose to work with me!
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 150 weddings over the past few years, I tend to get asked the same things over and over again. So I thought it would be beneficial if I 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 me and please don't hesitate to let me know if I can offer any additional guidance throughout the wedding planning process!
xo Bridget
YOUR ENGAGEMENT SESSION
I’m a big fan 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. I''ve created an entire page dedicated to outfit tips, location ideas, timing considerations and more!
To make planning even easier, I’ll send you a calendar link so you can pick a date that works best!
Vendors
who will make your day incredible
Over the years, I've learned the important role quality vendors play in creating a stress-free wedding day. I've worked with many of the vendors below and can't recommend them enough! This is not a paid list - I chose these vendors for both the quality of their work as well as their professionalism on the actual wedding day.
invitations
officiants
Is a First Look Right for You?
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.
First looks—a private moment couples choose to spend together prior to the wedding ceremony—have become more popular over the last few years. About half of our couples this year have chosen to do a first look. While we consider ourselves people who value tradition, there are definitely a few good reasons to consider a first look. Here are 3 reasons to consider a ‘first look’:
1. 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. 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.
2. 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 for full bridal party pictures and, sometimes, for a few bride and groom portraits (although we prefer to do bride and groom portraits at sunset). This allows the couple to get the most out of cocktail hour, which makes the rest of the evening feel less rushed.
3. Avoid possible bad weather
If you’re expecting poor weather on your wedding day, it might be best to plan on a first look because it gives you more options for pictures. If it’s pouring rain after the ceremony, you’ll be thankful you had pictures done in advance. First look or not, the first time you see each other on your wedding day will be special.
Wedding Day Timeline
Whether you're planning a first look or sticking with a tradition and not seeing your fiancé until you walk down the aisle, I have tips to help make planning your timeline as easy as possible!
First Look
example timeline
12:00pm - Getting Ready
Krista arrives at Bride’s getting ready location and Davey arrives at Groom’s getting ready location.
Note: Ideally by the time we arrive, hair and makeup is already wrapping up. If something is going to delay the beginning of the day, it’s often HAMU.
Groom + groomsmen depart for ceremony site.
1:15pm - Guys Depart
1:30pm - Ladies Depart
Bride and bridesmaids depart for ceremony location.
1:45 - First Look
The first look takes place.
Note: The First Look can take place at the getting ready location, ceremony, or reception location. It’s up to you! Although we’re happy to make recommendations.
Bride & Groom + bridal party portraits
2pm - Portraits
3pm - Ceremony
The ceremony takes place.
We do family portraits right after the ceremony because everyone you need will be easy to grab. If you can give your family notice that we’ll be taking pictures immediately after the ceremony, that will also ensure that no one wanders off. We’ll help you create a list of family portraits before the big day.
3:30pm - Family Portraits
Additional Bridal Party and Bride & Groom Portraits Note: Depending on what was taken before the ceremony, we might grab 1 or 2 more full bridal party shots.
4pm - Portraits
Note: The great thing about doing a First Look is that it gives you more time at cocktail hour. We’ll grab some pictures of your guests while you enjoy the hour.
4:30pm - Cocktail Hour
Introductions & First Dance
5pm - Introductions
Welcome toasts & salads followed by speeches and entrees.
5:30pm - Dinner
We’ll make sure to grab you two about 45 minutes before the sunsets. This is usually the best light of the day!
6pm - Sunset Portraits
Let the good times roll!
6:30pm - Dancing begins
Cake cutting followed by bouquet toss
7:15pm - Traditions
Enjoy your night!
8pm - Photographers depart
Aisle Reveal
example timeline
Krista arrives at Bride’s getting ready location and Davey arrives at Groom’s getting ready location.
Note: Ideally by the time we arrive, hair and makeup is already wrapping up. If something is going to delay the beginning of the day, it’s often HAMU.
1:00pm - Getting Ready
Groom + groomsmen depart for ceremony site & take pre-ceremony group photos.
2:00pm - Guys Depart
Bride and bridesmaids depart for ceremony location and take pre-ceremony group photos.
2:15pm - Ladies Depart
The ceremony takes place.
3pm - Ceremony
We do family portraits right after the ceremony because everyone you need will be easy to grab. If you can give your family notice that we’ll be taking pictures immediately after the ceremony, that will also ensure that no one wanders off. We’ll help you create a list of family portraits before the big day.
3:30pm - Family Portraits
Bridal Party and Bride & Groom Portraits
Note: Depending on what was taken before the ceremony, this normally takes about an hour total.
4pm - Portraits
Introductions & First Dance
5:00pm - Introductions
Welcome toasts & salads followed by speeches and entrees.
5:30pm - Dinner
We’ll make sure to grab you two about 45 minutes before the sunsets. This is usually the best light of the day!
6pm - Sunset Portraits
Let the good times roll!
6:30pm - Dancing Begins
Cake cutting followed by bouquet toss
7:30pm - Traditions
Enjoy your night!
8:00pm - Photographers depart
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 Maxine + Wayne’s wedding day. It rained the entire day and it was gorgeous!
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!
Details Checklist
• Dress
• Dress Hanger
• Rings (both engagement and wedding bands)
• Shoes
• Socks (if they're special)
• Cuff Links
• Veil
• Bouquet / Boutonnière
• Hair pieces
• Jewelry
• Invitation Suite ( full set with envelopes)
• 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.
Family Formals
your entire family, dressed up & together
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 portrait checklist
• Bride + Groom + Bride's Extended Family
• Bride + Groom + Bride's Parents + Bride's Siblings +
• Bride's Grandparents
• Bride + Groom + Bride's Parents + Bride's Siblings
• Bride + Groom + Bride's Parents
• Bride + Groom + Bride's Siblings
• Bride + Mom
• Bride + Dad
• Bride + Groom + Groom's Extended Family
• Bride + Groom + Groom's Parents + Groom's Siblings + Groom's Grandparents
• Bride + Groom + Groom's Parents + Groom's Siblings
• Bride + Groom + Groom's Parents
• Bride + Groom + Groom's Siblings
• Groom + Mom
• Groom + Dad
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
1. Give yourself time to eat. Nerves might be running high, but a snack or lunch before portraits is always a good idea for you and your wedding party to avoid hungry bellies or passing out (especially in the warmer months).
2. If it's going to be hot, a cooler of cold waters can help keep a wedding party cool - especially if are wearing lots of layers.
3. If possible, have your bouquet/boutineer(s) 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.
4. If you're planning on having parents or other relatives present when you are getting dressed, they often feel more comfortable being photographed when they are fully dressed in their wedding attire.
5. I recommend having 30 minutes before the ceremony designated to just relaxing. This will give you time to hide away from your guests arriving. It’s the perfect time to have a snack, freshen up, and take in the fact that you’re about to be married - finally!
6. To help make family portraits go smoother, it's best to have a breakdown of which portraits you'd like and it's really wonderful if both sides of the family have a chance to have their input on what portraits they'd like before the wedding. Supplying me with a list ahead of time, allows us to go over it together and make sure I arrange the list in an order that is efficient and won't leave anyone out. I always aim for family portraits to be quick and easy.
7. During the cocktail hour and the reception, I'll be close by. Anytime you'd like a photo with someone, grab my attention. I love being your personal paparazzi!
8. This is YOUR day. Choose the traditions that will be meaningful for you, but don’t feel like you have to do or have anything that you don’t want to. We’ll talk in detail about your priorities for the day, so all of the moments that mean the most to you are documented in a way that feels true to you and lets you relive the best day ever.
Albums
the perfect way to remember your day
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. They’re modern, lay perfectly flat, look incredible on a coffee table, and are handcrafted to last generations.
thank you
I 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 me any time at hello@bridgetmassa.com.
If you have any questions or would just like to chat, I’m here for you. I hope this guide helps make the process of planning your wedding details much easier and less stressful. I can't wait to see you soon! Thank you so much for taking the time to read through my guide!
xo Bridget
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