Wedding Guide
the helgesons
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 weddings for over a decade, 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.
- Danielle & troy helgeson
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!
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!
Engagement Session
plan your session
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 many 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.
WEDDING PLANNERS
Ebb & Flow - De Pere
Blossoms Flower House - Sister Bay
Ginger Birch - De Pere
Roots on 9th - Green Bay
Clare's Corner Floral - Green Bay/Suamico
House of Flowers - Oshkosh
Maas Floral & Greenhouse - Sturgeon Bay
Buds N Bloom - De Pere
FLORAL DESIGNERS
CATERING
DJ & BANDS
Barbara, Makeup Artist - Door County
A Mint Wedding, Hair & Makeup - Green Bay/Travel
Dana Michele, Makeup Artist - Appleton
K Charles Beauty, Makeup Artist - Neenah
Dame Salon, Hair & Makeup - De Pere
Meghan Kostelny Collective, Hair - Appleton
Belleza, Hair & Makeup - Green Bay
Savannah - Piccola Salon, Hair - Milwaukee
HAIR & MAKEUP
CAKES
WEDDING wardrobe
RENTALS
Invitations
Accommodations
ribbons & runners
Venues
Oneida Golf & Country Club
The Hillside Inn of Ephraim
Horseshoe Bay Golf Club
The Paine Art Center
About Thyme Farm
Whistling Straits
Kress Pavilion
Ledgestone Vineyards
Gordon Lodge
Private Estates & Lake Houses
ring box
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!
When it comes to choosing a location for your bridal portrait session, we recommend using locations that are well manicured, clean, and have great variety in indoor & outdoor locations.
Bridal Portraits
One of the biggest advantages of a Bridal Portrait Session is that they can serve as a practice run for the big day that you can SEE
Wedding venues are usually a wonderful place to start - especially historic homes and resorts that have well manicured areas. We want to keep your dress as clean as possible and still get a lot of amazing images inside and outside.
When it comes to selecting a date for your bridal portrait session, another great thing to keep in mind is the weather. In order to avoid being too hot during the summer months or too cold during the winter months, we highly recommend Spring and Fall. However, we'll shoot anytime and anywhere there's great light!
Many 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. We typically have to work with the venues on times, but we love to shoot bridal portraits in the afternoon as late as we can to get that softer afternoon light or first thing in the morning. However, if your venue has strict hours, we are happy to work with their allotted times.
Make sure to bring your jewelry, your veil and your shoes to your bridal portrait session!
Dress
Undergarments
Shoes
Veil
Bouquet
Ring
Hair pieces and jewelry
Bridal Portrait Session Checklist
Want to surprise your groom with an album full of boudoir photos? This is the perfect time for that. Add on 1 -2 hours of portrait time. He already knows you'll be with Danielle so he'll never suspect a thing and you can pull off the perfect surprise.
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’:
Is a First Look Right for You?
If you're wondering whether a first look is right for you, stop here.
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.
1. A first look cuts through the chaos of the day.
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 bride and groom portraits. This allows the couple to get the most out of cocktail hour, which makes the rest of the evening feel less rushed.
2. IT MakeS more time for Pictures without sacrificing cocktail hour.
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.
And reason 3b is for all you cryers out there. If you know the tears are going to fly the first time you see your other half the day of your wedding, a first look will give you time to freshen up before the ceremony.
First look or not, the first time you see each other on your wedding day will be special.
3. Avoid possible bad weather and/or have time to freshen-up after crying
Wedding Day Timeline
building the perfect
Whether you choose to do a first look or the traditional "no see before the ceremony" we will work with you on making sure you have the best timeline and plan for images.
If you're choosing to go traditional, you'll need two different sets of photo times: images taken before the ceremony and images taken after the ceremony.
You'll need to plan for about one hour of pre-ceremony bridal photos (bridesmaids and bride's portraits) and about 45 minutes of pre-ceremony groom photos (groomsmen and groom's portraits) at separate times. You'll also need 20 minutes of combined bridal party portraits, 30 minutes of family portraits and at least 45-60 minutes of couple's portraits after the ceremony if you're not doing any portraits together until after the ceremony.
If you're doing a first look, photos can be done all at one time, taking an average total of 2 hours pre-ceremony.
Whether you're planning a first look or sticking with tradition and not seeing your groom until you walk down the aisle, we have tips to help make planning your timeline as easy as possible!
Although we also LOVE grabbing just the two of you for a few additional bride and groom photos at sunset!
If you choose a traditional aisle reveal, all we ask is that you keep your ceremony time in mind when planning your wedding.
If you're planning a sunset ceremony or an evening ceremony, it's best to do all photos before the wedding, as daylight is crucial to getting amazing portraits for your families, bridal party and your couples portraits. Making sure we have enough time while the sun is up is a great way to make the traditional ceremony work.
And the best plan of all, is to add time cushions wherever possible. 10 minutes here & there can make a real difference on the day of the wedding. The thing I consistently hear brides say is that they didn't realize how fast the day would go and wished they would have spent more time doing portraits and having that one on one time with each other to soak it all in.
12:00 - 1:00 P.m.
A lot of times the guys get overlooked. We LOVE to get shots of the guys that they will love and be proud of. We do their shots first so that they can get those awesome shots and then relax for the rest of the day. Generally the hair & makeup takes a little longer for the bride anyway so this is a great time to get the guys shots out of the way!
12:00 - 1:00 pm - The Groom
( 60 min )
1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
I will begin by photographing bridal details, while Troy photographs bridal hair and makeup candids. In our experience, it takes me about 45 minutes to an hour to photograph the bride’s details (dress, shoes, rings, jewelry, perfume, invitations, bouquet, etc.) thoroughly and with plenty of variety. We always start by hanging the bride’s dress together, because it tends to be a two-person job. From there, Troy helps me organize all the details (put them into a pile, remove small price tags, grab the right lenses, etc.) while I focus on detail setup. Once I'm set and have everything I need, I shoot the details while Troy spends the remainder of the time taking candids of the bride and bridesmaids hanging out in their robes and getting final touches of hair and makeup.
1:00 - 2:00 pm - bridal details
Special note: It is a great idea to have a box for you and one for your groom with all of your details in it. That way when we arrive, your MOH can hand over everything and we can get started right away. After hugs of course!
In the box:
both sets of rings, shoes, invitation suite, jewelry, dress, perfume, ribbons, wax seals, ring box, extra flower stems, and any other special heirlooms
( 60 min )
2:00 - 2:45 p.m.
After the details have been photographed, it’s time for the bride to get into her dress! This is a big moment! I usually ask the Mother of the Bride and all of the bridesmaids to be dressed by the time the Bride is ready to get into her dress. This ensures that everyone will look their best in those images. After the Bride is in her gown, I will photography the bride putting on her jewelry, veil, shoes, etc. and I will shoot a few bridal portraits!
2:00 - 2:45 pm - bride getting into dress
( 45 min )
2:45 - 3:00 p.m.
As a Daddy's girl myself, this is my favorite part of the day. Always sure to evoke emotion. Doing a first look with your Father, both of your parents, or your bridesmaids is a very special moment. If you'd like to do more than one of these, simply add 15 minutes to the timeline and adjust accordingly.
2:45 - 3:00 pm - First look with dad or bridesmaids
( 15 min )
3:15 - 3:30 p.m.
This tends to be a favorite moment for our couples and helps ease the stress of the day dramatically! I will find the perfect location for my couple’s First Look prior to the getting ready portion of the day! Don’t stress about that one bit! I will make sure the location is private and as secluded as possible so you can enjoy some alone time before gathering with family and friends.
3:00 - 3:15 pm - walk to first look
3:15 - 3:30 pm - first look
Note: The great thing about doing a First Look is that it gives you more time at cocktail hour. We’ll grab some photographs of your guests and reception decor while you enjoy the hour.
( 15 min )
3:30 - 4:00 p.m.
After you take your time with the First Look, we will begin taking a few romantic portraits while the intial excitement is still present! We will also take this time to take your individual Bridal portraits & Groom portraits, having your partner with you during this time helps us capture you with genuine smiles! We will find the locations for these shots as well! Remember, the weather & light determine where we shoot and so we can’t decide on exact portrait locations until the day-of. As we shoot these portraits, the bridal party can start making their way to us for Bridal Party portraits!
3:30 - 4:00 PM - Bride & Groom portraits
We love doing a venue walk-thru with you within a week or two before your Wedding day. The sun location will be very similar and although we can't know what the exact weather will be like on your wedding day we can create a game plan for locations.
( 30 min )
4:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Now it’s time for Bridal Party shots! It’s a great idea to buffer in extra time throughout the day just in case we have some unexpected things that hold us up! One way to make sure we stay on schedule for bridal party portraits is to have someone put the boutonnieres on the guys BEFORE they arrive for portraits. During Bridal Party portraits, we will make sure to take some great shots of the guys and girls both separately & together! We like to have 20 minutes with the bridesmaids, 20 minutes with the groomsmen, & 20 minutes with the full bridal party. We promise, this time goes really quickly and everyone has a good time.
4:00 - 5:00 pm - bridal party portraits
( 60 min )
5:00 - 5:30 p.M.
We allocate 30 minutes for immediate family photos as close to the ceremony start time as possible, but with enough time so that the guests haven’t arrived yet. We will get your full shot list from your wedding day questionnaire which helps us run through family combinations quickly. Thirty minutes gives us enough time to get the bride and groom with each side of your immediate family and small breakouts, too, like the bride with her dad, the bride with her mom, the bride with her mom and dad, the parents together, etc.
5:00 - 5:30 PM - family portraits
Any family shots beyond the immediate extended family photos (like aunts, uncles, etc.) typically takes additional time, so we’ll add 15 minutes to this section when those photos are requested, but we’ll always make sure to end 30 minutes before the ceremony start time to avoid guests seeing the bride and/or family members getting antsy, as well as giving us time to shoot the ceremony setup.
( 30 min )
5:30 - 6:00 p.m.
After family portraits are complete, the bride and groom will go into hiding so that early guests don’t sneak a peek, and the ushers will begin their duties.
It gives you a few moments to take a few deep breaths, rest, and refresh hair & makeup.
Meanwhile, Troy & I will photograph your ceremony decor and get ready for your big reveal!
5:30 - 6:00 PM - bride & Groom in hiding
( 30 min )
6:00 - 6:30 p.m.
It’s time to get married!! Most ceremonies are 30 minutes long. Cherish these moments! Your ceremony will pass by so quickly!
If your ceremony is longer than 30 mins, simply adjust the timeline working backwards so that we arrive earlier in the day!
6:00 - 6:30 pm - Wedding ceremony
( 30 min )
6:30 - 7:00 P.M.
As you walk down the aisle as newlyweds I will immediately whisk you away and start photography your portraits. While Troy finishes photographing the recessional.
The last 30 minutes before sunset are the BEST time of day for portraits! This is when the sun is glowy and golden. We love having a few extra minutes with the bride and groom to take a few “Just Married” portraits following your ceremony depending on the sunset during the season you're getting married. This way you have the whole evening to dance and enjoy your guests.
The only exception to this would be during a summer months when the sunset is scheduled for well past a normal dinner hour. In that case, let's build in a time during the reception to sneak out for golden hour.
6:30 - 7:00 pm - a few "just married" portraits
( 30 min )
7:00 - 7:30 P.M.
As you head off to join your cocktail hour and visit with guests, I will photograph your reception details before jackets and purses start to be laid down and guests start seating. While, Troy photographs you and your guests enjoying the cocktail hour.
7:00 - 7:30 pm - Bride & Groom join cocktail hour
Reception details
( 30 min )
7:30 - 7:45 P.M.
We suggest as you do your grand entrance to go ahead and cut your cake while you have everyone's attention. This way everyone can move on to desert immediately following their dinner and you can take your time finishing your meal before your first dance.
7:30 - 7:45 pm - Guests seated & Grand entrances
Professional Tip: Having the cake placed in the center of the dance floor is an ideal location since you can have plenty of room, we can photograph all angles, get better lighting, and you're not pressed against the wall. If you place against the wall, be sure you have a neutral colored wall or place a backdrop.
( 15 min )
7:45 - 9:45 P.M.
We include 10 hours of coverage
so that we can be present for the main events of the reception and about an hour of dancing! If you’re interested in having your exit photographed, there are several options for this! You can have your grand exit following your ceremony, add additional coverage for your end of night exit, or plan a faux exit with just your bridal party! We have had great success with this and the party never stops! Email me about this if you’re interested in learning more!
7:45 - 9:45 pm - eating, dancing, & the exit
( 120 min )
9:45 - 10:00 P.M.
Before we depart for the night, we will take one last epic photo in front of your venue. Then we'll make sure we've documented everything you hoped for, give hugs, and say "Congrats," one last time.
9:45 - 10:00 pm - Last shot & Photographers Depart
( 15 min )
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
A lot of times the guys get overlooked. We LOVE to get shots of the guys that they will love and be proud of. We do their shots first so that they can get those awesome shots and then relax for the rest of the day. Generally the hair & makeup takes a little longer for the bride anyway so this is a great time to get the guys shots out of the way!
12:00 - 1:00 pm - the groom
1:15 - 3:15 p.m.
Every bride loves having those beautiful shots of her bridal details. It’s an important part of the story and I love having some time to shoot the dress, shoes, jewelry, invitations, etc. These shots allow me to get warmed up for the rest of the big day. I normally like to allow at least 45-60 minutes for this part of the day. While I’m shooting details, Troy is capturing some shots of the bride and her girls getting ready!
After the details have been photographed, it’s time for the bride to get into her dress! This is a big moment! I usually ask the Mother of the Bride and all of the bridesmaids to be dressed by the time the Bride is ready to get into her dress. This ensures that everyone will look their best in those images. After the Bride is in her gown, she can put on her jewelry, veil, shoes, etc. and I will shoot some additional bridal portraits!
1:15 - 3:15 pm - details & bridal prep
Special note: We will start with styling details and getting detail shots of your rings, shoes, invitation suite, jewelry, dress, and any other special heirlooms. It is a great idea to have a box for you and one for your groom with all of your details in it. That way when we arrive, your MOH or BM can hand over everything and we can get started right away. After hugs of course! (both his ring & your full set should be in your box)
3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Now it’s time for Bridal Party shots and your individual portraits. We'll start with the Bride then add in the bridesmaids. Next up the Grooms portraits followed by groomsmen.
It’s a great idea to buffer in extra time throughout the day just in case we have some unexpected things that hold us up! One way to make sure we stay on schedule for bridal party portraits is to have someone put the boutonnieres on the guys BEFORE they arrive for portraits. During Bridal Party portraits, we will make sure to take some great shots of the guys and girls both separately! We will take the full group photos later.
3:30 - 4:30 pm - bridesmaid, groomsmen, bride portraits, & groom portraits
4:30 - 5:00 p.m.
After bridal party portraits are complete, the bride will go into hiding so that early guests don’t sneak a peek, and the ushers will begin their duties.
It gives you a few moments to take a few deep breaths and refresh.
4:30 - 5:00 PM - bride in hiding
5:00 - 5:30 p.m.
It’s time to get married!! Most ceremonies are 30 minutes long. If your ceremony is longer than 30 mins, we’ll make adjustments to the timeline! Cherish these moments! Your ceremony will pass by so quickly!
5:00 - 5:30 pm - ceremony
5:40 - 6:10 P.M.
Family formals normally take place immediately following the ceremony. It’s best to save all of the family formals until after the ceremony because ALL family members will be present at that time. We’ll need about 30 minutes for family formals and I will send a questionnaire before the wedding where you can list out the shots that you want. I recommend shooting portraits outdoors if possible so that they resemble more natural family portraits, especially if the ceremony location has dim light or has non-white walls!
5:40 - 6:10 pm - family portraits
Note: 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.
6:15 - 6:25 P.M.
At this time we'll photograph your entire bridal party together. This part of the day is really fun, hanging out with your friends. We'll make sure it goes quickly and the bridal party can get to your cocktail hour.
6:15 - 6:25 pm - full bridal party portraits
6:30 - 7:00 P.M.
We will begin taking a few romantic portraits while the initial excitement is still present! This is a wonderful time to pause and take some time just for each other. We will find the locations for these shots as well! Remember, the weather & light determine where we shoot and so we can’t decide on exact portrait locations until the day-of.
6:30 - 7:00 pm - romantic portraits
We love doing a venue walk-thru with you within a week or two before your Wedding day. The sun location will be very similar and we can create a game plan for locations.
Alternately you can have your ceremony earlier in the day and put more space in between for portraits.
7:10 - 7:30 P.M.
I will use this time to shoot the reception decor untouched. I recommend having a cocktail hour outside of the main reception area if possible so that I can grab some great shots of your reception before the night begins and guests start laying down purses & coats on their seats and drinks on the tables!
7:10 - 7:30 pm - reception details
8:30 P.M.
We include 10 hours of coverage
so that we can be present for the main events of the reception and about an hour of dancing! If you’re interested in having your exit photographed, there are several options for this! You can have your grand exit following your ceremony, add additional coverage for your end of night exit, or plan a faux exit with just your bridal party! We have had great success with this and the party never stops! Email me about this if you’re interested in learning more!
8:30 pm - Dancing begins
10:00 P.M.
Before we depart for the night, we will take one last epic photo in front of your venue. Then we'll make sure we've documented everything you hoped for, give hugs, and say Congrats one last time.
10:00 pm - photographers depart
2:00 p.m.
Danielle & Troy arrive at Bride’s getting-ready location. Danielle will photograph Bridal Details while Troy assists & captures the Bride Getting Ready. If the Groom is nearby, Troy will photograph getting ready during this time as well
Your elopement timeline will depend on how many hours you have contracted us for. This is just an example day. This guide shows you exactly how much time we need to document each part of your day you choose to have us along for.
Bridal Details (60 min) - this is where we will curate & capture your stationery suite, dress, rings, shoes, etc.
Bride getting into her dress (30 min) - you'll want your Mom already in her dress for this.
2:30 pm - Getting Ready
Special note: We will start with styling details and getting detail shots of your rings, shoes, invitation suite, jewelry, dress, and any other special heirlooms. It is a great idea to have a box for you and one for your groom with all of your details in it. That way when we arrive, your MOH can hand over everything and we can get started right away. After hugs of course! (both his ring & your full set should be in your box)
4:00 p.m.
The ceremony takes place.
4:00PM Ceremony
Typically, the Bride goes into hiding during the 30 minutes before the ceremony. During this time we capture ceremony decor and get in place for your big entrance.
4:30 p.m.
Duration: 30 minutes
Family portraits.
4:30pm Family Portraits
Note: 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.
5:00 P.M.
Bride & Groom Portraits
5:00pm Portraits
45-60 minutes - Bride & Groom
If we are traveling to another location for portraits, please remember to include this in your timeline.
6:00 P.M.
Photographers Depart.
Welcome toasts & salads followed by speeches and entrees.
6:00pm Dinner
7:00 P.M.
Sunset Portraits
7:00pm Sunset Portraits
We’ll make sure to grab you two about 30-45 minutes before the sun sets. This is usually the best light of the day! This is a part of the day a lot of people opt to add additional hours for or to include their reception.
Duration: 15 min
If you have contracted us for addtional hours, we can help you build a timeline that better suits your needs and your elopement celebration!
If the forecast is calling for rain, fear not because rainy days are still beautiful! If you don't believe us, just take a look at Erin & Andrew'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.
Rain Tips
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!
Dress
Dress Hanger
Rings (both engagement and wedding bands, his & hers)
Shoes
Veil
Bouquet
Ring
Hair pieces
Jewelry
Invitation Suite ( 2 full sets with envelopes + stamps)
Any other paper stationary you may have like program cards or seating cards
Bridal 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.
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
When we can, we always try to take a photo of your rings while you're getting ready. If possible, try to have your engagement ring cleaned or clean it yourself. To clean at home, soak your ring in warm water with dishwashing soap for 20 to 40 minutes. Then gently brush the stone with a soft toothbrush, rinse and repeat if needed.
The Rings
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
your entire family, dressed up and together
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 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
family portrait list
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.
1. If you're getting married in the summer months, a "not-so-heavy" snack or lunch time before portraits is always a good idea for you and your bridal party to avoid hungry bellies and passing out!
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. If your reception is at a separate venue, add some "fluff time" so that we can run over to the venue to capture it while it's still "untouched" by guests.
Additional Tips
AFTER SHOOTING weddings the past 10 years, we're happy to share a few additional tips.
6. We always recommend the bride go into hiding 30 minutes before the ceremony at the absolute latest. Guests typically arrive early to weddings.
7. To help make family portraits go smoother, it's best to have a breakdown of what 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 us with a list ahead of time, we can go over it and make sure we shoot things in an order that is efficient and won't leave anyone out.
8. During the cocktail hour and the reception, we'll follow you around. Anytime you'd like a photo with someone, grab our attention. We love being your personal paparazzi!
9. We'd love to help you plan your timeline. If you'd like our input, don't hesitate to email or call! We will supply you with the exact amount of time we need to fully shoot each part of your day to ensure you get every image you dream of and more!
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. Your album will be an heirloom you'll be proud to share with your children & grandchildren one day.
Albums
more details
the perfect way to remember your wedding day
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 danielle@thehelgesons.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!
THANK YOU!
