There is so much that goes into wedding planning that sometimes stress is inevitable. BUT there are so many ways that you can drastically decrease your stress levels on your actual day. The biggest one being hiring a vendor team that you trust so you can take a step back and be in the moment. Keep reading for my favorite 5 tips for a stress free wedding!

Give Yourself Time

If you think an activity is going to take five minutes, give yourself 15. To get the best candid photos, you have to give yourself the space to just hang out with your loved ones. Running from activity to activity, or having a super close timeline just creates stress in itself. The more time you have to get things done, the better.

Share Your Timeline

Share your timeline with your bridal party AND your vendors! When everybody knows the flow of the day, we will be more likely to stay on pace. Vendors can also give their professional input on the series of events, and let you know if something might need more time. Trust the team you assembled to give you the best advice. Every wedding is different, but a lot of the timeline stuff is similar.

EAT!

So many people forget to eat all day! Then we make it to cocktail hour, on our way to do portraits, and you are so hungry you are about to pass out. Or if you drink, the alcohol hits faster than you assumed it would. Have your wedding party, or someone organizing the day before the vendors get there, order breakfast. Make yourself eat it! Then have lunch out while you are all getting ready so everybody can take what they want. There is a long day ahead of you, be nourished for it.

Practice Bustling

You know what takes a surprising amount of time? Bustling a wedding dress. It doesn’t matter if you think it is the easiest bustle in the world…it will take more time than you think. Have someone who will be around you all day come to your final fitting. TAKE A VIDEO of you doing the bustle at that appointment. That way you can show whoever is around after your couple portraits if the person who came to your appointment isn’t around. A crochet hook also comes in handy when it comes to tiny buttons.

Does It Feel Like You?

The more your wedding feels authentic to your relationship, the less stress you will have. Do you want a big wedding? Maybe an elopement fits your personality better? Whatever you do, make sure it feels like you. When you are in the middle of your dream day any stressful situations that might arise won’t feel like the end of the world.

VA Wedding Photographer Packages

I would love to be a part of your vendor team! When you hire me, I will be there to answer any question you might have. Timeline planning (or working with your planner on the timeline) is some of the most important prep-work I do. Along with timeline planning, I also have a questionnaire that goes through all the details of the day, including lists of any family photos you want to take. My wedding packages start at $2,000, and most of my clients end up spending $3,000! Fill out my contact form to get my wedding pricing guide. In the email that comes after you fill out the form there is also a link to schedule a phone call if you have any questions.

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