Welcome
we're so excited to work with you!
If you're reading this, then that means you just signed your contract, paid your deposit, and you're officially booked with us and ready to lock in for the wedding planning process! We've been in this industry for a hot minute, and we understand how things can get very overwhelming very quickly. It can be daunting to know where to even begin, and you may be wondering about the timeline of your wedding day, what to wear to your engagement session, how to prepare and be photo-ready for the big day, or you may even still have a few vendors left to book and would love some first-hand recommendations. We're here with you every step of the way so that by the time you get to your wedding day, it's smooth sailing, good food, and maybe even a little (or a lot!) of champagne and your favorite cocktail. Cheers!
but where to start?
The Timeline
Not sure whether or not to do a first look? Not sure when to start the ceremony? We've got you covered.
The main thing to keep in mind (spoiler, it's the lighting...)
Below we provide you with sample timelines both with and without a first look. But keep in mind, the exact timeframe is subject to the sunset time on your wedding date and the location of your venue! What do we mean by that? To put it plainly, lighting is EVERYTHING. If the sunset time on your wedding date is 5:00 PM, we would never recommend starting your ceremony at 4:30 PM and losing the sunset lighting for your couples portraits. If you're getting married at a venue with plenty of shade, it will be darker than a wedding in the desert, in which case you may want to think about starting the ceremony even earlier. Our 3 recommendations to keep in mind as you look through these sample timelines go as follows:
- Ceremony time should be at least 90 minutes prior to sunset.
- Venues with more shade (Stonebridge Manor, Villa Siena, and Garden Tuscana are all good examples) should have the ceremony start 2 hours prior to sunset.
- Only extend your cocktail hour to 90 minutes if absolutely necessary.
Of course there are variables about the day that are unique to you, and our timelines will account for the average time moments take to unfold! But maybe you're not a front-and-center kind of couple and want the ceremony to be no longer than 10 minutes. No problems here! Our motto is it's always better to over estimate time than under estimate it, and if you're a short and sweet kind of couple, that just means more downtime to relax and take in the day, and who doesn't love that?
Group Photos
You and your partner get a special, intimate moment together just for the two of you where you can talk, laugh, cry, and take each other in with no one else around.
Privacy
Almost all formal group photos can get done before the majority of your guests arrive, leaving more time after the ceremony for your sunset portraits.
Cocktail Hour
You're spending HOW MUCH for the bar, and you want to enjoy it? ABSOLUTELY! With formal photos being taken pre-ceremony, and sunset portraits right after, doing a first look helps you attend your cocktail hour since you'll have already taken all of the formal photos.
Sample Timeline With First Look:
Without a first look, you go at least 3 hours before ever your partner on your wedding day, at which time you immediately get thrown into your extended family and group shots. With a first look, you get to spend more time with the love of your life on your special day, which means more quiet moments of just the two of you together.
More time spent with your partner
Pre-Ceremony Downtime
If you're superstitious about seeing each other before the ceremony, or if you've always dreamt of your partner seeing you for the first time as you come down the aisle, this is the way to go.
Traditional
Since you won't be able to get your group photos until after the ceremony when you've finally seen each other, that means while one of you is taking photos with your family and wedding party, the other will have downtime in their getting ready suite.
Sample Timeline Without First Look:
So now that we know the timeline...
What are we going to fill it with? No two wedding days are alike, and thank goodness! While we can guide you on technical things like the timeline and the most ideal lighting, the most special part of your wedding day is that it's yours, and we'll never tell how to be true to yourself. Are you and your partner a classic couple who want to prioritize formal portraits and flat lay detail shots? Or maybe you're a nontraditional couple who want a quick ceremony, no wedding party, and dinner party vibes? A couple of partiers at heart who want to dance the night away and see hundreds of candid dance floor photos in your final gallery? We've worked with an extremely wide variety of couples, and one of our very favorite things is getting to see their vision for the day come to life. So how do we make it happen?
Prioritizing you
The guests of honor
For most of us, we're not used to being in the spotlight and having entire days revolve around us, our desires, and our preferences, so taking this approach can take some getting used to. But we promise you this: all of your favorite things about your wedding day are going to be the things you did to represent who you are as a couple, and including the things that make YOU happy. So how do we do that? We've seen it enough that we've broken down our recommendations for what you can do to make sure you're planning the wedding day of your dreams and no one else's.
Tip #1
Have a clear idea of your own priorities for the day
If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Now does that mean every single minute detail has to be planned? Absolutely not. In fact we strongly advise against it. But having a plan on what you would like to prioritize is a life saver and takes off a whole lot of pressure. So from here on out, when making decisions, start asking yourself:
If I could only prioritize one thing for your wedding day, what would it be?
Would you want it to be the intimate moments between you and your new spouse? The candid laughs with all of the people you love gathered together in celebration? Whatever it is, let it be your North Star, and make your decisions in service of that.
It's not your parents' day, or your sibling's day, and it is certainly not your distant judgmental relative's day (there's one in every family, right?) It's YOUR day, and you get to pick what's important to you! And if anyone tells you otherwise, you can point them in our direction and we'll set them straight for you.
Tip #2
You don't have to take every photo requested of you
We get it, everyone is excited to be part of your special day, and we're so happy to hear it! But just because they're asking for a certain photos doesn't mean you have to accommodate. If it's a photo you want too, then yay, everyone's happy! But if your mom is insisting that you need a picture with Carrie-from-her-book-club-who-you-just-met-today, meanwhile you'd rather spend that time taking couples photos during golden hour, follow your instincts.
You're most likely not going to frame that photo of you and Carrie (unless she turns out to be a REALLY exceptional lady), but we can almost guarantee a sunset couples portrait will make it's way onto your wall. So if there are any shots you're considering, but you can pretty much take them or leave them, just leave them.
People vastly underestimate the joy present in candid reception photos, so if Carrie really wants that photo with the you, pull us aside during the reception and we'll get a fun, joyful, photo of you and your new friend without sacrificing the shots you actually had your heart set on.
Tip #3
Don't let social media plan your wedding for you
We'll say it, the TikTok trends are enticing. Hell, we fall victim to them ourselves every once in a while. But it's important to keep in mind your (say it with us) PRIORITIES when it comes to distinguishing between getting a shot because you want it or because you've seen it a million times on Pinterest and think it's a requirement. This is in no way disparaging those trends, some of our very favorite wedding day moments we've captured have come from those trends, but we can also tell when someone is not that into the trend, but still feels like they have to do it because everyone else did.
Doing a champagne pop with your bridesmaids, taking a photo in matching robes or PJs, or doing a first look with someone other than your partner can all be sweet moments, but only if they're genuine. If you're not a champagne person, you don't have to pop it just for the photo. If you'd rather get ready in a cozy T-shirt and shorts, you have our permission to skip the matching robes. And if you love your dad, but you suspect he may just give a simple "you look nice!" during a formal first look, then that can just be an unprompted candid moment.
We can't tell you the amount of times we've been asked to capture moments like these, only for the moment to be a little lackluster or fall a little flat for the client because it didn't come from a genuine place.
If you see a trend that excites you, then that excites us, and we want you to let us know so we can be sure to grab it! Otherwise, you fully have our permission to skip any and every trend that isn't 100% true to you.
Vendor Recommendations
Dania Blanco
Cosmiix Artistry
dania@cosmiix.com
(480) 268-3406
The Desert Bridal Babes
hellodesertbridalbabe@gmail.com
https://www.thedesertbridalbabe.com
Philly Hair & Makeup Co.
http://phillyhairandmakeup.com
Boss Beauty
https://www.bossbeautyaz.com
J Barry Designs
http://jbarrydesigns.com
480-375-5278
Flowers by Jodi
https://flowersbyjodi.com
flowersbyjodi@yahoo.com
(602) 264-6932
Fleur Phoenix
https://www.fleurphx.com
jordan@fleurphx.com
(602) 505-0105
Something Borrowed Blooms
https://www.somethingborrowedblooms.com
info@sbblooms.com
337-534-4383
YA Cakes and Catering
https://yacakesandcatering.com/
(480) 313-4232
Piece of Cake Bakery
https://www.pieceofcakeaz.com/
480-985-9166
cakes@pieceofcakeaz.com
@pieceofcakeaz
Whisk & Paddle Bakeshop
https://www.whiskandpaddleaz.com/
602-502-7809 erica@whiskandpaddleaz.com
Jewels Bakery & Cafe
https://jewelsbakeryandcafe.com
cakes@jewelsbakeryandcafe.com
602-714-5243
Dos Chris' Bakery & Charcuterie Co.
https://doschrisaz.com
doschris@doschrisaz.com
(602) 837-8899
Something New Media
https://somethingnewmedia.com/
booking@SomethingNewMedia.com
Craig Peterman
https://www.petermanphotovideo.com/
petermanphotoandvideo@gmail.com
Evan Dangerfield (Dangerfield Weddings)
https://dangerfieldweddings.co/
Films by Brooke Leigh
https://www.zola.com/wedding-vendors/wedding-videographers/films-by-brooke-leigh
@filmsbybrookeleigh
Got Hitched (Myalyn Hall, Content Creation)
This is an option we like to throw in as well if you’re looking for something less formal than traditional videography! Myalyn does content creation for social media, so she shoots all of the raw footage of your day on an iPhone and then sends it all to you so you can arrange and post it however you would like. You can find her on Instagram @got.hitched!
Apollo Productions
http://www.apolloproductionsdj.com/
apolloproductionsdj@gmail.com
All Pro DJs
http://www.allprodjsaz.com
allprodjslauren@gmail.com
602-292-2870
So now that we've covered the timeline and personal details, the next step is your...
Enagement Session
What to wear & how to prepare to look your best
READ ON TO SEE OUR TIPS ON COLOR TONES, OUTFITS, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN WHEN IT COMES TO STYLING YOUR ENGAGEMENT SESSION
First things first: COLOR toNES
As you begin planning the looks and color tones for your session, a good place to start is going to be with neutrals and earth tones. Your soft tans, creams, browns, muted greens, and burnt oranges are going to photograph well pretty much anywhere you put them, whether it's desert, greenery, or downtown.
Neutrals, got it! What else?
Certain color tones compliment certain backdrops, so if you have your heart set on a desert backdrop for your engagement session, you'll be golden sticking to the earth tones and neutrals. If you're into more colorful outfits, those look the most harmonious in jewel tones. A good guideline to keep in mind would be to keep your pops of color either soft/muted or deep/rich. Rich jewel tones can pop in pretty much any setting, whether it's a ruby color in the desert, sapphire blue with greenery, or an emerald green downtown.
Any colors to stay away from?
Overly saturated or neon colors can be very abrasive on camera. Lime greens, hot pinks, and icy electric blues are typically not colors we would recommend, unless you have an extremely neutral or stylized backdrop (like a blank studio, for example) as they have a tendency to clash with outdoor natural color tones.
Small patterns are also something to keep an eye out for. Small stripes, tiny polka dots, or multicolored plaid can all have a vibrating effect when they're photographed that can appear like an optical illusion. Patterns are totally fine, just keep them bigger so they don't read noisy once they're photographed.
We've got the color tones, now how do we style them?
You know your personal style better than anyone, and we can't wait to see it! Here we'll just be getting into some pointers for how certain outfits work on on camera, and with different poses, so you can create the effect you want to show off your personality.
The do's
Do
Wear something that feels like you! If you never wear short sundresses, don't feel like you have to start now. We want your photos to be authentically you, and if you're uncomfortable it'll show in the photos. Show up in what makes you feel confident and like yourself.
Do
Make sure everything fits before you arrive for the session! Too big or too small can make or break the fit and how comfortable you feel in it. If undergarments are showing because the fit is off, you'll spend the entire session adjusting and readjusting. When you know the fit is good, all you'll have to worry about is having fun at your session!
Do
Make sure everything is clean and ironed! Freshly pressed garments makes all the difference in completely elevating the entire look of your outfit. We get accidents happen, and if you accidentally get makeup on your shirt, that's easy enough to get out with editing, but we highly recommend not showing up in any clothes that you know have permanent stains. We can edit stains out in emergencies, but you'll get your photos back quicker if we don't have to!
The don'ts
Don't
Bring two outfits that are very similar. All of our engagement sessions offer the option to do an outfit change, so if you're planning to take advantage, use this as an opportunity to showcase multiple facets of your personality! If your first outfit is extremely formal, with a long dress, heels, suit jacket, slacks, etc., then you may want to consider going more understated for your second outfit. Not only will it break up your photos and add variety, but it will showcase different sides of your unique personality.
Don't
Wear something limiting. We have a very wide variety of poses and prompts that we're so excited to do with you, but we can only do them if your outfits allow for mobility! Short, and/or tight dresses and skirts are so cute, but they limit our ability to put you in any sitting or lifting poses. This is where the outfit change comes in handy! If you bring along a second outfit that's a looser, longer skirt, or a pair of pants, then we can get a wider variety of poses, while still showing off that mini dress. Win/win!
Don't
Wear accessories that obscure your face! If you've got a face for hats, we absolutely love that for you. Just be mindful that most hats with brims/bills (cowboy hats & baseball caps were looking at you) cast a shadow down making it hard to see your eyes. We want to capture how connected you and your partner are, and it can be difficult for that to convey when one or both of your faces is partially covered. It can also be hard to get nice and close for certain shots, and no one realizes how hard it is to kiss with a baseball cap on until you're doing it in front of a camera.
A few final thoughts & MISCELLANEOUS tips...
Mind that tan line
We love our Apple Watches as much as the next guy, but in the weeks leading up to your session (and wedding!) be sure to take a break from the 24/7 wear time, or apply that sunscreen to help even out any tan lines on the wrist, especially if it's your left wrist (hello ring shots!)
Mindful of makeup
If you're not a makeup person you don't have to go crazy, but our cameras are extremely high definition and pick up a lot of detail (it's what you hired us for, right?) so a little concealer or BB cream can go a long way to even out skin tones. You can even reach out to your HMUA and see if they can do your hair & makeup trial before the session.
sHINE UP THAT RING
If you were looking for an excuse to get your ring cleaned, here it is! There's nothing like the sparkle of a freshly polished gem on camera, and having a clean ring just sends those detail shots over the top.
Empty those pockets
You'll hear us say this at your engagement session, and about 1200 times to the groomsman on your wedding day. Keep those pockets flat! We promise, you won't need your wallet, phone, keys, and loose change on you during the 60 minutes we're photographing you. If you miss a call letting you know that you've just won the lottery, then you can promptly tell to eat our words, but until then keep those pockets empty.