Wedding Wednesday: Lessons Learned

So as many of you know, last Saturday was Bear's sister's wedding.  I was feeling kinda wedding'd out and thought about skipping this feature for a couple weeks, but I also know I need to work on my own upcoming wedding (before I lose interest completely and settle on running to Niagara Falls and eloping).  This feature is sometimes the only reason I think about my own wedding at all!

Anyway, I find whenever I shoot a wedding, I learn some things I like and some things I do not like.  In this case, helping set up for, create for, and shooting a wedding has taught me so very much.

Lesson number one: things go so much more smoothly if the wedding and reception take place at one venue.  Having two venues is fine, too, but make sure your guests won't have to drive very far to get from point A to point B.

Lesson number two: make sure you have plenty of time to get ready for everyone.  If everything can be set up and ready to go the day before, it is ideal.  I also decided I am definitely going the first look route.  I want a ton of photos of Bear and I and typically after the ceremony everyone's itching to get their party on, including the wedding party.  Getting all the formal photos out of the way first helps expedite the rest of the events.

Lesson number three: if something doesn't go as planned, go on with the show.  If a key family member has to leave for an undetermined amount of time during the reception, get the guests some food!  The dancing and other key events can take place when they get back, and everyone will be happier when they have food in their bellies.

Lesson number four: if you are getting married at your home and have a problem animal or problem animals, make sure you put them somewhere they will not be let out.  Don't assume everyone walking in and out will know that this pet has to stay locked up or he will try to claw up your wedding dress.  There are so many people milling about, he's bound to slip through the cracks.

Lesson number five: make sure if you do not have a wedding coordinator or planner that you assign family and friends specific jobs in advance.  The day of is hectic, and things can be forgotten.  If Aunt Jo is in charge of flowers, make sure you go over that with her well in advance.  Don't give all the responsibility to one person; it's overwhelming and they will probably forget something.

Lesson number six: in the case that everything does go wrong, keep calm and carry on!  Weddings are supposed to be a celebration, not a stress fest.  At least one thing will never go according to plan; letting go of it and moving on is so much more conducive to having a memorable day than fixating on the less-than-perfect details!

At the end of the day, everything happened so quickly your recollection of it will be a blur.  My final tip is to hire a great photographer and videographer... they are the vendors that make your wedding last beyond just a day!

*please note that all images are copyright MET Photography in this post.