Did you know that today is National Wedding Planning Day? The first day of March marks the end of “proposal season” (November-February) when nearly 40% of couples get engaged.  Who knew right? In honor of such a momentous holiday, I decided to throw together another fun list of wedding planning tips.

If you’re planning an outdoor ceremony, you should plan a backup location as well.
No one wants to believe that the weather will be anything less than perfect on their wedding day, but the inevitable truth of the matter is that we live in Western New York. This past week it was 70 degrees in February. One day later, it snowed. Our weather is completely unpredictable, and while outdoor ceremonies are some of my absolute favorites, it’s always a good idea to have a backup plan, just in case!

Speaking of outdoor ceremonies, if your heart is set on having one… you should plan for late afternoon or early evening (depending on the time of year!)
Afternoon weddings in the midday sun are a recipe for overheated guests, uncomfortable groomsmen, and a whole lot of melting makeup. Waiting until a bit later in the day allows the sun to move from directly overhead. This not only decreases its intensity when beating warmth down on your guests, but also as the light source in your images! Another benefit of the later ceremony is that after it is finished, you’ll catch that perfectly golden light for all your portraits. Diffused, dreamy, beautiful light for the win! (If you’re unsure as to what time to plan your ceremony, don’t hesitate to ask your photographer- they will more than likely love you for it!)

If you’re planning to take portraits after the ceremony, you should plan for your cocktail hour to begin a bit later.
It’s simple to forget how long family, bridal party and your newlywed portraits will take. If your reception location is separate from your ceremony, make sure your guests know that you won’t be arriving immediately. It’s important to make time for all the images plus your travel time to the next venue! Scheduling your cocktail hour & reception a few hours after the ceremony ends gives your guests forewarning that they may not want to go directly to the reception. The last thing you want is them waiting around at the reception for extended periods of time!

If you want to save your guests from waiting for you at the reception, you should consider doing a first look!
First looks are a great way to knock out tons of portraits before the ceremony, rather than afterward. They also allow couples to share an intimate moment without anyone else around before the wedding day madness really begins. While this may be considered “untraditional,” I encourage you to at least consider the pros and cons of doing one! As a photographer, I try not to force my couples to choose one way or the other. It is YOUR wedding day, so if you want to remain traditional and not see each other until the ceremony, I completely respect that! (And honestly, I still have no idea which one I will choose for my own wedding day either!) Overall, first looks are real time savers in the end. They give you special moments together before the ceremony and more time with your guests afterward.

And last but certainly not least… you should plan for things to go wrong.
Yes, I really did just say that! The truth about weddings is that most of the time, they are absolutely CRAZY! I have met so many brides who plan their wedding itineraries down to five minute increments. In a perfect world, all the bridesmaids will be ready on time, you definitely won’t forget any important items, you won’t be late to your own ceremony, the pastor will not speak fifteen minutes longer than promised, all fifty of your family members will be present and ready to rock for pictures after the ceremony, you will catch the most perfect golden light for all your portraits, and neither the bride or groom will end up with cake in their nose or on their formal attire at the end of the night. In reality… one of these things will likely occur. Be realistic. Expect the unexpected. Try to relax and roll with whatever curveballs are thrown your way. It goes by so fast and you only get to do this once; enjoy it!