5 THINGS YOU MUST MAKE TIME FOR ON YOUR WEDDING DAY
You’ve probably heard all your married friends tell you, “The day goes by so fast - enjoy every moment!” and I couldn’t agree more! You spend all this time planning one (beautiful and glorious) special day, and you have to be intentional about carving out some time to really soak it all in. At Lindsay Plank Events, my experience has helped to narrow it down to 5 essential things you must take time to do on your wedding day. I hope these recommendations will help you make the most of your wedding celebration and create treasured memories that will last a lifetime!
Take Time for Golden Hour Photos
Golden hour has to be one of my favourite things! It isn’t nicknamed “magic hour” for nothing. That hour right before sunset (and sunrise), gives everything a soft and warm look that photographers absolutely love - and you will, too! Golden hour seriously yields some absolutely stunning results and should be included within your itinerary. Another bonus of planning golden hour photos is that this time could also be crucial on what already feels like such a busy day. Maybe you’re a bit tight on time and your afternoon portraits get cut short as you rush off to the reception - golden hour gives you more time to get stunning intimate photos with your new husband or wife. Depending on the time of year of your wedding, golden hour will change, so let’s sit down together and figure out where it fits in your wedding day schedule.
Take A Moment Together Right After the Ceremony
Congratulations, you did it! The ceremony is over and now you’re married! Now what? I always encourage my couples to set aside at least 10-15 minutes of peace so that they aren’t immediately overwhelmed by family or the wedding party. You need just a little breather, just the two of you to take in the reality that you’re married! Take this moment to have a breather in the bridal suite, go for a brief walk along the vineyards, or to go pop a bottle of champagne with just the two of you! If you’re hoping to do a traditional receiving line after the ceremony, that’s okay too! Let’s chat and we will figure out a way to include the “just married” moment for the two of you to enjoy.
Consider Maximizing Your Time with a First Look (with your Fiancé(e))
Something that more of my couples are doing is the ‘first look’ with their fiancé(e) before the ceremony. If tradition really isn’t your thing, or you want to maximize your time together, this might be just the perfect option to include in your wedding day plans. Plus, your hair, makeup, flowers, and wedding dress/tux are fresh and untouched by all the events of the day, so this can definitely capture some pristine pictures. Photos aside, the first look is such an emotional moment that connects with your partner as you remember the excitement and significance of your big day. Sharing this time together before all your family, friends, and wedding party are involved is the perfect, intimate time that you need. It will also help to calm those pre-wedding jitters and remind you that the focus of the day is all about celebrating your love for each other.
Take Time for a ‘First Look’ with a Special Person
Think of someone that means a lot to you - maybe it’s your dad, your mom, a grandparent, or a close friend. Capturing the first time they see you dressed in your wedding attire is a beautiful moment to treasure. You need to intentionally carve out that time in your day so that you can take it all in and enjoy the moment. Seeing that special person can also have a calming effect as you prepare for the big reveal with your future spouse or the ceremony itself. We do recommend that you try to do it directly after you've dressed for the day, as your hair & makeup artist can stick around to touch up after those special moment tears.
Carve Out Some Time to be a Bit Spontaneous
You don’t want your day to be so restricted and regimented that you don’t have time to breathe or do something spontaneous. After all, the day is about you and your spouse! I like to ensure that my couples have some flex time between the main events of the day. This will just create some breathing room that allows you to make memories with your family, friends, bridal party, and guests in the spur of the moment. Having some buffer time (and a confident wedding planner!) will also help to reduce the stress of the day so that you can simply enjoy it without worrying about your schedule.
At Lindsay Plank Events, I love getting to know each of my couples and tailoring their day to their unique vision. As a wedding designer and planner, my job is not only to ensure that things run smoothly, but that you have the time you need to take it all in and truly enjoy your wedding day. I would love to hear about your wedding day and see how Lindsay Plank Events can incorporate these important elements into the most important and memorable day of your life! If you’d like to connect, you can contact me here to get started - I can’t wait to hear from you!
