Wedding Day Planning Tips

WEDDING RUN SHEET PLANNING TIPS

  • Planning out the run sheet for your big day, it can be so overwhelming and complicated. If you do not know what to include or how much time you should allocate to each part of the day? We are here to help! We have put together a guide, based on our 30 years experience of photographing weddings, that will help you run your big day smoothly, hopefully without ripping out all your hair and without missing vital parts of your big day.

  • This is a very general guide which you can use as a template to plan your wedding and customize it how you like!

  • Something to think about, take account the travel time it takes to and from each location.

  • One thing that we ask our couples, it’s a list of names with the picture combinations that you want. Example: the couple, the couples parents, mom and dad together, grandma and I, etc.. List those combinations that you MUST have & want. Include their actual names, and have someone that knows them bring them to were the photographers are when shooting portraits after ceremony. The shoot goes faster and you waste less time and money!

  • IMPORTANT: If you have a videographer as well, we would recommend adding 30 minutes to each prep. time to ensure that they have enough time to set up for any other places they need to be in (30 minutes before it starts).

Bride getting ready (1.5-2 hours)

With epic photos of the wedding dress, shoes, and accessories, to having a toast with your bridesmaids in your robes before getting changed-this is where all the months of planning have come to! with final touches of makeup, putting on that dress, and perfecting the bride for the big day! Can even throw in father’s first look in here too!

  • TIP: Time your schedule so that when we arrive, all the hair and makeup is completed and final touches are just need it. Otherwise your run sheet will go overtime…

  • Hang the dress or place it nearby where you want the hanging shot of the dress.

  • Leave out: wedding invite, flowers, shoes, perfume, jewelry and any other accessories.

  • If parents are at same location-make sure they are dressed and ready too!

Groom getting ready (1-1.5 hours)

Starting off with the details, such as the suit, watch, and details the groom will be wearing-no story is complete without every single piece. Before they suit up, we will capture moments of them relaxing and being themselves, showing the bride what the boys get up to before the ceremony (that she doesn’t get to see that part on the day), looking back on the photos will definitely be worth your while if you feel like this part of the day isn’t necessary, its just as important as bride getting ready.

  • Please leave out: suit, shoes, cufflinks, watch, tie, socks, cologne and anything else groom will be wearing before getting dressed.

  • If parents are at the same location-make sure they are dressed and ready.

Ceremony

(30-60 min)

The time has come!When the boys are waiting nervously for the bride and her bridesmaids to arrive, to the grooms reaction when the bride walks down the aisle! When you both exchange vows and promise to be together for the rest of your lives! Finish it off with the kiss and signing of marriage certificate and walking down the aisle for the first time as husband and wife! Depending on if you’re having a church ceremony , time will vary here.

  • Tip: When bridesmaids are walking down the aisle, space yourselves to an aisle interval and when the bride is coming down the aisle….take your time…slowly….:)

  • Also make sure the groomsmen and bridesmaids on the sides do not cover the bride&groom in the middle so that we can Capture your reactions during vows.

Reception

(Time Varies)

Capturing your entire venue before all your family and friends arrive, this is your entire setup for reception including all your table gifts, decorations,flowers,details,and tables! Once that is all done, we will grab photos of your guests coming in. General formalities such as cut cake are done after bridal entrance and then followed by meal intervals for speeches, first dance, father daughter dance, open dance floor, garter and bouquet toss plus any other traditions that you may have. We stay til the end when you farewell your family and friends for the night!

A sample reception run sheet is as follows:

  • 6-7 pm Bridal Entrance +Cut cake

  • 7:15 pm Entree

  • 7.45 pm Speeches

  • 8:10 pm Mains

  • 8.30 pm First Dance, Open Dance Floor.

Traditions

(1 hour-2 hours)

We live in a diverse culture with many traditions involved for our wedding day! If you have any traditions such as games, tea ceremony, or “stealing” the bride for a champagne case as ransom to be “paid” by the groom to get he’s bride returned, (yes, that’s a real tradition we photograph it many times), pin money to the dress, or any other tradition that you would like for your wedding day, just let us know.

All those traditions adds to the final story, the laughter, and emotion of those moments will be capture for you to enjoy for many years!

Group Photo & Formal Portraits

(20-40 min)

After taking a massive group photo with all your family and guests, we will let them congratulate you and then take photos with your immediate family, siblings, and grandparents! If you’d like other friend groups too -let us know beforehand.

And to end the night, finally a few photos in the “getaway” car if that might be the case, or just a wave goodbye to all your guests!

Location Shoot

(1-3 hours)

If time permitted, here we will go off to a few locations nearby your ceremony or reception , IF they aren’t at the same venue. Here we will capture moments with your bridal party and then the two of you alone different locations. The more time, the better, for variety and creative shots.

  • Tip: Even if you don’t know where to go for location shoot, we may suggest a few places, including our studio located midtown/downtown and make it work.

Next