The One & Only Wedding Guide
Planning tips and a sample timeline for your wedding day
Welcome
Hello Bride (or Groom!) and welcome! This is such an exciting time for you, and I'm sure your mind is racing with all that needs to be planned. It's all very exciting, but it can also be a little overwhelming. You're planning the day you've been anticipating your whole life, and you only get one shot at it! By the time you get the hang of it, the planning is over.
Our goal as your wedding photographer and videographer is to make this one part of the planning simple. Photography is more than just images, it's a real part of your day. Not only do you deserve beautiful images, you also deserve an amazing photographic experience. This guide will help you plan your wedding day in a way that lets us give you the best experience possible. Edwin and I cannot wait to get to know you two!
Love,
Janice & Edwin
The Wedding Day
Details. Every bride loves having beautiful shots of her bridal details. It's an important part of the story, and I love having time to shoot the dress, shoes, jewelry and invitations. I like to allow at least 20 minutes for this, and while I'm shooting details I'm also capturing the bride and her girls getting ready.
Bridal prep. After the details, it's time for the bride to get into her dress! I ask the mother of the bride and all of the bridesmaids to be dressed by then so everyone looks great in those images. Once the bride is in her gown, she can put on her jewelry, veil and shoes, and I'll shoot some bridal portraits.
Groom prep. Time for the groom and groomsmen to have fun and get ready together! We suggest having the boutonnieres, and maybe some drinks, ready in the groom's room.
First look. This is one of my favorite parts of the day! I'll find the perfect spot for your first look before the getting ready portion of the day, somewhere private and as secluded as possible. Don't stress about it one bit.
Couple and bridal party portraits. Have someone put the boutonnieres on the guys before they arrive for portraits so we stay on schedule. After the bridal party, we start romantic portraits while the excitement is still fresh. The light decides where we shoot, and if there's a spot you love, let us know! Afterward, the bride goes into hiding so early guests don't sneak a peek.
Sample Timeline
Here's the page that can feel a little intimidating: the timeline! It isn't the most exciting part of planning, but it can make or break your photography. This sample works from a 6pm ceremony and includes a first look. About 90% of our couples choose a first look. Every wedding day is different, and travel times and unique situations will shape yours.
2:00 to 2:30 Bridal details
2:30 to 3:15 Bridal prep
3:15 to 3:30 Groom prep
3:30 to 3:45 First look
3:45 to 4:30 Couple and bridal party portraits
4:30 to 4:45 Ceremony details
5:00 to 5:30 Bride in hiding
5:30 to 6:00 Ceremony
6:00 to 6:20 Family portraits
6:20 to 7:00 Reception details and "Just Married" portraits
7:00 Reception begins
10:00 The exit
Ceremony details. I use this time to shoot the ceremony decor untouched, before guests start laying purses and coats on the seats.
Ceremony. It's time to get married! Most ceremonies are about 30 minutes. If yours runs longer, we'll adjust the timeline. Cherish these moments, they pass so quickly.
Family portraits. Family formals happen right after the ceremony, when all family members are present. Plan on about 30 minutes. Outdoors is best if possible, especially if the ceremony location is dark. Ask your coordinator, DJ or officiant to announce that family should stay for photos and to call out the groups on your list.
Reception details and "Just Married" portraits. I love a few extra minutes with the two of you right after family formals. A cocktail hour outside the main reception room lets me photograph the room before the night begins, so please ask your coordinator to keep guests out until we're done.
Reception and exit. The bridal party lines up for introductions and the party begins! After sunset my portrait time is over and I focus on the reception events. Our coverage is built to include the main events and about 20 to 30 minutes of dancing. If you'd like your exit photographed, you can add coverage or plan a faux exit with your bridal party. Email us to learn more!
Approximate Times
Details and prep: 1.5 hours
First look and portraits: 30 to 40 minutes
Bridal party: 30 to 40 minutes
Family formals: 30 minutes
Extra portrait time: as much time as you'll give me!
Wedding Season: Portrait and Timing Tips
Winter. Winter weddings are gorgeous, but they take extra planning because the sun sets around 4pm, so all of your portraits need to be done before then. That's easy with a late afternoon wedding. With a late evening wedding, you may have some down time between 4pm and the ceremony.
Spring. Spring weddings are wonderful because the temperature is perfect. Keep allergy medicine on hand in case allergies flare up during portrait time! Spring often means blooms, and if we find a blooming tree or plant, it's worth a few minutes for portraits with it. You'll love the result.
Summer. Summer weddings have so much daylight, and in some months the light lasts until 8:30pm. Plan to slip out of the reception for a few minutes of sunset portraits. You will not regret it! It's the best light of the day, and it usually happens during dinner so no one even notices you're gone.
Fall. Fall weddings are our favorite! We love the temperature and the colors. Many fall brides worry about color, but all I need is one tree with a little color to make it look like fall. Your portrait time will depend on your date, and we'll go over it when we approve your final timeline.
Getting Ready
The morning sets the stage for the entire day. Hopefully the little details are taken care of and you're relaxing with your best friends while your hair is done. If something hasn't been checked off the list, hand it to someone else. Delegation is key to a stress free wedding day. The rest of the day moves fast and is full of emotion, so take advantage of this down time.
A few things to think about: do you want a first look with your dad or anyone else who plays a big role in your life? Will you and your partner exchange gifts, and who will deliver them? Are there women in your life who would love to see you get into your gown? Some brides want very few people around, and others love having aunts and grandmas there. It's totally up to you!
Hold off on putting on jewelry before you're in your dress, because I love shooting those final steps. If your gown is on a plastic hanger, bring a wooden one for the photos.
The window effect. A simple window in the bridal prep room lets me create beautiful portraits with soft light. I prefer natural light, so the more windows the better!
Every Little Detail
The day begins with the details! I photograph them in a way that matches the style of your whole wedding, from the dress to the jewelry to grandma's handkerchief. Please gather everything before we arrive so I can walk in, say hello, give you a big hug and start with all the goodies. (Please assure your mom that I will take great care of the dress, I promise!)
What to bring: dress, veil and hair pieces, rings, shoes, bouquet and boutonniere, jewelry, perfume, invitation suite, and extra flowers from your florist.
Gather the goods. Collect your details before we arrive so we have more time for getting ready shots of you and your girls.
Keep all three rings. The rings are the detail most often missing when we arrive! It's better to hand your band to the best man during bridal party portraits, so I can shoot ring photos in the morning. If you forget, no worries, I can shoot them at the reception if there's time.
Bring the bouquet. Have the bouquets and boutonnieres delivered to the bride before the first look so she can hold her bouquet in her portraits. If it's hot, we'll keep it in water as much as possible before the ceremony.
Timing Tips
The best advice I can give for your timeline is to add cushion time! Simple things can take an extra 20 minutes, and suddenly the whole morning is off. I've seen getting the bride into her dress take almost 40 minutes because of a button malfunction. An extra ten minutes here and there gives us wiggle room, and not everything will go as planned. I promise, that's completely normal!
Bouquets and boutonnieres. You'll need them for your first look, so have them delivered to the room where the bride is getting ready.
Travel time. Think about travel time and traffic between your getting ready location and your venue.
Hair and makeup. I encourage brides to have at least their makeup done before I start, because who wants a ton of photos without makeup on? Nobody.
Getting in the dress. I'll ask you to get into your dress near a window, and it's fabulous to have your bridesmaids dressed by then.
Preparing Your Groom
If you're a little anxious about how your groom will feel about the whole picture thing, you're not alone. We hear from so many brides worried their groom won't be into it, and I have great news: you're both more photogenic than you think! The most common thing our grooms say afterward is, "That wasn't as bad as I thought. It was actually fun!" When the groom says pictures were fun, we've done our job.
Leave plenty of time to get to your shoot, because there's nothing worse than arriving late after arguing in the car. And be patient with him. I think you'll be surprised how much you both enjoy it!
The First Look
A first look is a romantic addition to your day that adds to the experience and reduces stress. We never want any couple to feel pressured into it, but there's a reason about 90% of our couples choose it and love it.
It diminishes nerves. About half of our grooms who did a first look weren't fans of the idea at first. Afterward, so many told us they were much more relaxed and ready for the ceremony.
40% more portraits. You're investing a lot in your photography, and with a first look you get about 40% more portraits of the two of you. Those are the images you'll decorate your first home with.
Your only alone time. A first look lets you be together and alone on your wedding day. When we saw each other on our own wedding day, it was our only time alone the whole day. We cried and laughed and cried some more, and it put us in the perfect mood for romantic portraits.
Enjoy the surprise freely. When you walk down the aisle, your partner can't touch you, hold you or even tell you how amazing you look until the ceremony is over. With a first look, you get that reaction right away.
Extend your day by about 3 hours. Instead of rushing through portraits between the ceremony and introductions, you get to enjoy your bridal party and hang out with your best friends. The whole first half of many of our couples' albums comes from this time before the ceremony.
A note on expectations. Some people tear up and some simply hold their partner close, and both are OK. The stress and nerves of a wedding day can make it hard to show emotion. Enjoy this time together no matter what the reaction looks like.
The Parent First Look
This one is for anyone with a soft spot in their heart for their dad or mom. Parent first looks make us a little teary! For a lot of parents, this is when it hits: their child is getting married. It doesn't take long at all. The hardest part is making sure your parent arrives on time, or we may have to skip it to keep the timeline. Another sweet idea is having your dad walk you to your first look, or having your mom get ready with you.
Bridal Party
This is when the fun really begins! Bridal party portraits should be a ton of fun, and I'll make sure your closest friends have an amazing time. After your first look, your bridal party joins us for portraits. If all goes well, we finish them all before the ceremony, so your friends are free to enjoy cocktail hour. Flower girls and ring bearers can join the pre ceremony portraits or a final group photo after the ceremony. Please make sure the groomsmen arrive with boutonnieres and the bridesmaids with bouquets!
The Ceremony
The music is playing, guests are seated, and the coordinator is lining everyone up. Vows will be shared and promises made, and this is what it's all about. With so many blogs and boards out there, it's easy to get consumed by the prettiness of it all. Details matter, but never lose sight of the real purpose of the day.
Lighting. An outdoor ceremony at noon means harsh light and squinting. Plan an outdoor ceremony about 2 hours before sunset if you're doing a first look, or about 3 hours before sunset if you aren't, so there's time for portraits afterward. The lower the sun, the more romantic the light. Indoors, soft and even light across the whole altar works best, rather than two spotlights on the couple.
Order of service. We've photographed couples washing each other's feet, sharing communion, lighting unity candles, sand and rope ceremonies, and signing the family Bible. Design your ceremony to be exactly what the two of you envision.
Programs and details. Not every guest needs a program, since most families take just one. Have several people proofread before you order. Plan the ceremony decor ahead, then delegate the setup to a friend or coordinator.
Coordination. Hire a planner or at least a day of coordinator, or the job falls on the mother of the bride, the photographer or the bride. Share your schedule with us early once your ceremony time is set, and check the sunset time at your location before you choose it.
Family Portraits
We love meeting your families! Family formals are usually our first time with them, so we like a game plan. You'll receive a questionnaire from us to list the groups you want. We keep family formals to about 30 minutes to save daylight for your portraits, and any large group we miss can be captured at the reception.
Sample list:
Couple with the bride's immediate family
Couple with the bride's parents
Couple with the bride's siblings
Bride with her parents, then with each parent
Couple with the bride's grandparents
Couple with both sets of parents
Couple with the groom's immediate family
Couple with the groom's parents
Couple with the groom's siblings
Groom with his parents, then with each parent
Couple with the groom's grandparents
Couple with all family members, if time allows
Romantic Portraits
All of the wedding day images matter, but the favorites almost always come from our time with the two of you. These are the portraits you'll frame by your bed or over the mantle, and they'll fill your album for generations. Romantic portraits usually happen after the first look, and I love a few "just married" portraits after the ceremony when the light is low and golden. No first look? We'll plan more time after the ceremony.
Trust the location. One of my favorite parts of the job is making something ordinary look amazing. Once, a couple pulled over on the side of the road and hopped a ditch to stand by an old garage because the light was perfect, and those are now some of their favorite portraits. Trust our locations, and I promise you'll love the results!
The Reception
Time to relax, dance and celebrate! Your coordinator and DJ keep the night on schedule so you can enjoy it.
Don't get caught up in the details. Plan your centerpieces and welcome table well ahead and teach your coordinator or a friend how to set them up, so you aren't thinking about them on the day.
Make it your own. Want a special dance with your grandparents? Do it! Let your reception reflect who you are, and give your DJ or band a do not play list.
Keep it moving. Plan the night with your coordinator and DJ so guests stay engaged.
Reception coverage. Plan for at least 20 minutes of dancing to be photographed. The guests dancing in the first hour will still be dancing in the third!
Guest consideration. If many older guests will leave early, schedule the cake cutting earlier so they can be part of it.
Controlled exit. If coverage ends before your exit, plan a faux exit with your bridal party and a few family members. It gives us more control over the shots, the party never has to stop, and it's almost impossible to tell the whole room wasn't out there with sparklers.
Thank You!
Last but certainly not least, thank you for trusting us with your special day. Edwin and I are honored to capture your memories and cannot wait to celebrate with you! Enjoy this season of planning, and remember that your marriage is more important than the wedding. The wedding comes and goes in a few hours, but your marriage is for a lifetime, so keep making time for each other. Please reach out with any questions along the way.
Love,
Janice & Edwin
One and Only Production is a photo and video team based in West Covina, serving Los Angeles, Orange County and the Inland Empire in English, Cantonese and Mandarin. Take a look at our wedding portfolio, then check your date with us.