I hear brides asking all the time why should I do the first look, why should we take sunset pictures and what vendors are really important? Instead of me giving you my two cents on the matter, I thought I would ask my past bride’s advice to future brides. So sit back grab a piece of pen & paper and some much-needed chocolate and start writing down all the tips you can.
Jana Contreras, Olympias Valley Estate, 2014
I know I said I was not going to give my two cents but here it is. Relax as much as possible. Get a massage, eat chocolate and remember this day is about marrying your best friend. Also, sunset pictures and first look pictures end up being the best pictures of the whole day because it tells the story of just you two and the reason why we are all there in the first place. Sidenote. This picture above is not one from my wedding but from the amazing Attai wedding, I shot in Lakeport a couple months ago.
Kelly Box, The Grove in Occidental, 2017
Jillian Waechter, Healdsburg, CA- Tsarnas Residence, 2018
Biggest tip to future brides?
It is hard to just simply have only one tip for such an exciting stage of your life! Whether you are planning a big, small, local or destination wedding it is no simple undertaking, however, it is important to keep the reason for the occasion always in sight. It is easy to get bogged down with the stress, the financial aspects, keeping families happy, and most importantly keeping you and your future spouse at the center of it all. With that being said my biggest tip for when planning a wedding is: make a list of what is most important for you and your fiancé, what do you both want to be part of your special day? Pick the musts and then all other things can be negotiable. It could be a list of anything, big parts of the day or the smallest details; this list helps to drive the vision you and your future hubby have for one of the most special days of your lives.
Any advice for future brides?
As much as this is such a busy and sometimes stressful season of your life, cherish it and love on your fiancé in every way you can. Do not sweat the small stuff, things will be forgotten and will go not quite according to plan, but who cares? At the end of the day, you are marrying your best friend and celebrating the special and unique love you have for each other. The engagement and wedding planning season goes by fast, so find joy in each day bringing you closer to not only your wedding day but your almost husband!
[…] Click here to check out last years advice from 2017/2018 brides. […]