Your wedding day is filled with once-in-a-lifetime moments, and your photos will help you relive them for years to come. As your photographer, I want to make sure everything goes smoothly and nothing gets missed. That starts with a little planning ahead.
This guide walks you through everything I need from you to capture your wedding beautifully and stress-free. From your bridal party list to your timeline and must-have shots, this is your complete wedding photography checklist.
1. Share a List of Everyone in the Bridal Party
Please send over a full list of everyone in your wedding party, including their roles. This helps me call out names quickly, coordinate group shots, and stay organized throughout the day.
Include names for:
- Maid of Honor
- Best Man
- Bridesmaids and Groomsmen
- Flower Girl and Ring Bearer
- Siblings or other VIPs
Pro tip: Let me know if anyone will help coordinate photo time, like a sibling or planner assistant. It makes a huge difference.
2. Create a Shot List of Must-Have Photos
While I'll be capturing plenty of candid and artistic shots throughout the day, a pre-planned group photo list ensures we don't miss anyone important. Here's a starting point you can customize:
- Bride & Groom
- Bride with each parent
- Groom with each parent
- Bride + Groom + Bride's Parents
- Bride + Groom + Groom's Parents
- Bride + Groom + Both Sets of Parents
- Bride + Groom + Grandparents
- Bride + Groom + Siblings
- Bride with Siblings
- Groom with Siblings
- Bride + Bridesmaids
- Groom + Groomsmen
- Entire Bridal Party
- Bride + Maid of Honor
- Groom + Best Man
- Flower Girl and Ring Bearer
- Any special relatives or family friends
- Cultural or religious groupings
- Friend groups (college, high school, etc.)
- Extended family (aunts, uncles, cousins)
- Pets, if they're included
Please send me your customized list at least a few days before the wedding. We'll also review it together during our final planning call.
3. Share Key Contact Info for Coordination
Sometimes I need to round people up quickly or double-check timing. It's incredibly helpful to have contact info for these two roles:
- Maid of Honor: name and cell number
- Best Man: name and cell number
If someone else is helping coordinate family or group shots, let me know that too. These point people make everything run much smoother.
4. Send the Final Wedding Timeline
Please share your full wedding day timeline once it's finalized. Ideally this comes from your planner, but I'm happy to help if you need it.
Include:
- Arrival time and prep details
- Ceremony start time
- Photo sessions (pre-ceremony, cocktail hour, etc.)
- Reception start and key events (first dance, speeches)
- Sunset time, for golden hour portraits
- Any special events or surprises
If you don't have a planner, I can help build a simple timeline based on your photo needs.
5. Let Me Know About Any Fun or Personal Photo Ideas
Your wedding is unique, so let's make sure your photos reflect that. I love when couples share personal, fun, or meaningful ideas ahead of time.
Let me know if you want to include:
- A first look with a parent or sibling
- Champagne pop with the bridal party
- Private last dance
- Cultural traditions or ceremonies
- TikTok or Pinterest-inspired poses or ideas
- Props, signs, or pets
No pressure to plan every detail, but even a few ideas help me capture what matters most to you.
6. A Few More Tips to Make Photo Time Smooth
- Have your details ready: Dress, rings, shoes, invitation, vow books laid out when I arrive.
- Build in buffer time: Weddings often run a little behind. Padding the schedule keeps things calm.
- Designate a helper: Someone who knows both sides of the family can gather people fast.
- Let me know about surprises: Fireworks? A dance routine? Secret vows? I'll be ready to capture it all.
Let's Make It Easy, Fun, and Beautiful
My goal is to document your day authentically, capturing the big moments, the little details, and all the emotion in between. With a little prep, we'll make sure every must-have moment is covered so you can fully enjoy your day.
Have questions or ready to send your info? Just reach out and I'm here to help.