One of the things I always urge my clients to do is plan a wedding day that makes them happy. This may sound like common sense, but it’s easy for brides and grooms to get sidetracked and do what’s commonly done because vendors push services that are typical of previous clients. It’s easier for the vendor, of course, to provide music, food, decorations, etc. that they’re experienced with. But make sure that the important elements of your wedding are unique to your vision.
Most people these days have specific ideas about what to do on their wedding day and these specific ideas should direct where and when they stage their wedding more than convention, or other people’s expectations, or anything else. So one of the first things that the bride and groom must do is sit down and talk about what moments stand out in their vision of their wedding day. What’s most important? Is it the ceremony? Spending time with friends and family? Is it the food, the music, the venue? Something else?
For example, it’s standard practice for the photographer to take pictures of the bridal party immediately after the ceremony. But the problem is the photoshoot ends up keeping the couple away from the cocktail hour and time with friends and family. If this time is important to the couple, I might advise photographs before the ceremony or at sunset, when the light is particularly lovely.
All this is to say that when speaking with vendors make sure to negotiate the parts of the day that are valuable to you. Keep your vision of your perfect day front and center and do your best to make it happen.
– Jessika Brooks Brewer