The wedding day always seems to start around 10 for me. Prior to that I pretend it’s just a normal day, apart from that I don’t get out of my pjs. We play with the kids, drink coffee, and somehow end up both popping in and out of the office as we double check all the gear is together.
I have a laminated check list to keep track of everything. I haven’t added ear plugs to the list, so they will, once again, be forgotten until I wish I had them at the reception.
My parents will arrive to take over the kiddos about 15 minutes before we scheduled them to come, I expect this. I hand off the baby, both of us probably still in pjs, with my makeup done and hair somewhere in the middle.
Once we’ve officially transferred care of the offspring, the pace picks up to get us out the door–it never hurts to leave early.
Colton works to load all the gear. Once upon a time, this was a back pack and a purse. Now, we load a suitcase, a weekender bag, possibly umbrellas, lightstands (which I rarely use), and a cooler with snacks. If Colton is on videography duty, then we add another suitcase and backpack to the mix.
Once everything is in the car, I have to do my Paranoia Check. I don’t know if it’s OCD or anxiety, but I have to look at all the camera gear in the car to make sure we do in fact have it all (even though we literally check it off a list together in the house). I used to feel silly about it but the ONE TIME we didn’t, we ended up forgetting a harness–not the worst thing to forget but was still an inconvenience.
First stop is Smoothie King. We have been going ever since we realized that a protein shake with caffeine gave us a major boost for the start of the wedding day, and now it feels incomplete without one. I get a High Protein Almond Mocha (with cinnamon) and ignore the 44g of sugar. Colton cannot ignore it so he gets the Activator. Ashley is stronger than both of us and doesn’t even get caffeine.
From there it is just a game of keeping my mind occupied–I’m never truly settled on a wedding day until I’ve stepped foot on the venue. If it’s a long drive, we’ll go over the timeline and my notes in the car so everyone knows what’s happening and what’s important for the day.
Probably the trickiest part of the day for me is when we first arrive. I’m juggling to get us settled, finding out what’s happening across the venue, checking in with the bride, and getting the details together and styled. I have to make sure I’m managing our time effectively so the day starts on a good leg.
At some point in this, I will be barefoot, don’t know when the shoes come off but I always get them back on before the ceremony.
Once the bride is ready to get dressed, that’s when things ramp up for me. The camera goes on the harness; additional lenses, batteries, and SD cards go in my harness bag so I’m not tied to anywhere. My goal is to get everything documented and still have breathing room for everyone before it’s time to walk down the aisle.
Then it’s time to hurry up and wait (thank you Bluey). If photographing details is the most hectic, then waiting for the ceremony to start is the most awkward. I get to the front of the aisle because I want to be ready to go before anyone asks. And then I just stand there. And everyone, everyone stares at me. I pretend to not notice. I pretend to fiddle with my camera, or I’ll say something through my walkie to my second photographer just to look like I’m doing something important.
And then blessedly, I get the thumbs up from the planner. From there, it’s just balancing capturing the moment in a way that doesn’t affect anyone’s experience. But I’m still on my toes, especially if I didn’t receive the order of the ceremony–I’ve been through one 5 minute ceremony and I’ll never forget it.
Then it’s time to herd cats–I mean take family photos. My goal is to make these as fun and fast as possible because I know everyone is ready to head to cocktail hour for snacks and drinks.
TIP: ALWAYS start with groups that have kids and grandparents–if it’s hot outside, I make sure the grandparents are done ASAP so they can head indoors; in we’re in A/C, I knock out all the kid photos before they get squirrely.
After family, wedding party feels like a breeze, then it’s time to make *magic* with golden hour portraits. Here I have to temper my ideas to match the couple’s energy and the remaining time.
Magic here means, Rebekah takes the photo, but is not allowed to touch the dress
When the sun goes down, the tension I didn’t realize I was carrying releases, and I enter everything a bit more easily. Everyone’s ready for the party and a bit more care-free. Somehow during dinner I manage to eat something (I will be told to eat more by my team), I’ll change shoes, and try to pick some photos for the couple’s preview–it’s always a good night if I can get them done before we leave the reception.
Then it’s back out. I’ll imagine what my kids’ weddings will be like as I watch the special dances–Colton will be a blubbering mess, I’ll insist the boys and I do something fun and choreographed.
Party Time! I usually end up with a favorite guest to watch–there’s always one that puts on an extra show. The Cupid Shuffle has me bounding to the floor, camera in hand. I wait for it to be appropriate to snag some cake.
Wish I could remember what I was saw
As the reception ends the night, I keep bobbing to the music–as long as I’m dancing I can’t be tired right?
The guests line up for the exit, I hope my voice holds to instruct them through a sparkler exit (I haven’t been burned yet and I want to keep it that way!).
The couple enters their getaway car. I am relieved. I’m happy at a day well done. I’m sad our time together is over.
We load our gear, grab Whataburger on the drive home. If the road is straight, I try to cull through photos on the drive. We get home and hope everyone is sleeping. I’ll shower, then end up staying awake far too long because I’m still filled with energy.
It was a good day.
