JENNIFER WEINMAN PHOTOGRAPHY
WEDDING GUIDE
tips, guidance, vendor recommendations, and more!
WELCOME
a note about this guide
We’re so excited to be working with you and we can’t wait to get to know you better over the next several months! We know photography is one of the larger investments you’re making for your wedding day and we’re so honored you chose to work with us!
Even if you’re working with a wedding planner or you’re planning a simple wedding, there are likely still a lot of moving pieces left leading up to your big day.
Having photographed more than 300 weddings over the years, we tend to get asked the same things over and over again. So we thought it would be beneficial if we put together a guide that walks you through everything from timelines to engagement sessions and inclement weather.
Thank you again for choosing to work with us and please don’t hesitate to let us know if we can offer any additional guidance throughout the wedding planning process!
– JEN & THE JWP TEAM
a note about
Communication
We know you’re busy! Throughout your wedding planning time, we understand you’re going to be communicating with various vendors, but you also have a LIFE! We promise not to inundate you with unnecessary communication and only pass along what we truly believe will be beneficial.
To make things easier for you (and us!) we ask that your primary communication with us be via email so that we can keep track of all communication regarding invoices, questionnaires, and planning. This enables our entire team to access all the important details at any time.
If it’s the day of a photoshoot and you need to reach us last minute, typically calling us is best.
EMAIL ADDRESS:
info@jenniferweinmanphotography.com
PHONE:
Jen – 641-260-0538
If you need to set up an appointment either in person or virtually, including engagement session, final consultation prior to your wedding, or your album design appointment after your wedding, you can do each of those following the link below.
Social Media
I LOVE getting to know our couples, and we find that many people find it easier to text, share on social media, etc when they are on-the-go.
If you want to share a recent inspiration photo or want a non-partisan 3rd-party opinion on bridesmaids dresses, by all means, send us a quick text or DM! We often have our phones on silent so as to be fully present during our photography sessions or time with family, but we will get back to you when we can.
If you feel like you need to have a conversation about your entire wedding day timeline though, please send us an email or set up a phone call time so we can focus on serving you best.
Vendors
who will make your day incredible
Over the years, we’ve learned the important role quality vendors play in creating a stress-free wedding day. We’ve worked with many different vendors and have built a list of our recommended favorites. This is not a paid list – we chose these vendors for both the quality of their work as well as their professionalism on the actual wedding day.
let’s plan your
Engagement Session
We’re BIG fans of engagement sessions for a few reasons. Not only do they allow you to get comfortable in front of the camera, they also give you the opportunity to showcase your personalities in a more casual setting that is significant to the two of you. We’ve created an entire page dedicated to outfit tips, location ideas, timing considerations and more!
Please make sure you reach out to schedule your engagement session with enough advanced notice! Popular fall dates fill up early.
Bridal Portraits
ONE OF THE BIGGEST ADVANTAGES OF A BRIDAL PORTRAIT SESSION IS THAT THEY CAN SERVE AS A PRACTICE RUN FOR THE BIG DAY THAT YOU CAN SEE
There’s a big difference between looking at yourself in the mirror at a hair and makeup trial and actually seeing how that hair holds up in the elements and how that makeup photographs. When it comes to being confident in your choices on your wedding day, photos are invaluable!
If you’re considering a Bridal Portrait Session, we recommend a full trial run of hair, nails, makeup and your bouquet. We typically spend 1-2 hours shooting a bridal session.
When it comes to choosing a location for your bridal portrait session, we recommend using locations that are well manicured, clean, and have great variety in indoor and outdoor locations.
Your wedding venue is usually a wonderful place to start – especially historic homes and resorts that have well manicured areas. We want to keep your dress as clean as possible and still get a lot of amazing images inside and outside.
Many venues charge a fee for portrait sessions, however it’s worth asking if your venue will accommodate a complimentary short session- many will as long as it’s not on a prime Saturday!
We typically have to work with the venues on times, but we love to shoot bridal portraits in the afternoon as late as we can to get that softer afternoon light.
Your Wedding Day
Is a First Look Right For You?
IF YOU’RE WONDERING WHETHER A FIRST LOOK IS FOR YOU, STOP HERE.
That moment the Bride and Groom see each other for the first time on their wedding day is magical. And this is true whether the couple chooses to wait until the bride walks down the aisle or chooses to do a “first look” prior to the ceremony.
First looks—a private moment couples choose to spend together prior to the wedding ceremony—have become more popular over the last few years. About 75% of our couples choose a first look.
While we consider ourselves people who value tradition, there are definitely a few good reasons to consider a first look. Here are a few:
A first look cuts through the chaos of The day
Once the ceremony begins, the day takes off quickly. A ‘first look’ is an opportunity to enjoy some quiet time alone, enjoy each other’s company, and reflect on all this day means before your day takes off.
Wedding days can be a whirlwind and they tend to fly by. There’s much to do, and a lot of people to see and to catch up with. We always encourage our couples to take a few minutes every so often during their wedding to stop and soak in everything that’s happening.
It’s more time for pictures without sacrificing cocktail hour
When there is no first look, the majority of the pictures have to be taken after the ceremony. Family pictures are generally done as soon as the ceremony ends because it’s the easiest time to round everyone up. Next up is full bridal party, and then bride and groom portraits. This generally runs into cocktail hour.
A first look opens up time prior to the ceremony for full bridal party pictures and, sometimes, for a few bride and groom portraits (although we prefer to do bride and groom portraits at sunset). This allows the couple to get the most out of cocktail hour, which makes the rest of the evening feel less rushed.
Greater Flexibility
Having a first look gives you a lot more general flexibility on your wedding day. The biggest reason is because of unpredictable weather. If it’s pouring rain after the ceremony, you’ll be thankful you had pictures done in advance.
You get to enjoy more of your day TOGETHER when you have a first look. And when it’s one of the most important days of your relationship, we think it’s worth orchestrating the day so that you can be together for as much of it as possible.
First look or not, the first time you see each other on your wedding day will be special.
building the perfect
Wedding Day Timeline
WHETHER YOU’RE PLANNING A FIRST LOOK OR STICKING WITH TRADITION AND NOT SEEING YOUR GROOM UNTIL YOU WALK DOWN THE AISLE, WE HAVE TIPS TO HELP MAKE PLANNING YOUR TIMELINE AS EASY AS POSSIBLE!
Whether you choose to do a first look or the traditional walk down the aisle moment before the ceremony, we will work with you on making sure you have the best timeline and plan for images.
If you’re choosing to go traditional, you’ll need two different sets of photo times: images taken before the ceremony and images taken after the ceremony.
You’ll need to plan for about one hour of pre-ceremony bridal photos (bridesmaids and bride’s family) and about one hour of pre-ceremony groom photos (groomsmen and groom’s family) at separate times. You’ll also need 15 minutes of combined bridal party portraits, 15 minutes of combined family portraits and at least 30 -45 minutes of couple’s portraits after the ceremony if you’re not doing any portraits together until after the ceremony.
If you’re doing a first look, photos can be done all at one time, taking an average total of 2 1/4 hours pre-ceremony (although we also LOVE grabbing just the two of you for a few additional bride and groom photos at sunset!)
If you choose a traditional aisle reveal, all we ask is that you keep your ceremony time in mind when planning your wedding. If it’s too late, it may be too dark for outdoor portraits afterwards.
If you’re planning a sunset ceremony or an evening ceremony, it’s best to do all photos before the wedding, as daylight is crucial to getting amazing portraits for your families, bridal party and your couples portraits. Making sure we have enough time while the sun is up is a great way to make the traditional ceremony work.
Timeline Examples
wedding timeline with no first look
wedding timeline
with a first look
We have a LOT of brides who have questions about their wedding day timeline, and that is OKAY! We are here to help! We’ve photographed literally hundreds of weddings, and we want to share our wealth of knowledge with you so that you can be present and enjoy your day, and not be rushed from one thing to the next.
Our biggest tips:
- Start makeup and hair EARLY. Have the bride go first or second so that she is finished first, not last – you can have a quick refresh of lip gloss etc before your stylist departs, but we really can’t get the day started if we are waiting on the bride to finish her makeup and hair.
- Plan buffer time! You want to say hi to your Aunt Sue who arrives early or be able to take a moment with your NEW SPOUSE! Our most popular package is 10 hours for a reason – it allows you enough time to be present and ENJOY your day, not rush from photo-to-photo. This is your wedding day, and we want you to remember it fondly and not be stressed!
- Plan for transportation time, parking, loading/unloading. This takes more time than most people anticipate – it’s not as easy as just leaving at the time you want to when you have a large gown, bouquets, and 10 of your best friends with you. Give yourself 10 minutes to depart AND arrive when changing locations.
- Don’t skimp on time for family photos. Trust us on this one, you will be glad you had those 45 minutes we recommend and so will your family.
- Extras like first looks with parents, bridesmaids, reveals of your reception space – those are all favorite moments we love to include! Make sure you add time into your timeline for those as well.
something to think about
Rainy Day Tips
If the forecast is calling for rain, fear not because rainy days can still be beautiful! If you don’t believe us, just take a look at Ryan & Ash’s wedding day. It rained the entire day and it was still beautiful!
If rain is in the forecast, we recommend ordering a few clear umbrellas on Amazon. It also might be good to re-evaluate portrait locations to make sure we can still shoot in natural light – even if it means heading offsite.
If you’re not working with a planner, it might also be a good idea to check in with your entire vendor team to make sure they’re aware of the weather.
Hair and makeup may need to be tweaked to withstand humidity and if your wedding is outdoors, DJs and bands may need to take extra precaution to protect their gear.
Wedding Day Details
We love capturing all the little details you’ve carefully chosen to be a part of your wedding day! Once we arrive at your wedding, we need about 60-90 minutes to capture and style details. We recommend choosing a getting ready location filled with natural light and, if possible, please keep the space free from trash and clutter.
It would be wonderful if you could put all of your rings, jewelry, shoes, veil purse, perfume, invitations (2 copies!) and other keepsakes together in one spot for us. Please unwrap your dress but don’t worry about styling it – we’ll hang it in a beautiful spot!
bridal details checklist
Any other sentimental keepsakes you would like to include:
We once had a bride bring her grandmother’s hand mirror. This is completely optional – but if you have something sentimental you’d like styled with your details, we love including family heirlooms in our detail shots
Bonus: We’d love to have a few cuts of the florals you’ll be using throughout your wedding day. If your florist will supply us a small bucket of extra pieces we can incorporate those in your detail shots.
groom details checklist
Rings
Make sure we have BOTH sets of rings ready to go in the bridal getting ready suite when we arrive. We often find a well-meaning family member reminds everyone to swap rings at the rehearsal, and that’s not necessary. We’ve also had people forget their wedding bands at home – it’s worth double checking. We will return your rings after photographing them early in the day, and then you can make sure rings get to their rightful place pre-ceremony.
Family Formal Photos
Everyone Dressed up & together
For family portraits, we recommend 45 minutes of time to ensure we photograph all the most important people in your life. We’ll place you at the center, and add people in for each grouping. About 2 months prior to your wedding, you’ll receive our family photo template list to help you get started in thinking through these photos.
Our biggest tip when creating your family photo: Think about who would want that particular group photo on their wall or printed. There’s endless combos we could photograph, but we want to prioritize things that are most important to you and your family.
We’ll keep add/removing family members and switch a few closer family members in and out so we get photos of you and your parents, you and your siblings, some with the groom and your family, etc. Then we’ll repeat the process with your spouse’s family. The whole thing will go quicker and smoother if you let family know how the portrait process will work ahead of time and have them show up 15 minutes early to find their spot and get their flowers pinned on.
family photo checklist
Please note that this list is just a starting point and that we’re happy to take any requested family portraits as long as time allows!
consider an
Unplugged Ceremony
For many of our couples, the wedding ceremony is one of the most meaningful parts of their day. More and more couples have expressed their frustration with guests having their phones out, particularly during the processional when the bride walks down the aisle.
Having a sign stating your desires for an unplugged ceremony is a good place to start, and yet it still isn’t enough. Definitely have a sign, and we HIGHLY recommend your officiant stating clearly that the couple desires for guests to put away their phones and not take any videos or photos during the processional and ceremony. It’s okay to make your intentions and priorities clear! You don’t want all of your professional photos and video filled with obtrusive iPhones, iPads and relatives standing in the aisle with their own cameras. Sadly, parents of the couple are often the main culprit – so make sure you have a personal conversation with them too.
Additional Tips
AFTER SHOOTING MORE THAN 300+ WEDDINGS, WE’RE HAPPY TO SHARE A FEW ADDITIONAL TIPS
1. If you’re getting married in the summer months, a “not-so-heavy” snack or lunch before portraits is always a good idea for you and your bridal party to avoid passing out!
2. If it’s going to be hot, a cooler of cold waters and frozen washcloths can help keep a wedding party cool – especially for the groomsmen in tuxedos.
3. Make sure to have your bouquet delivered in time to make an appearance for the detail shots and for your first look. Often they are delivered in water and need to be dried off before portraits. Having towels handy can help.
4. If you’re planning on having a first look with your bridal party or a parent, they often feel more comfortable being fully dressed in their wedding attire.
5. If your reception is at a separate venue, add some “fluff time” so that we can run over to the venue to capture it while it’s still “untouched” by guests.
6. We always recommend the bride go into hiding 30 minutes before the ceremony at the absolute latest. Guests typically arrive early to weddings.
7. To help make family portraits go smoother, it’s best to have a breakdown of what portraits you’d like and it’s really wonderful if both sides of the family have a chance to have their input on what portraits they’d like before the wedding. Supplying us with a list ahead of time, we can go over it and make sure we shoot things in an order that is efficient and won’t leave anyone out.
8. If you want photos with any special guests or VIPs during your reception, all you need to do is ask! We’re here to be your personal paparazzi!
9. About 5 months prior to your wedding you’ll receive an extensive wedding timeline questionnaire from us – make sure you fill out as MUCH information as possible!
Albums
the perfect way to remember your day
After all that planning, the one thing you have left to remember your day is your wedding album! Every JWP couple receives either a memory book or album in their package. We recommend you set aside any extra wedding funds to customize and add extra pages to your album after your wedding – we promise that this is one thing you will WANT to invest in and while our base options included in packages are a good start, most couples spend quiet a bit more since it is the one thing they will enjoy for years to come.
After the Wedding
what to expect from us
Honeymoon Sneak Peeks!
We know you’re excited to see photos and we can’t wait to share them! We typically share a few sneak peeks on social media or will text them over to you within a few days of your wedding. You can follow us on IG here.
Gallery Delivery
We deliver completed wedding galleries around 6-8 weeks after your wedding. At this time, we’ll give you an updated link to your gallery and you can view your photos.
We HIGHLY recommend setting aside a special date night to view your gallery – don’t just click the link from your phone! Our tip: stream your gallery onto your TV so you can enjoy them big like they will be on your walls!
Album Design
This is probably our FAVORITE part of the entire experience – designing your wedding album! You’ll receive an email to set up an appointment with us (go here if you haven’t yet) to spend around 90 minutes finalizing your wedding album design.
This is also your opportunity to order parent albums, and we can also discuss framed prints or other artwork for your home. Please note that MANY of our couples invest beyond their initial wedding photography collection on additional artwork & album upgrades. You can schedule your album design any time within a year of your wedding if you’d like to space out this investment.
Happily ever after!
We ADORE the couples we get to work with, and for many couples, this isn’t the end of the road. We have LOTS of past brides and grooms that reach out to us for anniversary or family photos. While we are known for our wedding photography, that’s not all we do and we’d love to maintain a relationship with your family as it grows over the years! You can view general portrait information here.
We keep in touch with past clients in a personal way on IG but we also have an email list and will let you know about upcoming opportunities for photos. H owever, please feel free to reach out!
Got Questions? Reach out!
We know that this guide is long and hopefully it helps you as you go about planning your wedding! Please know that no two weddings are alike, but these are merely tips that we have found to be beneficial for our couples. If you have any questions or need help, please reach out to us!
