A winter Hotel Du Pont wedding? Now that sounds pretty amazing. When I think of late December in Wilmington, Delaware, I picture gray skies and brisk temperatures. In the middle of downtown, glowing like a beacon to the cold wanderers, sits the Hotel Du Pont. It’s a stunning hotel, to say the least, and also serves and a magnificent wedding venue.
I must admit, however, that for Natalie and Erik’s late December wedding, it was not frigid and gray. Quite the contrary, it was mild and sunny! They had the best of both worlds for their wedding— the availability of glowy natural light (winter is the BEST) and the warmth of the historic Hotel Du Pont.
It’s hard to believe that this wedding was 8 months ago, and this week it will be in the mid 90’s! What I wouldn’t give to go back to this December day. I am not sure why more couples don’t get married in December. I have never photographed a December wedding I didn’t love!
Natalie and Erik really set the bar high with their wedding. The art deco details, the live music, the enthusiastic family and friends, the choreographed first dance and outfit change, and just in general, their awesome attitudes. Natalie and Erik are people you want to be friends with. I left their wedding feeling so excited about the day and the memories I helped them capture. Although let’s be real, they did most of the heavy lifting for months and months before I showed up with my cameras!
I haven’t shared much from this wedding before, so I am thrilled to be able to do so now! Once you take a peek, I am sure you’ll be smitten as well!
The Wedding Day Timeline. Stuff of nightmares, right? Everyone involved in the wedding has an opinion about how your day should go. Their personal experiences or hopes and expectations for your day may have you drowning in unsolicited, but well intentioned advice. You may have clicked on this post because you are about to scream. You may have clicked on this post because you haven’t the faintest idea how to create a timeline. Or you may have clicked on this post because you really do want to have an effortless day.
I work with all of my couples in the weeks leading up to their wedding to create a seamless day of timeline. Granted, I am mostly interested in the timeline as it relates to photos. However, photos are an incredibly important part of a wedding day. I have never met a guest, family member, or fellow vendor who was shocked that time was being allotted for wedding photos.
Start in the middle
So where do we begin with all of this? Well, we start at the middle. The ceremony is where I like to start organizing timelines. I work towards either end of the day, keeping in mind the allotted hours, the wishes and expectations of the couple, and the needs of the other vendors. As much as I would love to keep my couple out for portraits during golden hour, I know that the venue is most likely waiting for our return to begin serving dinner. My needs as a photographer are not the only ones to exist (Or so I tell myself in a professional manner).
The middle. We start at the middle. And then, we go to the most important element of the day- will there be a first look or will things be kept traditional? We may have started the timeline in the middle, but this key factor is what shapes EVERYTHING. How so? Well, if we have a first look, I know our timeline will be heavy with photos before the ceremony. I know that we need time for the first look, couple portraits, wedding party portraits, and family portraits all before the ceremony.
If things are being kept traditional, I know that we will need to use every second of cocktail hour to accomplish the beforementioned photos, and possibly some time at sunset as well. There is not right or wrong answer as to whether or not to have a first look. It really comes down to personal preference, but it does heavily influence the timeline. Tip: If you plan on having a first look, write personal vows and read them to each other during the first look.
Hop to the end
Okay so now we look at when things are set to end, and how they are set to end. Do you have plans for an elaborate send off? Or do you expect the party to fizzle into an after party at the hotel bar? Do you want pictures towards the end of the night, or would the photos be too….embarrassing?
For most weddings, I do not stay to the end of the night. I inform my couples that I will get everything I need if I stay through all formalities and then a dance set. What are the formalities? Formalities include first dance and special dances, speeches and toasts, cake cutting, garter and bouquet, and any special dances like anniversary dance or dollar dance. A dance set, which is about a half hour of songs, helps get everyone up and dancing and allows for some epic dancing photos. Tip: Make sure to get out on the dancefloor as well!
Don’t forget the beginning!
Make sure you don’t forget about the beginning. Chances are, if you are a bride, you will have hair and makeup schedule to begin with the sunrise. Is this necessary? Oh yes. The biggest derailment from a wedding day happens because hair and makeup are running behind. It’s hard to get that time back. Be upfront with your hair and makeup artists. How many people need to be done and how in depth will things be? 10 bridesmaids with waist length hair will require a lot more time than the average up-do.
Are either of you planning on a first look with parents or wedding party? These are sweet moments, and while they don’t take long, it is important to add them to the timeline to help organize the flow. Obviously if you want a first look with Dad, we need to make sure we know when and where it is happening so we don’t accidentally have an early viewing!
Travel adds up
Are we doing a lot of traveling? Are there multiple stops for getting ready, portraits, ceremony, and reception? This will also play into our timeline, and I like to have this information early on. This may lead to a conversation with my couples about adding extra hours or an additional shooter to the day. Some of the best weddings included detours to the beach or stunning parks and were well worth the extra travel time we built in.
For the love of family
Okay. Here it is. The toughest 20-30 minutes of the day. There really is nothing that can compare to the importance of family photos at a wedding. I get it. I really do! Everyone is together at last! And they look pretty good too.
Family photos can be taxing, so it is wise to keep the formal family portrait time to immediate family only. Mom, dad, siblings, Grandma… yes! Uncle Rob’s sister in law and that distance cousin you met once twenty years ago? Save it. Save it for when you ask? Well, the cocktail hour or reception are great times for odd groupings. College friends, your co-workers, every living person who shares your DNA— take it during cocktail hour or reception! Your DJ or band can even help this process by making a quick announcement for extra large groups.
My rule of thumb is to keep family photos to 30 minutes or less. To achieve this, make sure everyone involved in family photos knows when and where they are happening. Despite best efforts, it is common to misplace a family member by the bar during family photos.
Download your timeline tool
This has all been great, but I am not actually making your timeline for you. If you’ve read through this post, hopefully you have learned a thing or two. It’s time to put this newfound knowledge to work! But I am not about to kick you to the wolves. I have made a handy timeline organizer for you. Not only that, but I have completed one as a sample. The sample is based on 9 hours at the same location, so keep that in mind.
You now have the chance to download and create your own! Your timeline might not look exactly like this one, so feel free to get creative.
Celia and Grant’s William Penn Inn Wedding was a gilded affair. Every detail was carefully planned and artfully executed. But more than the dazzling details, this wedding was a highlight of love. Having gotten to know Celia and Grant over the last year, I knew how much their family and friends meant to them. Celia’s mom even came along for their engagement session! One of the most incredible things about being a wedding photographer is seeing how much love is shared in one space.
The William Penn Inn offers an incredible space for weddings, and luckily, Celia and Grant had great weather for an outdoor ceremony. I love how the ceremony is framed by gigantic trees. Even on the hottest days, you’re bound to find some shade and a breeze.
Celia and Grant were both able to get ready at the William Penn Inn. Much to my joy, they opted for a First Look. A big trend recently has been couples reading private, personal vows during their first look. I am definitely behind this trend! Just look at the photos for evidence of why reading personal vows is the way to go!
From their first kiss as husband and wife to the last dance of the night, Celia and Grant danced and partied with their guests. It was such an honor to photograph their wedding. I cannot wait to see where life takes them! Click below to see more from this incredible day!
Kendall and Mike’s romantic Pen Ryn Estate wedding has seriously left me speechless. It’s pretty rare that I can say I watched the vision of my couple come to life, but in this instance, I can scream that from the mountain top. From the amazing weather to the golden sunshine, Kendall and Mike had a day I will remember for s long time.
It had been a dream of mine for a while to photograph a wedding at Pen Ryn Estate. Located along the Delaware River in Bensalem, the scenery is like no other. Pen Ryn has 3 locations for weddings, and Kendall and Mike chose Belle Voir Manor. Belle Voir is tucked back in the trees and makes you feel like you just might be in Europe.
I loved working with Kendall and Mike. From the moment I met them to the final dance of their wedding night, they were pure kindness. Poor Mike even had a broken foot during their engagement session, but you could never tell.
Kendall and Mike also saw the importance of photography for their wedding day. They scheduled more than an hour for bride and groom portraits, including some sunset portraits. It was so hard to edit their gallery because there were so many amazing photos to choose from. I guess that is a good problem to have, though.
I am lousy with words sometimes. That is why I choose to use photos to help me. Photos are able to speak and describe better than I ever could. Photos are able to create for you the vision I am trying to relay. I could speak about Kendall and Mike’s wedding day for hours. Or, I could show you all some photos. So without further ado, here is a preview of Kendall and Mike’s wedding.
A genuinely beautiful Barn at Boone’s Dam wedding. There is a reason I love photographing here! Not only is the food by Susquehanna Chef sublime, but the atmosphere is one of charm and elegance. I am lucky enough to shoot here a few times a year, and despite the trek to North East PA, I would do it in a heartbeat.
The Barn at Boone’s Dam in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, is the perfect wedding venue to escape into nature. Located next to a bumbling creek and open fields, you are more likely to find a local barn cat than people.
Ron and Brooke had their May wedding at the Barn, and it was perfect. Despite a little rain right as the ceremony began, this cloudy day led to some breathtaking moments. Ron and Brooke opted for a traditional wedding. Catching their reactions as Brooke walked out of the barn was a highlight of my day. The slightest drizzle began as guests took their seats and Brooke walked down the aisle towards Ron. Fortunately, there was so much joy and beauty happening in that moment, I don’t believe anyone noticed. By the time a kiss was exchanged, the rain had stopped, and guests were ready to celebrate with the happy couple.
So how do you achieve a genuine wedding as gorgeous as Ron and Brooke? Keep it natural, keep it simple, and let the beauty of the day speak for itself. Ron and Brook choose the most incredible team of vendors and charming styles for their day. Brookes stunning lace dress was highlighted by her delicate flowers that packed a punch of color. They used plenty of lush greens and gentle sparkles, yet kept things fun for guest with lawn games and epic late night snacks.
To see more of this brilliant shebang, click below!
