Wedding Planning Tool #2: Tell A Story

Ask yourself a few questions:

• Why do we have weddings in the first place?
• Why do you want a wedding? 
• What is most important to you on your wedding day?

Now, these are serious questions! They may sound kind of rhetorical but think about it… Why do we have weddings?

When you start to think about it, there’s a lot of tradition in getting married. Yes, there may be some family members who expect this from you.

You have to ask yourself, why do I want to have a wedding?

Maybe this is an easy question for you.  Maybe you know exactly what it is that you want.  Maybe you have even been planning it since you were little.

No matter if you are just starting on this Wedding Planning Journey, or if you have a dozen Pinterest boards already put together, there is one piece of advice I have for you…

Use your day to tell a story…

**Excuse me while I take a moment down memory lane… and get all warm and fuzzy inside while I think back.**

I can look back and answer the question, (of why I wanted a wedding) for myself. I had a wedding because I wanted there to be an outward expression of the love that, my now wife, Jillian and I had. I wanted to invite my whole family and all of my friends into our love story.

We had a beautiful wedding on a warm July afternoon with what seemed to be 1000 guests. The green trees, the old barn, the pond with ducks. A long driveway and an old iron fence. Barbecue, casserole recipes passed on from grandmothers, and 20 gallons of sweet tea. Family heirlooms, quilts, yard games, and well-wishes hanging from clothespins and a line.

This day was not just about sharing rings. It was about the joining of two families. This day was about showcasing young love that was full of endless possibilities. This day was a reflection of our lives together and told the story of our new beginning.

In the same way, your wedding day can be so much more than just reciting some pre-written text from a preacher. Your day should be one that tells YOUR unique story for years to come.

My job as a photographer is to join you on your wedding journey. You are inviting me into your love story so that I can capture and document it. For me, the photography element of your wedding is one of the most valuable parts of this journey. If you are questioning if that investment is worth it, check out why it totally is, here on one of my recent blogs (Click Here).

If you don’t have time to read the blog just be sure to open a tab and save it for later!

How do you tell a story on your wedding day?

Here are some things to consider:

1. Incorporate details in the wedding decorations that are important to you.

   In one of my recent weddings, the couple had a “Steampunk” wedding theme.  So the venue was decorated in dark colors, gears, pipes, cogs, clocks, trains, keys, and other very cool “retro western robot” decorations.   (For all of you steampunk fans out there, sorry if my description does not meet your standards, but that is what comes to my mind. lol). Now, this decorating style is not for everyone, but with it, the couple was able to uniquely tell a story of their relationship.

2. Plan to shoot your couples’ photos in locations that are more “YOU.”

   Because of Covid, several couples that I’ve shot for recently have had to opt for the “Plan B.” Maybe they didn’t have the perfect venue for their ceremony or reception, but they were still able to tell their story by doing the couple’s photos in a different location. Often, that means heading to the mountains in their wedding clothes and shooting an elopement-style shoot.

3. Food can tell a story!

   I shot a wedding once where the couple lived in East TN, but the day before the wedding, they drove down to their favorite local cajun restaurant in Atlanta, GA to pick up catering.  Not only was it their favorite food from their favorite restaurant, but it helped the wedding day guest learn a little more about the couple and their story.

4. Plan activities during your day that are fun for you and your partner.

   This might mean that you bring a gift for each other to open, play games, and pranks on each other (like the best man dressing up as the bride for the first look, lol), or having a fun time with your bridesmaids and groomsmen (like manicures or fishing). With my groomsmen at my wedding, we went camping the night before and spent all evening around a campfire.  That activity put my soul at ease before the big day!

5. Be sure to bring on a photographer that can help document every moment.

   If you think I would be a good fit for your big day then let me know! **Am I required to say that at the end of my wedding photography blog? Haha!  Yeah!** But seriously, not only do you need to bring along a photographer that can capture your day, just the way you have dreamed of, but you need to have someone that can have fun with you!

Final Planning

Be sure you put some good time into planning these things so that your day will be exactly what you want, and with help you to tell a story of your relationship.  Work together with your partner on this.  Incorporate things that both of you like. If your future spouse is from a different culture, be sure to incorporate their traditions into the ceremony and reception as well.  It is always a fun touch!

If you have any questions about what I talked about here, or if you would like more advice on how to tell a story on your wedding day, then feel free to reach out to me on my contact page… here!

Be looking for my next blog – Wedding Planning Tool #3: The First Look.

Thanks, y’all!