Why I recommend a "first look"

Your wedding day timeline, how's it going?

This is one thing I work very closely with my brides and grooms on. 

A well thought out wedding day timeline lets me and other vendors know exactly what needs to be happening when. It allows me to plan accordingly for a long list of family portraits and reminds me when key moments will be taking place! 

The biggest problem I have come across with timelines? After finalizing a timeline the one thing most brides want is... more time to enjoy their friends and family!

Many modern brides want to take part in the cocktail hour, after all it's their party right?! So I'm giving you some insight to a major time saving secret here and one way to get all your beautiful must have photos and still catch the tail end of your cocktail hour.

The solution is this... the first look!

If you haven't yet heard about the first look you'll want to. Sure it goes against traditional values where the groom doesn't see the bride until she walks down the isle, but here's what it does provide:

• Makes for some adorable photos
• Gives the bride and groom an intimate and quiet moment alone to see one another for the first time
• The opportunity to spend a good amount of time with your loved one smiling, kissing, hugging and chatting (because you know on a busy day like your wedding day it's somewhat challenging to squeeze this in)
• Gives your photographer an amazing opportunity to capture BEAUTIFUL memories of tenderness, excitement and "hearts bursting with love" moments!
• Gives the bride and groom more flexibility with their timeline. Now you can handle all your bridal party, portrait and family photos before the ceremony and actually be a guest at your own cocktail hour!

So if you are open to something non traditional and you'd love to spend more time with those who are there to celebrate you I highly recommend you consider doing a first look.

All of my brides that have done so remember this as one of the most special moments on their big day. We have 100% no regrets to date!

But if the first look isn't for you there are always other tricks to working your timeline so you can enjoy your party. If you have questions, just ask!

XO,

Lacey

'About Your Big Day' Online Interview Series

Check out my FREE online interview series

'About Your Big Day'

Photographing weddings has been an amazing journey so far. I often reflect on my own wedding I planned when Erik and I got married last year amidst the Redwood trees in the beautiful Santa Cruz Mountains.

Wedding planning, was a lot! So after planning my own wedding, and seeing other brides plan theirs made me think, how could I create a resource for "brides and grooms to be" to help alleviate some of the pains of the wedding planning process and help them step into the next chapter ahead with the right tools to have a lasting and strong marriage for years to come.

And that's when I created "About Your Big Day" Online Interview Series.

I've interviewed experts on all things wedding planning and stepping into the next chapter ahead. This is definitely a resource I wish I had when I was a bride planning my own wedding last year! 

Get access to this FREE Online Event HERE!

Grant Family Session

I hosted 3 days of mini sessions this holiday season! What I realized are a) Mini sessions are a lot of work to coordinate and plan b) despite that they are well worth it for everyone (photographer and client alike).

The advantage of doing a mini session, from a photographers perspective, is you choose one date and location, offer various time slots, and the clients sign up, make their deposit and come to you. Because there isn't as much back and forth and traveling involved and because the sessions are only 20 minutes it's a great way for photographers to handle their business (literally) all at once; but then of course there is the editing part which we will not talk about today - those photos don't magically morph themselves.

For families with young children, I realized that 20 minutes was the ideal amount of time. Everyone was still happy by the end - dad included! 

So yes, this was my first round of hosting mini sessions, and I loved it! I will definitely be offering more soon... stay tuned by clicking here!

The Grant Family was just one of the many families I photographed this season. They were adorable and their little man so so so happy, so of course I had to feature them on the blog. I hope you enjoy.