Setting Time Aside for Sunset Portraits | St Paul & Minneapolis Wedding Photographer | For the Bride

At the end of your wedding day you're finally married! As you are starting the reception with your friends and family, you have a little time to eat.  Once you have eaten and hydrated, I encourage you to set aside some 10 - 15 minutes for sunset portraits. Sunset will bring a close to one of the most adventurous days of your life and it also has the mostbeautiful light of the day that really cannot compare to anything else. (Besides sunrise ) At this point all your posed photos are done and I know you are excited to start the dance party! Before the big party grab your new spouse and photographer, put on your sneaky ninja shoes, dodge your guests, and book it out the door for the first photos where you are husband and wife. (People will congratulate you all night long if you let them! Take the back door if you need to!) Even if the sun does not shine on your day, take those few stolen minutes to spend with your new hubby and talk about the day. (With your photographer creeping at a distance)
I highly encourage ( if you haven't gathered that yet) all my MW couples to save at least 15 - 20 minutes from their reception for your first intimate portraits as husband and wife.

When To Wear The Veil At Your Wedding | Bridal tips | St. Paul & Minneapolis Wedding Photographer

Having a veil has been an age old tradition in the wedding world, which ,any brides still choose to follow today.  I love when brides have veils; they add a timeless/classic look to have in your wedding album, but veils are not something you will need all day! Can you imagine trying to attempt that with a catherdial veil?

I have a couple of tips for my MW Bride on when to wear the veil on the wedding day.  

 Firstly, wear it on your first look! Your hair and makeup will be fresh and beautiful, and the veil is the finishing touch. What better way for your groom to see your completed planning then to see you 100% dolled up to marry him!!  

Next, wear your veil for the ceremony. This is what your veil was orignially intended for, so there is no better time to wear it!  All your ivited guest will be swept away by the your vision as you walk down the aisle. And don't worry your maid of honor will make sure it is sitting perfectly as you marry the man of your DREAMS! 

Lastly, after vows are exchanged and you are husband and wife wear your veil for some photos with you groom!  As the party is really starting to kick off at your reception, I will try to steal you away for some sunset portraits. This is the time that your veil will make your photos pop. It does not have be in all of them, but it will help add a little more variety in your portraits!   

Bonus: These are times where it comes to your personal preferrence - wearing your veil for family formals or wedding party portraits! These times it really varies from brid to bride! 

I hope these help give you insight to the best times to wear your veil on your wedding day!!

5 Tips for Your Getting Ready Room | Minneapolis & St Paul Wedding Photographer | For The Bride

Hey Beautiful! I know at this point your well on your way to planning through your wedding day, trying to make each part unique to your vision.  To start the day off, you are imagining yourself with your girls getting ready and jamming out to your favorite tunes. I gathered some tips to help you choose your location in the morning that will help make your getting ready photos fabulous. 
 

 1. Choose a location with lots of natural light. Having proper window light in the room makes photographing it so much easier. It evens out the light on your skin and can give a more dramatic look with the lights and shadows. The light on your face becomes more evening making any overhead yellow lighting disappear and can save you from harsh shades from overhead lighting. This is one of my stables for getting ready photos!

2.  Choose a spacious location.  Having bigger room to get ready in makes for easier mobility for everyone in the group. It also benefits when taking your photos because you can have a corner with all your stuff and the other corner cleaned up for photos!  Having a large getting-ready room is a luxury, I know, but think about how many people will be in your getting ready room overall, just you and your bridesmaids? Nope! You will also have your makeup artists, hair stylist, your photographer and cinematographer. Don't forget about your family.  They really start to add up! 

3. Choose a location personal to you.  Having the location at your home or apartment showcases more of your personality! It gives your photos a personal touch of your life and lifestyle with your room, your photos on the walls. I love shooting in this kind of enviroment because it also helps your be more relaxed durning the morning process.

4. Choosing on-location room will eliminate travel time. If you are planning on cramming a lot of things in a short amount of time, a getting-ready room at your ceremony location would be ideal. It  helps keep travel times to a minimum on your timeline and you will not have to worry about traffic or unforeseen issues on the roads. It will also give you the opportunity to start on your photos immediately while incorporating your ceremony location in your photos!

5. Choosing the same location as your groom gives you more photos of both of you getting ready. Having your bridal ready room in the same hotel or house as your groom gives your photographers the opportunity to go back and forth between your rooms. Your wedding day gallery will have both sides documented.  If you are considering an album, this option would be ideal to capture the complete story of your wedding day. it will also give you the opportunity to immiduately jump into first look photos once you are all dolled up and ready to go!