Apr 1
Am I famous? Gia Canali, who I am pretty openly obsessed with, just posted an interview with me on her blog. It’s about how I approached my wedding coming from a background in events as well as design. One of the underlying messages — which I think is easy to forget in the era of gorgeous blogs — is that as much as I love pretty things at weddings, atmosphere & spirit are way more important than eye candy.
Take a peek below, but click here for the full version.
Traditionally, the bride & groom wouldn’t see each other on their wedding day until the ceremony began. Waiting at the altar, the groom would catch his first glimpse of the bride as she walked down the aisle. There is something sweetly romantic about this moment of chivalrous anticipation. But it’s also important to consider what it means logistically, especially when it comes to photos. Not seeing each other before the ceremony means that any photos that involve both the bride & groom (aka, that long list of family photos as well as any portraits of the two of you) will need to take place during the cocktail hour. Many brides & grooms don’t want to sacrifice this prime time to mingle with their guests, especially given how quickly “wedding time” seems to fly.
Another important consideration is what kind of light you will have for your photos. I was a guest at a beautiful wedding that took place at dusk by the ocean. Needless to say, the outdoor ceremony with views of the ocean was stunning as the sun set. But the bride & groom had opted not to see each other beforehand and, to make matters trickier, they both had complicated family situations. By the time family photos were done, the sun was almost completely gone and the bride & groom’s portraits had to be taken in near darkness. It was such a shame that the only portraits of the couple had to be taken with flash. If you do decide to stick with tradition, make sure to establish a clear game plan with your photographer to make sure you have enough time to get quality shots, and do your best to alert family members of the schedule beforehand — that way they know to meet at a specific spot right after the ceremony and don’t get sidetracked by a delicious cocktail.
These are First Look photos from my wedding (taken by the very talented Gia Canali). We decided to see each other beforehand, and I’m glad we did. We were able to have a private moment before the ceremony. I still felt like it was very special and, better yet, I felt calm walking down the aisle. We also decided to take a few portraits of just the two of us after the ceremony since the light was so gorgeous, but we had plenty of time for cocktails too.
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