Back when I first start photographing weddings, I was frustrated when I’d arrive on a wedding day and there’d be no paper suite to photograph. I knew each bride was paying a lot of money to have her beautiful invitations, RSVPs, save the dates, and programs designed, compiled, and mailed out, but I wasn’t able to document that piece of her wedding for her. Then I realized that if I wasn’t telling her, it wasn’t her fault she didn’t know to bring along the paper suite to the wedding. Of all the things she was trying to schlep to the church or hotel, an original invitation was the last thing on her mind.

Now, a couple of months before every wedding, I send my brides a package in the mail with some gifts as well as a card that includes some final tips. One of those tips includes reminding her to bring a complete invitation set along so I can photograph it.

Helping remind my brides what to bring means that when I arrive to start photographing, things are organized. Usually, my brides will now set out all of the prep items I’ve requested: shoes, jewelry, rings, gown, veil, paper suite, garter, and bouquet. That saves so much time since I can get started right away instead of scouring the room finding things or tracking someone down who might know where the items are located. Saving me time ultimately means saving my brides time since it’s much easier to stay on schedule and keep things moving.

Brides, think through the little details of your wedding day and make sure your photographer knows the parts that are most important to you. Are you wearing your grandmother’s pearls? Is the lace from your mom’s wedding dress wrapped around your bouquet? Is the paper suite design based on a color palette that has special meaning to you, aside from being your wedding colors? These are things your photographer wants to know! We are here to document your day and we don’t want to miss out on parts that are really special to you or that you’ve spent lots of time and money on.