fine art weddings

juliana kae

The wedding experience

This guide will be your best friend as you plan and prepare for your big day, and will allow you to know exactly what to expect during your wedding photography experience. I can't wait to pour into you and to help ease the stress of being in front of a camera.

Welcome bride-to-be (and future groom!). I am so excited you're here! Being engaged is such a special time in your lives and I'm excited for what's to come.

jk

experience

The

WEdding

The Importance of Wedding Planners

I have had the opportunity to work with many incredible planners. They can provide help for your wedding day in a way that no one else can. They also give me the opportunity to solely focus on taking your beautiful photos while they keep the timeline on track.

I encourage you to look up the wedding planners listed below and browse through the different services they offer. Whether you need help with day-of coordination, design services, partial, or even full service planning, hiring a professional wedding planner will eliminate stress and help bring your dream wedding to life.

Over the years, I've learned the important role quality vendors play in creating a stress-free wedding day. I've worked with many of the vendors I'm sharing with you and can't recommend them enough. This is not a paid list - I chose these vendors for both the quality of their work as well as their professionalism on the wedding day.

Wedding Planners

Who Will Make Your Day Incredible

Vendors

OH HELLO EVENT PLANNING
HEART 2 HOME EVENTS
Pearl & Co Events
Sirpilla Soirees
Kirk Brides

Videographers

Ashley McComb Productions
Chaptr Films

Hair & Makeup

Makeup by Madison & co.
Megan Cox Bridal
Makeup by Haley
Makeup by Meridith
Hair by Dana

Florists

Diana Elizabeth Designs
MOLLY TAYLOR AND CO.
Willows and Sage Flowers & Events
The red twig floral design studio

Cakes

Luna Bakery Cafe
Kelsey Elizabeth Cakes
Canela Bakeshop

Invitations

BACI DESIGNER
BERRIES & BLOOMS STUDIO
SAL STUDIOS

Bridal Gowns

The Dress Medina
Harper and Ivory
Ivory and Ash
Liliana Bridal House

DJ & Bands

DJ REV DEV
On the Mic Entertainment
Trailer Park Ninjas

Building an efficient

Below is a typical breakdown of amount of time needed for each part of your day. Feel free to use this as a guide when needed. Make sure to add 5-10 minute buffers between events and don't forget to include travel time if applicable. I will reach out to you about 2-3 months before the big day to obtain details needed for your specific timeline.

▢ BRIDAL DETAILS - 45 MINS
▢ BRIDE GETTING READY - 60 MINS
▢ GROOM GETTING READY - 15 MINS
▢ FIRST LOOK - 10 MINS
▢ BRIDE & GROOM PORTRAITS - 30 MINS
▢ BRIDAL PARTY PORTRAITS - 30 MINS
▢ BRIDE IN HIDING
▢ PHOTOGRAPHER CAPTURES CEREMONY DECOR - 10 MINS
▢ CEREMONY - VARIES
▢ FAMILY PORTRAITS - 30 MINS MAX
▢ “JUST MARRIED” PORTRAITS - 15 MINS
▢ PHOTOGRAPHER CAPTURES RECEPTION DECOR - 20 MINS
▢ COCKTAIL HOUR
▢ RECEPTION
▢ SUNSET/NIGHTTIME PHOTOS/THE EXIT - 10 MINS

Wedding Timeline

If you're trying to decide where to get ready, this is huge. Most brides opt for a hotel room, which is not the greatest space in terms of light. If you are looking for beautiful portraits with soft light, I recommend a space that offers lots of windows, a neural backdrop and provides lots of open space. Don't have a space like this? Feel free to browse on Airbnb. Below are a few other options to consider:

CHOOSING AN IDEAL LOCATION

Getting Ready

BIOGRAPHIE STUDIO
THE COLAB EVENTS
BLOSSOM BRIDAL SUITES

I love capturing all the little details you've carefully chosen to be a part of your wedding day. If possible, collect all of your details before I arrive so that I can begin quickly and have more time for some “getting ready” shots of you and your girls.

▢ ALL 3 RINGS
▢ INVITATION SUITE (2 FULL SETS WITH ENVELOPES & STAMPS)
▢ VOW BOOK
▢ JEWELRY
▢ HAIR PIECES
▢ PERFUME
▢ SHOES
▢ VEIL
▢ BOUQUET & BOUT
▢ ANY OTHER SENTIMENTAL KEEPSAKES
 

Bridal Details Checklist

Wedding Details

Photographing

For a stress free day

Bonus tips

If you could mail me a copy of your wedding invitation I will have a better vision for your day and will be able to plan out layouts before I even arrive. Please feel free to reach out if you need my mailing address.

Mail the Invitation

If possible, have your florist deliver your bouquet and boutonnières before I am scheduled to arrive. This ensures they will be included with all of the other pretty details.

Bouquets & Bouts

I would encourage you to have hair and makeup scheduled to be done 30 minutes before you're scheduled to get into your dress. This gives you some buffer time in case you run behind. Hair and Makeup is typically the first event to run behind.

Hair & Makeup

This is just a bonus tip, but purchasing a velvet ring box in your wedding colors will help to personalize your details. My favorite places to buy them are from The Family Joolz and The Mrs. Box.

Ring Box

I’ll instruct you to get into your dress close to a window and it would be fabulous to have your mom and bridesmaids dressed when you’re getting in your gown.

Getting in the Dress

I will photograph the guys getting ready if they are in the same location as the bride. If not, I will pull them aside for some “mock” getting ready photos later in the day.

Groomsmen Prep

Throughout the chaos of a wedding day, it will very likely be your ONLY alone time. It allows you to have a chance to talk and enjoy hanging out with each other. Groom, you get to tell your bride how beautiful she looks as soon as you see her! You also get to extend your day together by 2-3 hours.


1.

Your Only Time Alone

My brides love this because your hair and make up is totally fresh for all of your portraits. You don't have to worry about touching up before photos because you just had your hair and makeup done. Your bridesmaids will love you for this as well.

2.

Fresh Hair & Makeup

With a first look, you can enjoy taking all of your wedding portraits and not feel rushed. Plus, you'll receive more variety in your portraits because of the extra time. It makes taking photos a lot more enjoyable because you aren't trying to squeeze them all in.

3.

More Portraits

You can finish the majority of your wedding photos before the ceremony begins. We will jump right into bride and groom + bridal party photos after the first look. This means no long cocktail hours with guests waiting on us to finish taking photos.

4.

Logistically, it's a Dream

So many couples say their nerves went away after they saw each other. It helps you to feel more relaxed and makes the ceremony more enjoyable. Plus, you’ll probably remember your ceremony better because you weren’t so nervous.

5.

It Diminishes Nerves

Once we do family formals directly after the ceremony, you can enjoy cocktail hour or start the reception. If any of your bridal party aren't family members, they get to enjoy all of cocktail hour.

6.

You Can Enjoy Cocktail Hour

Benefits of a First Look:

A first look is when the bride and groom arrange a private time to see each other before the ceremony. The only people present will be the two of you and your photographer and videographer. First look could be a romantic addition to your wedding day celebration that not only adds to the experience but also reduces stress.

Please know that I would never want any of my couples to feel pressured to go with this option. However, I do want to make sure that I share all of the benefits of a first look, because there is a reason majority of my couples do this and love it.

Explained

First look

The

This is for all of the brides who have a sweet spot in their heart for their dad. I have to admit that father-daughter first looks make me a little teary. For a lot of dads, this is when everything feels real and it hits him - “My baby girl is getting married!” These are precious moments to photograph and I highly encourage any daddy’s girl to make time in their timeline for this moment. If you want this in your timeline, let me know so we can add in an extra 10 minutes to make this happen.

You won't regret it

father-daughter first look

consider unplugging

If you've been to a wedding recently, you may have seen a sign from the happy couple asking for their guests to remain "unplugged" during the ceremony. And while it might seem like a strange requests to ask guests to put down their phones, there's a pretty good reason for it.

You made a big investment in photography and I'm sure one of the last things you want is photos of your ceremony be filled with obtrusive iPhones, iPads and relatives standing in the aisle with their own cameras. Having an unplugged ceremony allows me to work freely with no worry of getting guests in your shots.

Ceremony

Having a pre-planned list of family formals will save time and allow your guests to go off to enjoy cocktail hour sooner. When I send out your portrait planning questionnaire, I'll ask for a list of specific groupings, special situations (such as divorces or special circumstances), but if you want to start brainstorming photos in the meantime, you'll find my typical list below.

 

YOUR ENTIRE FAMILY, DRESSED UP & TOGETHER

Family formals

▢ B&G WITH BRIDE’S IMMEDIATE FAMILY (PARENTS, SIBLINGS, GRANDPARENTS, NIECES, NEPHEWS)
▢ B&G WITH BRIDE’S GRANDPARENTS
▢ B&G WITH BRIDE’S SIBLINGS
▢ B&G WITH BRIDE’S PARENTS
▢ BRIDE WITH HER PARENTS
▢ BRIDE WITH MOM
▢ BRIDE WITH DAD
▢ B&G WITH BOTH SETS OF PARENTS
▢ B&G WITH GROOM’S IMMEDIATE FAMILY (PARENTS, SIBLINGS, GRANDPARENTS, NIECES, NEPHEWS)
▢ B&G WITH GROOM’S GRANDPARENTS
▢ B&G WITH GROOM’S SIBLINGS
▢ B&G WITH GROOM’S PARENTS
▢ GROOM WITH HIS PARENTS
▢ GROOM WITH MOM
▢ GROOM WITH DAD

Sunset Portraits

Why They Are Worth It

Sunset portraits are the best ten minutes of portraits you'll get on your wedding day.

Typically we'll sneak out during your reception (in-between events, of course) or right after family formals. Trust me, they are WORTH IT and are those dreamy, swoon-worthy photos you see all over Pinterest with the dreamy light. They also give you another chance to slow down and connect with each other, away from the chaos of your big day.

Here are a few things to know:
▢ Bring the veil and bouquet. This looks dreamy with sunset light.
▢ If it ends up being overcast, don't worry! I've had many overcast and rainy weddings end up having a beautiful sunset. If the sun isn't peaking out, we might still sneak out for some extra portraits for variety just based on how the night is going.

All I need to create natural light portraits on a rainy wedding day are some clear umbrellas, and sometimes a porch! And you don’t even have to worry about the umbrellas, I’ll even bring those with me for you to use.


1.
2.

Let me worry about the photos. You have enough to think about. If there is a chance of rain, I’ll be sure to do some extra scouting to find a covered location or two, for us to use for your first look, romantic portraits and bridal party portraits.


3.

Take it one step at a time. Don’t think about your entire day and what will happen if it rains. That will only overwhelm you. Definitely have a rain plan for your venue, but then let your vendors do the work of handling the rest of the day if rain is in the forecast.

One of the most frequently asked questions that I receive during wedding season is “So, what do you do if it rains?”. I want to reassure you that even if it rains, you will still have beautiful and bright portraits. Overcast skies mean even light and vibrant colors. I know that rain isn’t ideal, and no bride would wish for rain on their big day, but if it happens, it happens, and it’s going to be just fine! Some of my favorite weddings have been on rainy days. Here are a few things to remember:

in case of a

Rainy day

Reception Exit Options

There are many options when it comes to exits. Sparklers, bubbles, glow sticks, rose petals, and more! If your coverage ends before your exit, you have the option of planning a "mock" exit with your bridal party. This is more common than you may think. Instead of saving your exit until the very end, you can plan a mock exit with just the members of your bridal party and your immediately family members. This allows us to have more control over these shots and the party never has to stop. In most cases, no one even notices that the bride and groom are missing for a few minutes. Also, it’s almost impossible to tell that the whole wedding isn’t there waving sparklers and sending off the happy couple.


One of the best ways to make your wedding memories last is by ordering an album. These high quality professionally designed albums come in a variety of linen, leather and velvet colors. These aren’t the same albums your parents' wedding photos came in. They’re modern, lay perfectly flat and look incredible on a coffee table.

Order your album in 8x8, 10x10, or 12x12. Duplicate parent albums are also available and make the perfect Christmas gift or just as a way to say thank you for all their help to make your wedding a dream come true. You can order your albums anytime through the professional print shop available through your online gallery. I will help with spread layouts and be there every step of the way.

Preserving your Legacy

Heirloom ALbums

Thank you

for trusting me with your special day. I am truly so honored to be the one capturing your memories, and I cannot wait to celebrate alongside of you.

Enjoy this season of planning but also remember that your marriage is more important than the wedding. The wedding will come and go in a matter of hours, but your marriage needs to stand the test of time. Continue to make time for one another, even with all that needs to get done. As you continue to plan, please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have along the way.

"

XX, Juliana

Juliana Kae