There is an estimate that some 40% of engagements happen in the roughly 2.5 months between Thanksgiving and Valentine’s Day. If you are among them, congratulations!

Now you will be bombarded with questions: “When’s the big day?” “Where are you having your ceremony?” “What are you wearing?" “How many people are you inviting?” and so on.

And now you have questions.

And you’ll come up with answers.

And people will question your answers.

So my first bit of advice, as someone who has “been there, done that” more than once, and who has observed it from the outside more than a few times as a guest and as a photographer, is to take a moment with your partner and figure out what the two of you want to create in celebration together.

After the initial thrill of the ask and answer has calmed, sit down together and discuss what’s most important to you. My priority, of course, is always the photography. My current husband’s priorities were the venue and the food. Share your visions of your ideal day. This may be your first test in flexibility; it may be super easy. In any case, once you know what’s important to each other, you know where your focus should be.

A few things as you start your planning:

• First up: the date and the venue. Once you’ve found and locked in that combo, find your officiant (if you aren’t holding the ceremony in a church), and then work on your priority pieces.
• Magazines are full of great ideas, but they can be unrealistic.
• Bridal shows are full of great ideas… and salespeople who want your business.
• People will have opinions, and they will share them. Freely. Without being asked. If their opinions do not match your vision as a couple, thank them for their input, tell them you’ll take it under advisement… and then ignore them.

At the end of the day, no matter when/where/how it happens, your wedding is about the two of you becoming legally bound as a married couple. Signing the paper in front of a wedding officiant is the most important part of it all. Everything else is just icing on the cake. “You are having cake, aren’t you?”

I invite you to explore the blog further under the keyword “wedding” and to reach out for advice or guidance… or just to act as a sounding board.

Best wishes!

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Women are multi-faceted, and I love helping them share images that show their authentic, beautiful, confident shine! How do you want to be photographed? Let's meet over coffee and talk about it. Contact me: text/call 434-226-0365 or email [email protected].