Love & Sol Photography Wedding Guide

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WEDDING GUIDE



TABLE OF CONTENTS WELCOME . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 WHAT'S YOUR IDEAL DAY? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 LODGING + ACCOMODATIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 HOW TO PLAN YOUR TIMELINE? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 HOW ARE YOU PREPARING FOR YOUR WEDDING? . . . . 35 READY TO GET MARRIED? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 WHAT NOW? THANK YOU

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PLAN YOUR PERFECT DAY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46


WELCOME! WE ARE SO STOKED TO BE YOUR WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS! WhaaHoooo! We are dancing all around the room! Weddings are so special, fun and dreamy and that's why going on adventures with our couples and helping them tie the knot is our absolute favorite thing to do! We are truly honored and we can’t wait to spend the coming months getting excited and hearing the details as your day comes together. We will be there for you throughout your entire journey. This little booklet will include what to expect out of us as your photographers, lots of information on your wedding timeline, what a first look is, and all the different options throughout your day. This is more of a guide than “a rule book”, we want your day to reflect you! It will help you feel more prepared and serve as a guide as you start to think about your day. Please use the pages in the back of this book to help you plan your dream day. We would like to thank you again for hiring us to capture your wedding day. Please don’t hesitate to ask any questions you might have. We can’t wait to help you plan your dream wedding and jump on the phone to chat about all the details of your day, until then, cheers!

MUCH LOVE, CHRISTINE & DANNY

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ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS Why do people take engagement photos? First and most importantly, to celebrate! Second reason is, you have a collection of selfies of the two of you but you’ll need some gorgeous pics to put on your engagement announcements, save the dates, invitations, wedding websites, social media or your final wedding album. Not only will you make actual use of the photos, your engagement session is SUCH a great opportunity for us to get to know each other and help you get super comfortable in front of the camera. You'll get to know us and how we work and we want to get to know you two more because that helps us tell your story better. Since your wedding might not be as adventurous as you two really are, most of our couples try to do the opposite for their engagement photos. So, if you are getting married at a winery we might take your engagement photos in the mountains, waterfalls or they'll have an in-home session with their pets who couldn't be there on the big day. Now let’s take some beautiful, pictures to celebrate!

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WHAT MAKES YOUR DAY YOU? LET'S PLAN THE DETAILS. This part can be a little overwhelming but so rewarding as well. Planning an event takes a village, lean on your village! Let us start off by saying, we are here for you! These details are what make up your big day, so take your time and really curate your favorite vendors centered around your needs, wants and who you really are. Let's brainstorm your accommodations, vendors, keepsakes, wedding attire and all the little details. The details are going to impact your full experience, your memories and the quality of your photos. So let's take a look at some of our favorite vendors.

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LODGING + ACCOMMODATIONS First think about what kind of experience you are looking for. Do you want to sleep under the stars? Do you want an entire house with a view through airbnb? A hotel with room service? A quaint Inn with a spa? Is your pet going to be there and you need to find a place that's pet friendly? These are all decisions you'll need to think about when choosing the right lodging accommodations.

SLEEPING UNDER THE STARS If you want to sleep under the stars you could of course bring your own camping gear but if you can't, we have the perfect tent rentals for you! Check out Outdoor Eventures outdooreventures.com for the best in glamping. These tents come fully stocked with a queen Aerobed, bedding, table and chairs, area rug, battery operated lantern and fan, mirror, ice bucket and cups, luggage rack, shower pack with towels and soap. This is luxury camping with a ton of add ons. You can even reserve an onsite camping butler and campfire supplies. Reserve a few for friends and family and have a full glamping elopement weekend with your loved ones. These tents are also pet friendly!

HOTELS If you are looking forward to being pampered with room service and need a place with a ton of rooms for friends and family, a hotel is probably your best bet. Here are our favorites in the DMV area that are very wedding friendly: The Kimpton Hotel Monaco-Baltimore Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort The Hilltop House Hotel-opens in 2024 Clarion Inn Harpers Ferry

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THE INN We have two Inn's in the area that we love to recommend to our couples. The Hillbrook Inn hillbrookinn.com is right outside Harpers Ferry in nearby Charles Town. This inn has a spa, elegant rooms with huge luxury tubs in each room, and a fine dining restaurant with food that is to die for. The Bavarian Inn bavarianinnwv.com is just up river from Harpers Ferry in nearby Shepherdstown. This Inn sits on a cliff and has amazing views overlooking the Potomac River. They also have an infinity pool and award winning fine dining.

LOCAL AIRBNBS We have our favorites, but of course you will have to look online to make sure it's going to be available for your dates. Airbnb's are always a unique experience, most are pet friendly and it gives you the freedom to settle right into home, cook a meal together and sit out on the back deck to soak in the views. Below are our favorite local Airbnbs and resources to begin your search. The Ledge House- theledgehouse.com Downtown Harpers Ferry Historic Home vrbo Property # 2216838 airbnb.com vrbo.com rvshare.com



YOUR VENDOR DREAM TEAM Hiring the right vendors can make or break your dream wedding day. It might feel overwhelming and stressful now but hiring vendors can actually help make it EVEN MORE stress free. You might want a planner to take everything off your shoulders, you might want a florist, hair and makeup artist, a caterer or cake maker. It's in your best interest to hire some of these so you don't feel overwhelmed, let us help, here are some of our favorite LGBTQ friendly wedding vendors in the DMV area.

OFFICIANT This one is important, they handle your marriage certificate and they file it with the courts, you don't want this part messed up. You will have to first determine which state you are getting married in and then find one licensed in that state. Lisa is our go to officiant for the state of Maryland. Danny is our go to officiant for the state of West Virginia. Trish is our go to officiant for the state of Virginia. All of these officiants are LGBTQ friendly. If you are looking for more of a religious officiant you can ask your minister/priest/rabbi, they typically can marry you over state lines without any issue. If you are in need of finding an officiant, we can send you information and email addresses for whichever state officiant you need.

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VENUE We have our favorites, here are a few local venues that provide incredible wedding support. The Wedding Niche-perfect for getting ready, ceremony, epic photos with their bamboo forest and a small covered outdoor dinner party. Swings, firepits, 3 getting ready spaces and historical charm Harpers Ferry Brewing-best views in town, pizza, pretzels, beer and a taco truck on the weekends, need we say more? Breaux Vineyard-only the most beautiful vineyard on the east coast and the wine is killer too. Head over there for a tasting, the place sells itself. Kalero Vineyard-amazing views, great wine, this place is perfect for small intimate receptions and ceremonies. Stoneleigh Golf and Country Club-This place has great food and atmosphere indoors or out. They have two getting ready rooms and epic views from the 18th hole. Plus your golf loving friends or family will have a great day golfing. Bluemont Vineyard/Dirt Farm Brewing-These two are right across the street from each other and have the same owner in Bluemont, VA. This is great if one of you favors wine and one favors beer. Incredible drinks and even more incredible views. Hillbrook Inn-This place is super unique, they have lodging, a spa, beautiful grounds for ceremonies and an incredible chef in their fine dining restaurant in the main building.


FLORIST This one is a biggie. You'll most likely just need a bouquet and bootineer. Pro-tip-ask for the trimmings, as photographers we use these as props for your details and also if they give us a bag of petals you can give these to your flower girl/boy or we will have fun throwing them at you. Here are our favorites: Sofia's Flower Designs: sofiasflowerdesigns.com CM Bloomers: cmbloomersflorist.com The Pink Poppy: thepinkpoppy.org Mini Rose Farm: minirosefarm.com My Enchanted Florist: myenchantedfloristmd.com

HAIR & MAKEUP Sure you can do your own, but it's your big day, pamper yourself and feel extra confident! Some hair and makeup require you to come into the salon and some will travel to you, if you don't have a getting ready space like your airbnb or a venue, you'll have to go to them. Here are some of our favorite hair and makeup artists: For her: Ana Merces Beauty Group: anamercesmakeup.com Lisa at The Wedding Niche: theweddingniche.com JKW Beauty: jkwbeauty.com For him: The Suite Barbershop: thesuitebarbershop.com Collins Barbershop

CATERER Food! Drinks! This one is important! You could of course head to a restaurant, but if you are planning an outdoor dinner at your venue you will need a caterer. Here are our favorite locals: Anvil Restaurant: anvilrestaurant.com Kevin's Catering: kevinscatering.net Rochelle Myers Catering: rochellemyerscatering.com Mojo Catering: mojos-catering.com

FURNITURE/TENT RENTALS If you are looking to turn an outdoor space into your own venue for your guests here are a few local furniture and tent rental companies we've worked with: APM Weddings: apmweddings.com Jefferson Rentals: jefferson-rentals.com

PLANNER Your new bestie because chances are, if you are planning a big wedding you are NOT looking forward to the stress of planning your wedding. So here are some humans who are going to make your life SO much easier: Fete Du Jour Events: fetedujourevents.com Vida Events: vidaevents.net Tilly and Teal: tillyandteal.com Happily Hitched: happilyhitched.com

MUSICIANS & DJS Live music just takes everything up a notch, this is a classy move that will never disappoint. Here are a few locals who provide live music and DJs too: Pixie Violin: pixieviolin.com Dan Mcguire Group: danmcguiregroup.com The Plate Scrapers: theplatescrapers.com LPE Snapshot: louispettinellientertainment.com Bachelor Boys Band: bachelorboysband.com

CAKES Our personal favorite part of the day, yummy cake! Here are some bakers we LOVE! Cake By Jason: cakebyjason.com TastefullyEverAfter: facebook.com/tastefullyeverafter Honey Bee Pastries: honeybeepastries.com Monica's Sugar Studio: monicassugarstudio.com

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KEEPSAKES Remembering those tiny details. These are some of our favorite parts about weddings. Keepsakes might be the most special thing about your wedding. Besides your photos, keepsakes are things that remind you of your day, they can go in a scrapbook, a wooden/glass box, and even be an heirloom for your own children someday. You can reach out to your dress maker/dress shop on packages that include dress preservation, they not only dry clean your dress but they provide a bust and box so when you store your dress it will be just as it was the day you wore it. You can wear your dress again for your vow renewal, a trash the dress divorce party or hand it down to your children to wear on their special day. There are many ways to preserve your bouquet and boutonnieres. You can ask your florist shop about what they offer or you can actually do this fun step yourself. We've seen so many creative ways to preserve a bouquet including pressing the flowers between two pieces of glass with a frame to hang on the wall, coasters, glass coffee tables, jewelry, paperweights with your flowers inside or even just a fancy box. Check on etsy for more creative custom ideas for your bouquet after your big day. You can even start with a DRIED flower bouquet and keep it just as is forever. Your cake, there's a tradition...you are supposed to keep the top or a piece of your wedding cake to eat on your 1st wedding anniversary. Wrap it up tight and keep it in the freezer. Let us just warn you, we LOVED doing this with our own wedding cake, however, it does not taste the same! LOL! Still worth it though, maybe you'll preserve yours better than we did! Wedding photo albums/prints Vow books Jewelry Dress Hanger Heirlooms from family Invitation suites Perfume Flowers Shoes Rings Dress Top of cake hand drawn map of the town/city/national park/venue where you got married Signed guest book Glass vile of the dirt from your ceremony site Glass vile of the water from your ceremony site Signed bottles of wine/champagne to open on your honeymoon, 1, 5, 10 year anniversaries

THIS IS A GREAT TIME TO JOT DOWN SOME IDEAS IN THE ELOPEMENT PLANNING SECTION AT THE END OF THIS GUIDE! 14




HOW TO INCLUDE YOUR BEST FRIEND WITHOUT THE CHAOS Your fur baby, you love them. They are the center of your universe and you'd like to include them in your day but not take over right? They are needy, sometimes loud, and they might just drag you right down that aisle. Here are a few tips on how to include your best friend even if they aren't the best behaved. If you want to include them, you will need a "doggy wrangler" for the day. This can be a family member the dog is familiar with or a service like our besties over at Furever and Fur Always fureverandfuralways.com They provide onsite doggy day care and work with us to get your pup dressed and where they need to be for the ceremony and photos but after the sun goes down, they are feed, walked and put to bed all while you are enjoying your reception. Even if your dog is super well behaved and you think they will just follow you around all day, let me tell you, they will not, we've seen entire wedding cakes DEVOURED by "well behaved dogs" okay? You can not stress about keeping an eye on your baby every minute with lots of people and food and schedules to keep. Assign someone doggy duty. Practice! If you want your pup to wear something special like a tuxedo or pillow on their back, it's going to take some practice and treat training to get them to wear it AND walk down an aisle with lots of exciting people to greet. Their Special Place. Have a place for them to go. If you are getting married at a hotel/inn that special place will probably be your room. If you aren't staying at your venue, this might be your "getting ready room" and we recommend a crate if they are crate trained. There are going to be times in your day where they might need some quiet time, space and a nap. If you are having fireworks this is especially true. Either way, they are going to need a place to rest at the end of the day while you are dancing the night away.

FUR BABY CHECKLIST: Food & Water Bowls & Leash Toys, something to chew on during quiet time, they might be anxious in a new place Treats for photos (carrots/green beans are great if they are on a diet) Wedding "outfit" Poop bags Crate filled with blankets with a familiar smell

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FIRST LOOK VS. NO FIRST LOOK FIRST LOOK Either way it's going to be amazing. First looks are great for couples that are more private, shy or just want that alone time together before the ceremony, sometimes this can help those jitters. It's also a great way to get all the major photo parts done before the ceremony so you can enjoy more of the cocktail hour. You can also have a first look with your parents, entire family and even your bridal party. (PARENT FIRST LOOKS ARE OUR ABSOLUTE FAVORITES!) If family helped you get ready and zipped up your dress there will be a first look reaction there. Whoever is walking you down the aisle, we do this first look shot when they pick you up right before the ceremony.

NO FIRST LOOK No first looks are great because that first look down the aisle is ICONIC! It's such a moment, so raw and real. As long as you work the timeline right, you can still get all your photos after the ceremony and not stress missing out on your own day. We will work with you on your timeline and will suggest getting as many wedding party photos done as possible before the ceremony to help save time after.



PARENT FIRST LOOKS


BRIDAL PARTY/FAMILY FIRST LOOKS


HOW TO PLAN YOUR TIMELINE? TIME TO PLAN A DAY AROUND YOU. A lot of people getting married think they might only need 5 hours with us. While that could be 100% true, we also truly think it's possible to photograph a wedding for 10 hours depending on the plan. So in this next section, let's go over how to plan your timeline. Some of the reasons you will need to create a timeline are needing to figure out meals, activities and how much time you'll ultimately need with us! By creating a timeline and seeing how you want your day to go, it'll create a more stress free day and a way less rushed feeling. Any amount of time you book with us will be amazing, we will capture as much as we possibly can within that time. If you find maybe you booked too little or too much time we can always adjust your package before the big day! Your timelines are going to look a little different based on if you have a first look vs. no first look. On the next page we have given you some examples of timelines with and without a first look so you can visualize how your day could look.

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8 HOUR PACKAGE WITHOUT A

8 HOUR PACKAGE WITH A

FIRST LOOK:

FIRST LOOK:

1PM - PHOTOGRAPHER

1PM - PHOTOGRAPHER

ARRIVES AT VENUE FOR

ARRIVES AT VENUE FOR

FINISHING TOUCHES ON

FINISHING TOUCHES ON

GETTING READY & DETAIL

GETTING READY & DETAIL

PHOTOS

PHOTOS

2PM - CEREMONY

2PM - FIRST LOOK + COUPLES PORTRAITS

2:30PM - FAMILY + WEDDING PARTY PHOTOS

3PM - FAMILY + WEDDING PARTY PHOTOS

3:15PM- COUPLES PORTRAITS/COCKTAIL HOUR

4PM - CEREMONY

4:30PM - DINNER

4:45PM - DINNER

5:30PM - TOASTS

5:30PM - TOASTS

6:30 PM - GOLDEN HOUR

6:30 PM - GOLDEN HOUR

PHOTOS

PHOTOS

7:15PM - CAKE CUTTING +

7:15PM - CAKE CUTTING +

DANCING

DANCING

9PM - PHOTO COVERAGE ENDS

9PM - PHOTO COVERAGE ENDS



GETTING READY This is where a lot of couples try to get photographed less so they can save their time for their ceremony and portraits. But sometimes these moments of getting ready either separately or together, eating breakfast, writing your vows into your books can be so intimate and special. Usually the first thing we do when we show up is photograph your details. Have all your details like your rings, vow books, jewelry, flowers, invitations/announcements, cufflinks, heirlooms etc in a bag ready to go. As soon as we are done shooting your details we will return them to you and photograph the two of you in the final steps of getting ready, at this point your hair and make up should be done and we will just be taking those final photos of you putting your shoes, veil, jewelry and other details on that we just returned to you. We usually then step out so you can get dressed and if you have family or friends or you're getting ready together we will photograph someone zipping your dress up, this can be a pretty emotional moment especially for parents or siblings. It's such a cool experience to see your couple get ready together, helping each other into their wedding attire. But it can also be so intimate to stay separated, build up that anticipation for your first look. Either option is amazing, choose what feels right for you! Whether you choose to get ready separately or together here are some ways you could make this time more special: Write your vows in your vow books Exchange gifts with each other Write and exchange letters Read letters from friends and family who couldn't be there Facetime with friends and family who couldn't be there Have a moment of silence for the people who you've lost Have a prayer together, if you're staying separate you can hold hands around a door/corner

YOUR GETTING READY CHECKLIST: Declutter your getting ready space Gather your details in one bag Have your favorite calming or hype music playing Eat Have drinks made like coffee or mimosa's How much time do we need for getting ready photos? That depends if family and friends are there and what you plan on doing during that time. Usually we can capture your details and the tail end of you getting ready in about an hour.

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PLANNING YOUR CEREMONY When planning a ceremony there are SO many things to factor in. The legal side of things changes so much depending on what state you are getting married in, so make sure you've done your research. Once you've determined what you need to get done legally, your next step is to choose any religious or special ceremonies you want to include. We have included a bunch of ideas on the next page to help you with this step. Your officiant will also guide you through this process, they will have some opening remarks to choose from and if you'd like to have any parents, grandparents or family say any words during the ceremony to make it extra meaningful and special.

HAVING AN UNPLUGGED CEREMONY This is huge. You've hired us, so you've spent a lot of money on two photographers to capture your ceremony. We've got this. You want everyone's undivided attention and your family wants to be present in the moment with you but reaching for those phones is very tempting. Here are some tips to MAKE SURE your family knows you want to see their faces, not the back of their phones as you walk down the aisle and say your vows. Signs! Make sure you've placed signs at the entrance of your ceremony space saying you'd like an unplugged ceremony, put the phones down and be present in the moment. Etsy has lots of options for these! Grab a couple for good measure. Ask your officiant to mention you are having an unplugged ceremony BEFORE you walk down the aisle. Have a collection bowl for cell phones next to the sign Look, if Uncle Bob has his iPad hanging out in the aisle when you kiss and we miss our shot, tough. Like, what in the world is he going to do with his photo anyway? We promise you it will most likely never leave the camera roll and it certainly will never be printed. We cannot stress this enough, this is our biggest pet peeve.

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CEREMONY IDEAS Write your own vows Ask someone special to you to officiate Signing of your marriage certificate Handfasting ceremony Incorporate music Gifts Ring warming ceremony Plant a tree in a pot or on your own property Take a shot of alcohol together Light a unity candle Sand ceremony Water Blending Tie the God's knot Blanket unity ceremony Light a fire together Time Capsule Wine ceremony Unity Tea Whiskey Barrel Create your own ceremony tradition



PORTRAITS This is our personal favorite part of your day 100%. Your portraits will be the ones you hang on your walls, the ones you show your family for generations and the ones your parents will hold as keepsakes. For some people, this might be the part of your day that makes you the most nervous. This part of the day is actually the most relaxed and least structured. We are 10000% going to be there for you and have your back while we make you look your best. You will need our help with posing and directing and we will do just that. We tell you where to stand to capture the best light and scenery behind you. We will pose you when we want those super posed shots and we will tell you about all the little games you will play together to get those authentic candid moments. We will help you relax. By this point we will know more about you and that will help us capture YOUR story.

HOW TO HELP US BEST CAPTURE YOUR STORY: Let us in, trust us, we will ask about your relationship along the way like how you met, how you knew she was the one, just be open and honest with us. We love to play music, create a playlist and we will hook your phone up to our bluetooth speaker. If you have a "good side" let us know which you prefer! If you have a side part we usually pose you with the side that has the most hair. Bring a blanket to wrap yourselves up or use it to sit on. ALCOHOL. Listen, if you are drinkers we can drive you around, sip on some wine or whiskey while we take photos. Pop a bottle of champagne to celebrate and take turns drinking out of the bottle. Fur babies! If you brought your pet along, this is their time to shine, let us know about them and what they like, are they toy or treat driven, do they have a special trick? Relax and just play around with each other, we are going to make you play some pretty silly games together. Be present in the moment and look around, soak it all in. Interpret our posing direction in a way that makes it feel like you. Body language is so unique to you and tells a lot about someone's personality, do you, our poses are more like guidelines and not to be taken literally. Trust us, we are here to make you look good!


WEDDING PARTY + FAMILY PHOTOS WEDDING PARTY These photos are usually the most fun for us to create. If you are doing a first look we can knock all these photos out before the ceremony, if not, we will do these photos after the ceremony and after family photos. We like to take photos with each partner and their "side" and then switch and then we shoot everyone together. We also like to get each bridal party member individually with you, these make great thank you gifts! This can take some time, depending on how many you have in your crew but we will help you plan for this. Give your bridal party a copy of your timeline before the big day and we will help remind them when and where to be ready the morning of as well.

FAMILY These are usually the photos couples stress out about the most. We are going to help you through this process to make it the most efficient and drama free. These usually take place right after the ceremony and a lot of times in front of the ceremony spot. This is for two reasons, everyone is there in one place and they haven't completely scattered yet. If you have anyone with mobility issues, they won't have far to travel and they can actually stay seated until it's their turn. TWO HUGE TIME SAVERS: Have the officiant announce right after you've finished walking back down the aisle, "Family and bridal party please stay seated here for group portraits" at which time we will step in and start directing your family. The second huge time saver is providing us with a list of family members and groups you'd like photos of. This is part of our questionnaire, please take the time to list everyone by name, this makes this process SO FAST AND EASY FOR EVERYONE. Give your family a heads up, if we are standing around for 20 minutes waiting for your 3rd cousin to get back from the bar that's time away from your sunset couples session and time away from your guests cocktail hour, nobody wants that! Expert tip: Have your caterer/bartender bring drinks on a platter out to the ceremony location to keep people from leaving and keep them extra happy!

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Here is an example of what we like to get as a family list: Laura's parents Barbara & Dean Laura's siblings Grant & Joe (with and without parents) Laura's Grandmother Ruth (alone with us and with immediate family) Laura's Extended Group Aunt Marie & Uncle Danny Everyone all together Cody's parents Hank & Katherine, Anne & Eric Cody's sibling Matt Cody's Extended Group #1 The Smith's (Mike, Robby, Sarah, Brooklyn) Cody's Extended Group #2 The Johnson's (Jayden, Jenna, Julie) Everyone all together




RECEPTION Okay, let's party! At this point a lot of our couples are tired of taking those formal photos. We are now just your paparazzi! We are there to capture the toasts, cake smashed faces, candids of your family and friends getting down on the dance floor, the food, the table settings, decorations, the lights, the entertainment and the love you share.

THE BALLROOM BLITZ If you want, we can play a little game with your band or dj. The game is called the ballroom blitz. The band or dj will play the ballroom blitz song and we will, as fast as we can, RUN to each table and grab a photo with our couple. That way, those friends, coworkers and extended, extended family will have a photo with the two of you for them and you'll have a photo with each table for your wedding album. Plan this ahead of time, it helps if the dj is made aware and we plan it at a time when the guests are just about to start eating or are finished eating but everyone is still sitting at their tables.

ESCAPE PLAN Okay this one can be SO much fun. Sparklers, bubbles, confetti canons, an epic motorcycle ride off, bridal party decorates your car, a town car, a limo, jump on a bus with your guests back to the hotel, these are just some ideas you can plan for your epic exit.

LAST DANCE You know what a first dance is, but have you considered a last dance? This can be a clear the dance floor last dance with your guests present. OR we can trick them! You have your epic exit, but instead of leaving you circle back around once your venue is practically empty and you have your last dance, just the two of you in an empty room. This is our favorite because it's such a sweet and intimate perfect way to end the night.

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HOW ARE YOU PREPARING FOR YOUR WEDDING? TIME TO MAKE A LIST OF WHAT TO PREPARE. Okay, here we go! It's time to get married, let's make sure you have everything you need for your road trip, flight or just your local drive to your wedding! Here is a check list to help make sure you don't forget anything!

CHECKLIST: NECESSITIES Permit (if needed) All important travel ID's & Documents Marriage License Sunscreen Heel bandaids if you are wearing uncomfortable shoes WEDDING ATTIRE & CEREMONY THINGS Vows Rings Ring box Paper invites, announcements or postcards Flowers Wedding Attire for Partner 1 (dress, suit, jumpsuit, skirt, undergarments, etc) Wedding Attire for Partner 2 (dress, suit, jumpsuit, skirt, undergarments, etc) Accessories Partner 1 (Jewelry, veil, cape, watch, cufflinks, tie, bowtie, socks, pocket square, lapel pin, hair piece, suspenders, belt/sash etc.) Accessories Partner 2 (Jewelry, veil, cape, watch, cufflinks, tie, bowtie, socks, pocket square, lapel pin, hair piece, suspenders, belt/sash etc.) Perfume or Cologne Makeup & Hair supplies/accessories Garment bags for wedding attire during travel

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READY TO GET MARRIED? TAKE A MOMENT TO LET IT SINK IN. Let's have a heart to heart here. All this brainstorming and planning has lead you to your big day. Take the time to let it sink in, be present in that moment and soak it up. It's going to be the best experience, the best day ever and you are going to get the best photos ever because we are going to be there with you! One less thing to worry about! Story time, our wedding was INSANE. My bridesmaids got in a huge fight, the cops were called, there was a thunderstorm right in the middle of the day, there was a huge issue with the chairs and seating arrangements. At the time, we kinda wished we had just eloped instead. But ya know what?? We laugh SO hard about it now years later. The lesson we'd like to share with you is, no matter what happens on your day, it will be the story you tell everyone about how you got married, it will be a part of you, good or bad. If it rains, awesome, part of the crazy story you get to tell and don't worry we will be there in the rain standing right next to you capturing all it's messy crazy beautifulness.

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DAY AFTER SESSIONS We love day after sessions because it's a more relaxed, no pressure, more adventures and more memories! A lot of couples take this opportunity to do a few more epic wedding attire photos, but ALSO some casual ones so they have more variety of photos to print for their homes and albums. Maybe you want to go kayaking down the river and you didn't have time on the same day as your wedding. Are you honeymooning in the area, let's capture that! Maybe you want to capture something completely opposite of your wedding like the beach or a long hike. If you wanted to jump in the water in your wedding attire but you didn't want to be soaking wet for your reception, let's do a day after session and you don't have to worry about staying clean anymore. Want to include your fur babies but having them there on your wedding day would have been too much, too stressful, here is your opportunity to capture it all!




WHAT NOW? LET'S TALK NEXT STEPS IN YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH US. You did it! You're all married and shit! What next? In the first 1-3 days after your wedding we will text or email over a sneak peek of 1-5 of your most epic shots so you can share your "just got married bliss" with friends and family who couldn't be there and/or post it on social media right away. Your final gallery will be delivered to you 3-6 weeks after your wedding. You'll receive an email with a link and instructions for your online gallery. Your gallery not only serves as a display for your epic photographs so you can share with family and friends easily, it also includes a shop! Click the shop option in your gallery menu and you will see options to buy prints, displays, keepsakes and it even has a whole album creator suite where you can personally design your own album or parent album. Your online gallery will stay up for at least 5 years so your photos are always within reach! If you got married with just your immediate family, it's a great idea to send out announcements to friends and family who couldn't be there with your shiny new photos of your intimate wedding. You have the option to download your photos to any device either high resolution so you can print them anywhere on anything or web resolution files so you can easily share across all social media platforms. Please back up your photos to a usb drive and the cloud just in case!

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PRINTS AND ALBUMS REMEMBERING YOUR DAY FOR YEARS TO COME. It's easy to forget to ACTUALLY print your photos out. They are on your phone and you've shared them with family and friends, posted them on social media....and then what....life gets CRAZY, we know, we struggle with the human experience as well. We promise it will be 100% worth it when you see your photos on your walls. or when you flip through your wedding album on your anniversary. We will be sending you coupons and discounts for your store throughout the year and especially on your anniversary so keep that in mind as well, we are all about saving you some dough!

CREATIVE WAYS TO SHARE AND DISPLAY YOUR PHOTOS: Albums, we offer several different types, materials, colors and ways that you can personalize it. You will have an album creator suite inside your gallery store so you can see all your options and create and edit your own! Prints for the wall, matted and framed Gallery boards you can lean on a wall shelf Calendars Magazines-these make great gifts for friends and families Hard cover books-these are great parent albums Greeting cards Metal prints Canvas prints Glass box with stack of prints Wooden box with stack of prints Panoramic prints Ornaments

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THANK YOU! WE ARE SO EXCITED FOR YOUR DAY! You are awesome, you just made it through this entire guide, we hope it's a resource that you can utilize. We know it's a LOT of information, but it's also super valuable in helping you curate your dream day. Even if you didn't read this entire guide front to back, if you ever get stuck on something in the planning phase leading up to your wedding day, you can always come back to the section you need. Thank you so much for choosing us. We are so looking forward to capturing you tie the knot! This isn't a rule book but something we hope you take to heart because we pour so much of ourselves into each wedding. We are so stoked to spend time with you both and your friends and family too. We can't wait to capture YOUR love story soon!!!

CHEERS TO THAT, CHRISTINE & DANNY

P.S. THE FOLLOWING PAGES ARE MEANT TO SERVE AS A SPACE FOR YOU TWO TO BRAINSTORM AND PLAN YOUR PERFECT DAY. USE THESE FOR NOTES, CREATING A MOODBOARD + TO DO LIST, AND KEEPING TRACK OF VENDOR INFORMATION! 45


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OUR PERFECT DAY



TO DO:


VENDOR DREAM TEAM VENDOR

NAME

CONTACT INFO


WWW.LOVEANDSOLPHOTO.COM


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