Wedding Day Guide | amandaflinn

Wedding Photography Guide 2025 | Amanda Flinn Photography
A breakdown of the wedding day, and some helpful tips and suggestions

Hi!! First things first, thank you for inviting me into such a meaningful part of your lives. I don’t take it lightly. Your wedding is more than a day – it’s a collection of special moments that deserve to be felt, lived in, and remembered. My goal is to document all of that for you authentically, beautifully and stress-free.

This guide is here to give you a head start on planning, what to expect and some tips to help make the most of our time together. . I will breakdown of each part of the day and how we’ll approach it together below.

Getting Ready

This is where your story begins. The energy is typically soft, anticipatory and full of joy. Here are a few ways to make this part feel extra intentional:

Have your detail items ready in one spot (a box or tray works great!)

Invitation suite
Rings + special ring box or dish (engagement ring and both wedding bands)
Jewelry
Perfume
Shoes
Vow books
Wax Seal/sealer
Bouquet (if available, it looks so beautiful in the flat lay!)
Any additional special items and heirlooms

For the dress hanging shots, we recommend a nice hanger whether it’s specially customized with the bride’s name or “Mrs.” or just a simple wooden hanger. These photograph so much more nicely than the typical acrylic hanger the dress often comes on from the bridal shop.

Clean and natural light-filled rooms make all the difference. A space with bigger windows, tidy backgrounds (try to keep bags, shoes, snacks etc. to one area in the room if possible)

In the case that the room is smaller and lacking natural lighting, (it happens!) we do have flashes and LED lighting that can be brought in – don’t stress!

For the getting into the dress photos – we will have you already in the dress and find the best spot for light/background and guide you through the moment of either buttoning/zipping up the dress with your designated person. We will also grab some shots of putting anything else on – shoes, jewelry, veil etc.

For the guys we usually keep it simple – if possible we do love a detail shot with groom’s items:

Shoes
Tie
Watch
Boutonniere
Cologne
Vow Book
Cufflinks etc.

We will do some staged photos of the groom putting on jacket, straightening tie, adjusting sleeves/cuff links. Some fun, more casual photos with all the guys in the getting ready space is always fun, maybe a cheers with beers or shots!

Gifts/notes: If you have a special gift or note to exchange with each other and would like that to be captured, let us know ahead of time and we can help coordinate that moment.

Brides: wear something pretty that makes you feel good while getting ready – a special white robe, silk PJ set, something fun. Having your bridesmaids in cute matching PJ sets or robes as well looks so cute and photographs beautifully if you all want to do a cute photo together before getting dressed, maybe cheers some champagne!

First Look/Photos Before the Ceremony:

If you plan to do a first look, that will allow us the opportunity to get more photos finished prior to the ceremony. That said - if it’s not something that feels authentic to you, and you’ve always envisioned not seeing each other until the ceremony, do what feels right! This is your day.

If you don't do a first look, we can still get the following portraits prior to the ceremony:

Bride and bridesmaids portraits
Bride solos
Bride with immediate family (parents, siblings)

Groom and groomsmen portraits
Groom solos
Groom with immediate family

In the case we do a first look, we are often able to do a good amount of portraits of the bride and groom, bride solos, groom solos, bride and bridesmaids, groom and groomsmen, full bridal party group shots. If immediate family is ready and there's time, we can do some family portraits as well - otherwise family portraits will directly follow the ceremony.

What to expect at the first look:

We’ll help guide this moment from start to finish. First, we’ll choose a beautiful, private spot and get the groom into position. (If you have a specific spot in mind for this, just let us know ahead of time!) Then, we’ll bring the bride over – either to gently tap him on the shoulder, or pause a few feet behind and let him turn around (based on your preferences which we’ll find out prior to the wedding day)

From there, we capture it all - the genuine reactions, the hugs, embraces and those first few quiet moments together. We won’t prompt anything right away so you can let it all sink in. Once you’re ready, we’ll transition into some lightly guided portraits of the two of you.

And just to ease any concerns if you’re leaning more towards wanting to do a first look but still a little unsure – whether you choose to do one or not, nothing compares to the moment the bride walks down the aisle. That moment is steeped in emotion, surrounded by your loved ones, and marks the official start the ceremony. From what I’ve seen (and what many couples have told me), seeing each other beforehand doesn’t take away from that feeling – it just adds another beautiful memory to the day.

Details and Decor:

Once we’ve finished up any scheduled portraits prior to the ceremony, you two will likely go and hide at least 30 minutes before the ceremony. During this time we will sneak away to capture details and décor. We’ll start with the ceremony setup, preferably before anyone has sat down and/or placed coats/purses. The same goes for the reception area (luckily this area is typically closed off to guests until after cocktail hour) we will capture untouched décor, tablescapes, signage, florals and personal elements. We are very detail oriented and observant but if there’s anything special and somewhat hidden that we may not be aware of, please let us know ahead of time so we can capture it for you!

Ceremony:

Unplugged is best!

If you’re open to it, consider asking your officiant to make a quick announcement before the ceremony begins and/or have a sign. This helps keep guests present – and allows us to capture faces, and the two of you without a sea of phones in the way.

Bridal party pacing: Remind your wedding party to take their time walking down the aisle, no need to rush! A slower pace looks more graceful and gives us more time to get great shots.

Eyes up: As you’re walking down the aisle, try to look up and forward as much as possible. It’s totally ok to glance at your steps, but keeping your focus on your partner, (or even a glance here and there at whoever is walking you down the aisle) helps us capture your emotion and connection. Basically, just try to not look down the entire time! :)

Look at each other: During the ceremony, it’s easy to focus on the officiant, but try to look at each other often and embrace the moment. Those little glances, smiles, and reactions are everything.

The kiss: Don’t rush it! Hold your kiss for a few seconds to give us time to grab plenty of options of this special moment.

That just-married moment: When you’re announced as newlyweds, let the joy show! Hold hands, raise your bouquet, look at each other, smile at your guests and soak it all in! And if you want to go in for a celebratory kiss (with a dip is SO fun!) at the end of the aisle, please do!

Family and Wedding Party Portraits:

After the ceremony, we’ll have everyone gather for family portraits. Having a pre-made list with names is super helpful to keep us on track and make sure we don’t miss anything! I will provide you with a family photo groupings guide to help you create this list.

Key tips for family photos:

Have a list ready for family groupings ( I'll help with that!) and assign a helper or coordinator who knows the key family members to assist.
Make sure everyone who needs to be in photos knows ahead of time where and when to be ready. Typically, directly after the ceremony – and if everyone plans to just stay back in the ceremony area rather than escape to cocktail hour, that works perfectly!
Keep bouquets handy, sunglasses and drinks tucked away for a polished look.

After family photos, we will finish any wedding party photos. If you’ve done a first look, we’ll likely have most of these already finished!

Newlywed Portraits:

This is your moment to slow down and soak it all in – just the two of you, officially married! If you opted not to do a first look, this will be our first chance to capture some beautiful portraits together.

We’ll start with a few timeless shots – elegant poses with you both looking at the camera, your bouquet styled just right, and your dress fluffed to perfection. From there, I’ll ease you into more natural, candid moments using light prompts that bring out your connection, laughter and genuine emotion. This time isn’t just about the photos - it’s a chance to be present with each other while I capture the joy and glow of this new chapter.

Reception:

I’ll be there to capture each moment, big and small! The grand entrance, laughter, toasts, dances and everything in between. If possible, let your DJ know to skip cool tone uplighting during key moments – first dances, cake cutting etc.)

During dinner, no one typically wants a photo of themselves eating (haha) and its always best for us to grab our dinner right after you and the bridal party so we can be finished when you are, and ready to either move right into to speeches or table visits.

Golden Hour:

If your timeline allows, I love sneaking out with couples for about 10-15 minutes during golden hour (sometime within the last hour before sunset, depending on the venue/hills/tree coverage etc.) The light is soft and romantic and it’s a peaceful breather before you dive into dancing! Even if it’s a cloudy day, its still nice to sneak away for some additional photos of you two.

Final thoughts:

*At the end of the day this is your story. These are just some tips I have! Don’t feel boxed in by tradition. Skip the bouquet toss if its not your thing. Don’t feel like having a bridal party? Skip it! Maybe you’re planning something at multiple locations and some of these tips don’t apply since it doesn’t mention travel timing. Every wedding is unique, so this is in no way meant to be a one size fits all guideline! We will customize your timeline to fit what you’re planning and your vision perfectly.

One of my main goals with sharing some of these tips is to give you some ideas to help create space for the moments that truly matter. To help you plan out the details ahead of time so we can just guide you through them allowing you to relax and enjoy the day!

As your wedding day unfolds, my biggest hope for you is that you’re able to be fully present in every beautiful moment this day brings.

The quiet moments when you’re getting ready and suddenly realize – this is it! The way your partner looks at you as you walk down the aisle. The toasts that make you laugh and cry, the way the dance floor fills with the people you love most.

My hope for you is that you don’t just get through the day, but that you really live it. Take it all in. Feel the joy, the emotion and the beauty of this chapter beginning. You’ve put so much into this day, and now is your time to present and soak it all in.

I’ll be there to capture the magic so you can relive it again and again!

Wedding Photography Guide 2025 | Amanda Flinn Photography A breakdown of the wedding day, and some helpful tips and suggestions