10 Most Commonly Forgotten Wedding Planning Details

Planning a wedding is all about balancing the big, unforgettable moments with smaller, often overlooked details that make your day run smoothly. Beyond choosing a venue and organizing your guest list, it’s these seemingly small elements that help create an unforgettable celebration. Here’s a list of commonly forgotten wedding details to keep in mind so your day flows effortlessly and every moment is memorable.

1.Having a Rain Plan for Outdoor Ceremonies

If your dream wedding includes the great outdoors, it’s wise to be prepared for all weather possibilities. From securing a tent to arranging an alternate indoor location, discuss weather contingencies with your venue. A proactive rain plan gives you peace of mind and ensures that no matter what, you’re covered.

2. Arranging Vendor Meals

Your key vendors—like the photographer, videographer, and DJ—are with you all day, working hard to make everything perfect. Be sure to include meals for them in your catering count so they’re well-fueled to capture and enhance your celebration. Plan for their meals to align with your own to avoid missing any important moments.

3. Stocking an Emergency Kit

An emergency kit with essentials like safety pins, stain remover, mints, and band-aids can be a lifesaver for any unexpected mishaps. From a quick heel fix to a touch-up after a wine spill, having these essentials on hand will keep stress at bay and make small crises a breeze to handle.

4. Setting Up Signage for Guests

Clear signage at your venue—especially for larger spaces—is crucial. From directing guests to the ceremony and reception areas to marking bathrooms and parking spots, good signage minimizes confusion, helping guests feel more comfortable and keeping your event running smoothly.

5. Organizing Tips for Vendors

Tips for vendors are easy to overlook in the bustle of wedding prep. Arrange these ahead of time by preparing envelopes for key vendors like your coordinator, photographer, and musicians. Entrust someone in your wedding party to distribute them so that you can enjoy the day worry-free.

6. Planning for the Day After

Think ahead about how decor, gifts, and attire will be packed up and transported the day after. Arrange for family or friends to help with cleanup, or hire an event team to ensure nothing is left behind.

7. Having Comfortable Shoes for the Dance Floor

Consider bringing a pair of comfy shoes for later in the evening, especially if you’re in heels all day. This way, you can stay on your feet and in the moment without worrying about foot pain.

8. Allowing Extra Time for Hair and Makeup

It’s easy to underestimate the time needed for hair and makeup, particularly with a larger bridal party. Plan extra time to keep your schedule on track and ensure everyone feels fresh and beautiful.

9. Packing an Overnight Bag for the Couple

Whether you’re heading to a nearby hotel or straight to your honeymoon, pack an overnight bag in advance with essentials like comfortable clothes, toiletries, and travel items to ensure a relaxed and stress-free end to your big day.

10. Providing a Shot List for Photography and Video

While your photographer and videographer will capture the magic as it unfolds, a shot list of specific people or moments you don’t want missed helps ensure no detail slips by. At Move Mountains Co., we love working with our couples to customize these must-have moments so each video and album reflects their unique story.

These thoughtful details make a world of difference in creating a smooth, unforgettable wedding experience. At Move Mountains Co., we’re here to capture every carefully planned moment and every unexpected one, too. Reach out to learn how we can make your wedding day dreams come to life through timeless photography and cinematic videography.

10 Things to Consider When Making a Timeline for Your Photographer

Planning a wedding is an exciting and, at times, overwhelming experience. One crucial aspect of wedding planning is creating a timeline that ensures your photographer captures all the special moments and details of your big day. A well-thought-out timeline can make a significant difference in the quality of your wedding photos. Here are 10 important things to consider when making a timeline for your photographer:

1. Timely Communication: Don't wait until the last minute to provide your photographer with the timeline. Involve them in the conversation early on, ideally 30-60 days before the wedding. Maintain open communication about essential details.

2. Location Planning: Keep the locations simple. While having a variety of photo locations can be appealing, it can also lead to logistical challenges and stress. Stick to a few well-chosen locations to streamline the day.

3. Start Time: Determine when you want your photographer or videographer to arrive. A general guideline is 1-1.5 hours before the bride puts on her dress, and they should stay for about an hour into the dancing. Adjust this based on your specific photography needs, such as capturing more dancing shots or planning unique exit moments like a sparkler send-off or vintage car departure.

4. Detail Shots: Ensure there's time for your photographer to capture detail shots, such as your dress, rings, and venue decor. If you don't have a second shooter available to handle this separately, plan to allocate time before the guests arrive at the ceremony location for these shots.

5. First Look: If you want to attend your cocktail hour, consider doing a first look before the ceremony. Family photos, bridal party shots, and portraits should be scheduled with enough time. Add extra time if you plan on shooting at multiple locations or want extensive bridal portraits.

6. Ceremony Length: Consider the length of your ceremony. If you're having a Catholic ceremony or a full mass, you may need to allocate more time for photography. A typical 8-hour coverage may need to be extended to 10 hours to accommodate a longer ceremony.

7. Sunset Portraits: Schedule 10-15 minutes for sunset portraits. Be mindful not to overlap this with other events like speeches to ensure you don't miss this golden hour opportunity.

8. Vendor Meals: Suggest to your venue that vendors (including your photographer) eat at the same time as your guests. This ensures that your photographer is well-fed and energized to capture all the key moments without interruptions.

9. Trust Your Photographer: Trust the professional you've hired. Provide any necessary direction and preferences during the planning process, but on the wedding day, let them work their magic. Trust their judgment on locations and lighting, as they're experts in creating stunning images.

10. Winter Weddings: If you're having a winter wedding, plan accordingly for the earlier sunset. Daylight is limited, so ensure you allocate enough time for your photos before it gets dark. Otherwise, you may end up with all your photos taken with artificial flash lighting.

In conclusion, creating a well-considered timeline for your photographer is crucial for capturing the essence of your wedding day. By taking these ten factors into account, you can help ensure that your wedding photos are a beautiful and lasting memory of your special day.

What Kind of Photographer Should You Hire For Your Wedding?

Getting married is the biggest and most important day of people’s lives. They want it to be perfect, they want it to be remembered, and they want it to be captured. Capturing a couple’s big day is your photographer/videographer’s job, no pressure, right? This can be both a very exciting time and a very stressful time for people and your job as a photographer is not just to take photos it should be much more.

There are good photographers and then there are great photographers, but what makes them different from each other? There are many good photographers out there that take amazing photos and are very good at what they do, but how are they with interacting with their clients and ensuring that they are having the best time ever? I once heard someone say that when you are looking to hire any vendor for your wedding day you need to make sure you hire someone who will be a stress reliever not a stress inducer. There will be enough chaos and things going on during that day, but if your photographer has learned how to work with their clients and go above and beyond to help make them feel comfortable and stress free then they are a great photographer.

That is one very important thing that separates Move Mountains Co. from other wedding and event photography companies. We strive to make your special day as memorable as possible and as stress-free as possible. The day is all about you and what you want, it’s that simple. We are here to capture those once in a lifetime moments so they can be remembered forever. We strive for excellence in our work and absolutely love what we do. If you or someone you know is in the process of planning a wedding then Contact Us, we would love to help make your day one that you will never forget.