We got married almost 9 years ago – on a rainy day at the end of May in 2015. We’d been wedding photographers for 4 years at that point and have since photographed more than 100 weddings together. We’ve learned a lot through the process and often have conversations about what we’d do differently if we got married today. A lot of these conversations though are about how we can help the couples we work with really slow down and be present on their wedding day, something we wish we had been a bit more intentional about when planning our own day.

1. Carve out time during the planning process to talk about what is most important to you on your wedding day.

Ask yourself how you want to feel, what you truly want to spend time doing on your day, and what you want to remember. If you want to spend more time on the day-of together, get ready together! If you want to see each other before the ceremony, but don’t want it to feel like a staged performance, let’s plan seeing each other without the pressure of a typical first-look. Maybe you want more time with your guests for conversation and connection – we can build that into your timeline. If you don’t want to spend forever taking families photos, don’t. Make a list of your most-wanted family portraits and we’ll get lots of candid photos of you with others at other points in the day. Your day doesn’t have to look like the classic, traditional wedding. Make it your own! And the first step in doing that is to share your priorities with each other and with your vendor team so we can create space for those things and allow you to be fully present.

2. Take time for just the two of you.

We took a few photos after our ceremony in the rain and it was such a special time and made really great memories, but we also wish we took a few moments to tuck away, just the two of us, to recenter and connect before the reception.

3. Let your feelings guide you.

Maybe you’ve taken the time to create a timeline with us and your planner that has everything timed out, but maybe you’re feeling differently in the moment. That’s okay! Share that with us. We aren’t here to follow a rigid timeline – we are there to help you stay present, enjoy your day, and connect with loved ones. If you want to toss a plan out the window, do it! We are there for you and will support your feelings, emotions, and desires over any timeline.

4. Be open and vulnerable with your vendor team

I mentioned this a bit above, but we are there for you. We aren’t there for us. We have chosen to be a part of your day to help guide you in letting go, being your true, authentic selves, and making the most of your wedding day celebration. If we keep open communication and you share your feelings and needs with us, we will be your biggest advocate to making sure you enjoy your day.

5. Trust us

If you allow yourself to trust us and give us the freedom to document it all, you’ll find yourself much more at peace – allowing you to live in the moment. We’ll help guide you in posing in a natural, authentic way so you feel the moments we capture are honest. If you want to pivot, you can trust that we can flow with and alongside you, creating beautiful imagery of the day you’ve allowed yourself to breathe life into and enjoy. We are constantly looking at what everyone is doing and capturing those moments for you – we are seeking joy, emotion, and how the time is spent by you and your loved ones on your wedding day.

6. Release tension and stress when unexpected things happen

The best thing you can do if it rains? Embrace it! Enjoy the cozy time indoors or be wild and take pictures in the rain! Someone is late and the ceremony can’t start on time? Relax, take a few deep breaths and find other little joys to focus on while you wait. It’ll help you enjoy the moments and the time that you do have instead of worrying, and therefore having worrisome memories from your day.

7. Be spontaneous!

Make space for the spontaneous. Allow yourself flexibility. And simply lean into the joy of the day!

Emily and her husband James are traveling documentary wedding photographers based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They’re inspired by editorial & documentary images and a very relaxed way of photographing ensuring their couples are present-focused and enjoy their wedding days without the feeling of performance. They work with couples passionate about life, celebration, and art. Their goal during our time shared with you is to create lasting memories through presence, connection and love while you enjoy the celebration. If you’re interested in Emily & James photographing your wedding, please reach out HERE. For more details about pricing and their style, visit HERE.