We've had the privilege of documenting over 100 weddings in the last few years and have learned quite a bit along the way.
There's a lot about planning a wedding that you don't learn until you've done it once, and by the time you reach the enlightened perspective of hindsight, it's too late to go back and re-tweak those details for your big day.
But fear not-we're here to hold your hand and let you in on a few secrets we've learned through the years. From planning our own wedding to documenting dozens of others, there are a handful of simple things you can coordinate into your day that will keep your life sane and take your wedding photos to the next level.
So take a deep breath. Go grab a pen (maybe a cup of coffee too) and let's chat through what you can expect from us as your photographers on your wedding morning. It'll be fun-we promise.
Here's what you need to know to help us help you.
1. Scheduling:
Allow more time than you think for each item on the schedule. In our experience, the hair and make-up artists inevitably go 15-30 minutes over the time they think they will.
Uncle Ben doesn't show up with the flowers when he said he would and it takes a bit more time to get everyone out the door and into cars than it should.
That's okay, but to keep your stress levels at bay (and to make sure we have all the time we need for photos!), let's pad the schedule with an extra 30 minutes here and there. But don't tell your hair and make-up gurus or they may take full advantage of our secret plan!
2. Paper shots:
We love having a nice, clean copy of your invitation {and other important paper details!} onsite the morning of your wedding. You've spent a lot of important time choosing your colours and stationery, and we want to make sure we're able to get all these details. This is a great task for your MOH as long as she knows ahead of time!
We are Toronto and Niagara based wedding, lifestyle and portrait photographers and videographers. We love what we do and are passionate about getting The Very Best images we can from your wedding day. Your story matters!
We are Toronto + Niagara based wedding, lifestyle and portrait photographers/videographers. We love what we do and are passionate about getting The Very Best images we can from your wedding day. Your story matters!
Whether we are documenting your day with photography or videography (or both!) we are committed to excellence in all the details. We love capturing moments and shoot weddings from Toronto/Niagara to Mexico, Texas, Nashville and beyond.
3. Where:
When you're considering when, where and how you will get ready, we suggest that you find a room that is clean, bright and open. Window light makes for some stunning getting ready photos. And spending your time in a tidy space is going to go a long way in keeping your morning as worry-free as possible. Sometimes this means renting a hotel room if your home is overrun with guests. Trust us, you won't regret your oasis!
4. Keep it classy:
We love having a nice hanger for the dress shot. We don't even need an extra fancy hanger (though we love them too!), but we don't want to showcase your gorgeous dress on an old, rusty wire hanger or a cheapy plastic one either. It's surprising how much that can distract from the beauty of your choice.
We also love getting a shot of the bridesmaid dresses with your dress; so the hanger rule extends to their sassy garb as well. Matching or coordinating hangers is ideal. Again, this task can be delegated!
We are Toronto and Niagara based wedding, lifestyle and portrait photographers and videographers. We love what we do and are passionate about getting The Very Best images we can from your wedding day. Your story matters!
5. You are queen for a day:
In the swirl of wedding decisions, it's easy to put zero thought into what you'll be wearing during your getting-ready hours. But when you see the photos later you may just regret your choice of the smelly hoodie you grabbed from the bottom of your closet in a pinch.
We suggest a you treat yourself and buy a nice robe well ahead of time. You're a classy gal and this simple choice looks great in photos! This also makes a cute gift for your girls, but even if you don't go this route, you can request that they bring their own robes.
There are many other adorable options-like BRIDE shirts which are lovely too. As long as you feel pretty in your choice, both you and the photos will be happy later.
6. Gifts:
We love hearing about the thoughtful gifts the two of you traded early the morning of your big day. What we love even more is being there to see your emotion as you open your present for the first time.
If you and your beloved are exchanging gifts and letters, please make sure you wait until we're there to open them. We love capturing the surprise on your face at his/her thoughtfulness and the sweet notes too. And that way your beloved can see your reaction when you look at the photos together later.
We love capturing the details of your big day. As wedding photographers it is one of the highest honours to capture all the "behind the scenes" moments.
This is from Travis and Melissa's sweet Dominican wedding. We love that photography keeps us busy at home in the Toronto and Niagara regions-but we love booking jobs internationally too!
7. The bling:
We love capturing all the little bits of your day-from shoes to jewelry. If you put one of your bridesmaids in charge of having all the shoes in one place, for example, we can grab those shots you'll be so happy you have when you look at your wedding album later.
Whether your wedding is big or small, intricate or so simple, it's your day and we want you to enjoy every single minute of it.
At Jono & Laynie Co., we're committed to excellence, to telling your story the way it should be told. We love capturing all the pretty particulars of your day and all the moments that make it so special. At the end of the day, it's about all about the people in the photos and the fact you get to marry your love after all.