Megan & McKinley
We are so excited for you and your journey to your wedding day! We're looking forward to handing off this information to you to help aid you in having the best wedding day possible, whatever that means to you.
In the mean time, this guide is designed to help you create a wedding day that lends itself to the best day possible! This will walk you through everything from timelines to helpful vendors.
Thank you for visiting our site feel free reach out at any point during the planning process!
A NOTE ABOUT THIS GUIDE
WELCOME
Engagement sessions are a great way for you to connect and get to know your photographer before your big day arrives! You'll learn all about our posing structure and you'll be a pro by the end of your session! This will make your wedding day pictures a piece of cake!
& why YOU SHOULD HAVE ONE!
ENGAGEMENT SESSION
Engagement Outfit Inspiration: Tips for Styling and Shooting Memorable Photos
FLORAL DESIGN
Savvy Floral Design
Moody Blooms
Two Sister Florals
---
WEDDING PLANNER
Social Revel Events
AO Weddings & Event
One Foxy Affir
ERO Weddings
Photo/VIDEO
McKinley G Photography
Ariel Hall Creative
Forever More Films
---
WEDDING DRESS
Clarices Bridal
Kirsten Paige Collections
Mia Grace
----
RENTALS
Set With Grace
Seated STL
zhuzh rentals
---
CALLIGRAPHY & Stationariy
Holly Feldt Design
Papillon Press
---
----
Cole Colemean
SW Harpist
Beauson Strings
----
DJ & BANDS
CATERING
Championship Catering
Russo's Catering
Graze Catering
Pappy's Smoke House
CLOSE
DETAILS
BONUS: EXTRA FLOWERS
I love getting to capture all the special details you've curated for your wedding day.
Details are one of the first things photographed, normally. So be sure to have all these items ready to go on the morning of your wedding. The list below is a great starting point if you're not sure what to include!
ENGAGEMENT + WEDDING bands (& if you have a pretty ring box!)
I once had a bride bring her grandmother's handkerchief. This is completely optional - but if you have something sentimental you'd like styled with your details, I love including family heirlooms in your detail shots.
groom detail checklist
SENTIMENTAL KEEPSAKES
2 FULL SETS WITH ENVELOPES + STAMPS & ANY OTHER PAPER STATIONARY YOU MAY HAVE (LIKE PROGRAM CARDS, ETC)
SHOES
VEIL
BOUQUET
HAIR PIECES
JEWELRY
VOW BOOK
His shoes
Socks
Cuff Links
Tie or Bow Tie
Pocket Square
Boutonnière
Vows Book
Rings
ANYTHING ELSE SPECIAL OR SENTIMENTAL.
I'd LOVE TO HAVE A FEW CUTS OF THE FLORALS YOU'LL BE USING THROUGHOUT YOUR WEDDING DAY. IF YOUR FLORIST WILL SUPPLY A SMALL BUCKET OF EXTRA PIECES I CAN INCORPORATE THOSE IN YOUR DETAIL SHOTS.
bride detail checklist
Dress & Hanger
Rings & Ring Box
(IF THEY'RE SPECIAL)
wedding day
INVITATION SUITE
THE RINGS
Soak your ring in warm water with dishwashing soap for 20 to 40 minutes. Then gently brush the stone with a soft toothbrush, rinse and repeat if needed.
Capturing the detail of your rings up close, is amazing. If possible, try to have your engagement ring cleaned or clean it yourself.
To clean at home:
01. A FIRST LOOK GIVES YOU QUIET MOMENT ALONE
Wedding days go by in a blur. As soon as the day begins there is so much to do and so many people to see. Doing a first look will give the two of you a moment alone (with a camera shooting from afar) to soak it all in and think through what the day means to you.
02. MORE TIME FOR PICTURES & YOUR RECEPTION
When you have a first look, we can take pictures of the two of you, the bridal party, and some family pictures before the ceremony even begins. This makes the day less rushed and allows us to take more pictures too!
Once you're married, we won't need as much time set aside for photos and you can get to your cocktail hour and reception sooner!
03. POSSIBLY AVOID bad WEATHER
If there's bad weather on the forecast, a first look gives you the option to get pictures done earlier in the day and possibly avoid being stuck in the rain!
First look
WONDERING IF A FIRST LOOK IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
First look or not, the first time you see each other on your wedding day will be special.
04. get out all your tears without the audience
A first look give both of you a moment to cry without the audience of all your wedding guests. You can get all your tears out knowing you'll have time to freshen up before pictures too.
It's a special moment when you see your other half for the first time on your wedding day. It'a a moment worth remembering whether you do or a first look or wait for an epic reveal as you walk down the aisle.
If you're wondering whether or not to do a first look on your wedding day, here are some ideas to consider.
"I love her. and that's the beginning and the end of everything."
- F. SCOTT FITZGERALD
FAMILY PORTRAITS
A FEW HELPFUL TIPS + TRICKS
crowd management
It's great if you can assign a friend or family member to help make sure we have everyone we need for family photos. This person should know who everyone on the photo list is but not be in too many photos themselves.
KEEP YOUR FAMILY IN THE LOOP
It makes the whole process of family photos faster when everyone in them knows what to expect. Let your family members (or anyone else who will be in a photo) to stick around as soon as the ceremony ends so that we don't have to take extra time finding everyone who's walked away.
short + sweet
Family photos aren't anyone's favorite part of a wedding day and we try to take them as efficiently as possible. With that said, keep in mind that every grouping typically takes 2-3 minutes to pose. We want to make sure we get all the family photos that need to be taken without cutting into your cocktail hour or reception too much!
create a list
We'll ask you for a list of family picture groupings a few weeks before the day of your wedding. Please make sure you list everyone's first name so that we know who to call for when we're grouping people together for a photo.
sample family photos list
BRIDE'S GRANDPARENTS
BRIDE'S IMMEDIATE FAMILY + GRANDPARENTS
BRIDE'S IMMEDIATE FAMILY
BRIDE'S SIBLINGS
BRIDE'S PARENTS
GROOM'S GRANDPARENTS
GROOM'S IMMEDIATE FAMILY + GRANDPARENTS
GROOM'S IMMEDIATE FAMILY
GROOM'S SIBLINGS
GROOM'S PARENTS
THE BRIDE + GROOM WITH...
RECEPTION + GRAND EXIT
RECEPTION
During your reception, I will be taking photos of the speeches and dancing as well as candid shots of your guests. I will always be availabe to grab a photo of you with a group of guests that may have not been in a planned group photo. I love being your personal paparazzi!
Grand exits
Grand exits are such a fun bookend to your day! They typically consist of a human tunnel along with sparklers, bubbles, glow sticks or something else to celebrate with!
It is helpful if you can designate a few people attending your reception to help organize people into two lines and distribute whatever they will holding.
If you're up for it, I like to have couples run through the tunnel twice to make sure we get that EPIC send off photo!
"Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory."
- Dr. suess
THE HIGHEST QUALITY AlbUMS FOR YOUR MOST TREASURED MOMENTS. THESE QUALITY BOOKS WILL LIVE ON FOR GENERATIONS.
WEDDING ALBUM
Heirloom
ALBUM DESIGN
A few weeks after your wedding we would invite you in for your reveal celebration. This is where we can start designing your wedding album. The process is super easy and you'll get to pick exactly how you want it, from images to cover material and design. You become the creator of your the book that holds your story.
YOUR OPTIONS
You'll have the chance to pick out your album size, material and color. I have a page outlining all of the choices!
Album Page Layout
I'll create the page layouts using the best of your wedding day photos. At the reveal we will go over your design and develop it live on the spot. When we're done I'll send a proof your way and we can make any changes you want.
Enjoy your alubm
Once everything looks good to go and you like the layout, I will order your album it will come to me first so I can make sure it looks perfect the first time you see it. Then we hand deliver it to you or have it shipped from our studio.
Our Album design process
