Now that you have an idea of what you want your dream wedding to be, the question is how and where do you start from? From her vast experience working with couples to capture their wedding moments, Erica shares with us her best advice on what you need to consider as you start prepping for your bid day. You can take a pause here, grab your sticky notes, and get ready to jot down some notes.

What common mistakes do you see couples making?

Not creating realistic timelines, or throwing together schedules without consulting the expertise of wedding vendors. Wedding day tasks almost always take longer than a couple anticipates, which can leave them scrambling and stressed, with no time left for the things that are most important to them. To help couples avoid unnecessary stress, I wrote this blog post about creating realistic timelines: https://ericarobnett.com/planning-a-successful-wedding-day-photography-timeline/

What’s the best tip/best piece of advice you have for a couple planning a wedding?

Don’t do it alone. Ask friends and family for help in the months leading up to your wedding, but then give them the day off on your actual wedding day! Friends and family want to enjoy your day too, so hire vendors who will take care of all of your day-of set-up and a planner who will take care of coordination.

What don’t couples know about your business that they need to know?

I have been photographing weddings for 15 years, and I shoot a lot of film to achieve a dreamy, romantic, true-to-color aesthetic. I also only offer custom packages because I know that each wedding is different and not every couple needs or wants the same things from their wedding photography collections. And because wedding photography is so much more than taking photos on the day-of, I have streamlined couples’ experience to be as helpful, informative, and seamless as possible, from first inquiry to final image/album delivery. Couples have enough to stress about when planning their wedding – photography should not be one of them!

What questions should couples be asking that they don’t know to ask?

When couples talk to potential vendors, they should definitely ask about price/budget, but they should also not stop there. So many other factors come into play when picking a vendor who is a good fit, such as their experience, their process, what is included in the package, and how they see the couples’ vision come to life. Vendors should show couples plenty of examples of their work, as well as discuss their priorities with them. It is important that a vendor’s style and/or the way they work aligns with the couple’s vision for their wedding.

What’s the most unusual wedding you ever did?

I have photographed many weddings with non-traditional aspects to them, such as dogs as ring bearers, brides and grooms “getting away” on bicycles, and a ceremony with a fashion runway instead of an aisle. I think the best weddings are the ones in which couples keep to the traditions that are important to them while adding their own personal touches to make it feel more like them.

What was the most memorable wedding you ever worked on, and why?

I have photographed so many weddings that were memorable in their own way, it would be hard to choose just one. I have seen stoic dads cry when they see their little girls all grown up, I have seen grooms rendered speechless at the sight of their stunning brides, and I have been witness to so many touching speeches from people who have come to celebrate and surround couples with their love. I consider myself extremely blessed to have a career that allows me into some of the most beautiful moments in people’s lives.

If you would love for someone to capture your wedding moments into beautiful and captivating photographs that will last a lifetime, do not hesitate to directly reach out to Erica on her website at https://ericarobnett.com. She will gladly make it happen for you!