1. Act Quickly 

I completely understand and actively participate in the waiting game. I’ve been at the edge of my seat with every new announcement, but couples are acting fast and currently already postponing their weddings to 2021. In order to secure your next top choice date, you will need to act quickly. Begin with your venue and caterer. Find two dates that work for them and your families/wedding parties. Then move to your top four vendors, wedding planner, officiant, photographer, and DJ/band. Hopefully, between the two dates, you can find a day that works for everyone. Finally, move into your remaining vendors who can likely manage multiple weddings in one day, like your florist, rental companies, bakery, transportation, and hair and makeup artists. If this feels overwhelming, hire a planner for partial planning who can help manage contract addendums and communication.  

2. Anticipate and Plan for Change 

While vendors are accommodating date changes and doing our best to keep plans the same, there will be changes. Anticipating change will help avoid disappointment. Anticipate fewer guests. Anticipate rebooking a vendor or two due to unavailability on your postponed date. Anticipate strict safety procedures including social distancing ceremonies, minimal guests to a table, lack of buffet options, and more. Planning ahead is best. 

 3. Send New Invites 

If an invitation was sent for your original date, its best to send a whole new invite for your postponed date. You’ll need to collect a proper RSVP count for your new wedding date. You may send a “Save Our New Date” postcard advising guests to visit your website for updated information and to RSVP online to save on paper and expense. Totally acceptable. 

 4. Don’t Forget About Guests Who Can No Longer Attend 

While uncertain times prevent at-risk guests from traveling or gathering in large groups, their love and support can be felt from miles away. Celebrate that! You can send a curated wedding day gift to your missed guests so they can share in your day from wherever they may be. From ceremony programs, playlists, favors, place cards, and even a customized individual wedding day, guests will have tangible items from your wedding day and know you cared to include them. 

5. Love Is Not Canceled

Although the world has shut and locked its door, you hold the key to your love story. Dedicate this chapter to an unbelievable struggle you conquered together. Celebrate the big wins. Love each other harder. And walk through that door more in love and connected than ever. Your wedding day chapter will be waiting for you. 

Written with the help of Kim Forrest from WeddingWire.

As you start researching vendors, you might encounter a bit of sticker shock and ask yourself, “Do I really need a wedding photographer?” The answer is an absolute yes! We could go on and on for days about why an experienced, professional wedding photographer (not your little cousin who just got a cool new camera) is a must—and it’s not just about taking photos. In fact, a photographer has an even bigger role to play on your big day, and some of the tasks a wedding photographer is responsible for might surprise you. Keep reading…

Here’s why you need a wedding photographer—aside from the fact that they’ll take beautiful pictures of your big day. 

1. They’ll make sure you look amazing in photos. 

You and your future spouse will certainly look and feel your best on your wedding day—and your wedding photographer will ensure that all of that amazingness translates into photos. Yes, you need a wedding photographer because they know every trick in the book, from lighting to poses and more, to make sure that you fabulously slay those photos. Trust a professional photographer’s expertise, and you’ll be rewarded with photos that make you look like a supermodel. 

2. They’ll make sure your wedding looks amazing in photos. 

Wedding photographers don’t just photograph people, they photograph all the details of your big day, from the invitations to the escort cards, the flower arrangements to the cake, the food, the venue, and more. Again, using appropriate lighting and angles, an experienced photographer will make sure that every aspect of your wedding looks straight out of a magazine. 

3. They’ll make everyone comfortable. 

If you’re feeling nervous or awkward in front of the camera, it will likely show in photos. That’s why you need a wedding photographer with a winning personality (like me)—they’re absolute pros at making people feel relaxed and confident in front of the camera. In fact, you might have so much fun with your professional photographer that you’ll forget they’re even taking pictures! This goes for any of your loved ones, too, whether it be your self-conscious bridesmaid, your rambunctious flower girl, your over-it groomsman. A great photographer can really bring out those natural smiles.  

4. They’ll make sure you adhere to the timeline. 

An organized photographer will keep your wedding running on schedule. Your photographer will work with your wedding planner, or whoever is facilitating your day-of timeline, to determine how long couple portraits, family photos, and the like will take. Then, on your wedding day, your photographer will keep everything and everyone moving so that he gets all the photos you’ve requested in a timely manner. 

5. They’ll catch the moments you’ll miss. 

Having all of your loved ones in one place on your wedding day means that there will be lots of memorable moments—including some you might miss - I mean, you’re going to be pretty busy! You need a wedding photographer to catch all of these moments and memories—from your first kiss as a married couple, to your aunt grooving on the dance floor. 

6. They can conceal any flaws. 

A big part of a photographer’s job actually comes after the wedding itself. During post-production, a photographer will subtly edit your images so that they still look natural, but amazing. An experienced photographer can easily remove unsightly blemishes so the image is frame-worthy. You might not even notice the changes made during the editing process, but it’s part of the reason why images from a professional wedding photographer are that much more amazing than ones you’d take yourself. 

7. They’ll help you create beautiful wall art and albums. 

With an experienced photographer at the helm, your wedding photos are going to be wall-art worthy. But we’ve heard too many stories of couples whose wedding photos live on a computer hard drive instead of displayed in their homes—not an ideal way to keep memories of your wedding alive. The prints you order from your photographer will be of the highest quality, and he can likely help you create an album that will be among your most precious keepsakes.

Your engagement is an exciting time, but it also can be stressful and filled with a lot of to-do lists. One of the items at the top of your list is finding a photographer for your engagement session and day-of photos. In Las Vegas alone, there are hundreds of wedding photographers to chose from, so as you start sorting through a list of photographers in your area, keep the following items in mind: 

 1. Determine the type of photography style you like.
Every photographer has their own signature style and strengths. As you’re browsing through a photographer’s portfolio, make a note of what the common threads in their photographs are. Are the pictures light and airy? Do they have a sense of drama? Then, ask yourself what styles you are drawn to. Is it the classic, formal, posed portraits? Or are you into the more modern, journalistic feel? Make sure your tastes align with those of your potential photographer’s expertise.

2. Go beyond a photographer’s highlight reel.
The photos on a pro’s website are – more often than not – the best of the best. Don’t just click through a few photos and call it a day! Pour over their social feeds - go ahead and follow me on Instagram @jaymelmolinaphoto (my shameless plug for the day). From there, you’ll get a sense of how they photograph a full event – not just the portraits of the bride and groom but also the shots of your families and the party at the reception. How do they portray some of the “musts” on your shot list, such as, for example, the photo of the bride and her father walking down the aisle? 

3. Ask the right questions.
Once you have your style defined and some potential photographers on your list, time to ask some questions! Here are a few to have on quick before you choose your wedding photographer: How many weddings have you shot, and how many weddings do you shoot in a year?
What exactly is included in your package? Does it include an engagement session? Does it include products, like an album or prints?
How many total hours are included in your package? (Please contact us for a full listing of our packages). Will you be my actual photographer on the day of? Do you use an associate, or a second shooter?
What’s your preferred shooting style: sticking to a shot list or keeping it loose?
What happens post-wedding? How long is your turnaround time?

4. Don’t forget to read the contract!
Every photographer will have their own contract drawn up, and, most of the time, it stipulates that the photographer owns the images of your big day. What does that mean? Your photographer can use your images on their website, blog, in ads, in publications, in order to promote their business. Who knows, your wedding might be featured on ‘Premier Bride’ - that’s something to brag about!