Let’s keep your wedding day memorable and enjoyable while still keeping it simple and stress-free! We at Miotti Studio want to make sure that you are relaxed and enjoying your wedding day, as it certainly will show in your photos and video! We want to help you have the best day possible by giving you some pointers, tips, and tricks that we’ve acquired over the years, so let s go over them.
Getting Ready and your wedding day Details:
We ask that you leave your details in a separate spot away from all the craziness, but do have it close to a clean area near a window or in a different room altogether. This way, the photographers can come in and say hello and go straight to photographing the details. You won’t have to stop your hair and makeup process at this time, but if we can’t find them, we can always have one of your bridesmaids or parent to help us with the following:
Dress
Shoes
Any Jewelry that you will be wearing
A copy of the Invitation (we all love those cute Pinterest spread shots right?)
Flowers (make sure your flowers are delivered to you before your photography team arrives)
Tips to keep in mind:
Flowers: ask your florist for some extra flowers for your details shots, it always makes a difference! They do not need to be whole stems, maybe even some flowers that broke down and couldn’t be used, we will make sure to make the best use of them!
Hanger: if you are not planning to get a hanger with your name on it or any other specific one, we digest that you have a simple wooden hanger with you, so your dress can look flawless in the photos.
Getting ready room: Please talk to everyone that is getting ready in the same room as you, so they understand that your room will be your background, so they can keep in mind to put their bags and etc in an “out of photos” site. We want to make sure your photos are beautiful and clean! And unfortunately, photoshop will not work in this case!
Hair & Makeup: It’s always best to have your hair and makeup done before your Photo & Video team arrives. Once we are there we will start with your details and that gives you some time to chill and enjoy your family and friends’ company. As soon as we are done with that, we will move to your getting ready shots, which are some shots of you retouching your lipstick, hair and etc. Your Hair and makeup artist's presence is not necessary, but we’ll take any professional help either way!
Robes, T-shirts, Groups shots: Right after your getting ready shots we will go for your group fun shots if that’s something you would like. That usually takes around 10 minutes, as long as everyone is there and ready to go! Champagne pop, confetti, anything goes!
Dress, Veil, Jewelry and etc: It’s time to finally put on your dress!! We will step out of the room to give you privacy but we will be right back inside as soon as you are ready for us. Everyone else should start getting dressed and ready right after the robe shots, so at this time they can be back to join the photos. We suggest that you have at least 1 or 2 people helping you during that part. Once you have everything on we will photograph you in your dress, as many portraits as possible. We usually recommend allotting at least 15/20 mins for that part.
Now it’s time to see your Fiancé!
Whether you’re going to the ceremony first to walk down the aisle or you’ll be seeing your fiance at your preferred first look spot, we want you to plan at least 15-20 minutes of buffer for traveling to another location on top of the known travel time of your hired transportation. It takes time to make sure you have everything you need, getting in the car and etc, especially if you will be bringing more people with you. Don't forget you’ll need time to get out of the car too!
If you’re doing a First Look/Romantic Session:
We will need at least an hour with just the two of you, so we can make sure to deliver the beautiful pictures and the experience that you expect. It takes a little bit of time to set up the cameras, and move you guys around from one spot to another so we’re certainly aiming to make it comfortable and relaxed.
We aim to capture your moments as candidly and as naturally as possible, as our main goal is for you to remember your wedding day as it really was!
Wedding Party Photos:
After your romantic session hour, It’s time for your special friends and family members! We usually start it right after your Romantic Session, so you can advise them to please be at the location you chose at least 10 mins before the official time of their photos.
The way we proceed with Bridal Party photos is very simple. We start with the big group, everyone together, and get as many combinations as possible, some formal and some fun ones. As soon as we are done, we will separate the 2 groups and get shots of you and your Bridal party plus individuals of you with each and every one of them. The same will be happening with your fiancé group. That usually takes around 30/45 minutes, it all depends on how big your bridal party is.
Family Photos:
This is one of the most important parts of your wedding photos! We have to make sure that you are getting all the family photos you both want and give your families the chance to get as many photos as possible as long as the time allows us to do so. For better organization and results, we suggest that you and your fiancé put a shot list together, with all the combinations you would like. Once that list is done, we ask that you give a few copies to some family members that really know everyone so they can help call out names and double-check that we are not missing anyone, since we do not know your families, we might end up not noticing if someone is missing so that help is much appreciated! We also suggest that you get your immediate family photos during that time, any extended family photos can be done at any time during the reception. Family photos usually take around 45 minutes to 1 hour, depending on how big your families are.
Ceremony Time!
The photo and/or video team will have to be at your ceremony location at least 30/40 minutes before it begins, as we use that time to unload and set up all our gear, make sure our lights are ready to go if necessary, speak to important people including your officiant as well as take photos of the details.
Your ceremony will be all candid as it is all about the two of you and the tradition. We photograph and film from the back center of the aisle and both sides, never crossing in front of the ceremony altar. That's your moment and we are there to capture it so you can remember it forever!
Right after the ceremony, if you would like to get an exit shot please let us know in advance so we can make sure to organize your guests with the help of your bridal party. We can take any additional family photos that you may have missed at this time, but otherwise, you can go straight to the pre-party!
The Cocktail Hour!
Ask anyone and you’ll hear that most of them will pick the cocktail hour as their favorite part of every wedding. It's a great time to talk to people with some low music playing in the background plus have some drinks and delicious food. We do not photograph your guests during cocktail hour, we want to make sure we do not make anyone uncomfortable while they are eating and relaxing. This will be the time that the team will bring equipment from the ceremony to the reception area and begin straight into capturing your room details and setting up your room shot. We always suggest that you take a room photo before everyone comes in from cocktail hour so that in the future, you can remember what your room really looks like. This will be around 10 minutes before the start of your reception.
Reception!
Your reception is ready to start and your guests are seating anxious for the DJ to announce the newly married couple! It's time to party!! We usually see the schedule of the night going as such:
Introductions
First Dance
Parents Dances
Speeches / Toast
Salad is served
Dancing
Dinner is served
Cake Cutting / Other formalities
More Dancing!
This is optional, but before the cake is cut, we do set up and suggest that you go for a night shot, so if that is something you would like, we would love to have it done! This is usually only a few minutes, and soon after we come back in, your cake is usually already set up and ready for your DJ to announce the cutting. Soon enough, its already time to say good night!
Your Wedding day will go by so fast, it's hard to believe but that’s what we hear the most! “I can’t believe it's almost over” “It went by so fast” “I didn’t even get to eat”, and “I don’t want it to end”... So please make sure you enjoy your day! We are here to help you plan and absolutely capture your amazing day with all of your important people, and this will be for memories that will last forever!