There is so much information out there about planning a wedding your guests will love, but this blog is for YOU. How can you design a day that you and your love will get the most out of, relish in, and cherish forever? I’ve got a few tips for ya 😉

Create space for quiet moments

This starts before the wedding day. Leave lots of buffer time in the wedding timeline and designate a person to be in charge of things so no one is calling you. If they do, they wouldn’t be able to get ahold of you anyways because someone should have your phone. Preferably they’re taking photos and videos on that phone for you too. But the point is: your job is done, nothing is your problem. ENJOY this day, it's yours 🥹 You are marrying your favorite person today, that is the most important thing. You can’t revel in those feelings if you are rushing from one thing to the next.

I love how this Sarah took some time in the morning to do a little self care. A dear friend who’s an aesthetician gave her a relaxing facial not only to prep her skin but to create a moment of peace and good vibes before the day’s busy activities began. Later, Sarah read a card from her groom privately where she had the space to feel and enjoy all the emotions that came with his words. Would you like to have precious moments like this preserved on your special day? 

Eat & hydrate

Everyone is different when it comes to nerves and excitement. You might be totally disinterested in food or you might be a ravenous wolf. Who knows! But either way, your body needs food and water and will thank you for it by fueling you for the day ahead. This is another great job for a friend to be in charge of reminding you to eat by bringing you food/water. Having an unrushed breakfast, snack breaks, lunch, etc helps provide that space to feel and time to enjoy the people you’re with.

Involve meaningfulness and sentimentality

What will honor this special day? What is important to you and your partner? Involving aspects of your personalities and highlighting your love for each other and the people you’ve chosen to celebrate with will make the day truly and deeply memorable. Those are the details and moments that you won’t regret when you look back. They are what make your wedding YOU.

Sarah had her friends do her hair and makeup which created more for room for candid, sweet moments and lessened some nerves. To her and Raul their wedding was not a big production where everything had to be perfect. It was a special day celebrating their love with the friends and family they hold dear. Getting ready with the girls made it that much more real and cozy. They also shared an incredibly touching note from Sarah that made everyone—including me!—cry 🥹 Could you imagine having not only the note, but photos of your unfiltered reactions to said note framed together on your wall?? Precious!

Catch your breathe with your Bride/Groom

As soon as you can, as often as you can, spend at least a few minutes with your person! It’s your stinkin wedding day! YOU TWO are what it's all about. What a bummer it would be to miss your favorite person on such an important day. Say hi to them, tell them they look amazing, embrace each other, sneak away for a lil make out sesh, have a private dance, talk about your morning, stare at your rings together, call each other husband and wife. You two are the main event, the most important part of the day. Make moments to remind them they are the most important part of your day and to soak it all in together. The excitement, the joy, the ecstasy—share that with your person. It’ll be your favorite part.

Clearly these are moments Sarah and Raul weren’t totally alone because—hello 👋🏽📸. But they are at least away from the crowd. Semi-private. Not pictured are the moments me and my second shooter walked away to let them breathe, the time the spent alone in the car while I picked something up at Walmart haha, and any other time they snuck away that no one noticed which is kind of the point.

Skip the traditions you don’t vibe with

You’ve probably noticed that being present goes hand in hand with creating a day that is authentic to you and your bae. Really it’s like 45% having time and 45%  building a day you WANT to be apart of (and 10% don’t pass out). What is reflective of you, your relationship, the chapters that led you here? Maybe you’d rather have your Mom walk you down the aisle. That’s allowed! Maybe you’re wallflowers at heart so a big entrance isn’t your thing. No problem! Maybe you’d rather have a private dance than a first dance. Stunning! Whether your dress is black, your wedding is on a mountain top at sunrise, or you’ve only invited the 10 people you really love if it’s a wedding centered on love and authenticity you will treasure it forever. And I would absolutely love to document all those precious moments for you 🫶🏽

Sarah and Raul walked down the aisle together for their ceremony. It was so sweet to watch their giddy excitement as they entered the room already attached to the person they wanted to be with the most.

See the Garza’s full Wedding here

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