Here at Ashley Susan Photography, I’ve photographed over 200 wedding days over the years. With that comes meeting amazing people, experiences, memories, and learning tons of tips and tricks that I can share with other couples planning their wedding days. As a wedding photographer, it’s my joy to capture moments that are beautiful and authentic, so that you and your loved ones may share and enjoy your memories forever.

When it comes to wedding planning, trust me, I know it can be stressful and overwhelming at times… I was a bride once, too, and understand everything that comes with planning a wedding. It’s a unique perspective to have been a bride and to be a wedding photographer. Even after all of these years of photographing weddings and what I’ve learned, there are things I know now that I wish I knew when I got married.

While planning your wedding day, you might feel like your to-do list is under control, but some small (and big!) details can be overlooked during all of the hustle and bustle. To help you make the most of your wedding day, I’m here to share ten wedding details to remember when wedding planning.

1) The Marriage License – First and foremost, this is the most important detail of the day… The Marriage license makes everything official, and we wouldn’t want you to forget to pack the marriage license. Pack the marriage license ahead of time in a safe place, and make sure you, the groom, and your mom, maid of honor, or best man know where to find it, too!

2) Extra Time for Hair & Makeup – Sometimes the getting ready portion of the day with hair and makeup can cause delays. When planning your wedding timeline, I recommend adding extra time for hair and makeup. Buffer time is always a good idea, helps get timing back on track if needed, and makes the day run smoothly and stress free.

3) Invitation Suite for the Photographer – It’s true, I love wedding detail photos! I start wedding days by taking photos of your details, dress, and all the pretty things. These details connect to the rest of your wedding day, and I love having the invitation suite to include in these photos. I recommend gathering your details in a box or a bag so they are ready to go!

4) The Groom’s Getting Ready Space – The groom’s getting ready space can sometimes be overlooked when planning a wedding. I recommend that you take as much care and attention to selecting the groom’s getting ready space as you do when picking the bride’s getting ready space. We love getting ready spaces with lots of natural light, windows, and room to move around. Thinking about this and planning ahead of time also helps your photos look more cohesive in your wedding album. We love when getting ready spaces for both the bride and groom have similar lighting and vibes!

5) Pinning on the Boutonnieres – I recommend having a go-to person lined up that can pin on boutonnieres on the wedding day. Sometimes florists are present and available to do this, but sometimes couples are scrambling to find someone to pin on the boutonnieres. This is definitely a detail to think about when planning your wedding day!

6) To Eat Breakfast & Lunch – As a photographer, I want you to feel and look your best on your wedding day, so don’t skip meals! I totally get it that nerves can play a factor here, but I recommend eating a healthy breakfast and lunch because let’s face it – wedding days are long days. The time between getting ready on your wedding morning to sitting down for dinner at the reception can be many, many hours. Make sure you and your bridal party eat on your wedding day and plan it into the timeline!

7) Practice Bustling the Dress – One of my favorite pieces of advice to share with my brides is to practice bustling your dress. It helps if a couple of people in your bridal party and your mom know how to bustle your dress. After the ceremony and before cocktail hour, everyone is excited and ready to celebrate. Sometimes bustles can keep the bride from joining cocktail hour and greeting guests because it’s difficult to navigate. I’m always happy to jump in and help bustle a wedding dress, but it’s nice to have at least a couple of people that have done it before ready to help, too!

8) Sharing the Timeline with Your Immediate Family – Please share the timeline with your immediate family! An important part of making sure your wedding day runs smoothly is making sure your family knows where they need to be and when they need to be there. Are family photos taking place before the ceremony? Are family photos taking place right after the ceremony? Think through these details and make sure to keep your family members in the know. 

9) Weather Backup Plans – Okay, trust me, I’m hoping for beautiful weather on your wedding day… But unfortunately we can’t control the weather forecast! I highly recommend having weather or rain backup plans in place on your wedding day. Be ready with rain backup plans for your ceremony, reception, and photo locations, if needed. 

10) Being Present on the Wedding Day – Last but not least, it’s my hope that you’ll be able to be present on your wedding day. You’ve hired a vendor team to take care of all the important details and your family and bridal party are ready to help. Try to embrace the day, relax, and be fully present. These are moments you never want to forget!

Some of these details may seem small, but I promise, the small details make a big impact on your wedding day. After planning for months (and sometimes years!), it’s my hope that your wedding day is everything you’ve dreamed of!

With Love, Ashley

Ashley Susan Photography is a wedding & portrait photographer serving 30A, Chicago & worldwide. Get in touch about your upcoming wedding day here & follow along on social for what’s happening behind the scenes!

Details to Remember When Wedding Planning | 30A Wedding Photographer | Chicago Wedding Photographer