Hi friends! It’s Kira again, Colorado Springs wedding photographer for joyful, adventurous, down to earth couples. Your Enneagram 7 hype-woman who’s always here for encouragement, support, and excitement! But hey, I’m also here to keep you calm and confident on your wedding day so you can enjoy it to the fullest.

Want to know the best way to feel that calm confidence on the big day, especially when it comes to getting great images? That’s right: by planning ahead!

And I’m here to help you do that today with a quick, applicable Wedding Day Checklist. This is not meant to be a comprehensive list of every little detail you need to attend to or make a decision about from start to finish when planning a wedding. This focuses on 1-2 weeks before the wedding through the wedding day itself, especially as it relates to photography, so you have it all in one easy place to reference in order to not forget some of the little details that could really help the day go smoother for you.

Check it out!

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PRE-WEDDING DAY (1-2 weeks before)

• Finalize timeline & shot list
• Distribute day of timeline & responsibilities to bridal party & immediate family
• Designate someone to read the family formal shot list to keep that time moving efficiently and make sure we don’t miss any (preferably someone who knows a lot of your family members)
• Designate someone to handle boutonnieres (making sure the right ones go to the right people BEFORE photos & help the guys pin them on) 
• Designate someone to be in charge of the “send off” especially if it involves sparklers & have them check in with the photographer/videographer before that time arrives at the reception so they can coordinate
• Distribute day of timeline & responsibilities to bridal party & immediate family
• Pack invitation suite & save the date
• Pack an “emergency kit” with Advil, bobby pins, hair spray, safety pins (you never know when a bridesmaid’s dress isn’t going to zip and little things like that can push the timeline back), tissues, toothbrush & floss, etc.
• Clean engagement ring

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WEDDING DAY

• Put all details on one table upon arrival to the venue so your photographer can capture them right away when they get there. Examples:
  • Both wedding rings (and don’t forget your engagement ring off your finger!)
  • Jewelry
  • Bride shoes
  • Perfume bottle
  • Something borrowed, blue, old, and new
  • Veil
  • Garter
  • Bouquets if ready (plus a couple loose florals from florist if possible)
  • Groom’s shoes, tie, cufflinks, etc.
  • Invitation Suite & Save the Date
• Give legal documents to someone responsible & have them ready for a photo signing them after the ceremony
• Be sure to eat & drink enough water throughout the day to stay energized and happy (I tend to get cranky when I’m hungry or thirsty… not sure if you’re the same!)
• Designate someone (maybe your Maid of Honor) to pack you and your new husband a “to-go” box of food from the wedding and some cake and pack it in your getaway car! If you want to save the top level of your cake to freeze for your anniversary, be sure to let whoever will be cutting the cake know in advance and designate someone to take it home to the freezer.

Okay, that last one doesn’t have to do with photography at all…. but our to-go box of food was one of THE BEST things one of my bridesmaids did for me on my wedding day since it flew by and we hardly had a chance to eat so I love to pass on  the tip!