Exceptional Wedding Series II

If you remember back to my first 2019 wedding in February, I decided to start this exceptional wedding series. Since I love to focus on creating a unique wedding experience for each of my couples and pride myself on sharing their personalities in my photos, this blog series has been a great way for me to showcase these unique details. I am sharing something specific that stood out to me from each wedding which I thought was special to the couple.

Natalie & Jason had a beautiful day filled with a lot of unique details including a wood burned letter box, the OSU band introducing them into the reception, and my favorite… sharing a last dance together. Many couples have a last song where all of the guests come together and sing their hearts out to end the night, but these two wanted to share a last song together with just them. I thought this was amazing and loved the idea, so I asked Natalie a few questions about it.

Where did you get the idea of sharing a "last dance" together?
While consulting with our videographer Mark Batke, we asked him what kinds of ideas he had. He mentioned a last dance. The idea is to have all the guests leave the venue and leave the dance floor to the new husband and wife. He explained this as the perfect time to soak it all in and reminisce on the night. We loved the idea! 

How did you feel in that moment?
The last dance was the most memorable part of the night for us! It was such an intimate moment for us after the rush of the wedding. It was just what we needed, to take a breath, look at each other as husband and wife, and feel the love between us. It was so nice to be able to relax and be held in my husband’s arms swaying to the music, just us two. 

Would you recommend this to future couples?
Absolutely! Wedding day can be so overwhelming and it all happens so fast. While taking a minute here and there throughout the night to step back and watch as everyone enjoys themselves can be helpful, the last dance is something I think all couples should do! Believe me, it’s so worth it! And not to mention, it’s the perfect time to have the guests gather together for your sendoff. 

Questions to ask your wedding photographer

So, you are in the process of searching for a wedding photographer. You may have a few great photographers in mind and have several meetings set up, but are struggling with exactly what kind of questions to ask them. The first thing you should think about is how you want to remember your wedding day. Create a descriptive list of how you want your special day captured, such as the mood you want to feel and even write specific photos you may be looking forward to most. Do you see a trend in these? What, or who, are most of these photos of? This can help decide what you are really looking for in a photographer.

Here are a few starter questions you should ask your potential wedding photographer, which can help narrow down who is the right fit for you.

1. What is your style of photography? You should already know if the photographer has a similar style to what you are looking for, (light & airy, colorful, dark & moody, etc). Hearing how they describe their own style approach should also match what you are looking for, (Traditional, Artistic, Editorial, Documentary, Authentic etc).

2. Do you include a second photographer? I include a second photographer in every package I offer because I feel this is so important and 100% worth it.

3. Is additional hourly coverage available and what is the cost?

4. Is an engagement session included?

5. How many images will I receive and what is the turnaround time for the photos? Make sure you are actually okay with this turnaround time and see if you will be receiving any sneak peeks.

6. Are prints or an album included?

7. What is the emergency plan if you are not able to photograph the wedding? There should always be a back up plan. Unfortunately, emergencies happen and there should be a clear understanding and direct wording in the contract which states this information.

8. Have you ever shot at my venue? - If the answer is “yes,” ask them to send an example gallery so you can have an idea of what to expect. If the answer is “no,” ask to see a similar wedding they have shot.

9. What is the booking process? Make sure there is an official contract you are comfortable with.

10. Is there a deposit? When is final payment due?

These are a few technical questions to get you started with your meeting. You should also make sure to ask some personal questions and to see if you are comfortable around them and genuinely trust them. You will most likely spend more time with your photographer the day of your wedding then you will with your own spouse.