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WELCOME WEDDING GUIDE

From the bottom of my heart, thank you for choosing me capture your story! 
Wedding_Photography_Worcester_Massachuse

ENGAGEMENT SESSION

 

This is where it all begins! You’ve hired me to be your third wheel and I couldn’t be more excited! Lets talk engagement sessions. These sessions should be fun, care-free, light hearted and full of laughter and love. Engagement sessions should not be an item that you check off your “to do” list or something you are doing just for your ‘save the dates.’ This is way more. Think of this session as a date. It’s all about spending time together in a way that you guys are comfortable and yourselves. Don't worry I am there to help direct, and guide so we can create some amazing pictures. My advice - Take a day off, take it slow, love on each other in a new or favorite place, rent an airbnb, order your favorite food, play your favorite music, drink your favorite beer. Breathe. Laugh. Enjoy each other before your wedding day! I believe the best photos come from taking things slow, rather than rushing to a photoshoot after a stressful workday. 

 

Please read more about what to expect from your session here!

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When thinking about what to wear for your engagement session, I like to see you and your fiancé in your element - comfortable and relaxed. For the bride, I am a sucker for a long, flowy dress that allows for a lot of movement. For the soon to be Mr., keep it simple. Classic tee and some jeans or some earth toned, relaxed pants. For more on what to wear, simple click here. I highly recommend reading the tips on what to wear as it will really help you! I do offer a online styling service. This service is free to access and you can shop the best way…from your couch, in your sweat pants as you watch your favorite show. Please let me know if you would like access to this service and I will send you over an access code! 

STYLING TIPS FOR YOUR WEDDING DAY:

 

Each bride and groom has their own style. Please, embrace that!

Be YOU! I am just here to guide you on what photographs beautifully. 

 

Dress: I love a dress with lots of movement. I personally love lace + silk. 

A dress with sleeves photographs so beautifully. Whether it be a cap sleeve, off the shoulder sleeve, or a long lace sleeve - these are all gorgeous and add a lot of interest to your images! 

 

Hair: Consider wearing it loose. I love little wisps and hair blowing in the wind. I absolutely love it when a bride wears her hair completely down and embraces it lightly blowing in the wind. 

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VENDORS I RECOMMEND:
 

Hair and makeup:
Nicole LaFrance - LaFrance Glam Artistry

Instagram: @lafranceglam

Website: www.lafranceglamartistry.com

 

Florals:
Justine Johnson - Flowers by Justine

Instagram: @flowersbyjustine

Website: www.flowersbyjustine.net

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PRE - WEDDING MEETING:

 

You are 3-4 weeks from your wedding day! By now you should have a good understanding on the flow of your wedding day, who you want pictures taken with and whats the most important things you want captured. Around the third or fourth week prior to your wedding day is when we will schedule our pre-wedding meeting. We will go over all those details and make a list of the most  images you want captured. This meeting is so important! It really helps that we are all on the same page prior to your wedding day. I highly recommend that you both attend! We can go grab dinner at your favorite restaurant or sip on some coffee at your favorite local cafe and go over all the details! 

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THE BIG DAY IS HERE:

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Slow down, take it all in.  As I said before the best pictures come from when you are being yourself, having a good time and taking it slow. Remember today is YOUR DAY.  Break traditions. Do things you want to do, be you and live it up!

FAQs
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  1. What time should we schedule our engagement/newlywed session or formal photos at our wedding?
    If you are looking to do the pictures outdoors and you are looking for the ‘golden glow', the best time to shoot would be 1-2 hours before sunset! This time can change depending on location. However, I know at weddings, we are on little more of a time crunch. This is OK! If you are dead set on wanting the ‘golden hour’ photos, try to plan your ceremony about 90 minutes before sunset, this way we can run away after the ceremony for a few minutes to get your formal photos done. If it doesn’t work out that way, we can try to escape during dinner. You can always schedule a Newlywed Session too! This way you can relax and really take in your special day without the stress of being pulled away from your family and friends for pictures!
     

  2. What is a Newlywed Session?
    The best sessions, ever! Let me start by saying my goal is for you, the bride and the groom, to make sure you are having the best day you could possibly have. I don’t want you to look back on your pictures, and think about how stressed your day was. I want you to look back at your pictures and think about about magical and special your day was. 

    You spend months, maybe even years planning this big day and I want to spend as much time capturing those sweet moments. The laughter, the tears, the slick dance moves, cake in the face, and lets not forget about all of the sweet details.This is why I am such a fan of Newlywed Sessions! This is a session that is booked either before or after your wedding day! 

    There are so many benefits to choosing to do a Newlywed session! On your wedding day you have almost no time alone as a couple, but the Newlywed session is focused solely on the two of you. And not having the stress and emotional pulls of a wedding day also gives you much more flexibility and joy. You don’t have to worry about your schedule, and there won’t be any guests to distract you wanting their picture taken with you. While you’re doing your Newlywed session you can relax, feel and look fabulous and enjoy each other while I concentrates on capturing the beauty of your love.Another benefit: it’s a great opportunity to have pictures taken at a place different from the location of your reception and ceremony.  Also, you don’t have to worry about driving to a different location on the day of the wedding to get those different backgrounds. And the weather? You cannot reschedule your wedding if it rains, but you can schedule your Newlywed Session around the weather!

    Finally, a Newlywed session also gives you a greater selection and variety of images for your final album. It’s always nice to pepper a big album with a few images from different locations to give it a bit of color and life. Today for many couples, it’s no longer taboo for the groom to see the bride in her dress before the wedding day. Some even say that this first look should be private and intimate, away from crowds, and the Newlywed session provides a great opportunity for that private first look. However if it’s important for you to have that the first look at the ceremony itself, or if your dress is not ready until few days before the wedding, or if you’re simply afraid of messing up your dress before your big day, then the Newlywed session can be done shortly after your wedding! The choice is yours, and I’ll be glad to work with you no matter what your choice is. Lets face it, you spend a good amount of money on that wedding gown…before you send it off to get preserved and then stick it in the back of your closet, lets wear it one last time! 
     

  3. Can we bring props? Pets?
    When I think “props”, my mind flashes through all of the cheesy Pinterest photos I’ve seen of cheesy chalkboards and hobby lobby props brought to shoots that basically....just aren’t my thing. But props don’t have to be cheesy! Props could be a dominos pizza picnic, a motorcycle, your dogs, blankets, a truck/car, a campfire, a bouquet, etc. If you have props you wanna incorporate, let me know and we can make sure to incorporate them in a non-cheesy way!

     

  4. I want my photos to be unique and original, but I am feeling creativity stuck. Can you help me think of some ideas?
     
    Absolutely! This is why it is so important to be open with me! In order for me to capture these moments, it takes you letting me in and get to know you! I do send out a questionnaire and it is so important for you to be honest and fill it out, even if it sounds weird or silly to you! (I live for the silly and weirdness.) By filling out the questionnaire, it helps me come up with ideas to make your session set apart from everyone else’s. I will run these ideas by you before our session. I also ask that you do the same, if you feel you have some cool ideas, let me know so we can work out all the details.  

I hope this guide was helpful to you!
Please let me know if you have any additional questions! 
Wedding_Photography_Worcester_Massachuse
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©AshleyGracePhotography2019  |  ashley@ashleygracephotography.net  |  774-253-8203

Douglas, Massachusetts Photographer serving Worcester, Boston, Providence, Shrewsbury, Millbury, Grafton, Sutton and beyond.

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