Let Me Call You Sweetheart…

If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it a million times. I love cruising!

Throughout our Hawaiian honeymoon, Norwegian’s Pride of America became a true floating resort, carrying us from island to island as we wined, dined and enjoyed the view.

Did I mention that we dined? A lot? If you’ve ever been on a cruise, you know exactly what I’m talking about. And if you’ve never been cruising, I definitely recommend it as a great way to travel! Not only is the food fabulous, but meals are also part of the all-inclusive price you pay for the trip, with add-on packages available for alcohol and soda.

Since this was our honeymoon, and our guests had showered us with so many great Honeyfund gift certificates, we decided to splurge a bit. In addition to wine tasting, sangria at sunset, and my swanky spa haircut, one of our favorite things to do was visit the ship’s several specialty restaurants. From Asian fusion to steak to Italian, these places were the best!

And the most fun part? Whenever the restaurant staff found out it was our honeymoon, they would gather around to sing “Let Me Call You Sweetheart” as they placed a “Happy Honeymoon” cake on our table! At the Asian restaurant, they even made us wear dragon costumes during the song. Too funny!

Did you get a lot of attention right after getting married or engaged? What do you think of cruising?

(Photo Credits: Personal Library)

Wedding Day Photo Shoot: Behind-the-Scenes

Our pro shots will be coming soon to a computer screen near you, but before they do, I want to share a few behind-the-scenes glimpses of our wedding party and photographers in action!

Not only did my awesome friend Damien Smith, a stellar wedding photographer who’s shared tons of great tips here on the blog, shoot for us pre-ceremony and throughout the night, but our hired husband and wife team from Alex Neumann Photography did an out-of-this-world job, helping everyone have fun as the camera captured some of the most artistic, creative shots I could ever have imagined. Add in our fabulous videographer Max, and we had a real dream team on our hands!

Here, a few snippets of all the behind-the-camera fun.

Oops! My bridesmaids aren’t wearing their shoes yet! You can see them scrambling in the background, as my mom gets ready to lay out my train for a few pre-ceremony pictures.

It’s time for hair and makeup stylist Jana Bunge, who truly went above and beyond, to attach my lovely veil. Ever the expert, Damien sets up the shot.

I just loved posing in front of the wrought-iron gate at our Gardens of the World “first look” sight, while my groom checked me out in the background.

Alex is keeping the boys in line!

Smile for post-ceremony formals!

Max and Alex stole a few well-deserved minutes to chill out during the reception.

What are some favorite behind-the-scenes moments from your wedding, or some of the best you’ve witnessed at others’?

(Photo Credits: Personal Library)

Wedding Day Nail Advice Taken!

Before the wedding, I asked you all for suggestions about what type of manicure I should go with for my big day. Should I go bold with purple? Keep things classic with French tips?

In the end, I just couldn’t say no to what’s tried and true, choosing to have small white tips painted against my own nails.

You can’t really even see my nails in this picture, as you also can’t in any photos other than the super close-up shots of my hands, which I think is the point. As much fun as purple nails would have been, I certainly wouldn’t have wanted them to become a distraction.

And the best part? My manicurist did such a great job, the polish on both my fingers and toes lasted throughout most of my honeymoon week, too!

For your wedding, where are you going bold, and where will you stick with the classics?

(Photo Credit: Personal Library)

Pro Teaser Shot!

It’s the best day of the week, not only because it’s Saturday, but also because…our pro pictures are ready to view online, courtesy of our stellar photographer, Alex Neumann!

Though I tried to wait until Stephen got home to look through them for the first time last night, I couldn’t resist, and went to the site as soon as the link showed up in my inbox!

I can’t wait to share them all -- well, maybe not ALL 2,700 -- soon, but for now, here’s a fun teaser that’s destined to become one of my favorites.

How excited were you when you first saw a teaser or got the link to check out your pro shots? Did you and your husband look through them together, or did you look through first on your own?

(Photo Credit: Alex Neumann Photography)

Our Action-Packed Honeymoon…Island-Style!

Why, oh why, did it take me so many years to make it out to Hawaii?! From the moment we arrived until the day we reluctantly headed back home, I was blown away by the beauty of the islands, the kindness of the people, and the rich culture and history that were so vividly on display everywhere we went. No wonder this is the top honeymoon destination in the U.S.!

And since we were traveling by cruise aboard Norwegian’s Pride of America, we got to enjoy all four of the major islands – Oahu, Maui, Hawaii, and Kauai – without the hassle of packing, repacking, and sitting through additional flights. In fact, even though we were in port every day of the trip, taking fun excursions or exploring on our own, we still had plenty of time for fun onboard the ship, where we tried out specialty restaurants, went to shows, and sipped sangria on our private balcony.

I guess it’s always been true that even when I’m relaxing, whether at home or away, I still like to keep busy with fun projects and activities. Lying on the beach for hours? So not me. Snorkeling, hiking, and exploring craters? That’s more like it!

And explore we did! I can’t wait to share more fun highlights from our trip in the coming weeks, but for now, here are a few preview shots of the amazing places we visited and the sights we saw.

Haleakalā National Park in Maui…

Dolphins near Molokini Crater, one of the top snorkeling spots in the world…

Lava tubes and caves on the “Big Island” of Hawaii…

Waimea Canyon in Kauai…

On your honeymoon, did you or will you prefer to keep things action-packed the way we did? Or would you rather kick back completely?

(Photo Credits: Personal Library)

Summer Blog Awards

The summer award season has officially kicked off in wedding blog world!

If you’re not familiar with Wedding Channel’s annual blog awards, they’re a great opportunity to give kudos to some of your favorites in a ton of fun categories. I definitely have at least one or two I’ll be entering!

 

Also, Aisledash.com is accepting nominations in 12 creative areas. Head over to the website to nominate up to three standouts!

When you read a wedding blog, what always keeps you coming back for more?

(Graphic Credits: Wedding Channel & Aisledash.com)

A Bicoastal Wedding Gown Takes Flight

Planning the wedding was fun. The stressful part? Lugging my Alfred Angelo gown, altered just in time for us to leave town, across the country through three airports. Today, my husband shares his recap story about the infamous bicoastal wedding dress.

Looking back, I’m thankful Heather chose a light wedding gown, or at least a dress lighter than some of the crazy 80-pounders she’s pointed out on Say Yes to the Dress. After carrying the dress all around the Chicago O’Hare terminal, if it had been any heavier, I don’t think I would have survived.

Not only did the weight of the gown pose a problem, but the shear size of the garment bag made it incredibly difficult to carry, first through security at Reagan National in D.C., then all around the Chicago airport, and finally upon arrival in Los Angeles. Escalators, doorways, and even trying to find a place to sit down in a crowded airport became so much more tedious with a wedding dress in the picture.

Leaving D.C., I hadn’t yet seen the dress, and I wanted to try my best to avoid seeing it before the wedding day. But even though its bag was opaque, I could ultimately see some details when it was backlit. The most noticeable part was that there was a dark sash, although I couldn’t tell what color it was. However, at that point, even Heather was resigned to the fact that there simply wasn’t any alternative.

Though we were flying first class and had been relaxed at the beginning of the day, a cancellation, a couple gate changes, and another delay had us frazzled sooner rather than later. Once on each plane, there was thankfully a first class closet available in which to store the dress. But unfortunately, even this space was not large enough to hold the gown without folding it.

In the end, we made it through the trip without any damage to the dress, and I also got a great workout. But it sure wasn’t easy, and it got our wedding week off to a pretty stressful start!

Will you or did you travel with your wedding gown? Is yours a heavy dress, whether carrying it or wearing it?

(Photo Credit: Personal Library)

Post-Wedding Adventure: More Weddings?

With our own big day now behind us, it’s time for me to…keep focusing on weddings! Surprised? Not me!

You see, weddings are one of my biggest passions, and I’m not ready to say goodbye to this exciting world now, or maybe ever. I’ve already got a few wedding-related projects up my sleeve, including the one I’m about to reveal.

The thing is, although I’ve thought before about wedding planning, offering advice here and there, I haven't yet taken the plunge by getting any type of actual certification or professional training. But that’s about to change, because starting tonight, I’ll be on my way to receiving a planning certificate through the community college system in our area.

Where will this take me? I don’t exactly know yet. For all I know, the program could be a major bust, reiterating everything I already know. But I’ve told myself that this is just a starting point, the very beginning of a dream, and that I’ll follow my heart and my gut in deciding how to take the next step.

Because I believe that when we fail to try, it’s impossible to succeed. And when we’re afraid to fail, we hold ourselves back from what we could potentially achieve. So, instead of being afraid, I’ll choose to try.

Have you ever taken a step toward following a passion, not knowing where it would lead?

(Photo Credit: Google Images)

Gorgeous Gifts Galore!

Our honeymoon cruise was without a doubt one of the absolute best weeks of my life! Between the beautiful islands, amazing excursions, and (of course) sharing it all with my groom, I was on cloud nine the entire time. But in the end, it was also the generosity and thoughtfulness of our friends and relatives that helped make the trip so special.

You see, just when I thought our Honeyfund registry would be a total bust, gift certificates started arriving a couple weeks before the wedding. Not only am I touched by the incredible gestures from everyone who traveled to the celebration, but I’m especially blown away by the kindheartedness of those who couldn’t make it, but still put the thought into sending caring wishes our way.

And it wasn’t just Honeyfund that left us pleasantly surprised. We got lots of things off our traditional registries that were “wishful” items we thought might be too extravagant for anyone to buy.

But we got one of these…

And this little beauty…

And even enough in gift cards to check out these…

Have you been just as blown away by the love and generosity of your guests?

(Photo Credits: Target & Google Images)

Wish Upon a Wedding DC Launch Party

Of all the post-wedding projects I’ve got in the works, I can honestly say that volunteering with Wish Upon a Wedding DC is the most emotionally moving.

One of the key things that inspires my passion for weddings is simply the pure joy that they bring to the lives of all they touch. Weddings are at their heart a celebration of love and life, and Wish Upon a Wedding truly embodies that spirit, by helping those most in need feel that even in the face of the worst difficulties this world brings – including life-threatening illness – love powers on as something to cherish and celebrate always.

Next weekend on June 27, our chapter will join with others who share this vision at our launch party, a fun evening filled with food, enthusiasm and hope. If you’re in the D.C. area, don’t miss out on your chance to join us and help start the journey toward helping those in need. RSVP today!

Not local? You can still support Wish Upon a Wedding by making a donation or getting involved with a chapter in your area. Everyone deserves to share a lifetime of love, so let’s all do what we can, however small, to help make it happen.

(Graphic Credit: Wish Upon a Wedding)

The Ceremony Begins…But, Uh-Oh, Where’s The Bride?!

Our wedding day was perfect. Not flawless, and not without a few mishaps here and there. But in the end, it was perfect for us simply because it was our wedding day.

However, to kick off the recaps, I’d like to first shine a spotlight on the biggest thing that went wrong. Why? Well, first to tell all of you yet-to-be-married girls that no matter how much you plan and prepare, something (hopefully small) will most likely go wrong on your wedding day. And secondly, because I hope you’ll realize that when it does, it will definitely not ruin the day or take away from the happiness you feel. Unless, of course, you let it.

From on early in my engagement, I’ve shared numerous tales about how strict the Catholic Church can be. And on my wedding day, I learned just how far they’re willing to take that.

There I was, waiting in the bride’s room at the church with my bridesmaids and parents, feeling more nervous than I had expected to feel. Maybe it was simply nerves, or perhaps the Jamba Juice smoothie I drank the hour before didn’t agree with me. Either way, as the start-time approached, I started to feel slightly sick to my stomach. With my sister’s help, I was able to retreat to the restroom and take a couple minutes to gather my composure. Thankfully, I started to feel better.

But then, all of a sudden, there was a frantic knock at the door. It was my mom, and I could hardly believe my ears as she cried out, “They’ve all gone down the aisle!” What?! Without so much as asking me or even checking to see if I was still waiting in the bride’s room, the church’s coordinator had started the processional at 3:30 p.m. on the button! Moving as fast as anyone probably ever has in a wedding gown, I flew from the bathroom with Kellie right ahead of me.

Cari, our own day-of coordinator, appeared to feel terrible about what the church’s director had done. Kellie snatched up her bouquet and headed straight down the aisle. Luckily, she was walking most of the way by herself, with the best man meeting her close to the altar, so no one else had been left without a partner.

At this point, things began to blur together in my mind. I vaguely recall that on the church’s TV screen, I could see Stephen and all of our friends assembled up at the altar. I remember Cari and my mom asking whether I was OK. I can recollect my mom and dad taking their places at either side of the archway marking the start of the aisle, where I would a couple seconds later join them.

In these frantic moments, things could have gone horribly wrong. But in the end, they didn’t. Looking back, I’m thankful Kellie and I hadn’t gone into the bathroom even just a minute later, because when talking with Stephen after the ceremony, he told me that neither he nor the guests had any inkling that we almost missed our cue and were completely caught off guard. The slight pause before Kellie went down the aisle added a dramatic effect, he said, and I somehow appeared right at the appropriate moment, also after a few seconds of added suspense.

And now, a couple weeks later, this is by far the most utterly silly but entertaining story we have from the day. Who knows? Maybe 50 years from now, when all the sweet wedding tales have been worn out and the photo albums get old, this funny, ridiculous snippet will be the one that survives. Only time will tell…

LESSON LEARNED: Though it should be common sense to any coordinator, I’d recommend telling whoever is in charge at your venue to check in with you before starting the wedding ceremony. And if you’re marrying in a church or at another venue where there’s a coordinator you didn’t hire yourself, be sure he or she gets the message, since these individuals often ignore or go over the heads of any other planners who might be present.

If you’re already married, what are the biggest “oops” moments that popped up during your wedding day? If not, what are you most concerned might go wrong? What would you have done in my situation?

(Photo Credits: Personal Library)

Floor Décor

With our budget maxed out and gobo lighting out of the question, Stephen and I were initially fine with the idea of a bare, undecorated dance floor at our wedding. After all, the floor is there for guests to party on, not admire!

Enter Ten23 Designs, recommended by Ashley at Bride on a Budget. Not only does this company offer some amazing designs for stick-on floor decals, but the options were all amazingly affordable – a perfect alternative to expensive lighting tricks!

I’ll admit that never having used one of these before, I was a bit worried about the cleanup afterward, especially since we would have been held responsible for any damage to our venue’s floor. But as far as I know, the venue staff had no trouble at all when pulling it up. And throughout the night, we got many compliments about how great the decal looked, and what a fun idea it was!

Here, our design, which we ordered with our names and in purple. Stay tuned for pictures!

Are you using a floor decal or special monogrammed lighting at your wedding?

(Photo Credit: Ten23 Designs)

Why I’m A 'Been There, Done That' Bride!

My wedding’s over, but I’m as excited as ever about sharing advice and inspiration with other brides! Today, I’m featured doing just that over on the Wedology 101 blog, where I pass along some of my stress-busting tips and lessons learned.

Feel free to check out the interview and let me know what you think! In the meantime, I’ll be busy churning out recaps that will be headed your way by next week.

Maybe your wedding has come and gone, or maybe you’re still looking forward to the big day. Either way, what are some of your favorite stress-busters?

(Photo Credit: Personal Library)

Sweet Seats: Sweetheart or Head Table?

Greetings from D.C.! Yes, we’re home from our Hawaiian honeymoon, which was absolutely amazing, and a full set of recaps is headed your way very soon.

But before I start in with all the fun pictures and stories about our day, I thought I'd talk seating. I, for one, have never been a huge fan of head tables. They’re big, boxy, and can make it difficult for everyone to talk to one another.

From the day we booked our venue, there was no question that a sweetheart table was the way to go. It would allow us to share a few private moments during dinner, and would allow the rest of our guests to enjoy the conversational ease of round tables. Plus, rather than force our wedding party and family members to all sit together, we instead split them up throughout the room, placing them alongside their own friends and relatives.

The result? The dinner hour was filled with lots of laughter, plenty of good times, and even a few shenanigans here and there! Photos and details to come…

At your wedding, will you be going with a sweetheart or head table? What’s your reason?

(Photo Credit: Google Images)

Expert Tips For a Perfect Engagement Shoot

Engagement session on the horizon? Don’t miss these expert tips from L.A. wedding photographer Damien Smith. We used them before our shoot, and they made a huge difference!

• Girls, get a mani and pedi. This is my #1 thing to do for any shoot. Your hands and ring are important, and there's nothing that ruins a shoot more than no mani and pedi!

• Have your hair and makeup done before the session begins. Bring a small touchup kit with hairspray, gel, lipstick/gloss, etc. Also bring a comb and brush. Use lotion on your hands, and make sure your hands and nails are well-manicured.

• If Murphy’s Law reigns supreme, and you break out or have blemishes, don’t worry, and don’t try to cover them up. I can retouch your images and remove the nefarious zits!

• Gentlemen, get a nice haircut and a nice shave. Clean nails are great, too!

• Bring at least two outfits, maybe one casual, and one more formal and dressy. I do love it when people really think about this session, and go beyond the call of duty by getting something really exciting for the shoot.

• Girls, borrow things if you have to in order to make the shoot great! Especially great shoes! Bringing some props that are special to you doesn’t hurt, either.

• When choosing clothes, try not to make them too contrasting. When one of you is wearing white and the other black, it’s hard for a photographer to keep all of those colors intact, because they are so far apart. So, choose colors that are more similar, and clothing that does not steal attention away from you.

• Try to pick a place that is really cool to shoot. If you can’t think of one, or don’t have that very special place, your photographer should be able to help you decide.

So, the "cramming for a test" version:

• Get a mani and pedi beforehand.

• Wear the same or similar colored clothes in the style you're used to.

• Push your face slightly toward the camera.

• Relax your hands at whatever position you like and is comfortable.

• Smile with your eyes first.

• Relax, relax, relax!

If you’ve already done an engagement shoot, what are your tips for fellow brides-and-grooms-to-be? If yours is still coming up, are there any questions you’d like answered?

(Photo Credit: Damien Smith Photography)

Wedding Invitations: Fun Timeline Inserts

Aloha from Hawaii! I can’t wait to start sharing our recaps with you once we’re back from our honeymoon cruise!

But for now, I’ll just take a quick minute to spread a little invitation inspiration with this cute timeline insert our friends created a few months ago. What a creative way to give guests a heads up about what to expect throughout the wedding day!

Will you or did you add any unique touches to your invitations?

(Photo Credit: Stephen Walrath)

Wedding Photo Sneak Peek!

It seems our photo-share site has been a big hit, with over 900 photos already uploaded! I can't wait to go through them all after the honeymoon and start the recaps, but for now, I'll just share a few fun candids our guests captured.  

Bicoastal Newlyweds

It’s official, friends! We’re married, and are off this morning to start our weeklong honeymoon cruise around the Hawaiian Islands.

I am so touched by all of the beautiful wedding wishes you’ve sent my way throughout the past week, and it means so much to have your support during such a happy time in our lives. I can’t wait to share the story of our incredible wedding day with you all as soon as we get back!

Much love and a fabulous weekend to you all! Until next time, here’s where I’ll be cooling my newly married heels…

(Photo Credit: Google Images)

Incredible Day!

Where do I start? We had a fabulous wedding day! I wish I'd had more time to blog, but the day flew by! I loved every minute, though, and here are some iPhone photos we managed to snap. Much better shots to follow soon, including of me in my gown! (The iPhone shots won't cut it! LOL!) 

Hair & Makeup Time!

My awesome stylist is getting started with my hair! 

Wedding Day Reflections

Today is my wedding day.

Five years ago, I left my home, friends, and the only life I’d ever known to move across the country to chase a dream in Washington, D.C. I had a fabulous job and new acquaintances, but I was lonely.

Four years ago, my friend Bridget came to town and introduced me to her college buddy who had also just moved to D.C. His name was Stephen, and I gave him a tour of the Capitol one Friday afternoon. We went to dinner and talked for hours. It wasn’t long before I called him mine.

Fourteen months ago, Stephen pledged to love me for the rest of his life when he asked me to marry him on a beautiful April evening, with the fresh beauty of springtime alive all around us. Overwhelmed and overjoyed, I offered the same pledge in return.

One year ago, I chose to transform my health and my life by running, eating healthily, and focusing on how strong my body can be when I challenge myself, believe in myself, and never give up. All the while, Stephen was there, right beside me, helping me move forward when I just wanted to quit. In these moments, we were truly at our best as a team.

Nine months ago, I began to share my love of weddings and my passion for writing by blogging about my journey. The support, encouragement, friendship and opportunities I’ve gained through this experience have been nothing short of amazing. I am grateful for every minute, and love the new direction my life has taken as a result.

Two months ago, at an outdoor wine festival one lovely Saturday afternoon, I forgot to slather sunscreen onto my fair skin. Ever selfless and compassionate, Stephen shielded me from the sun throughout the day, which ended in a terrible sunburn that left him in pain throughout the week that lay ahead. But he never complained, because he did it for me.

Today, at long last, I’ll make a promise to this gentle, sincere and loving man, my dearest friend, who I know will stand by my side forever.

And tomorrow, our best days will lie ahead of us.

Stephen, you fill my heart with joy and inspiration. Sharing my life with you is a wonderful gift that I will always give thanks for. I dreamed about you and wrote stories about you long before I ever met you. I love you, and I just can’t wait to marry you.

Live From Our Rehearsal Dinner!

Less than 24 hours until I am a Mrs.! :)

Wedding Week Countdown: It’s Showtime!

Well, I’ve been saying it and thinking it throughout the week, but this is the real deal! I’m about to trade “bicoastal bride” for “bicoastal newlywed” in just one short day. Wow!

The tuxes are ready to go, my gown is pressed and hanging, and in just a few hours, we’ll be heading out to our rehearsal at the church, followed by dinner at Buca di Beppo. We’ll be loading up all the trinkets and DIY projects we’ve put so much time and effort into, and we’ll soon be making our practice walk down the aisle.

I feel excited yet relaxed, eager to get my nails done and greet all of our guests who are arriving into town today. The weather is beautiful, everything is done and ready to go, and from this point on, I plan to just take it all in, enjoy the moment, and roll with the punches should anything go wrong. This day is ours, and nothing that happens will change that or bring us down.

For wedding day updates tomorrow, feel free to check out the Bicoastal Bride page on Facebook, and follow @Bicoastal_Bride on Twitter. Maybe I’ll even manage to sneak in a little blogging here and there with the help of my trusty iPhone!

Until then...

(Photo Credit: Kellie Warren)

Wedding Week Countdown: Sweet ‘Somethings’

On my wedding day, I’ll be a classic bride with my…

Something Old

The gorgeous heirloom diamond in my engagement ring, which belonged to Stephen’s late grandmother, Jan.

Something New

My Alfred Angelo wedding gown!

Something Borrowed

My sister’s cute ivory clutch.

Something Blue

The tiny bow on the inside of my garter, which is a wedding day surprise for the groom!

What are your special “somethings”?

Wedding Week Countdown: Perfecting Our Photo Shot List

At long last, it’s time for our final two meetings before the big day!

We’ll talk with both our photographer and videographer this afternoon, reviewing the timeline and making final arrangements. Sure, we worked out all the vital details months ago, but there’s no way I’m letting our wedding day arrive without giving them both lists of the key moments we want captured on film.

A shot list is helpful to the photographer because it explains exactly what the bride and groom want captured. It’s equally helpful to the couple, as it ensures all of the most important memories are preserved.

Here, a glimpse at some of the highlights on our photo list.

Portraits

• Bride
• Groom
• Bride and groom
• Bride, with bridesmaids’ bouquets circling her face
• Groom with best man
• Groom with groomsmen
• Bride with maid of honor/sister
• Bride with bridesmaids
• Entire wedding party
• Bride with parents
• Bride with mother and sister
• Bride with mother, father and sister
• Groom with parents
• Groom with mother, father and sisters
• Groom with sisters
• Bride and groom with both families
• Bride and groom with groom’s family
• Bride and groom with bride’s family
• Bride and groom with both sets of parents
• Bride with grandparents
• Groom with grandparents
• Bride and groom with grandparents
• Bride and groom with both sets of siblings

Pre-Ceremony

• Bride, attendants and mothers getting ready
• Groom, attendants and fathers getting ready
• “First look” and portrait shots at Gardens of the World
• Ceremony site setup, with guests arriving and being seated

Ceremony

• Groom walking down aisle with parents
• Groom awaiting bride at front of church
• Best man walking down aisle
• Bridesmaids and groomsmen walking down aisle
• Maid of honor walking down aisle
• Wedding party awaiting bride at front of church
• Bride walking down aisle with parents, front view
• Bride walking down aisle with parents, back view of train
• Parents and grandparents watching the ceremony
• Exchange of rings and vows
• Readers speaking at podium
• Wedding kiss
• Bride and groom leading recessional
• Bride and groom’s hands displaying rings

Reception

• Bride and groom riding in golf cart
• Guests enjoying cocktail hour
• Dining room, set for dinner
• Entrance table setup and décor
• Cake and cake table décor
• Cake toppers
• Grand entrance of parents, wedding party, and bride and groom
• Bride and groom’s first dance
• Group pictures of guests at each table
• Bride and groom visiting guest tables
• Toasts being given, with bride and groom listening
• Slideshow, with bride and groom watching
• Guests dancing
• Bride and groom toasting their guests
• Bride and groom cutting cake
• Anniversary dance and slideshow
• Bouquet toss
• Garter removal and toss
• Group photo of our hardworking vendors

Are you giving your photographer or videographer a shot list? What are the top photos you just can’t live without?