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Top 10 Wedding Day Photos You'll Want To Snap

When you hire a photographer to document your wedding day, you're trusting someone to capture some of the most intimate moments of your life! It's a detailed process, finding the perfect photographer, but the process doesn't stop once you've found "the one".


An experienced wedding photographer will have a general idea of the shots that are expected during your big day, but the only way to make sure you get what you want is to tell them!

A shot-list is a simple, easy way to have a discussion with your photographer concerning the moments you definitely want documented. It is important to think through this list ahead of time because it's easy to overlook things on the day-of when you're caught up in the festivities. Your wedding day flies by in the blink of an eye, so make sure you have every special moment captured so you can relive the memories for the rest of your life.


Here's our overview of the top 10 shots you'll want to help you talk through details with your photographer:

  1. Getting Ready Shots

  2. Hair & makeup

  3. The zip up in your dress *This is one of the sweetest getting ready shots you can get!

  4. Candids of the bride(s) and bridesmaids getting ready

  5. Candids of the groom(s) and groomsmen getting ready

  6. Putting on the jacket

  7. Putting on the jewelry

  8. Putting on the shoes

  9. Bridal reveal to wedding party *It's always a great shot to see the bridal party seeing the bride completely ready for the first time!

  10. Details

  11. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue

  12. Accessories of bride(s) and groom(s)

  13. Invitation flat lays

  14. Tablescape

  15. Sweetheart tablescape

  16. Rings

  17. Written vows

  18. The cake

  19. Florals

  20. Program/escort cards

  21. Individual Portraits

  22. One-on-one with all bridal party members

  23. One-on-one with parents

  24. One-on-one with siblings

  25. One-on-one with grandparents *Make sure to get one-on-one shots with all your loved ones that day, whether it's aunts, uncles, cousins, whoever has been a part of your life!

  26. Group photo with bridal party

  27. Bride with bridesmaids

  28. Groom with groomsmen

  29. Bride with groomsmen

  30. Groom with bridesmaids

  31. First Looks

  32. Parents/Parental figures first look

  33. Siblings first look

  34. THE first look *Some couples choose to do this before their ceremony and some are totally against it - either way you choose to do it, be sure your photographer captures BOTH of your reactions!

  35. The Venue

  36. Daytime outside shots

  37. Venue details

  38. The ceremony space

  39. The reception space

  40. The Ceremony

  41. Live musicians

  42. The officiant

  43. The procession

  44. The reaction

  45. Vows

  46. Rings

  47. The kiss

  48. The recessional

  49. Couples Portraits *Decide how many poses and where you will want these photos taken so you're not trying to make decisions when you're in the moments right after you're married!

  50. Cocktail Hour *A second photographer is a fantastic addition to a large reception - capture the first moments of your reception while you're off taking photos as newlyweds!

  51. Reception

  52. Wedding party entrance

  53. The grand entrance

  54. The first dance

  55. Dances with parents

  56. Dances with siblings

  57. Toasts

  58. Guests with couple

  59. Guests dancing with couple

  60. Bouquet and garter toss

  61. Special dances *If you are planning to do an anniversary dance, dollar dance, boot dance, etc., be sure your photographer knows ahead of time so they're not taking a break during those special moments!

  62. Cake cutting

  63. Last dance *Some couples choose to have a private, intimate final dance while their guests are preparing for the grand exit of the evening - this can be staged if you plan to do a "faux" grand exit earlier than the end of the party!

  64. The Send Off *Be sure your photographer knows how you'll be leaving your reception - whether it's with sparklers, bubbles, confetti, in a fancy car, on horseback - no matter what it is, you'll want your photographer to capture all of it!


Wedding photographers are an investment! This is not an area of your budget you'll want to skimp on. At The Courtyard, our coordinators will provide you with a list of our preferred vendors when you book our venue!


Chat, call, or email us today to schedule a tour! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for updates and inspiration!


https://www.backtolifeproductions.com/

http://www.carrienicholsphotography.com/

https://www.loneoakstudios.com/

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