Groom Guide

A Guide For

Welcome

A NOTE ABOUT THIS GUIDE

First of all, I want to thank you for taking the time to read through this guide! Weddings can be a lot and we never want our grooms to feel lost in the shuffle. So we created this guide to help you plan ahead and know what to expect. We are excited to work with you and capture all of the fun your wedding day will hold!

- Alison

Grooms

We know that getting your photos taken for hours on end doesn't sound like fun to most grooms. And we get it. So we put a lot of value in creating a photography experience for you and your soon to be spouse that is effortless. We'll guide you through every single step and keep things running smooth so we can get you back to celebrating with your loved ones.

In addition to having fun with you, we also really love to get to know your friends in a relaxed way so they feel comfortable with us too.

And when it comes time to take those classic groom portraits we will guide you through that too. But don't worry, this part of the day typically only takes about 15 minutes. Which gives you more time to relax with your friends, which we love!

Effortless

It's Your Day Too

It may seem like wedding days are all about the bride, but not in our book! Brides do tend to have more "things" to be photographed, but it's important to us to approach your wedding day as well.. yours! We love to connect with our grooms and capture incredible groom portraits. I always refer to these in my head as your "James Bond" photos. I think every groom deserves photos that encompass the James Bond vibe. Stylish, classic and so effortlessly cool. Plus we are certain your soon to be spouse (and probably your grandma) will also love these timeless portraits of you!

Now I know this topic may not apply to every family. Each and every wedding day that we photograph is full of different family dynamics. It's more than okay to not follow these suggestions if it's not a great fit for your family. In many wedding day situations, we have founds that there is very little directions for the Mother of the Groom. It's easy for her to feel lost and not included in the day. The Mother of the Groom often wants to be included but doesn't want to overstep in any way. One very sweet and thoughtful way to include the Mother of the Groom is to invite her into the getting ready space and allow her to take a few pictures straightening her son's tie or putting on his boutonniere. Be sure to let her know to come fully dressed and ready so that she feels her best in these photos!.

Including Your Mom

We begin every wedding day by photographing the details of the day for both the bride and the groom. We share more information on this in our details guide, but we encourage all of our couples to create a details box. You'll fill this box with all of your details for both of you! If you're getting ready in separate locations, this might be impossible but we do encourage getting ready in nearby locations when possible for this reason.

It might seem like you don't have any details, but you do! Here are some things you may want to add to the details box:

Ring
Cufflinks
Bow tie or tie
Shoes
Watch
Cologne
Boutonnieres
Groomsmen gifts
Heirloom pieces such as signet rings

Groom Details

I want to start off by saying that while we love fisrt looks, having a first look is totally up to the couple.A lot of couples still opt to go the more traditional route and there is nothing wrong with that! In fact, Zach and I were one of those couples. But between my own experience and spending several years in the wedding world, I've been able to see a lot of positives to having a first look. I wish I would have knows about them before my big day so I thihnk it's important to share this with you.

When Zach and I got marrried, we got so caught up in tradition, we totally overlooked one very important aspect of our wedding day. Us.

That's right, on the one day that was meant to celebrate the two of us, we spent almost the entire day apart. By the time we got through the ceremony it was time for family photos. And then onto portraits and then the reception where we spent o most of our time talking to guests. We had very little time together on our own wedding day.

We were very focused on Zach seeing me for the first time as I walked down the aisle. But the truth is, sharing a private first look prior to the ceremony is just as special, if not more so! It's a private moment spent between you and your bride. You can tell her right then how good she looks. And best of all? It allows time for you to slow down and be turly present with one another on our wedding day. It's time set aside just for the two of you and it is such a beautiful thing! Plus it takes a lot of the stress out of the day and allows you to just have fun! So worth considering!

Understanding First Looks

Obviously, we want to take amazing photos of your day but we also know that the wedding day is not about photos, it's about lifelong commitment, being with family and friends and celebrating your new marriage! The party is a very important part! We realize that most groomsmen are not pumped about picture time and we get it. That's why our goal through out the entire portrait process is to just have fun and get you to your party! Rowdy groomsmen are a part of every wedding day and we actually find them to hilarious and fun to work with! However, you can actually help us get you to your party faster by doing a few things

Encourage your guys to pay attention
If you trust us, they will too
Reassure them that the more they listen, teh quicker they'll be done

The Goal: Get You to Your Party

Even if you're bride to be is cool, calm and collected, there will be moments through out this process where she will feel stressed. She may even say that it isn't stressful but having your support will speak volumes! Here are some ways you may consider supporting her in the days leading up to your wedding:

Be involved. Zach and I have always tackled everything as a team and it really helps me to relax if I know he is right by my side.
Check in. Sometimes just asking her how things are going with certain tasks will mean the world to her.
Take the photos. We know all too well that taking romantic photos may not be at the top of your list for fun things to do. But chances are, she has been looking forward to your engagement and wedding photos for a long time. Showing up for her with a smile during your session will help her feel more confident than any fancy dress, I promise you!
Plan date nights. These date nights can be a fancy night out or a money saving alternative like dinner in with your favorite movie. Wedding planning can be stressful on both of you, so it's important to schedule time where any wedding talk is simply off limits!

Being There for Your Bride

In addition to supporting your bride emotionally through out the wedding planning process, we have seen many grooms surprise their lovely lady with a gift to be opened on the morning of the wedding. This always goes over very well with the bride and bridesmaids and and is a great keepsake item. Here are some gift ideas we've seen: