I’ve captured 90 weddings; Here’s my advice to newly engaged couples
Big sisters don’t gatekeep. After capturing 90 weddings in Columbus, Ohio (and beyond) as a wedding content creator, here’s what I want all future engaged couples to know.
- Don’t rush into planning. Celebrate first. The planning will still be there in a few weeks.
- Pick your top 5 priorities together (venue, media, guest experience, food, whatever ranks highest for you and your fiancé.).
- Set a realistic budget before booking anything. TIP: an experienced planner can help you find this clarity and prevent stress as you get closed to the day.
- Choose vendors you actually enjoy being around because you’ll spend a lot of time together. Connection and communication matter just as much as talent.
- Don’t compare your wedding to what you see on social media. Finding inspiration is one thing, but what others post on Instagram isn’t meant to be a checklist for your day. The best weddings I’ve ever captured have felt personal, not performative.
- Protect time together during the engagement season. It’s so short lived and deserves to be celebrated. Some of my couples plan monthly date nights to celebrate the countdown to wedding day, which I love. My husband and I did dance lessons together leading up to our day.
- Start a shared wedding email. I actually did this for my own wedding and it was the best thing I ever did to stay organized.
- The timeline and traditional pieces of a wedding day are certainly important, but the in-between moments hold so much value. Allow buffer time to be fully present and allow those glimmers to unfold.
- Remember: guests won’t remember perfection — they’ll remember the atmosphere, emotion, and experience. AKA how the day felt.
Cover photo by Kismet Visuals
