LOGISTICS + INSIGHTS

WE ARE FREAKING DOING THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you so much for picking me to capture your wedding day. I damn well know there is no shortage of amazing photographers you had to chose from, so the fact you picked me as your girl absolutely thrills to me to the core!!

I have put together this Logistics + Insights form to provide you with as much insight as possible to make your day the best it can be from a photography standpoint. I offer these insights from years of capturing weddings in Colorado. I hope you keep these thoughtful tips in mind as you plan. Please always feel free to openly communicate with me about any questions or concerns, I’m here for you!

LOGISTICS

A few reminders :

- Final payments are due 30 days before the Wedding – there will always be a reminder email sent your way the week before its due.

- If you want to add additional hours to your package, please let me know as soon as possible the charge is $400/hour (a minimum of 30 days in advance), $500 thereafter.

- All parking for Kate Davis/second photographers must be provided/paid for by couple, if you’re getting ready in a city hotel, valet will be required for easy access to gear and accessibility to leave on time.

INSIGHTS

|| SAMPLE TIMELINES ||

This is just to show you and your other vendors how much time I need for each photo time, things of course can always be maneuvered and changed and will vary if you have a second shooter for a partial/full day but use this as a guide when setting times with caterers, planners, hair +makeup etc. (with less time you would *usually* take off time from the beginning and end of the day for example, 7 hours take off 30 minutes at the start of the day and 30 minutes at the end, 6 hours one hour at the beginning of the day and one at the end, etc. It’s totally your preference on what is most important to you, getting ready photos or most of the reception open dancing. Just shoot me an email if you have any questions on what to do :)!) I will send you a questionnaire 2 months before that will help me provide you with a personalize timeline and finalize it 1 month out.

Wedding Day WITH First Look | 8 hours

2:00PM: Photographes arrive for detail photos
2:30: Photographers capture getting ready photos
3:30PM: First Look + Couple Portraits
4:10-4:45PM: Wedding Party Photos
4:45 PM: Hydrate/ Rest before the Ceremony | Photographer photographs the ceremony area + guests arriving
5:30 PM: Ceremony time!
6:00 PM: Family Photos begin at ceremony site directly after ceremony before they head to cocktail hour
7:00 PM: Grand Entrance into reception
7:15 PM: Dinner is served (Photographers eat at this time as well so alot 35 minutes without photos)
*7:45PM: Sneak out for sunset photos*
8:10 PM: Toasts//Speeches
8:30 PM: Cake Cutting
8:40 PM: Father/Daughter + Mother/Son Dances (I specifically do this first, so all the bittersweet tears can get out of the way. Next will be Couple Dance and will end on a high note to open the dance floor)
8:45 PM: First Dance
8:50 PM: Open Dancing
10:00PM: Photographer Exit

Wedding Day WITHOUT First Look | 8 hours
2:30PM: Photographers arrive for detail photos
3:00PM: Photographer gets final getting ready moments
4:00PM: Bridal Party Photos minus the few all together
5:00 PM: Hydrate/ Rest before the Ceremony | Photographer photographs the ceremony area + guests arriving
5:30 PM: Ceremony time!
6:00 PM: Family Photos begin at ceremony site directly after ceremony before they head to cocktail hour
6:20PM: Full Wedding Party Photos
6:30PM: Couples Portraits
7:00 PM: Grand Entrance into reception
7:15 PM: Dinner is served (Photographers eat at this time as well so allot 35 minutes without photos) *
7:45PM: Sneak out for sunset photos*
8:10 PM: Toasts//Speeches
8:30 PM: Cake Cutting
8:35: Father/Daughter + Mother/Son Dances (I specifically do this first, so all the bittersweet tears can get out of the way. Next will be Couple Dance and will end on a high note to open the dance floor)
8:45 PM: First Dance
9:50 PM: Open Dancing
10:30PM: Photographer Exit

INSIGHT ON WEDDING LIGHTING

Thinking about lighting on wedding day is SO IMPORTANT for achieving beautiful images. I always want to give you the most information, so you can make the most educated decisions when it comes to planning the timing of your day. Best time of day to get married is going to be 2- 3 hours before sunset or within the first few hours of sunrise. When drawing inspiration from Pinterest + other blogs, pay attention to the light you are most drawn to, chances are, it’ll be well, evenly-lit photographs and that requires intentional planning! If you cannot have evenly lit areas [ Colorado is a sunny state! ], think about putting the sun behind you. It may be momentarily bright for your guests, but it will be most beautiful for your photographs. Also consider an altar that shades both partners from the sun, this can be done through trees, fabric, flowers, arches, cloth, etc. You, of course have zero control over the weather and what the sky looks like, but I like to set you up for success in as many ways as I can in preparation for your big day! Your photos will be beautiful no matter what the weather but planning for good lighting makes things a little easier on you and your guests as well.

Examples of GOOD + EVEN light:

Examples of HARSH + UNEVEN light:

UNPLUGGED WEDDINGS
Unplugged weddings are truly the only way to ensure beautiful + uninterrupted moments during your wedding ceremony. I recommend announcements be made prior to any processional at your ceremony. This allows your officiant to state a heartfelt importance to your loved ones asking them to be fully present in the moments of your wedding. I love the quote, “We ask that you capture this ceremony with your heart and not your phone.” I find an intentional announcement before processional to be the most effective, when combined with signs to remind guests. Below is a sample of what happens when folks don’t mindfully implement a “unplugged” wedding.

FAMILY FORMALS

The best time to do family formals is directly after the ceremony, this time can be chaotic is family members are not all in the same place when they need to be so it really is best to do it when everyone is already where they need to be. Over the years photographing weddings of all sizes, cultural backgrounds, etc, this is what works best. It is extra helpful to:
A. Send a mass email/text message to all of the family members you’d like to include in these photos a few weeks BEFORE the wedding so they know that they are in fact, included and will know not to head to cocktail hour right away.
B.) After the ceremony, have the officiant make and announcement for ALL family members to stay at the ceremony location for photos.

In my questionnaire, I’ll have you give me all the combos you want. In 30 minutes I can usually get 15 different family combos. I will need the specific names of everyone. People listen to their actual name more than, “Mom…Grandma…Dad!!” It’s easiest to start with everyone and subtract down. Also let me know which sides of the family have people who cannot stand for long amounts of time, or have smaller children that may be starving and melting down fast. I always want to get to them first. So an example of what I’m looking for is the following:

Bride Side:
Kate + Jace, Maureen (Mom), Del (Dad), Elaine (Sister), Mary (Grandmother), Julie (Aunt)
Kate + Jace, Maureen, Del, Elaine
Kate + Jace, Maureen, Del
Kate, Maureen, Del
Kate, Maureen
Kate, Del
Kate, Elaine

If you have any questions, or need any help with anything, please never hesitate to ask me!