Hello beautiful Bride-to-be, and welcome! What an honor it is to walk alongside you during such an exciting season. I know wedding planning can feel both joyful and overwhelming, and my heart is to make photography the easiest, most meaningful part of it. You deserve not only beautiful images, but an experience that allows you to feel calm, present, and fully immersed in your day.
As an official Rachel Elyse Bride, the next step is planning your engagement session and connecting more as your wedding date approaches. I am so grateful you’re here and truly can’t wait to get to know you both. From our family to yours — welcome. It’s an honor to tell your story.
This guide walks you through how I intentionally structure my wedding experience — and why it’s designed to help you feel known, supported, and fully immersed in your day.
W
elcome
This may not be what you were expecting to find in your photographer’s client guide, but if you don’t read anything else in this magazine, please read this. It’s so important for me to explain how I view my relationship with my couples. When starting my business, I realized that what I desired in my business, more than anything, was a personal connection to my couples. Everyone wants to be known, seen, loved and befriended. I don’t know if I’ve ever met a human being who didn’t appreciate someone caring about who they are, what they’re passionate about, etc.
In the early years of my business, I committed to forming friendships with my clients and intentionally caring to get to know them. It changed everything. Having a heart for genuine friendships in our business has made my business so much more than how I pay our bills; it’s a huge part of our purpose in life. Not only is our friendship with our clients a gift to us, but it positively impacts our clients’ wedding day experience. When you are getting ready on the morning of your wedding day, it will be a relief to feel like a friend walks through those doors with a camera and not a random hired vendor. Friendship breeds comfortability and comfortability leads to trust...and trust is something that EVERY bride needs to have in their relationship with their wedding photographer! I’m so excited to get to know you during your engagement session!
Scroll
the gift of friendship
For most of my couples, this is their first time planning a wedding — and it can feel overwhelming. There are so many unknowns: how to create the day you truly want, how to structure the timeline, how to maximize your photography investment, and what pitfalls to avoid. That’s where I come in.
The single most impactful decision you’ll make is your wedding day timeline. I’ve seen disorganized timelines create unnecessary stress — and I’ve seen thoughtful, strategic timelines completely transform a day (even when the unexpected happens). If you focus your intention anywhere, let it be here. A strong timeline changes everything. Which is why I hand craft a timeline just for you.
YOUR WEDDING DAY
PLANNING
Once your date is officially reserved with a 33% retainer, we'll send over a few goodies to help you prepare for the big day. We're happy to serve as a resource for vendor recommendations, timeline guidance and more!
Date Booked
Make it official
Sessions can take place anywhere from immediately following a proposal to just a few days before the wedding. We’ve found that there isn’t a “good” or “bad” time to take your photos.
Engagement Session
We check in about two months before the wedding to start chatting about timeline specifics, special details, family formal shot lists, special traditions and anything else we should know about your big day.
Wedding Day Prep
It's finally here! The day the two of you say "I Do" and dance the night away surrounded by your family and friends. Just know we're excited to celebrate and capture your wedding day. It's going to be awesome
The Big Day
You can expect your photos to be delivered via an online gallery within about three weeks of your wedding. At that time, we'll also send over details about preserving your images through prints and albums.
They're Here!
the basics + common pitfalls
timeline guidance
You will be happy to hear that I generally take over a majority of the timeline planning, part of my process of making sure that you wedding is as magical as you have imaged, is to use my years of experience to help you plan your day to be as carefree as possible. At around the 3 month mark, I will reach out and we will plan a full timeline and do any troubleshooting we need. Here are some common things to keep in mind this early in the planning process:
sunset
no first look
drive time
Sunset is an imporant thing to keep in mind when planning your ceremony/reception timing. If you want a sunset ceremony, you need to plan a first look and be ready about 4 hours before the ceremony to get portraits in daylight. You need at least 2 hours of sunlight after your ceremony.
If you choose not to do a first look (which is totally fine) Make sure you leave at least 2 hours after your ceremony to complete any portraits. And make sure you are ready at least 3 hours prior to your ceremony so we can knock out what we can prior.
It is important to keep in mind the distances between where you are getting ready, the ceremony site, and the reception site. Driving time can really cut into portrait timing. Always add a few mins of buffer time to any drive time.
locations
Sometimes there are some gorgeous locations near your venues that would make the perfect backdrop for your vision and add variety to your wedding day. I always recommend making sure there is some green space to get photos at on your wedding day. So keep that in mind when planning timing of everything, leave space to visit any parks that you may want to have portraits at.
buffer time
deep breath
no one seeing the bride
As much as we want our wedding days to go super smooth. There is almost always some small emergency out of your control. I purposely add some buffer time to help ease anything that may go awry.
I’m going to help you along the way and it’s going to be a blast! Enjoy this time together and wedding planning can be so much fun!
If you want to make sure you none of your guests see you prior to the ceremony, I recommend tucking away at least 1 hour prior.
The season you choose for your wedding plays a huge role in determining your ceremony time — especially because of natural light.
In spring and summer, longer days allow for later ceremonies with plenty of daylight for portraits. In fall and winter, however, the sun sets much earlier, which means a late ceremony could leave you with little to no natural light afterward. Since beautiful, soft light makes such a difference in how your images feel, we’ll want to work backward from sunset to ensure we preserve that dreamy glow and build a timeline that supports it.
Scroll to view recommendations per season.
seasons
planning for
weddings & seasons
Winter weddings are gorgeous! However, they do take some additional planning simply because of the sunset time.
The hard part about a winter timeline is the fact that the sun sets around 4pm. This means that all of your portraits have to be done before then! This isn’t a problem if you’re having a late afternoon wedding. However, if you’re planning on having a late evening wedding, you may have a bit of down time from 4pm until the start of the ceremony. You will also need more coverage time as well.
Winter
weddings & seasons
Spring weddings are wonderful because they are the perfect temperature! However, I recommend having plenty of Claritin and Zyrtec on hand just in case allergies start to flare up during portrait time.
Spring weddings normally mean the potential for some blooms! If we happen to find any type of blooming tree or plant, it will be worth it to give us a few minutes for portraits with it! You’ll LOVE the result!
spring
ceremony time
weddings & seasons
Summer weddings are amazing! I love that there is so much daylight! In some months, the light will last until 8:30pm!
So, if you’re having a summer wedding, you’ll need to plan on having a few minutes to slip out of the reception for your glowy, sunset portraits. You will NOT regret this! This is the absolute best light of the day and you’re going to want to have portraits taken during this time period. Usually these portraits happen during dinner or open dancing so that no one even notices that you’re gone for a few minutes!
summer
ceremony time
weddings & seasons
Fall weddings are my favorite! The temperature is amazing and I love the fall colors! Most of my fall brides worry about color, and I just want to encourage you that all I need is one tree with some color in order to make it look like fall! A little bit of color can go a long way!!
Your portrait time (and fall colors) will vary depending on your wedding date. We’ll be sure to discuss this when we approve your final timeline!
fall
ceremony time
weddings & seasons
first look
why it's worth it
First looks are absolutely encouraged — but never required. Every couple is different, and your day should reflect what feels most meaningful to you.
I often recommend first looks because they create space for intimacy, calm nerves, and allow for a more flexible, relaxed timeline. That said, if you’ve always dreamed of seeing each other for the first time at the aisle, I will wholeheartedly support that too. Below, I’ll share a few reasons why many of my couples choose to do a first look — so you can decide what feels right for you.
why it's worth it
first look
40% more portraits & insurance
Enjoy the surprise freely
Alone Time
You’re investing a lot into your wedding photography. With a First Look, you’ll receive 40% MORE portraits of the two of you and those are the images you will decorate your first home with! With a First Look, you make the most out of this large investment and get the most for your money. Also, a First Look serves as a type of insurance in the case of rain or storms! Imagine if you didn't do a First Look and a storm sets in during the ceremony? Your window of opportunity for beautiful portraits has passed. However, if you shared a First Look, you have already gotten a large majority of your portraits done!
You actually get to have intimate time on your wedding day with your man. Most brides don’t realize that when you come down the aisle and totally SHOCK him with your gorgeousness...he can’t even tell you how amazing you look. He can’t touch you, embrace you or even SPEAK to you. You have to wait until 30 minutes later when the ceremony is over for him to react and tell you how amazing you look. And after 30 minutes of the ceremony, the reaction isn’t the same as the initial first glance
First Looks allow you to be TOGETHER and alone on your wedding day. When Michael and I saw each other, not only was it intimate, it was our only time to be alone the whole day! We cried and laughed and cried some more...and then that put us in the PERFECT mood for our romantic portraits. Normally portraits are a little rushed after the family formals, and it can be hard to really get back into that “lovey dovey” mode...especially with family around! When you have just shared your First Look, you’re READY to love on each other, and I always capture some super sweet images during those moments!
extend your day by 3 hours
diminishes nerves
First Looks allow you to extend your wedding day. Normally the wedding day would start when you come down the aisle, then the ceremony would end, you would rush through portraits so that you’re not late for the introductions and then it’s reception time. With a First Look, your wedding day is extended by almost 3 hours! Instead of being rushed for your bridal party portraits, you actually get to enjoy them and have fun hanging out with your BEST friends on your wedding day. The WHOLE first half of my clients' wedding albums are filled with images just from this time together before the ceremony.
You get rid of your nerves! About half of my grooms were not fully on board with a First Look initially. However, because they have never experienced their wedding day before, they didn’t know how nerve-racking it can be. I have testimonials from so many grooms who initially weren’t a fan of the First Look...but afterwards they admitted to being SO much more relaxed and ready for the ceremony!
Recommended vendors
Let them know I sent you <3
Planners/day-of Coordinators
DJ's
Florals
Wedding Video/Film Makers
wedding Rentals
Happily Ever Event
Love & Whimsy Events
Dana Renae Designs
Blush and Bloom Weddings
Ohio's Greatest Music
Brad McPherson
DJ John Buycks
Flowers by Brandi
The Flowerman
Floral V Designs
a little bit of green by Lisa
Average Joe Films
Flack Productions
Matthew Kenney Media
Lindsey Ballou Multi-Media
Adam Harmon
Kingsley Party Rentals
Lost and Found Vintage Rentals
Simply email me or text 513-265-8702 and ask! I'm here to help.
Have More Questions?
THANK YOU!
Thank you so much for taking the time to walk through this guide. I truly hope it brought clarity, confidence, and maybe even a little excitement to your planning process. My heart is for you to feel informed, supported, and completely at ease as your day approaches. If you have any questions, need advice, or simply want to talk through an idea, I’m always here for you. You’re not doing this alone — and it’s such an honor to be part of your story.