A Guide For Planning Your Wedding Day With Intention | Destin, FL & 30A Wedding Photographer + Super 8 Videographer
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Whether you’re planning a full out big wedding with all of your favorite people, an intimate microwedding with your closest friends and family, or a beautiful elopement for just the two of you, how your wedding day feels matters just as much as how it looks (if not more!!). When your timeline, priorities, and expectation of the day are all aligned with that feeling, your photos and film follow that flow.
In this guide, we’re covering a few key photo and video considerations and how planning with intention influences the moments captured throughout your day. So keep reading if you are planning the most intentionally beautiful wedding dayyyy because as both a photographer and 2026 bride myself, I’m right there with you!!
Courtney & Vinne’s stunning wedding day. They opted out of their cocktail hour and wanted a moment together and some photos on the roof of this parking garage so we took some post ceremony portraits while their guests mingled and enjoyed cocktail hour.
How Do You Want Your Wedding Day to Feel?
You’re planning your dream wedding, and I’m willing to bet you have a beautiful Pinterest board filled with inspiration. You’ve gathered ideas for how you want the details to look, heard plenty of stories about other people’s weddings, taken in all the advice, and made notes of the “what to do’s” and “what not to do’s.” Your list is fantastic. It’s fun, exciting, and full of beautiful ideas for a day spent celebrating your love with all of your favorite people.
But here’s the question I want you to pause and think about if you haven’t already: how do you want your wedding day to feel?
There’s no wrong answer here. The only right answer is yours, the one that comes up when you really take a moment to imagine it.
If you’re anything like me, you want to feel present for every moment. You want to feel relaxed, not rushed from one thing to the next. You don’t want to wake up at the crack of dawn just to fit everything in. You want your day to feel easy. You want to soak in every second and every detail with the love of your life and all of your favorite people because this day is never happening again. Andddd let’s be honest, you also want to have an insane amount of fun and scream your favorite songs on the dance floor until you’re out of breath. 😉
I get it. Remembering the day and having photos to look back on that feel the same way you did in the moment is so important. I’m right there with you. I already have empty spots on my walls waiting for frames, and I cannot wait to relive that day over and over again when it happens. I’m willing to bet you feel the same way?
The feeling of your wedding day is shaped by so many things, the people you choose to surround yourself with, the vendors you hire, the conversations you have ahead of time, and the planning you do so you aren’t worried about the details on the day itself. Your planner or coordinator, photographer, and videographer all play a big role in helping bring that feeling to life, often guiding the flow of the day and taking care of the things you shouldn’t have to think about.
As a photographer, my job is to bring calm to the moments that need it most and to document your day as it naturally unfolds. Your photos will reflect the emotions and feelings of that moment. So now, let’s talk about the details that help make that experience possible.
Important Conversations to Have with Your Wedding Photographer
First and foremost, communicate your wants, needs, and intentions with your vendors. That’s what we’re here for. We truly want to hear from you. I tell all of my clients this all the time: I’m your gal for any and everything you need. Please never hesitate to reach out. No question is dumb or pointless. We’re here to help, and clear communication makes everyone’s job easier, especially yours on the wedding day.
From a photography perspective, I’ll always ask how you want your wedding day to feel. That’s intentional. As your photographer, it’s my job to read the room, bring the right energy to the right moments, and help you execute the day you’re dreaming of. That feeling you want your day to have directly ties into the moments you want documented.
I’m all about capturing your day as it naturally unfolds, but some moments benefit from a little guidance and that’s a great thing. Our role is to document everything about your day, but it’s so important to speak up if there’s something that really matters to you. Whether it’s a specific moment, a meaningful detail, or a certain type of photo, don’t hesitate to share it.
Things like sunset portraits, sentimental details, whether you want to attend your cocktail hour, or if you’d like to step away from the reception for a few quiet moments are all conversations we’ll walk through during planning. Still, they’re helpful pieces to keep in mind as you think through what matters most to you and how you want your day to flow.
A few questions I ask every couple:
What's one word that describes your love story?
What part of the day are you most looking forward to?
How do you want your day to feel?
Wedding Day Portraits
I’m a big believer that your wedding day shouldn’t feel like a photoshoot. That being said, most couples really value having portraits they love. There’s a healthy mix between the two, and creating intentional pockets of time for portraits is what allows everything to feel relaxed instead of rushed.
I tell all of my couples this: I’m a prompter, not a poser. When guidance is needed, I’ll offer simple prompts that encourage natural interaction rather than stiff posing. Nothing awkward, nothing forced, and nothing that pulls you out of the moment. The goal is always for your portraits to feel like you, not like you’re checking something off a list.
One of the most important things you can do for this part of the day is making sure you and your partner are on the same page. That doesn’t mean you both have to be equally excited about portraits, but it does mean understanding what they represent to each other. If one of you really values having portraits and the other doesn’t care as much, that’s totally fine. A little compromise and trust go a long way here, and I promise it can be easy, quick, and very low pressure.
This also applies to things like sunset portraits. Some couples love stepping away for a few quiet minutes, while others would rather stay in the middle of the celebration. There’s no right or wrong choice, just what feels most aligned with your priorities. Documentary style photography is beautiful, and I love it, but it’s important to know that many of those natural looking images still involve some level of direction or prompting. Truly effortless photos often come from gentle guidance paired with willingness and presence.
At the end of the day, you get to decide what matters most to you. When expectations are clear and everyone is on board, portraits don’t feel like an interruption, they become a meaningful part of the experience.
Should You Do a First Look at Your Wedding?
The only right answer is whatever feels right to the two of you, I’ll say that a million times over. Neither option is more special or sentimental than the other, it’s completely a personal preference. Whatever you decide is perfect and exactly how your day should unfold.
If you picture sharing a quiet moment together before the ceremony with no one else around, that’s beautiful. If you imagine seeing each other for the first time as you walk down the aisle, that’s just as meaningful. There is no wrong choice here. That said, here are a few things to consider when deciding what feels best for you.
A first look can be a great option if you value spending time at your cocktail hour with your guests. When family photos, wedding party photos, and couple portraits are done before the ceremony, it frees up time afterward to relax, mingle, and actually enjoy that part of the celebration. Some couples also love a first look because it helps calm nerves before the ceremony, or because it gives them space to exchange private vows without an audience.
If you choose to see each other for the first time during the ceremony, it’s important to plan on likely missing part (or all) of your cocktail hour. The time immediately following the ceremony is typically used for family photos, wedding party photos, and couple portraits. That doesn’t mean you can’t attend your cocktail hour, it just comes down to what you value more during that window: extended portrait time or time with your guests. As always, this decision comes back to your intentions and how you want your day to feel.
I also want to share my personal perspective on this as a bride planning my own wedding. We’ve decided to do a first look before our ceremony, and here’s why. I really value having that time with my fiancé and want us to spend as much of the day together as possible. I’m also very excited about having daylight portraits, being fully dressed up and capturing those moments in natural light is something I’m really looking forward to.
There are a couple of other big reasons behind our decision. Neither of us is originally from the area, we moved to Florida from opposite sides of the country which means all of our family and friends are traveling in. Spending time with them during cocktail hour is really important to us. Additionally, sunset on our wedding day is right around 5:00 PM, and with a 4:00 PM ceremony, that means most of our reception photos will be taken after dark. Taking care of our couple portraits and family photos earlier in the day while there’s still daylight feels like the best fit for us.
At the end of the day, it all comes back to the intention we’re setting for our wedding.
All of that to say, again, there is absolutely nothing wrong with whatever you choose.
What to Include for Your Wedding Day Details
You’ve seen the flat lays, we know them, we love them. You’ve put so much thought into choosing all of those little details, from your stationery to the jewelry you’re wearing, family heirlooms, shoes, florals, and maybe even a signature scent for the day. All of it matters, and all of it helps tell your story.
If there are specific details you want photographed, I recommend having them gathered in a small bag or box and ready to go when your photographer arrives. This keeps things stress-free and allows us to capture everything efficiently without having to track items down throughout the morning. As always, it comes back to planning with intention, bringing the pieces that feel meaningful to you and reflect your day.
Below is a simple checklist you can screenshot or save to reference on your wedding day:
Wedding Day Detail Checklist
Rings (both partners’ engagement rings and wedding bands)
Jewelry
Family heirlooms or sentimental items
Stationery (invitations, save the dates, envelopes, etc.)
Wedding attire (dress, veil, shoes)
Perfume or cologne
Vow books
Florals (ask your florist ahead of time if you’d like extra pieces for detail photos)
Notes or letters
Anything else that feels special or meaningful to you
A hanger!! Ditch the plastic hanger that comes with most dresses and consider bringing even a simple wooden hanger.
Family Photos
Yes, we can make them both beautiful and efficient. Family photos are one of the most common things couples stress about, whether that’s because of family dynamics, concerns about people showing up on time, or the fact that not everyone loves having their photo taken.
Here’s my promise to you: we’ll keep family photos organized, streamlined, and as quick as possible so no one is standing around longer than they need to. Ahead of the wedding day, we’ll create a clear list of the family combinations you want captured. On the day itself, I’ll guide everyone through that list and move things along efficiently getting you, your parents, or grandparents that family photo they’ll love with everyone dressed up.
Having a plan in place ahead of time is what makes this part of the day feel smooth instead of stressful. When everyone knows where they need to be and when, family photos become just another meaningful part of your day not something to dread.
A few tips for family photos:
Designate a helper who knows both sides and can help gather everyone when the time is necessary
Keep the list realistic, prioritize immediate family first then include others if you’re feeling up to it.
Creating Your Wedding Day Photo & Video Timeline
Now that we’ve talked through the details, let’s talk about the timeline. The bottom line is this: you need a timeline, and timelines are important but they should always be flexible.
I like to think of them as loose timelines. When we create yours, there is always buffer time built in. Some moments will take less time than expected, others will take more, and that’s completely normal. Building in breathing room is what keeps the day from feeling rushed or stressful & having a timeline keeps you on track.
While flexibility is key, having a timeline still matters. Moments like family photos, a first look (if you’re doing one), wedding party photos, and couple portraits all need to be accounted for. And while the day doesn’t fall apart if something runs a few minutes behind, your ceremony is one moment you’ll want to keep as close to on time as possible because, yes, the show does kind of depend on you.
Talking through what’s most important to you with your photographer plays a big role in shaping your photo and video timeline. These conversations help ensure that the moments you value most are prioritized and that nothing important gets overlooked.
Your planner or day-of coordinator will create a detailed master timeline that includes all vendors. From there, your photographer and videographer will collaborate with you and your planner to align photo and video coverage with the overall flow of the day. A strong timeline helps every vendor do their job well and ultimately helps your day feel smooth, calm, and intentional.
Final Thoughts & Things To Remember for Your Wedding Day
I once read something along the lines of the best photos are simply of people in love I’m definitely butchering it, but the sentiment stands. When you’re in love and present with your person, your photos will naturally reflect that. So you’re already doing it right. Stay close to each other throughout the day, soak it all in, and let everything else fall into place.
And a few things to remember:
Not everything has to be perfect to be meaningful.
Trust the incredible team you’ve chosen to support you.
Not every moment needs to be planned, some of the most special memories come from the in-between, unexpected moments.
And not every trend needs a place in your wedding day. Include what feels meaningful to you, and let the rest go.
Your wedding day is about connection, presence, and celebrating your love. When you lead with that, everything else follows. And finally, congratulations to the both of you. This is SUCH an exciting time in your life and I truly hope you are enjoying every second of it and soaking up all of these moments. Lastly, use this guide as a starting point, not a rule book. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, your day should feel like you. You got this, I’m SO excited for you!!
