VCW Photography’s

Bride Survival Guide and Wedding Planner

If you find yourself sitting and reading this, just know there is only one thing to say

to you…..

You go SIS!

Your fiancé showed you the depths of true love made only for you and on the

Perfect Day, you’ll show the ENTIRE world how pure the love you for each other

is.

…and you’ll be able to feel the heartbreak of his Ex-Gorilla (or ex-girlfriend

because if you don’t like her, neither do I. #girlcode)

Sis, (can I call you sis? We’re sisters now FYI) I’m here to get you through the

insanity of it all…

Think of this as “girl time”. I’m going to spill all the “tea” from years of being a

wedding photographer and invading the privacy of hundreds of Brides and

Wedding Vendors. I’m all about “truth tellin’ and money savin’ so listen up

because NO SISTER of mine is going to have a Wedding that is less than

GLAMOUROUSLY PERFECT!

Use this Bridal Survival Guide to organize and plan all the events leading up to

that walk down the aisle while creating memories you’ll carry with you forever.

Get a printer (or use the one at your job) for all the worksheets I’ve got for you

and store them in a preferably super glittery 3 ring binder. Tab Dividers are

definitely recommended but it’s up to you (I say get a pack!)

I started giving these binders to my brides as gifts recently and it was the BEST

THING EVER! By the time your binder is complete, you’ve not only become the

greatest wedding planner alive, but you’ve also created the perfect keepsake

of memories from the entire experience of your wedding planning.

Breathe Sis…you’ve got this First off….calm down.

Yeah, it’s overwhelming, but you’re going to be fine. This is your time to shine.

No matter how excited everyone is around you, remember that this is YOUR

WEDDING. Even if you’re not traditionally the “center of attention” , you are

now. Stand up and make sure your input is heard and your voice is counted.

You don’t want to end up with regrets on your wedding day if your wedding

turns out to be your mother, sister, grandmother, or best friend’s wedding vision

instead of yours. (I’ve see that sooo many times.)It’s perfectly fine to consider

their input and suggestions about your wedding with a smile, but remember, it’s

just a suggestion. At the end of it all, the final choice is ALWAYS yours.

Keep that in the front of your mind.

#insiderTip In order to ensure your wedding is one to be remembered, pick your

wedding date as early as you can! If you’ve already chosen your wedding

date, you’re way ahead of your competition. Congrats Sis!

Truth is, most brides start to plan their weddings 9 months to 1 year before their

actual wedding date, but your real competition are the brides who book 2+

years ahead. I’ve seen women plan an entire wedding and the man hasn’t

even proposed yet!

If you have a date in mind that is significant to you and your fiancé, definitely

stick to that date and begin to book the most important wedding vendors first.

If you have a favorite Venue, photographer (hint hint) or videographer in mind,

book these FIRST. There are brides who plan 2+ years in the future who seem to

always want your wedding date, so you have to stay ahead of the game and

beat them to it.

Keep in mind that the first months that ALWAYS book solid the fastest are April,

May, June, October, & November. If you’re planning your wedding for any of

these months, reserve your date immediately.

Be open to Friday and Sunday as well for optional wedding dates if you find that

Saturday is booked. There’s also a chance that you could receive a discount

too. Wedding venues and vendors know that Saturday is an automatic booking,

but are usually willing to give AWESOME deals to fill the extra space on the

weekends.

If you plan a week day wedding, you can expect to save at least 1/3 of the

average cost of a wedding. #savemoney

I’ve included a few different calendars, so choose whichever you like the best

and print how many ever copies you need. Start with this current month as the

first month and follow each month after that until your wedding date.

This is your Wedding Date Countdown Timeline Calendar.

Love it.

’ ’

Here’s Your Checklist! I’m sure there are hund-er-reds of Wedding Checklists out there and I can say

I’ve read just about all of them. I’ve seen some that were entirely too simple (so

you know that wedding was a disaster) and Wedding Checklists that have been

pages long which probably stressed brides to the point of tears from all the stuff

she told her self was necessary.

Sis, don’t try to do it all yourself.

You have family and friends which are now renamed “Servants” until the day

after your wedding.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with being “Bridezilla”. Delegate tasks to

people around you. Trust me when I say that they’d be more than happy to do

it. Tell them what you want and when you need it done and watch things

magically happen around you. Don’t be afraid to say “No” either or ask for

multiple choices if they are just super pushy about your wedding.

Here is the best Wedding Checklist ever…and I’m not saying that because I

created it…it really is AWESOME!

Read it, personalize it to your wedding, print it and add it to your binder.

□ Choose Your Wedding Date

□ Define Your Wedding Budget

□ Start a Wedding Website

□ Pick Your Color Scheme

□ Pick Your Wedding Party

□ Book Your Wedding Venue

□ Book Your Photographer

□ Hire a Wedding Coordinator

□ Book Your Wedding Cake Bakery

□ Buy all your Wedding Accessories

□ Book Rehearsal Time/Dinner

□ Book Your Wedding Night Suite

□ Start Purchasing Décor (if DIY)

□ Buy Wedding Bands

□ Arrange the Marriage License

□ Make Final Wedding Dress Alterations

□ Buy Wedding Party Gifts

□ Approve Wedding Party Hair & Makeup

□ Finalize Wedding Décor

□ Approve Wedding Music

□ Take Bridal Photography Shoot

□ Take Your Engagement Photos

□ Send “Save the Date” Cards

□ Buy Your Wedding Dress

□ Book Wedding Caterer - Menu

□ Book Your DJ/Music

□ Begin Your Guest List

□ Send Wedding Invitations

□ Book Your Honeymoon

□ Book Your Wedding Officiant

□ Choose the Bridesmaid Dresses

□ Book Your Florist

□ Arrange Transportation

□ Create Ceremony & Reception Schedule

□ Create Reception Seating Chart

□ Finalize RSVP Guest List

□ Turn Up at Your Bachelor/Bachelorette Party

□ Write Wedding Vows

□ Pick up Marriage License

□ Confirm Wedding Vendors

□ Pay All Vendors

□ Finalize Food Menu

□ Show Up

□ Do Hair & Makeup

□ Get Married

□ Write Wedding Vows

□ Have all Dresses/Suits for Wedding

□ Confirm Wedding Vendors

□ Pack for Honeymoon

□ Approve Wedding Flow Timeline

□ Approve All Décor & Music

□ Finalize Photo Checklist

The Power of the “To Do List”

If you’ve never been into Organizing before….your life is about to

change.

“To Do Lists” will be your best friend. Its best to keep a paper copy as

well as sharing your lists with everyone who is helping you plan your

wedding.

Make sure to specify a deadline begin and end time with each task

to help you better stay on a tight schedule. Don’t worry if you fall

behind, you’ll always catch up and there’s plenty of people around

you there to get you back on track.

Tips:

Have a “To Do List” for each person that’s helping you with your

wedding.

Don’t Sweat writing your vows!

When it comes to vow writing, keep it sweet, simple and kid-friendly. I can’t tell

you how many times a vow included something that probably should have

been said behind closed doors that was embarrassingly read right in front of

family that looked as if they’d vomit from the thought.

Don’t be that Couple.

\

Here are a few Questions that can help you write a truly emotional expressive

way to clearly express your love (without it sounding completely stupid.)

How did you two meet?

What did you Wear? What did you say? How did it make you feel?

What was your first date like?

What was your first thought about him?

How did you know he was the one?

What’s one thing that’s kind of annoying and cute at the same time about him?

How have you changed as a person since you’ve met him?

….and here are your vows!

The Exit Can Be Dangerous

Sparklers are BEAUTIFUL, but before choosing that as your final exit…remember

who’s all attending your wedding.

If you have groomsmen or family members who “can’t hold their liquor” and tend to

get either “overly friendly” or “fights air because it touched his face”, sparklers might

not be the best idea for you.

I promise you don’t want your Exit Photos to be you in a fierce headlock by your Fiancé

while attempting to extinguish the extra hairspray dried in your gorgeous wedding hair

that was set on fire by the Drunken Uncle your Grandmother won’t allow in her house

anymore. (This happened in real life!)

If you find that Sparklers may not be in your future, get creative with your exit.

Bubbles are an awesome alternative. Birdseed mixed with Rose Petals have turned into

gorgeous photos, but whatever you choose, make sure it fits the vision you have set for

your special day!

Make sure that you are clear about who will be

attending your wedding and who will actually be

participating in your wedding.

Know thy wedding party….

\

If you’ve never been

the type to speak

up…now is the time.

Your wedding is going to be filled

with the people you and your

fiancé have grown up with and

love dearly. Without these

people, you both wouldn’t be the

AWESOME individuals you are

today….but with that being

said…remember that everyone’s

personality will be captured on

your wedding day.

WEDDING PARTY

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Engagement Photos are MUST!

If Engagement photos are in your budget, TAKE THEM! Not only are they PERFECT

for your “Save The Date” Cards or even Wedding Invitations, but they actually

act as a “practice run” for quick poses the day of the wedding.

Have you’ve ever wondered just how some

couples are able to produce beautiful

wedding day photos while others look

slightly awkward? – That could have been

from not having an Engagement Session.

You must remember that your wedding will

be on a time schedule and you’ll have tons

of family who’ll want a photo with you.

Unless you’ve schedule a super long cocktail

hour for the 2 hours an Engagement session

is, you might find yourself feeling awkward in

front of the camera.

Most photographers

include Engagement

Sessions in their Wedding

Package (I do anyway

)! Tell your wedding

photographer if you feel

uncomfortable taking

photos or just don’t have

any real experience in

front of the camera and

he/she (hopefully me) will

come fully prepared to

teach you exactly how to

look and feel your best on

camera.

“ ”

□ Do your parents love photos and have every embarrassing photo of you on

display in their home?

□ Is your mother teary eyed every time she thinks of you getting married?

□ Are you a perfectionist who wants your wedding dress to be FLAWLESS on your

Wedding Day?

A Bridal Session is a photo shoot that

gives you an entire “run-through” in

your dress.

You’ll see how your dress fits and

feels to know if there are any other

adjustments that need to be made

before your wedding.

If you’re having a problem walking in

your dress, your Bridal shoot is the

perfect time to figure it out.

A Bridal Session is a MUST if you’re

planning (or required by Mom) to put

up a Photo of yourself in the Reception

by the door.

There’s nothing better than seeing all

your friends and family stop and stare

at how gorgeous you look in your

photo.

Your Parents will LOVE you for it

especially if they get to hang the

portrait on their wall.

This is one of the reasons I try to

ALWAYS provide an inclusive 16x20

Portrait with each one of bridal sessions

I have the opportunity to shoot!

Every person involved on your Wedding Day will need a Wedding

Timeline. Take your time when you’re creating it and be realistic.

1. Not having one

2. Creating a Day Schedule that

has 3 Minute breaks.

The best thing to do is always give

yourself a little “wiggle room” when it

comes to time. Things happen, but

when you have an extra hour as a

“time cushion”, you’ll avoid tons of

stress.

’

This is YOUR Wedding

• 9:00 a.m. - Hair and Makeup begins

• 10:00 a.m. – Décor Setup Begins

• 11:00 a.m. (Fill in the blank) ______________________________________________________________

• 12:00 p.m. (Fill in the blank) ______________________________________________________________

• 1:30 p.m. (Fill in the blank) ______________________________________________________________

• 2:00 p.m. Photographer & Videographer Arrive

• 2:30 p.m. Pre-wedding photos begin

• 3:10 p.m. DJ & Cake Arrive

• 3:20 p.m. Food - Caterer Arrives

• 3:30 p.m (Fill in the blank) _________________________________________________________________

• 4:00 p.m. CEREMONY BEGINS

• 5:00 p.m. Cocktail Hour (Time to take Family Photos!)

• 6:00 p.m. Couple introduction, First Dance, and Parent Dances

• 6:25 p.m. Prayer or Speech

• 6:30 p.m. Dinner first course served

• 6:50 p.m. Speeches

• 7:25 p.m. Dinner second course served

• 7:45 p.m. (Fill in the blank) ______________________________________________________________

• 8:00 p.m. Cake Cutting

• 8:30 p.m. (Fill in the blank) ______________________________________________________________

• 9:00 p.m. Reception Games and/or Open Dance Floor

• 10:00 p.m. Your Special Exit! --- Reception ends

This is the one thing from your wedding day that will last Forever!

Although your wedding is one of the biggest and most stressful

events you’ll have in your life, it will also be the moment filled with

tons of memories.

Just remember not to breath….don’t stress….and enjoy the ride.

I really hope this helps you in someway on your Wedding Planning

Journey. I’m always available if you need any tips, or

recommendations for local vendors.

If you still are searching for that perfect Wedding Photographer (hint,

hint,) feel free to contact me at anytime!

via call/text at (210) 369-8241 or email:

Photos@VCWPhotography.com

If you let me know you saw my info here or at the Bridal

Extravaganza, you’ll get an AWESOME WEDDING GIFT from me!

Thanks so much and I’m sending All my Love Your Way!