sandpoint luxury Wedding Photographer Spills the Tea
Planning your wedding in North Idaho, Sandpoint, Coeur d’Alene, or Spokane? As a luxury North Idaho wedding photographer, and lifetime destination wedding photographers dedicated to this craft, we’ve seen weddings of all shapes, sizes, and locations around the world. We’ve learned from hundreds of real couples that certain choices are almost always regretted (and even more often avoidable). Below are the biggest regrets real brides shared, plus proven tips to help you plan your best wedding day possible.
“We stressed about the little things that literally no one remembers.”
The napkin fold, the exact shade of sage, whether the signage was perfectly calligraphed. If you want to obsess over this before the big day, fine, but once you’re in your wedding dress, please just let it all go and flow with this beautiful celebration you’ve put together.
→ Fix it: Ask yourself, “Will this matter in five years?” If the answer is no, spend that energy on the dance floor with your new spouse instead.
“We let family formals eat golden hour.”
20-minute family photos turn into 55 minutes because Uncle Rick disappeared to the bar and Grandma needed a chair.
→ Fix it: Give your photographer a specific and tight list, but most importantly, assign a bridal party member or two (preferably family members), or planner to pre-notify and then wrangle the people you need right after the ceremony ends. As much as our photojournalism wedding photography style can’t be “pre-planned”, but absolutely plan out formal photos will tremendous care so they can be knocked out quickly and get you back to your party.
“We did a first look just because everyone told us to.”
Some couples adore their first look. Others quietly admit they wish they had waited to see one another until the aisle.
→ Fix it: Ask yourself what will feel most “you.” If the idea of seeing each other privately makes you cry happy tears: DO IT. If the aisle moment is sacred: PROTECT IT. Either way, it’s so important to remember you’re planning this ceremony for yourselves and not just to please everyone else. Seeing one another before the ceremony doesn’t really save you that much timeline time. You do you, boo.
“We didn’t hire a photographer for long enough.”
6 hours sounds like “plenty” on paper. Then the getting-ready hair and make-up runs long, family formals take forever, and suddenly you’re rushing portraits at sunset because there’s only 30 minutes left on the clock? NEVER with me.
→ Fix it: If there’s still a party on the dance floor, we’re still there. Hire a photography team like So Many Moments who doesn’t have a time limit crunch. We want to tell your whole wedding story, from beginning to end, and never watch the clock. More information about what's included in our wedding photography package and pricing here.
“We didn’t spend much of our budget on the photographer.”
Sometimes wedding costs blossom beyond all believable bounds and it’s not uncommon to try to find places to skim the fat, but the photographer is not the place. Your wedding photos are the one thing that becomes more valuable every single year while everything else fades. Invest in artists that have a style that speaks to you. Check out my free Guide for Hiring Your Wedding Photographer, complete with questions to ask when interviewing different wedding artists.
→ Fix it: After all else is said and done, a beautiful bespoke wedding album is the one heirloom be able to hold and you’ll pass down generation to generation. Invest in the best. All of our luxury wedding couples receive an album included with their photography package.
“We didn’t take any videos.”
As a wedding photographer, of course I’m obsessed with still images, but that doesn’t mean I don’t still value moving ones! I have no problem working alongside professional videographers and have deep appreciation for the magic they create on a wedding day. Having both photo and video is a true treat and 100% worth the splurge.
→ Fix it: At the very least, ask some friends and family to take phone videos. If you’ve hired a wedding photography team you can trust to get the goods, encourage them to skip the stills and prioritize video. Set up on a shared online folder for everyone to be able to upload their videos after the wedding.
Choosing the Right Photographer Matters. in north idaho? Let's keep in touch.
If you're planning a wedding up here in North Idaho, Coeur d'Alene to Sandpoint is our home base, or far, far beyond, we would love to talk more with your about your big day. We're a husband and wife award-winning wedding photography team that never charges a travel fee, loves what we do, and documents your full wedding love story without worrying about an arbitrary number of hours. Explore more of our website for more examples of our wedding work and our up front rates + contact us to get in touch.
