Pre Wedding Preparation | LDS
It's important to acknowledge that no wedding day is perfect, preparing and following the suggestions below can help make your wedding day the best it can be.
Items to Avoid:
Glitter makeup: Steer clear of glitter makeup, as it can create unwanted reflections and distract from your natural beauty.
Chewing Gum
Bulking items in pocket (wallet, cell phone etc.)
Tanning/Sun 4-7 days before your wedding. It is not a bad idea to add color to your complexion by sun tanning, just avoid sunburn.
Refrain from getting spray tans as they don't photograph well and can result in undesirable orange hues. Trust me on this!
Dry skin & chapped lips
Tan lines that will be evident with your wedding dress. Neckline, sleeves etc. Also avoid sunglass and watch tan lines.
Open toed shoes during cold winter months. Most of the time your footwear is not going to be visible beneath your wedding dress at the temple. If it is a cold winter month (December through March) I suggest wearing very warm snow-boots with warm socks. Also men and women should consider thermal garments to help keep you warm (just for the outdoor temple photos). Your local distribution center should carry these. Test them out beneath your suit/wedding dress beforehand.
Steer clear of vivid red lipstick as cameras struggle to capture the intensity of red tones. If wearing lipstick keep it subtle. Less is more.
Suggestions:
Pick simple, classic styles that won’t look dated in a few years. This applies to clothing, hairstyle, hair color and jewelry.
Manicured nails, shaped brows for women. Trimmed ear, eyebrow and nose hair for men. Men, also pay attention to your eyebrows and if they need to be trimmed. Men clean-shaven, be detailed in your shave. If you choose to have facial hair or stubble that is fine. If you easily get razor burn, shave at the right time to have the least amount of razor burn on the wedding day. Please prepare by wearing Chap Stick and moisturizer weeks before the wedding (men and women). Trimmed and clean finger nails for men.
Shoes polished, dress socks, stockings free of runs. Clothing neatly pressed and ironed.
Women, spray down all fly away hairs prior to your temple exit and start of your wedding reception.
During the hot summer months be sure to drink plenty of water the night before the wedding. The groom should carry a handkerchief in his pocket for brow perspiration during hot summer months.
Men, ensure that the stitching on your new suit in undone. When you buy a new suit, there is white stitching on the jacket shoulders, the vents are sewn closed and the pockets are stitched shut. These all need to be removed to prepare the jacket to be worn.
Apply eye drops and moisturizer the day of your wedding.
Be mindful that thicker and longer eyelash extensions might affect the visibility of your eyes which are the most vital element in a portrait. This can make it challenging to showcase the catch lights in your eyes, which are crucial for creating a captivating portrait. If you tend to squint when you smile, it’s recommended to opt for shorter and lighter eyelash extensions to ensure your eyes, the centerpiece of a portrait, remain unobscured.
Men should cut their hair 2-6 days before the wedding day. Cut to the length you want it to be on the wedding day. Neckline should be neatly shaped and clean.
Make sure teeth are cleaned and flossed.
The bride and groom should stick together side by side as often as possible. This allows for both to be in the candid images. Be conscience of your body language for I am constantly photographing candid images of you throughout the day.
Cufflinks for men are a small detail that adds a nice touch. You will need to buy a French Cuff Shirt to make this work.
A two-button suit coat should typically have its top button fastened. The only instance when it's appropriate to leave the suit coat unbuttoned is when you're wearing a vest underneath it. Please check out this brief and informative YouTube video from Real Men Real Style.
When you're tying your necktie, remember the guideline that the lower end of the tie should just lightly reach the top of your belt. Avoid tying your necktie too long! Also, don't overlook the importance of wearing a belt with your suit. Opt for a necktie in solid, earth tones, and refrain from choosing one with loud patterns. Select an earth tone that complements your hair/eye color, complexion and the suit. Avoid wearing pastel neckties. My personal favorite brand for neckties is JZ Richards which can be found at Nordstrom and Utah Woolen Mills.
Wearing suspenders under your suit jacket can be a stylish and functional choice, and using button suspenders can be a great way to achieve a polished look. Button suspenders are often preferred over clip-on suspenders. They will look much better. Button suspenders are typically more discreet than clip-on suspenders. They don't have the visible clips or clasps that can sometimes be seen when wearing a suit jacket. This creates a cleaner and more streamlined look. To wear button suspenders under your suit jacket, you'll need to have buttons sewn into the waistband of your pants. These buttons should be placed in such a way that they align with the attachment points on the suspenders. The suspenders will then fasten to these buttons for a secure fit. If you're opting for suspenders, it's advisable to forgo wearing a belt.
Please run a link roller over tuxedo/suit. Pockets are to be empty! (Your temple locker key in your suit coat is fine). I suggest leaving pocket items (wallet, cell phone car key) in your temple locker. You can go back to get them once photos are done. Don’t leave your keys with someone else! That person may leave the temple forgetting they have your car keys.
In case the weather turns cold on the wedding day, the bride should have a coat, blanket, or cloak handy that can be effortlessly worn and removed. While it doesn't necessarily need to be something suitable for photographs, it's a nice extra touch if it complements the formality of the wedding attire.
After the sealing ceremony apply eye drops to your eyes if they are in need.
DON’T FORGET YOUR WEDDINGS RINGS, TEMPLE RECOMMENDS AND MARRIAGE LICENSE.
Check the car you will be traveling in to make sure it has a full tank of gas. Do this the day prior to the wedding.
Make sure you have a bouquet at the temple. It is an important part of your wedding day photos at the temple. A boutonniere for men is generally worn. The boutonniere is worn on the left lapel. Please try to pin this to your jacket prior to the sealing ceremony to save time.
Please check your wedding dress and try it on again a few days before your wedding. Make sure everything fits properly with the temple garment and make any adjustments ahead of time. Check for loose buttons or anything important that may be missing.
The groom should bring a comb to the temple.
An important reminder. Please make sure both families understand.
OTHER PHOTOGRAPHERS: There are to be no other professional photographers, and/or photographers building their portfolio taking photos during the scheduled events for which the Photographer has been hired. Client is asked NOT to encourage family or friends to take photos with professional cameras during the event for which the photographer is hired. Other photographers present can adversely affect the final outcome of your images (example: during group photos half the group can tend to look in the direction of the other camera present). One hired videographer taking strictly video is acceptable. A photo booth at the reception is acceptable. I don't mind people taking photos on their phones as long as they don't disrupt or distract the subjects I'm capturing. Client understands and agrees that he or she has hired Brandon Burk Photography as the exclusive Photographer for this event. In order to provide a high level of satisfaction and quality product, no other service providers (including family members) may be allowed to disrupt the event by photographing the services outlined in this Agreement. No other venders/family members will be permitted to provide the same or similar services or products, paid or unpaid, at the locations and dates specified in this Agreement.
Have your hair, makeup and all items done in advance and organized to create a shorter wait time for your guests as well as get you out the exit doors before all the other brides.
If a family member is not attending the sealing ceremony but is planning on being at the temple it is best to tell them to arrive 20 minutes after your scheduled sealing time. Example: If your sealing time is 10am tell your family members/friends to be there at 10:20am. Yes, it usually takes forty minutes to an hour for your exit but most people don’t factor in the time it takes to find parking.
If you are ready to exit the temple and a particular person is not there yet it is best to proceed with the exit rather than having the entire wedding party and yourself wait for that person to arrive. Often times if a person shows up late they would rather not have others wait for them. They can join group portraits once they arrive. Make sure everyone hangs tight at the temple following the ceremony and that they don’t take off to grab a quick lunch as an example.
It is probable that between 1 to 6 other couples will have their weddings within the 30-45 minutes surrounding your ceremony, especially on Fridays and Saturdays. To ensure a smooth experience, it's advisable to be well-prepared to leave the temple promptly. If you can exit before these other couples, you won't have to wait behind them to use the temple steps for group photos. Avoid lingering and move efficiently after the sealing ceremony.
Remind family members attending the sealing to bring their temple recommends.
Check the expiration date on your temple recommend well in advance. Talk with grandparents in advance that are attending the temple, have them double check their expiration date on their recommend. I have seen many temple sealings delayed due to a family member forgetting their recommend was expired.
On a hot summer's day, it's a good idea for the groom and family members to bring an extra clean white button-up shirt/garments and an additional pair of clean dress socks for the reception.
Gentlemen, please inspect the buttons on your suit or tuxedo to ensure they are securely stitched. I've witnessed many instances where the top suit buttons have come loose during weddings.
Sometimes I take group photos that require going down sets of stairs to get to the desired photo spot. It depends on the temple. If someone in the family is in a wheelchair please let me know in advance so I can prepare accordingly to accommodate the situation.
For the Temple Exit, Grand Entrance, and Sparkler Exit, walking slowly is ideal as it helps me maintain sharp focus and capture more photos with precision.
For the Temple Exit, here's a suggestion: After the bride and groom exit the temple, take a few steps outside the door. Share a kiss, and then proceed directly towards your immediate family for warm hugs. Following this, offer hugs to your in-laws. This approach helps avoid any awkward moments of uncertainty after leaving the temple. Just head straight towards your family with a cheerful smile!
If you are doing a sparkler exit and the venue is not providing the service for you I recommend bringing a torch lighter (hand torch) for the lighting of all the sparklers. If the venue is doing this for you they will most likely have this. If you are looking to buy sparklers I have heard “Zurchers” sells them. Be sure to call ahead to confirm they have them in stock. There are Zurchers locations throughout Salt Lake and Utah County.
Bouquet advice: I personally recommend a bouquet that is well-rounded and neatly shaped, without twigs or excessive elements hanging from the sides. Items protruding from the bouquet can cast shadows on your dress and might appear odd poking out or covering your arms, potentially being distracting. Please consider this as a suggestion, with exceptions possible.
Guests at the temple during the hot summer months of June to September find it welcoming and thoughtful to have access to a cooler filled with refreshing water bottles.
When rain is expected at the temple, it's advisable to choose either a black or white umbrella. It's best to steer clear of colored umbrellas, as they may cast a hue or color shade.
Hairstyle and Makeup
Make sure your roots are touched up if you color your hair. Avoid a drastic hair change, as you may not be happy with the results. If hiring a stylist and or makeup artist I strongly suggest doing a trial run with them before the actual wedding. Hairstyles should be off the face if possible. Hair falling down onto the sides of the face can create distracting shadows. Eye makeup should be blended – no sharp demarcation lines between colors. Avoid white above the eyes. Foundation makeup should be blended at the jawline, so that there is no demarcation between the face and neck.
My Preparation:
I am extremely prepared for your wedding day. I have a backup for all of my equipment. I always have two cameras with me. I always photograph and record the digital images simultaneously on two memory cards. I understand that I am a representation of you at your wedding. I always dress in formal attire and present myself professionally. Your wedding day photos are just as important to me as they are to you. I will be observant of all moments occurring to ensure I capture them. Please understand that I am not perfect however, I am dedicated to delivering my very best for the bride, groom, and your families. Your wedding day is not about me, it is about the two of you. I strive to make sure the focus always remains on the two of you on your wedding day. Self-awareness holds significant importance for me in how I represent you. Your wedding day is very important to me.
© Brandon Burk Photography
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