Creating an Experience with Intention in Every Detail
introduction
Welcome! We’re truly honored to be part of your wedding story. Capturing the moments, emotions, and details of this season is more than a job to us, it’s a privilege. This guide was created to make planning feel a little lighter, with curated recommendations, inspiration, and practical tips we’ve gathered along the way. And of course, if you ever need something more personalized, we’re only an email away.
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Creativity is always evolving, and we love sharing the ideas, tones, and visuals that are sparking our imagination right now. Our inspiration board is a living collection of what’s catching our eye and shaping the way we see stories unfold.
Wedding Ideas Inspiring Us Lately
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The places you choose will shape the mood of your session. Whether it’s a meaningful spot in your story, a natural setting with beautiful light, or an urban backdrop full of texture, the right location should feel authentic to you and create an atmosphere where you can be fully present together.
Choosing the Right Backdrop for You
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Clothing has the power to influence how you feel in front of the camera. Outfits that are both comfortable and elevated allow you to move with ease and show up confidently, keeping the focus on your connection and the story you’re telling.
What to Wear During Your Session
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Prepare
Tips to help you feel confident, organized, and fully present when the day arrives – because there is great comfort in the feeling of ready.
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A trial run is essential—and a great chance to see how everything photographs. Many couples schedule it for their engagement or bridal session so it serves a dual purpose.
If you’re considering a bold lip, just know bright colors can transfer easily (think first kisses, cheek kisses, or even teeth). For a cleaner, low-maintenance look, we recommend sticking with softer tones.
Hair & Makeup
When scheduling your bridal session, book hair & makeup and request a trial bouquet from your florist so you can see the full look. Make sure your alterations are finalized beforehand so your dress fits exactly as it will on the wedding day.
Bridals
We’re often asked what it’s like working with videographers—and since we collaborate so closely, choosing the right one matters. Look for someone whose style complements ours: documentary coverage with a touch of editorial.
Some videographers work solo for a seamless, unobtrusive experience, while others bring a larger team with extra lighting and equipment that can feel more like a production. Both approaches can be beautiful—it’s about what you prefer. Our referral list only includes videographers we trust and work seamlessly alongside, so you’ll be in good hands.
Videography
Three months before your wedding, we’ll send a questionnaire where you’ll list every family photo you want. This ensures no one is missed and helps keep the formal photo time efficient.
+ Pre-ceremony: stick to immediate family.
+ Post-ceremony: we’ll start with the largest groupings and work our way down.
+ Special needs: note any family members with mobility considerations so we can plan their photo locations thoughtfully.
This process keeps things smooth, stress-free, and ensures your album includes every combination that matters most.
Family List
If we could control the weather, we absolutely would—but since we can’t, the best thing we can do is prepare. Rain doesn’t have to ruin anything; in fact, it often adds a romantic, cinematic quality to your photos. We’re fully comfortable shooting in the rain, and with a little planning, it can be beautiful.
A few tips to keep in mind:
+ Hair & Humidity: If your hair doesn’t love damp air, consider an updo—you’ll find inspiration on our mood board.
+ Clear Umbrellas: Invest in a few for you and your wedding party. They let us keep shooting outdoors while still letting the light through. If you'd rather go with a solid umbrella, I'd go with a cream or ivory.
+ Mindset Matters: A positive, flexible outlook changes everything. We may pivot on timing or locations, but if you embrace it, the rain becomes part of your story—not an obstacle.
Rain Plans
Timeline
Tips to help you feel confident, organized, and fully present when the day arrives – because there is great comfort in the feeling of ready.
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Timeline's vary widely, but we're here to help!
If you have 8 hours of coverage, for pre-ceremony, you'll budget 30 minutes for each section.
8 Hour Pre-Ceremony:
+ Details: 30 minutes (flatlays, stationery, accessories)
+ Getting dressed: 30 minutes
+ First look: 30 minutes
+ Wedding party: 30 minutes
+ Pre-ceremony family: 30 minutes
For all day coverage, your details will be taken simultaneously while getting ready candids are being gathered. We'll still budget 30 minutes at a minimum for getting dressed, first look, wedding party, and family – but this amount of coverage allows us to customize it more fully. Reach out for timeline help!
Post-Ceremony:
+ Family photos: 30 minutes
+ Wedding party (if no first look): 30 minutes
+ Couple portraits: 30 minutes
Building Out Your Timeline
We’re almost always team first look. Here’s why:
+ More Moments – Instead of one reveal, you get two: the intimate first look and the powerful walk down the aisle.
+ Cocktail Hour – Without a first look, it’s nearly impossible to attend cocktail hour. With family and wedding party photos after, you’re left with maybe 15–20 minutes of couple portraits. A first look frees you up to join your guests.
+ Large Wedding Party – With no first look, group photos have to wait until after the ceremony, which means your entire wedding party is most likely missing cocktail hour, too.
To First Look or Not?
As a general rule, plan to start your ceremony at least 90 minutes before sunset. This gives you a 30-minute ceremony plus a full cocktail hour in daylight. Keep in mind that cloudy skies can take away up to 30 minutes of light, so we don’t want your portraits falling into darkness which is why we don't recommend cutting it closer.
Reasons you should start earlier:
+ Outdoor reception that benefits from more daylight
+ No first look (more photos after the ceremony)
+ Desire for extra portrait time afterward
The only time it makes sense to start later is if you’re taking all photos before the ceremony (with at least 4 hours pre-ceremony) and your ceremony lighting is much improved by a later ceremony start. Not sure what works best? We’ll help you choose the perfect time.
Setting Your Ceremony Time
We recommend avoiding toasts during dinner. Photos of people mid-bite aren’t flattering, and guest reactions are hard to capture. Instead, schedule toasts before dinner begins or at the very end of dinner for the best flow and photos.
Making the Most of Toasts
Details
Inspiration and guidance for creating flatlay designs that preserve your wedding details as lasting heirlooms.
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Flatlay styling is one of our favorite ways to capture the story of your day through the small, meaningful details. To allow time for this, we recommend budgeting 30–45 minutes in your timeline. If you’d like florals included in your flatlays, be sure to ask your florist to add a few extra “styling blooms” to your order. This time is already built into our full-day and weekend coverage.
Not interested in a fully styled flatlay? No problem—we’ll still photograph your personal details using natural backgrounds at your venue. And if you’d like to add extra coverage time specifically for invitation styling, just email us at hello@featherandtwine.com
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Flatlays
Consider gathering accessories that feel personal to you like:
+ Ribbon from your bouquet
+ Velvet ring box (The Mrs. Box is a favorite)
+ Vow books or handwritten letters
+ Ring dish or heirlooms
+ A linen, fabric, or tablecloth for backdrop
+ Invitation suite (bring duplicates if pieces are double-sided)
We’ll bring along our own styling kit to fill in any gaps.
What to Bring
+ All wedding rings (including engagement ring)
+ Bridal accessories (shoes, jewelry, veil, dress, hairpieces)
+ Special accessories (heirlooms, lipstick, perfume, etc.)
+ Groom accessories (if desired: shoes, cufflinks, tie/bowtie, jewelry)
+ Invitation suite (full set, plus duplicates if pieces are two-sided)
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Checklist
Wedding Designers & Planners
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Invitations & Calligraphy
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investment guide
Add Ons
Now that you’ve begun shaping the flow of your wedding celebrations, you may be considering adding bridals, rehearsal coverage, or even upgrading to full weekend coverage. If so, we just ask that any changes are made before your final payment (14 days prior to your wedding day).
To view current rates for us—you can access our most up-to-date investment guide below.
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closing
Thank you for trusting us with such a meaningful part of your story. It’s an honor to be invited into moments so tender and fleeting, and we don’t take that lightly. Our hope is that this guide has helped you feel more prepared, more inspired, and more at ease as you step into this season.
We cannot wait to witness and document the joy, connection, and beauty of your celebration. Until then, know that we are here—ready to support you, answer questions, and help in any way we can.
Yours Truly,
Kelsey & Talon
With Gratitude for the Opportunity to Chronicle Your Story
