With so many moving parts to a wedding day, the morning often gets reduced down to a checklist of imperative things that happen before your ceremony. There are countless times that I have arrived to photograph a wedding party or couple getting ready to find that there is little room to move around, no light, and clothes, bags, and snacks everywhere. With a little planning and some tips from your new bff photographer, you can make the most out of your morning and set the tone for a bomb AF day. (do the kids still say that?)

While I may not remember every shade of purple that adorned their wedding (and believe me, there were countless shades), what will forever be etched in my memory is the look of pure awe on Nathan’s face as he caught sight of Krystal descending the staircase towards their ceremony or the tender tears that Krystal and her father shared in the morning. These are the moments that cannot be stolen, the memories that endure.