WEDDING GUIDE BY ASHLYN M c KENNA PHOTOGRAPHY

You are now on your way to marrying your best friend. This is such an exciting season you are in and I pray that you get to really enjoy it. I am just so excited that you chose ME to be with you on your lovely day. I am eager to get to know you and your fiance, to document the most beautiful day ever, and to CELEBRATE you both! There are so many decisions to make, I understand. You have to think about everything... food, guests, budget, flowers, decorations, etc. I have created this guide as a way to help YOU. As a photographer and former bride, I have REALLY developed some tips for future brides along the way. I hope this helps you worry a little less and guides you. By no means do you have to follow this guide, but it is to help you prepare as your big day rolls around. Happy planning! –Ashlyn McKenna Congratulations!

Tips from me to you Your wedding day goes by so fast. I promise. Be sure to soak in every second of it. Embrace the little things like toasting with the girls, getting all prepped up, and even the hugs from your sweet family members. Your bridal party should be there to encourage, speak life, and be with you following the wedding day too. Your relationship is an investement so choose people who are going to stick by your side on your day, and after your day. Don’t stress about the details. I remember trying to people please so much during planning. Yes, I wanted to make my vision come to life. But, also, most of the time, guests are not going to remember your centerpieces. Make it look pretty, but do not tear your hair out over it.

Engagement sessions are the perfect way for you to get to know me during this time. They also really help to loosen you up without crowds of guest around. We can run around downtown or choose a dreamy waterfall. Any thing that reflects you and your significant other! Engagment sessions are reflective of you both and can be as crazy creative, or even as simple, as you both want! Everyone needs an excuse to post a new photo, right? AND you can use these photos as a save-thedate if you want. Substitute your engagement session for some additional bride and groom portraits or editorial bridal portraits! Travel fees do not apply for the Knoxville, Tennessee area.

Timelines are CRUCIAL to making your day flow so smoothly. They help dictate what time your bridal party is supposed to be ready, what time first looks are happening, what time sunset photos are, etc. Every wedding timeline I have ever done is always customized someway. There is no one-size-fitsall timeline. I am here to help you out plan a photo timeline so you do not have to feel like you are alone. I have so much experience in this arena and I want you to feel confident in your day flowing smoothly. But, also hiring a coordinator will help with this very significantly as I am not a coordinator, I am a photographer. I always incorporate AT LEAST 30 minutes, can be requested to be more, before the ceremony to do touch-ups, relax, and just enjoy. Part of the process of hiring me is creating a specific timeline together that meets your specific needs and wants! A TIP TO HELP YOUR DAY RUN SMOOTHLY: If not a coordinator, designate a family member, friend, etc. to help coordinate throughout the day. This will take so much pressure off of you. I HIGHLY recommend at least a day of coordinator. If you do leave it to just me, you risk losing special moments captured. I would hate for that to happen! TIMELINE

detail shots final makeup shots groomsmen photos grooms portraits bride get dress bridesmaid photos bride portraits hideaway ceremony family photos full bridal party photos couple photos arrive at reception venue grand entrance into reception pray & dismiss for dinner ***eat & mingle** toasts cake cutting first dances bride & groom father & daughter mother & son open dance floor exit

30 minutes for additional sunset photos Please note: There are so many factors the timeline is affected by and this is only a rough idea. You can always add on extra coverage with me as well if you are worried about missingcertain moments! I also take in consideration buffer times– how long it takes to travel between locations, etc. Any special celebration can be added to your timeline! Your lovely day is not limited. TIMELINE customizing your day

I LOVE details. I do take my time on them. To get solid detail shots, I need about 45 minutes to 1 hour to get all the small things and photos of your dress! PRO TIP: Please place everything in a box together so I can pick it up on the day of. This will make it super easy for me to put everythign back but also get started on photos so I can be on schedule. Here is an example list and it is not limited to: bouquet boutonniere rings vow books shoes (bride and/or grooms) anything special extra floral cologne / perfume watch jewelry flask tie / bowtie stationary (invites, save the dates) veil **good hanger for your dress you don’t want a white plastic one for dress shots. DETAILS

If you are undecided about doing a first look on your wedding day, I am going to encourage you to look over this list and weigh your options. Although there are pros and cons to each position, whether you do a first look or not, I always highly recommend doing one. Reason #1: You get more time with your significant other on your dreamy day and it calms the nerves. I have seen so many brides pulling out their hair and anxious to the max because they waited and the anticipation kept them on the edge of their seat.... all. day. long. This anticipation can be a GREAT thing if you are really eager to wait and see your significant other at the end of the aisle. For others, it can cause an unbearable anxious feeling in the waiting. You have to think about the places you can walk around, without seeing your SO. Hopefully, you are marrying someone who you feel a sense of peace with. Doing a first look will calm your nerves and you will beableto celebrate more together throughout the day without trying to avoid each other up until the ceremony. To be short: it is less risky. Another thing, is that after the ceremony, you First Look? Yes or No? want to meet and greet people. It is hard to be pulled in every direction and want to talk to your guests after the ceremony when you are supposed to be whipping out family photos. Doing a first look will ensure that you get some relaxed time with your significant other and then freedom to celebrate with others. Reason #2: You can still get the same reactions during a first look. If you feel like you are losing some of the emotion that is going to be captured as you walk down the aisle, think again. It can be set up as such an intimate moment when you do a first look. There are ways to do a first look that is private and sweet while capturing the same emotions. Reason #3: You can read private vows during your first look. Coming from my experience, I did a first look with my husband and we read personal vows. I knew if I would have read my vows during the ceremony aloud in front of a large crowd, I would have been so nervous and filled with so much anxiety. I do not do public speaking well and I wanted to be intentional with words so this was an amazing

alternative we did during our wedding day. Reason #4: Wedding photos can get out of the way! A big part of your day is taking family photos, bridal party photos, and making sure I get plenty of pictures that encapsulate the couple! Picture this: You were just announced as husband and wife, you walk down the aisle, you get pulled aside because you have to start family photos.... and then bridal party photos.... AND THEN photos of you and your significant other. This may not seem like an overwhelming thing to you as you just simply read this. But, on your wedding day, you really just want to relax, mingle, eat some food, and maybe get a couple of drinks. Doing a first look, you will be able to get all of your bridal party photos out of the way before the ceremony. You can even get some family photos out of the way, up to you. Leaving post-ceremony with just the remaining photos left and time to mingle right before you do your entrance. Most likely, you did pay for people to have drinks during the cocktail hour... Shouldn’t you enjoy what you paid for? Reason #5: Traditions are dying. The wedding is about you and your best friend. Regardless of whether you decide to do a first look or not, do not let the traditions or the people sway your decisions. I encourage you to make a list weighing the pros and cons. Weddings are now becoming more unique to couples and prioritizing time with the people that are around you on your day. You get more time with your full bridal party and all of your families... and your spouse!

If you have thought about how you are going to wrap up your night on your wedding day, but you are undecided about what to do, I have formulated a list of different exit ideas along with some tips and tricks! Please consult with your venue before you decide on an exit to see if they have any regulations. Why should I consider a grand exit? A grand exit does not have to be over the top. But, you should definitely consider doing one at the end of your wedding night because two main reasons. One, it is a FUN way to end the night with people cheering you on as you get in the car to leave with your significant other after the BEST NIGHT EVER. Two, it tells people you are leaving and wrapping up. If you only have the venue, say until 11PM, it is telling people that it is closing time for the party as well. What if I want the photos but don’t have my photographer all night? If you are considering having a grand exit but your photographer Hey, hey, hey Goodbye! leaves before, consider pulling just your bridal party aside for some fun exit photos On my wedding day, my bridal party came out with us during the partying and we still did some sparkler photos. For our final exit, our photographer wasn’t there but we had glow sticks that everyone flung around as we ran through the tunnel to our car. Talk to your photographer and see if you have enough time for this or even what adding extra coverage would be like if you wanted them to stay for the raw leaving moment. Here are unique exit ideas you can do on your wedding night: Sparklers: I highly recommend getting the longer sparklers so they do not burn too quickly. I would also check for fire hazards in your area. If the weather has been very dry, it may not be a good idea. Fireworks: Check with your city ordinances on this as well as your venue. I would also check for fire hazards in your area. If the weather has been very dry, it may not be a good idea.

Glow sticks / fiber wands / LED balloons: This can be a cheaper alternative to sparklers but still gives your guests something to raise up and swirl around as you are leaving. Bubbles: Consider using / renting a bubble machine for your exit! Or even giving guests large bubble wands to blow as you walk through a tunnel! Bio-degradable flowers / leaves: You can also use bio-degradable flower petals to throw as you walk down the aisle. Consider it as you do your exit as well! You can put a basket of flowers outside the reception area and have a family member / coordinator guide people to grab some. Streamers Ring the bells: Such a fun vintage way to leave a party! Consider thrift shopping various bells for this exit. Smoke Bombs: Please note they can stain. I would recommend starting the smoke bomb and setting it 2-3 feet away from people. But, since it can stain the ground, please consult your venue or property before using. These are also in the firework category. Meaning, they are not allowed in national parks and other areas. A vintage car: Need I say more? End your night in a vintage car, hot air balloon, or running off to a cabin on property! The possibilities are truly endless. Things I would NOT recommend: Anything that is not biodegradable or the venue does not allow. I would not recommend glitter, or even confetti poppers. Though this makes some fun photos, it does cause a lot of litter to be released and blown away. It is also super difficult to clean. Some venues don’t allow some exits.veil **good hanger for your dress you don’t want a white plastic one for dress shots.

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Do I have to know how to pose? I help with posing so you don’t have to feel like you should know what you are doing. I will go through a series of prompts to help with poses! Some times I even play some music in the background and it helps loosen up the atmosphere. How many photos do we get back? I do not limit the number of photos you get as of right now! Usually a 15 minute session will get you about 20-30 high quality, edited photos! Weddings vary significantly. How do we get our photos back? As of right now, you will get a custom link to a website. This will be open to sharing with friends and family, etc. FAQ

What do you do in lowlight situations? In lowlight situations, my camera works great. But, if it is too dark, I have an external flash that I attach to the top of my camera. Sometimes I shoot with direct flash which gives the photos a fun, vintage, Hollywood look! What is your turn around time? For mini sessions, about two weeks! For weddings, it is currently extended. Please expect 4-8 weeks for your album to be completely done. Does your camera have two SD card slots? GREAT QUESTION. I am lucky I have not experienced SD card corruption. My camera is a dual slot camera meaning it records each image TWICE! I try my best to make sure your images are protected.