It’s your wedding day. You are feeling it all! The excitement, the pure joy, the immense awe that this day is actually here and all you want to do is share it with your one and only. All you want to do is share this moment with the person you are going to spend the rest of your life with. One of my favorite morning of traditions is the love letter.

Side note: Some couples pre-write their letters and that is totally, 100% awesome too, but I find the letters that are written the day of the wedding are just that much more special and meaningful.

Never written a love letter before and want to do it right! Here are the YPP steps to writing the perfect morning of wedding love letter for the love of your life!

Brainstorm

Writers block is totally a thing, specially if you aren’t one to usually write down your feelings. No one will blame you if you want to be prepared! The week before your wedding you will feel a rush of all different emotions, use those feelings! Take the time to think about what you want to say to your bride/groom on your wedding day. Jot down key points you know you will definitely want to include in your wedding letter… A little extra help or push is never a bad thing!

Find a quite place

This is the moment you are expressing your most intimate thoughts to the person who knows you the best. Find a quite place away from all the commotion, a place where you won’t get distracted or overwhelmed by the people around you. Find a few minutes to be alone, collect your thoughts, process the excitement and share it with your favorite person in the world.

BONUS: Many brides and groom write their letters before the craziness of the day begins. Right after they wake up and it hits them, today I am getting married to my best friend!! Your feelings are fresh, your excitement is overwhelming and your love for one another is on fire!

Stationary

Don’t forget to bring something to write on and something to write with! I know this may seem obvious, but this is the love letter you are writing to your future husband or wife on your wedding day, make sure you have something to write on other than a post-it, napkin or wedding itinerary. (Although, I am sure they will love the words all the same)!

Bring the Cheese-factor

This is your day to be as cheesy as you want to be! Actually, being cheesy and sappy is kinda expected. If it’s not your style, don’t force it, your SO wants it to be genuine and true. If you have all of the feels and want to express every last one, GO FOR IT! If your more of a humorous writer, story teller or even a dream wisher, write that! If you are a combo of all four, do it! Your bride/ groom will absolutely love whatever you write! Just stay true to who you are and the reaction will be priceless!

Seal it with a kiss!

This letter, is intimate, personal and just for the two of you. Make sure you seal it and hand it off to someone you can trust! Have it hand delivered to your bride/ groom. You don’t want it to get misplaced or opened by nosy Aunt Harriet!

This letter, these emotions, this feeling will be something you will cherish for the rest of your life. Every year, on your wedding anniversary, pull out these letters, read them and you will feel the love, the excitement and the pure joy of this day over and over again!

You love your bridesmaid and groomsmen. I mean there is a reason why you chose these humans to stand up there next to you during one of the most important moments of your life! You want your bridesmaids and groomsmen to feel their best, look their best and have the best time celebrating your big day! YPP does too! And that is why, I am excited to share with you YPPs quick and easy tips to help keep your bridesmaid and groomsmen portraits looking everyones best! Keeping it classy and awesome, just like what you all deserve!

Ladies!!

Hair Ties

If you are anything like yours truly, you have three hair ties on your wrist at all time! There is nothing that bothers me more than not having a hair tie when this Jewfro gets in the way, but trust me on this one. Take the hair ties off. Make sure your bridesmaids leave them in the getting room or put them in their clutch, it makes your bridesmaid portraits look that much more put together and elegant!

Sleeveless Dresses

Most bridesmaid dresses are sleeveless, it’s a fact. As a woman, who does everything she can possibly do to tone my arms, I am still extremely self conscious of showing them off and I don’t think I am alone in this! Whenever I do wear sleeveless (probably once a year), I have the tendency of squeezing my arms to my body, as a way to make them smaller. I find other women do the same thing. But here’s the thing, in photos, the way to make your arms look your best is to put at least a little bit of space between your arms and your body. Think about it like this… if your arm is pressed to your body, you’re essentially flattening your arm against your body and it will look wider. If you put even just a little space between your arms and your body, gravity takes it’s role and creates a more toned look! So bridesmaid, when your photographer says “bend those elbows,” you know they are looking out for you!

For the men…

Phones

Your groomsmen are going to look sharp as anything in those suits. I know it. You know it. They know it. As a society, we are all VERY attached to our phones. I am no exception! But, to make your groomsmen look even sharper in those suits, have them leave the phones in the room, on the trolly or even just literally behind the photographer. It is truly amazing how much you can see the outline of a phone in a pants suit and your boys deserve to look as GQ as possible!

Keeping Hands Consistent!

Groomsmen are one of my favorite groups to photograph. I love seeing the camaraderie and bromances between the groom and groomsmen. The energy is incredible, the humor is fun and the love is a live! There is nothing thats screams friendship more, but as I remind all of my groomsmen, hands need to be consistent! If one persons hands are in their pocket, all hands go in the pocket. If one person has his left hand over the right, everyone has their left hand over their right. It gives the photo a little extra something that screams “If I was in a boy band, these would be be my band members” and honestly, what is better than that!?

BONUS: Keep the suit buttons consistent too! If the groom has his suit unbuttoned, everyone should have their suit unbuttoned!

These four quick and easy tips might sound like minute details, but they make such a difference when it comes to your bridesmaid and groomsmen portraits! So remember, hair ties off, phones down, arms out and hands consistent!!

“There was something in the seriousness of Joel’s voice when he called me to tell me” The best man said as he pointed to the groom. ” I am going to ask Sam to marry me.” The room went completely silent. The best man looked at Joel. Joel looked at Sam. Sam smiled up at Joel and my heart melted entirely. Pure and unconditional love is the only way to describe it. The entire day was just filled with pure and unconditional love.

When I walked into the Maryland Science Center, the first thing I noticed was a veil on one of the dinosaurs in the lobby. Oh Sam, I thought as I smiled. The Science Center was the perfect venue for Sam and Joel to tie the knot. The rooftop tent ceremony was elegant and classic in every way. As Sam and her Dad, Ed, walked down the aisle, every guest was smiling their biggest smile. We laughed, cried and admired the view of the Baltimore Harbor while Sam and Joel shared their vows, made their promises and became husband and wife.

Sam and Joel are one hundred percent true to themselves in everything they do. It was evident in the way their friends and family spoke about them, the way they celebrated their commitment to one another and the way they loved each other with their entire hearts.

Sam and Joel are college sweethearts that matured together, grew together and adopted SOO many furry friends together. May 4, 2019 may have been the first day of their marriage, but they have been family from the very beginning. Sam and Joel have been best friends, and more importantly, partners through it all. It is obvious in every way that their life will continue to be fun, crazy and full of so much love.

Sam and Joel, my wish for you is to never stop loving each other in the fun, deep, pure and unconditional way you already do. Cheers!

Wedding Venders: Event Planner: Bella Momento | DJ: C & J Entertainment Agency | Venue and Caterer: Maryland Science Center | Brides Dress: Juliet’s Bridal | Bridesmaid Dresses: Jenny Yoo Julia Purchased at Nordstrom

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“You look like you are struggling” Robert said as he watched me grab a water glass from the cabinet Monday morning. I turned around and gave him a blank stare. It took me a second to register what he was saying.

“Oh, I have a wedding hang over” I said matter of factly with my eyes half closed but a huge smile on my face. I ran over to my computer, which, if I am being totally honest was probably more of a slow walk than an actual run.

“Look!” I said as I pointed. “Doesn’t she look incredible!”

Robert let out a soft chuckle and shook his head at me. I am sure I sounded and looked like I consumed massive quantities of alcohol the night before, but in reality, it comes with the territory of being a wedding vender. It was the lack of water that was making me turtle like. I never remember to drink enough water! I am so consumed by photography, love and making my clients as happy as possible, that water is a complete after thought.

Even though my body was hating me, my mind and heart were still gushing over the love that I captured the day before. Robert gave me one more concerned yet, amused look “Make sure you nap today” he said and with that he hugged me goodbye and walked out the door.

I appreciated Robert’s attempt but I clearly did not plan on napping. I had too many photos to look at. Too many memories to swoon over. I am a wedding photographer for crying out! This is what I do and this is what I love! So, as I made my way back to my computer to select ten sneak peek photos to send to the latest YP newlyweds, I ignored my aching muscles and sore neck and just reminded myself to drink more water.

My 2019 wedding season has officially began and I could not be more excited and proud. No matter how hard it is to move, how busy my weeks get or how many times Robert tells me to “go nap,” I couldn’t imagine doing or wanting to do anything else with my life, aching muscles an all…

” I think I just got a minor concussion” I told Robert as soon as he picked up the phone.

“What!?”

I laughed at my ridiculousness.

“I sneezed as I was pulling the car door open and BAM, I smacked my head . Really hard!” Robert paused, and then burst into laughter.

I made a right turn onto Spring Garden and thought to myself,  I am totally fine. I was on my way to a wedding and couldn’t wait to capture all of the love and a small bump on my head was not going to stop me. “What is on your agenda for the rest of the day?” I ask Robert and with that, the topic was switched.

One wedding, two work outs and one headshot session later, I find myself sitting in my doctors office “I’m only here because my boyfriend was worried. I think I have a minor concussion, but I am totally fine” I explain to the doctor.

Twenty minutes later and a few sad attempts at balancing on one foot, Doctor Adams turns to me and says “Well, tell your boyfriend that you definitely have a minor concussion. So make sure you take it easy over the next couple weeks. In your free time, just sit and don’t do anything.”

In my free time?! That’s a funny one.

I pushed on the door to leave and the first thing I noticed was the bright sun setting. My eyes closed shut in pain and I felt a wave of dizziness wash over me. Ok, so maybe he has a point. I need to take it easy and give my brain the time it needs to heal, but how the heck was I going to do that?!  My week was packed and my todo list was growing longer and longer with every passing minute. Spring was just around the corner and I still had a few winter projects to finish up. This minor concussion was such an inconvenience.

An hour later. 

“What are you doing” Robert asked as soon as he walked in the door. He quickly turned off the lights and closed the laptop that was resting on my lap.

“I just have one more thing to finish up”  I open it up once again.

Taking it easy to me means not reading on my phone and maybe only answering emails once a day. Taking it easy to Robert means no screens, no gym and sitting on the couch at home with no lights on. I look up from my laptop and see a concerned Robert “Fine. I can finish this tomorrow.”

See, I am lucky. I have a boyfriend who is nothing like me. I mean, yes, we share the same political views and might check the same religious box on questionnaires, but he is totally the yin to my yang. When I want to get up and get my Sundays started at 6am, he reminds me to take a deep breath in and not over work myself. When I am trying to rush out the door because I don’t want to be late to a friend brunch, he turns the music up and moves his feet to the beat.  When I want to run to the next thing, he reminds me to walk and smell the roses. And when I want to just power through my minor concussion, Robert makes me take it easy and tells me that my work will get done once my brain is no longer mush.

I am lucky to have a best friend who is nothing like me. I am lucky to have a boyfriend watching out for me. I am lucky to have Robert taking care of me.

It feels like every time I scroll through Instragram or hop onto Pinterest there are more and more adorable photos of bridesmaids in cute matching outfits (and this is coming from a photographer who gets to see it on a weekly bases)… and every time I see a new idea I think “OMG, that is SO cute, I want something like that!” So I completely understand if you are overwhelmed with all the amazing options!

How do you decide which one is right for you and your getting ready photos!? Do you go for the matching Pajama set? Floral Robe? Do you get really funky with it and get all of your girls matching onesies? Or, do you go for the casual plaid shirt, yoga bottom combo!?

 

 

 

As my second shooter and I walked in to the gorgeous suite at the National Harbor, I only noticed one thing, a beautiful bride getting her hair and make-up touched up right before she was ready to start one of the best days of her life. Coreene’s smile and elegance shined through and through on her wedding day and I couldn’t be more delighted that we were the ones to capture it. Her dress fit her perfectly, her nieces were dancing the entire time and her handsome Groom, Brandon, couldn’t take his eyes off her.

The ceremony was stunning and intimate, the smiles were full and warm and the bridal party was full of laughter and happiness. When I was driving from the church to the venue, I was thinking to myself, it couldn’t get any better than this… then I saw it, the magnificent reception tent, decorated in a sophisticated and tasteful manner, and now I thought to myself, “WOW.” Coreene and Brandon sure know how to throw a party.

After heartfelt toasts, parent-dances and the cake cutting there was only one thing left for Coreene and Brandon to do… dance their guests of out the reception tent. Let me explain myself, they didn’t just dance, they danced, marched and led the crowd as the two of them held these awesome umbrellas while all of their family and friends followed them swinging embroidered handkerchiefs in the air.  Let me tell you, this New Orlean’s tradition blew this East Coaster away. I loved every second of it. The energy and vibrance of the crowd as they marched the Bride and Groom out of the tent and into the next stage of their lives was incredible to witness.

It was a gorgeous wedding, with incredible people and left me feeling all warm inside the entire drive back up to Philadelphia.

Thank you for the memories Coreene and Brandon : )