Weddings are intimate, personal and meaningful. Some couples just simply want to have an unplugged wedding. Hey, I get it. You want your guests to be in the moment, you want your guests to really feel the love and see the magic without looking through their phone screens! But a “no phone rule” is hard to enforce, especially when you want everyone to enjoy your big day! Here are YPPs best practices to getting the unplugged ceremony you have always wanted!

Decide on How Unplugged

One of the major questions I get from my clients is “how unplugged does my wedding have to be?” Well, it is completely up to you! If you want the entire wedding, from before the ceremony and all the way until the final dance to be unplugged that’s great! If you don’t care what happens after the ceremony that’s awesome too! It is seriously up to you! You can have your wedding as unplugged or as plugged in as you want!

Let Guests Know in Advance

Although I wouldn’t suggest announcing your unplugged desires on the formal invitation itself, there are still ways to let your guests no in advance! For example, on the wedding website, an insert that goes in the wedding invitation envelope, your wedding ceremony printed programs, a sign… the list can go on!

Signs and Reminders

I love friendly reminders, especially when they are written in beautiful calligraphy! One of my favorite unplugged announcement methods is the classic sign. It’s a gentle, yet not so subtle way to ask your guests to put the phones away and be in the moment. They are there for a reason, and guess what, I (the photographer) am there for a reason too! I got it covered, I promise!

Make an Announcement!

Have your officiant or Best Man make an announcement! It’s as simple as that! Most guests will have absolutely no problem putting their phones away if they are told that it’s what the bride and groom want. Remember, these are your people! Your family, closes friends and the community who have watched you grow up over the years. They want you happy and if they knew you wished to have an unplugged ceremony, that will be enough of a reason to put their phone off and away.

Don’t forget it, it’s your wedding, your dream, you get to have an unplugged wedding if that’s what you want!

You cannot wait for the special moments, the dancing and all the love, but first you need to actually get to your wedding. Transportation. It’s not always glamorous but always necessary and the thought of traffic has never seen so daunting!

Here are YPP’s top Wedding Day Transportation tips to help you get to your wedding without a glitch!

Book Early!

You’d be surprised to hear how many cars are rented out each month! You wouldn’t want the transportation of your dreams to be all booked up due to proms, graduations or even Mitzvahs! The YPP tip of thumb is to book your favorite mode of wedding transportation between 9 months and 6 months out!

More than Just Limousines!

If you aren’t a limousine kinda couple, that it totally ok! You’d be amazed with how many different kinds of transportation options there are out there. Antique cars, vintage trucks, tandem bicycles, vespas, golf cart, gondola, taxi and horse and carriage are a few other options!

Book in Person

I don’t know about you, but whenever I rent a car online, I’m usually not 100% percent happy! Do your research! Talk to them on the phone. Make sure you actually see your mode of transportation in person and meet the driver before the big day! This way you can avoid as many surprises as possible!

Give Yourself Extra Time

Traffic is one of my least favorite things, especially on a wedding day! Being late to your own wedding because of traffic might make your day way more stressful than it needs to be! That’s why, I suggest giving yourself an extra 20 to 30 minutes, just in case of traffic or any other transportation issues! Being early is never a bad thing! Actually, if you are asking me, being early is preferred!

Specific is Terrific!

It’s your wedding day, you want everything to be exactly so! From the champagne and beer brands stocked in your party bus all way down to the music that you and your wedding party want to dance to on the way to the reception hall! Make sure you write down what you want and send it to your car company at least a month before your wedding!

Ask about Decorations!

Be sure to ask about decorations! If your dream is to drive off into the sunset in a beautiful, all decked-out vintage car, make sure you can actually decorate it!

Now go on, pick out the wedding transportation of your dreams, do the research, make the playlists and schedule extra time for pick up and drop offs! Trust me, you won’t regret it!

I remember like it was yesterday, it was the night before my Bat Mitzvah, I was so giddy and excited that I spent the entire night staring at the light-up star stickers on the ceiling of my orange and blue painted room. All I wanted to do was start getting ready for my big party. I was only 12 years old and I did absolutely none of the planning… I can only imagine what it feels like the night before your wedding! A mix of excitement, pure bliss and tons of nerves! I mean let’s be honest, you have been planning your wedding for months, maybe even years, and it is finally here! How can you possibly sleep!!

Here are YPPs 7 Top Tips for getting the a great sleep before your wedding!!

BTW, Robert, if you are reading this, I’m sure you are rolling your eyes because I know you think I never get enough sleep!

Exercise like Never Before!

That’s right. Get up and go for it! Sweat like never before! A few hours before you want to go to sleep, workout like you are training for a marathon! Go for a long run, hit an awesome kickboxing class or even find a great HIIT routine on YouTube! Whatever kind of workout you like, just go for it! I swear it will tire you out and relieve stress all at the same time!

Avoid Caffeine After 12pm

I know, this one is tough, specially with all the last minute details and moving parts going on the day before your wedding, but trust me on this one, it is amazing how much quicker you fall asleep without caffeine in your system! So, get a double espresso or double fist your favorite caffeinated tea that morning , but after 12pm, stick to water!! You will be so thankful you did!

Schedule Some Worry Time

“Don’t worry, everything will be great!” It’s easier said than done that’s why, as the Type A kinda gal that I am, I suggest scheduling time to worry. Don’t let the worry and nerves take over your entire day or even your pre-wedding week. This is such a special time! You deserve to enjoy it. That’s why, scheduling a designated worrying time allows you too relieve that need to stress but then when you are done, you are done. If you still feel stressed and worried once you climb into bed, practice meditation or deep breathing! It can really help!

Put the Screens Away!

The blue light from your computer screen, phone screen and even TV screen can keep you up for hours after you are ready to go to bed! Turn your phone on silent and try not to get too distracted by any screens laying around!

Massage!

A soft massage can do wonders for you! It can relieve the stress in your body and mind. Is a massage not an option? That’s ok! Bring your favorite facial mask or face cream to get you in the calming mood. It can really do the trick!

BONUS: Lavender scent is known to calm your mind and your body, I highly suggest bringing a lavender scented candle to light a few hours before you climb into bed! It will be discrete, yet powerful!

Write Down all the Feels!!

You are going to be feeling A LOT of different things. Grab a pen and a notebook and write them down. Letting everything out on paper is a great way of releasing it all out to the universe. Write the good and the bad! The things you are excited about and the things that might be stressing you out! You might even find yourself writing some new vows that you seriously cannot wait to share with your SO!

Don’t be too Hard on Yourself

Sometimes, you just can’t fall asleep, don’t let that stress you out even more! No matter what you are going to have an incredible day and marry your best friend. So don’t let your sleeping schedule make you even more worried!!

Imagine, it’s 11pm. Your wedding band has been killing it all night. The dance floor has been packed for hours. The drinks have been flowing. The photographer has been racing around the dance floor getting all of the best dance moves. Finally, you hear the band transition into a slow song, You see your guests take a breath, refill their drinks, now all they need is a snack.

Yes, I said snack.

One of my favorite wedding trends are the late night snacks! I mean what human doesn’t like a snack?! It is the perfect way for the bride and groom to showcase their personality even more and give your guests a little something to cure those late night drunk munchies!

Here are YPPs top ten favorite Wedding Night Snacks!

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Ice Cream Truck:

A classic on any hot summer day!

Cereal Bar

Who doesn’t love a big bowl of captain crunch or frosted flakes after a long night of dancing?! I don’t know about all of you, but cereal takes me back to some of my favorite nights in undergrad : )

Grilled Cheese bites and Tomato Soup Shots

Because sometimes you just need something cheesy and sweet all in one

Donut Wall

This is not only delicious but can add something special to your dessert decor! This is great for the couple who have a big donut difference of opinions! Can you say the classic Federal Donut or Beiler donuts debate anyone?!

S’mores

I am always in awe of the wedding venues that have a bonfire going with a nice s’more station set up right next to it! Not only delicious, but fun too!

Soft Pretzels

Philly Pretzel Factory is a staple at any Philadelphia gathering, weddings are no exception! Give the people what they want!!

Taco Station

Do I need to say more?!

Popcorn Stand!

Easy, fast and you don’t feel any kind of way after you eat enough popcorn to satisfy those drunk munchies!

Popsicles

Refreshing and tasty! The perfect snack to cool down after hours of dancing!

Mason Jarred Dessert with Fruit

Cheesecake jar, yogurt parfait Jar, Chocolate pudding jar, etc… Put any dessert in a jar with fresh fruit and it looks decadent and tastes delicious! What could go wrong!?

Vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, keto, paleo, gluten-free, nut-free, carnivores, dairy-free, are just a few of the dietary options that come to mind as I am sitting at this cafe across from the five different alternative milk options.

I am proud to be a part of a generation that is so mindful and cautious about what we put into our bodies. Gone are the days in which we can order a Big Mac and be happy; we want to know what’s in our food, how it’s prepared and where it’s coming from.

Even though your guests are there to celebrate you and the beginning of your beautiful marriage, just having a vegetarian option will no longer suffice. There are so many different dietary restrictions out there and I know, if you are anything like me, you want to accommodate them all.

Here are YPP’s Four Tips of Accommodating ll of your Guests Dietary Restrictions!

Ask your Caterer

If you know for a fact that cousin Sarah just started Keto, your maid of honor has been dairy free for five years and little cousin Joey is gluten-free, you already have at least three dietary restrictions that you need to accommodate. It might sound overwhelming to you, but most caterers have had plenty of experience with just this so ask!

Ask them about it! Before you hire a caterer, ask them about their experience. If you know that a bunch of guests are gluten free, hire a caterer who is known for their gluten free options. You don’t want any surprises once you sign the contract!

Ask your guests!

The best way to get any information, is to ask the source. So, instead of having “Chicken or Fish” as the two options on your RSVP card, ask them if there are any further dietary restrictions you should know about. Once your guest RSVP, you, your spouse-to-be and your caterer can call sit down and design the perfect, most accommodating, menu possible!

Avoid Cross-Contamination

Label everything! Thank God signage is such a wedding trend these days! Use it to your advantage. Now that you have spoken to the caterer, seen all of your guests requests and designed the perfect menu, you want to make sure you keep them separate! You don’t want your baker to create a nut-free dessert option just so it’s placed right next to the peanut butter mousse on the serving table! Keep things separate! Your guests will be forever grateful!

BONUS: Have hand sanitizer available on all serving tables, just in case.

You’ve done your job!

You have done everything you can to accommodate all of your guests so don’t over think it on your wedding day. If Aunt Margie really doesn’t like onions, that isn’t on you. If cousin Sarah has given up on keto and has decided to go vegan without telling you, that’s on her! You have done enough! Once you wake up and start getting ready to walk down that aisle, your guests food restrictions should be the farthest thing from your mind!

I know keeping up with everyones food restrictions and allergies seems like a daunting task. It seems like a new dietary lifestyle appears on the scene every month, but all you can do is ask the right questions and give them the best options!

Cheers to you and the amazing caterers out there!

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 are engaged, you are planning your future with your best friend and you want to fill your home with your own personal style. Now is your chance! You get to put together a wedding registry! You get to put together a list for all your closest friends and family who want to help you fill your home with all the things you want, the things you need and all the small details that compliment you, your lifestyle and your future family. Here are YPPs top 12 tips for creating the Perfect Wedding Registry!

Check your Inventory:

First thing’s first. Check to see what you both already have! Don’t get me wrong, I like new shiny things just as much as the next girl, but if you already have a blender that works like a charm, maybe skip the NINJA!

Start as soon as you get engaged:

If you ask me, no need to wait for gifts : )

Don’t register for more than you can store:

Sometimes, just like your stomach, your eyes are bigger than your storage… Make sure you have enough space!!

Not just for products but charities and experiences too:

Do you like your things? Are you looking around your kitchen wondering what you possibly can put on your registry but daydreaming about hiking in Europe? Well, guess what!? You can put your honeymoon on your registry! You can put charities and experiences, not just products! You can even have your guests give to The Knot Newleywed Fund!

Keep it Stylish and Homey:

Register for the things that will make your home feel like you not just the ones your Mom or Future Mother-in-Law suggest. Don’t get me wrong, they are a well of knowledge and tips, but you guys have your own style, your own sense of home, keep that in mind! If your style is more traditional, great! If you love being comfy and having warm tones all around, go for it! Register for the things you want around you after you had a long day at work or when you are binging your favorite Netflix show!

Look for Registry Perks:

Your guests and their wallets will thank you!

Two to Four Places:

Registering at one store isn’t enough, registering at ten is too many, giving your guests two to four options of places to shop will keep them happy and give you options!

Do it Together:

Turn registering into a date night! You are registering for gifts for your future together! Did you hear me? This is for your future! For your family! For you and your boo so make it fun! Go out on a date together, choose the China together, get his input on the fancy champagne flutes and definitely on the grill!

Get MORE plates:

The more plates you get, the better! Your house is going to be full of love, laughter and dinner parties! Don’t settle for just the average 8 plate set, get 12 or even more!

Register for Storage!

Storage!? I know what you are thinking, why am I registering for storage!? But, this one is important! You want to keep your new sterling silver ware from tarnishing and scratching right?! Register for a place to keep them, for example, a silver chest with slotted insets (or a tightly closed drawer) lined with felt linen. Anything to keep from scratching!

Update: AKA Add More:

A couple weeks before your wedding, check what is left on your wedding registry online. See what your guest have already bought, what is left and add MORE! Your last minute shoppers will thank you for the bigger variety!

Share the news!

You finally have put together your perfect registry, it is time to tell your friends, but you can’t exactly post online or send the link to everyone can you?! Have your bridal shower host put it on the invitation, slip the news to your best friend and I promise, the word will get out!

Starting your registry may seem daunting, but once you get the ball rolling, it can be fun, exciting and pretty awesome if you ask me! I mean come on, who doesn’t love putting together a list of things they want : )

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!!

I know, without a doubt that you love your family. I also know that you are going to love your wedding photography and, of course, love your wedding day itself. Putting it all together can be a lot to handle, to say the least. Family photos can be overwhelming. So many different combinations, unique family dynamics and a ton of coordination. Even though it might feel like the longest part of your wedding day, the family portraits end up being some of the most cherished photos. Family comes first. Family is everything. Family photos are a must. Here is the best way to prepare for your wedding day family portraits!

First look or Cocktail Hour?

Having a first look or waiting to see each other as you walk down the aisle has a direct effect on when we will capture your family portraits! If you want to enjoy your cocktail hour as much as humanly possible, but also want to make sure you have plenty of time for family portraits, I suggest doing a first look! This way, you can have your family arrive before the ceremony and have all of the family portraits completed before you say “I do!” PLUS: No one has started crying yet, so everyone’s wedding day look will be on point!

Write a list… check it twice!

This is a game changer! Take an afternoon, sometime before your wedding day, and write down a list of all the family combinations you want to capture. Once you have your list, ask your mom take a look and make sure there are no other combinations she is dying to have! I know, it sounds strenuous but trust me on this one, when you see your photographer reading off the list and being 100% sure that they got every family combination you could possibly want, you will feel a whole lot better! PLUS: It takes the pressure off of you on your wedding day… who doesn’t want that?

Select a meeting time and place

If your family is anything like my family, they run 15 minutes late to everything, and I mean everything. This is the perfect time to pull the tell them it starts 20 minutes earlier than it actually does so they make it on time strategy. And don’t you dare feel guilty about it! This is your wedding day! You and your photographer have put a lot of time, energy and consideration into your wedding day photography timeline, as much as you love Aunt Margie, she must be on time!!

Designate a Family Portrait Captain

Every family has a busy bee, someone who likes to take charge and who can actually get Uncle Harry to stop telling his jokes and pay attention. Do you have someone in mind? Great! Give them a call! Ask them to be the Family Wrangler and they will not only feel important, but kick some major ass doing it!

Consider Ages

I have nine nieces and nephews. The oldest is twelve years old, the youngest is not even two months old. There is a big difference between how much time you can have a twelve year old and a two month old stand there and smile. Be mindful when you consider which combinations go first! The same thing goes for the older generations! If Bubbe has a hard time standing, make sure there is a chair nearby to use, if Grandpa is recovering from hip surgery, make sure he gets in and out of his photos as quickly as possible. Your family is going to be grateful that you thought of it all!

Keep your Photographer Informed!

It is your family and you know it best! Your family deserve to have it captured in whichever way best represents who you all are, that means, keep your photographer in the loop! As a photographer, I assure you, that we want your wedding day experience to be as pleasant as possible and if that means keeping Mom and Dad away from each other, we will do it!

These are the photos that are shared and loved by all generations. These are the photos that get framed and hung up on all of your walls. These are the photos that matter because the people in them matter. Make sure you are prepared to get everything you possibly can from your wedding day family portraits. No one loves your family as much as you do!

You have spent months, maybe even years choosing every last detail of your bridal look. From the shoes and flowers, to the beautiful earrings your Mom picked out and all the way to the necklace that every woman in your family wore on her wedding day. Every detail counts. Every detail is important. And every detail deserves to be photographed in the best way possible.

This week, I want to share with all of you the “YPP top 5 tips for your wedding day detail photos!” When you go to check out your bridal suite, or talk to your venue florist and Maid of Honor, these are the top things to consider!

Windows, Windows and more Windows

Whenever I walk into a bridal suite and see natural light flowing in and big, beautiful windows all around, my heart does a happy dance! Windows are a photographers best friend, especially in the Bride and Groom getting ready rooms! The natural light is the best light! It will make your rings shine like no other, your flowers pop and your dress look stunning and elegant all in one. Before your big day, take some time and talk to your venue or hotel to make sure there are plenty of windows in both the Bride and Groom getting ready rooms! We want to photograph your details with the best like as possible!

Put it all together!

You have a million and ten things going on the morning of your wedding, getting all the bridal details together shouldn’t be one of them! Sometime the week before your wedding day, put all of your bridal details together in a box (besides the dress of course)! This should include everything you want photographed! Here is the YPP List of Details to consider:

• Invitation
• Perfume
• Rings
• Shoes
• Earrings
• Bracelets
• Necklaces
• Other Jewelry
• Veil (maybe not actually in the box, but near it)
• Hair pieces
• Keepsakes
• Gifts

Bridesmaid Dress

If you are anything like me, you absolutely love color and tones, that is why your wedding colors are essential in telling your bridal story! Ask one of your bridesmaids to volunteer her dress while we photograph your details! It will add that little extra something to tie it all together!

Bouquets and Extra Petals

You can never have enough flowers on your wedding day! They are elegant, fresh and beautiful! Have your florist deliver your bouquet to your getting ready location! This will give us plenty of time to photograph the incredible bouquet you will be holding as you say “I do!” When you chat with your florist the week of your wedding, ask them if they can include some extra petals or the flowers that they clipped off when finishing your bouquet! The petals and extra flowers will be an incredible accent for your detail photos!

Enough Time

I always suggest at least 45 minutes for the bridal detail photo portion of the morning! I know, you might think it sounds like too much time, but those 45 minutes fly by and your bridal details deserve to be captured and forever remembered! You carefully selected each and every bridal detail, let’s make sure we have plenty of time to feature them!

There is something so special about capturing a woman’s bridal details. It is so personal, intimate and incredibly touching. Your details deserve the best light, the best care and the best love we can offer and if you ask me, these five tips will let you love your details in the best way possible!