Make Your Wedding Day, You

Making Your Wedding Day Uniquely Yours

Wedding planning can be a huge mix of emotions with a lot of opinions and ideas - some amazing and some not so much. Your wedding day is a special occasion that you will want to remember for the rest of your life. To make it truly unforgettable, consider customizing your wedding day to reflect your personal style and preferences, and really think about who you will work with for the entire day, and who you trust most to make it perfect. A bride and groom hire a photographer to capture and hold memories of their day. Most often than not, as a photographer, we do so much more than click and zoom. We absolutely love capturing your special day and it is always such an honor for us to be a part of your most important day. If there is one thing we have learned in the 12 years of shooting weddings, it is that every bride and groom is completely unique and every single wedding is different. Put simply - you want to be sure you choose the right photographer.

There are many things (that you most likely won't even think of) and that you most definitely do not want to have to worry about - or be in charge of...so why not let us do that part for you! Here are some of the things you may come across as your day goes on, most of which you will not want to have to worry about. Heather Bellini Photography can best be sure your day IS ABOUT YOU -

Expecting the Unexpected

A few unexpected things could happen along the way. Here are a few things you may have never even thought about:

1 | The First Look

What a perfect idea! An intimate moment for just the two of you. But where should we stage it? Who should be a part of it? Who tells my groom to turn around and look at me?? And then do we kiss? Or what do we do? There are many little details about this moment that we don’t want you to have to stress about. We got you covered, we will plan it all and most importantly, be sure it’s a special moment for just the two of you.

2 | The Pinning of the Boutonniere

You’ve selected your favorite people to assist you with planning and being a part of your big day! Pinning (and staging the boutonniere) is a big one - because face it, your groom has to be in the spotlight as well. No one ever knows how (or where!) to pin the boutonniere. We have done this time and time again and can always take the lead on this task! Today, a man’s boutonniere should still be placed on his left lapel (“over the heart”, is what we say) - the same side that the handkerchief pocket is on. And yes! Men can wear a pocket square AND a boutonniere! More often than not, we prefer the look and simplicity of just the boutonniere. Boutonnieres are usually pinned on, with the flower pointing up and the stem running parallel to the direction of the lapel. We can do this for all the groomsmen and then go back and stage the pictures to look seamless.

3 | Cutting the Cake

All eyes are on you! And you have no idea what to do. This is an essential step to not only coordinate with your vendor but to sort out the details and plan with your photographer as well. Heather Bellini Photography has much experience with this part of your day! There are just some minor details you will want to be sure are in place; a fork, a knife, and a napkin and plate are a must. You will want to talk to us ahead of time so we can be sure you both stand in a good spot with the right background. And if you have a cake topper or words, you want to stand behind your cake (if possible) so the words read to your guests and photos. Also, will you have a special song or lighting needed at this time for this moment? Here is a step-by-step of how to cut your cake!

STEP 1: Have the smaller hand grab the knife.

STEP 2: The larger hand (groom) will wrap hands around the hands on knife.

STEP 3: Cut 2 slits side-by-side about 1-2 inches apart - this will form a nice rectangle shape ready to be removed and plated.

** Pause for a smooch and photo opp **

STEP 4: Once the cake is plated, grab your forks and feed each other.

** Pause for another smooch **

4 | I Need a Group Picture with Aunt Sarah and Uncle Joe and My Friends From Grad School!!

By the end of the night - after dinner, dancing, mingling (and several cocktails enjoyed by all!), you want to be sure you get pictures with EVERYONE! After all, when is the next time you will be together again? These are the hardest photos to get. Trying to wrangle up more than 10 people for a shot is near impossible. We work hard at gathering up all who are needed to make this memorable shot happen. Let us know when and who and we will arrange it so that you have this one as a keeper for all!

By customizing your wedding day with Heather Bellini Photography and having some minor details in order, you'll create a truly unique and memorable experience for yourself, your family, and your guests. Remember, this is your day, and you should Make Your Wedding Day, YOU!

We are Buffalo, NY’s most trusted photographers, and leading headshot photographers.

Contact us today so we can share your photography experience with you.