Tips to Have a Picture-Perfect morning on your NJ Wedding Day

Bride and bridesmaids in matching robes having fun with a confetti popper on the bed.

Molly Gregor from Weddingfile.com recently reached out to me for my (her words not mine haha!) expert advice on how to set your day up for success before your photographer even arrives. Weddingfile.com is a new website to help NJ couples plan their weddings, and absolutely must check it out!

Molly writes, “I spoke to Daniel Nydick of Daniel Nydick Photography in Scotch Plains, who is a pro at mapping out the wedding day and eliminating anxiety for his couples. He always tells me “no planner, no problem” when a couple chooses to work with him since he’s so organized. So I asked him to share some of his top tips, so that you, too, can have a relaxing morning.”

Do you want to ease into your wedding day relaxed, and even more so, PUMPED because you know you're not only ready on time, and that your photos are going to reflect the story of your morning AND look stellar to boot?

If you answered, “Yes!”, read on!

Bride getting her makeup done on her wedding day. She is surrounded by bridesmaids and flower girls taking selfies.

1. Timing of photographer’s arrival

Schedule for everyone’s hair and makeup to be finished 30 minutes before your photographer arrives. If you want fun shots of you and your bridesmaids in matching pjs/robes/etc., these don’t happen until everyone is done. Why? Your hair and makeup artists won’t stop for photos, and none of your bride tribe will want to be in photos without their hair and makeup finished.

2. Hair and makeup

One big fear that brides have is running behind. The fool-proof way to alleviate this is to have your hair and makeup done first. The minute you are done, you can rest easy knowing you’re set up for success and just enjoy the fact that it’s your amazing wedding day. Let hair and makeup run behind on everyone else. It’s the bride that needs to be ready for the first look. Everyone else doesn’t need to be ready until hours later for the family photo session (except for MOH/MOB/anyone who’ll be in the “helping with getting in the dress” shots).

Bride with her daughter holding the wedding gown in the mirror.

3. Getting the best The wedding gown Shot

Have your dress unwrapped, unstuffed and on a preferred hanger you’d like it photographed on before your photographer arrives. Remove tags and backings from all jewelry and all tags on dresses. Have all of the bridesmaids’ dresses laid out or hung on display (if they’re not already dressed). Have all bridesmaids’ gifts neatly placed on the bed, as well as bride and groom gifts.

4. Jewelry and detail shots

Brides should have their shoes, invitations, and rings collected together so that your photographer can take detail photos of them. Your jewelry can be photographed on you—it’s a more human approach to show you wearing them. The maid of honor or mom will help the bride get dressed and/or put on jewelry during her photo session.

5. Keep the room neat

This may sound funny, but have your most OCD bridesmaid and groomsman make sure the prep room is clean, tidy and uncluttered. Your prep shots will pop when backgrounds/surroundings are neat.

6. The groom

The groom should have his shoes, tie, cufflinks, belt, watch, flask, gift or card from the bride and any other pertinent details collected and all together before the photographer arrives. Groomsmen should be fully dressed no later than 30 minutes after the photographer arrives. The best man or father will help the groom get dressed during his photo session.

Best man helping the groom get dressed in their blue suits.

Following these tips will allow your photographer and second shooter to shoot more and stage less, have more time to capture candid moments, and also shoot more efficiently.