Northern
Michigan
Wedding
Guide
Engagement session tips,
timeline guidance,
vendor recommendations & more!
Welcome!
After capturing love stories for over 16 years, I’ve had the joy of photographing all kinds of weddings and working through all kinds of wedding hiccups.
That’s why I created this guide just for you.
It’s packed with timeline tips, engagement session planning advice, and guidance for handling unexpected moments.
My goal is to help you feel prepared and confident so you can fully enjoy all the excitement of your day.
Engagement Sessions
Engagement sessions are one of my favorite parts of the wedding process.
Not only do we get beautiful photos you can use for wedding decor or save-the-dates, but it also gives us a chance to get to know each other.
It helps you feel more comfortable in front of the camera, which makes a big difference on the wedding day.
Vendors
I cannot express how important vendors are to your wedding day.
We have worked with many of the vendors below and I cannot recommend them enough!
This is not a paid list- I chose these vendors specifically for their quality of work, reputation, and professionalism.
The First Look
That first moment you see each other on your wedding day is absolute magic, and truly priceless.
When planning your timeline, it’s worth considering the option of a first look.
Throughout your wedding day, you’ll have very few quiet moments alone together. A first look gives you the rare chance to pause, breathe, and just be with one another before the whirlwind begins.
Many couples use this time to read personal letters, share a quiet moment, pray, or simply hold each other close. In a day packed with details and to-do lists, this moment can be grounding. It allows the nerves to melt away and reminding you what it’s all really about.
Couples often say their first look helped them feel more connected, calm, and present for the rest of the day. Once the ceremony starts, everything tends to move quickly. A first look gives you a head start on soaking it all in.
There’s also a practical side:
A first look is typically scheduled during the slower part of the day, often overlapping with your “getting-ready” window.
Afterward, you can roll right into couple portraits, bridal party photos, or even family shots. This not only eases your post-ceremony schedule but also frees up more time to enjoy your cocktail hour or simply rest.
✓ Additional Benefits
✓ Hair, makeup, and outfits are at their absolute freshest
✓ You have time to touch up after emotional moments
✓ More flexibility to use different photo locations before the ceremony
✓ Better control over your timeline in case of weather changes
✓ Less pressure on your post-ceremony portrait time
If you still want a quiet, meaningful moment together but want your first view at the alter- consider a blindfolded first touch or corner meeting.
It’s a beautiful way to calm the nerves and share a few private words without actually seeing each other.
Parent First Looks
As I said before, a First Look is a great opportunity to have a moment alone with one another, and that goes for parents as well.
What can easily take a simple 5 minutes will allow you to share a special moment before heading down the aisle.
If you decide to have a first look with a parent, make sure to add this to your timeline.
Even though it only takes a few minutes, it helps your parents/family members to know when they need to be dressed and where to be.
Wedding Planner
On any given wedding day, there are a lot of moving parts- and just as many vendors to coordinate. One of the most underrated vendors I’ve seen in my 16 years of photographing weddings is, without a doubt, the wedding planner.
I have photographed many weddings without a planner, and they all made it throgh the day. With that being said, I’ve documented many that could have gone much. much much smoother.
Weddings where no one was designated to set up final details, cue the ceremony, manage the timeline, or coordinate with other vendors. That gap can lead to stress, confusion, or last-minute scrambling, things you definitely don’t want on your wedding day.
If I could go back to my own 2013 wedding on Empire Beach, I’d seriously consider hiring a planner (even with it being elopement-style).
Even small or intimate weddings can benefit from someone whose sole focus is keeping everything running smoothly so you don’t have to.
There’s a common misconception that wedding planners are only for ultra-luxury weddings. That simply isn’t true.
Many planners offer a range of package (from full-service planning to month-of coordination) and will tailor their services to your specific needs and budget.
What you get, no matter the package, is access to their expertise, tools, timelines, vendor connections, and calm presence on a day when everything matters.
Whether you’re planning a backyard celebration or a full-scale multi vendor venue wedding, a planner can be the difference between “barely held together” and “stress-free magic.”
Wedding Timeline
No matter how formal or laid-back your wedding day is, having a clear timeline is essential.
It’s incredibly easy to get swept up in the emotion and excitement of the day. And that’s exactly what you should do! But a timeline ensures that all the pieces of the day stay in motion, without constant questions about what happens next.
A well-structured timeline includes not only the major moments, like the ceremony and first dance, but also the small details that often get overlooked, like time for touch-ups, travel between locations, or bustling your dress.
That said, it’s important to remember: your wedding day doesn’t happen without you. If things run a little late (and they often do), your timeline should work for you, not the other way around. It’s a guide, not a drill sergeant. Building in buffer time and grouping activities together helps you stay flexible and stress-free when the inevitable hiccups happen.
A timeline gives your entire vendor team, bridal party, and family a shared plan so the day can unfold smoothly, leaving you free to soak in every moment.
Dont have. awedding planner and not sure where to start?
Check below for example timelines with and without a first look
8 Hour Wedding Timeline
Without First Look
1:00pm Photographer/videographer arrives to bridal prep location
*Ideally, by this time hair and makeup would be happening
or wrapping up.
2:00pm Bride gets in her dress and bride and bridesmaid portraits
will be taken
2:30pm Photographers leave to ceremony location to meet with
groomsmen and take groom portraits
3:30pm Photographers/videographers head to ceremony spot and set up
4:00pm Ceremony
4:30pm Family portraits
5:00pm Bridal party & bride and groom portraits
5:30pm Introduction and first dance
6:00pm Toast and dinner
*We recommend planning your toasts before or after
dinner so that we can capture reaction shots without
your guests chewing.
7:00pm Sunset portraits (we will grab you when lighting is best)
7:30pm Parent dances and cake cutting
8:00pm Open dance
9:00pm Photographers / videographers depart
8 Hour Wedding Timeline
With First Look
1:00pm Photographer/videographer arrives to bridal prep location
*Ideally, by this time hair and makeup would be happening
or wrapping up.
2:00pm Bride gets in her dress and bride and bridesmaid portraits
will be taken
2:30 pm Everyone leaves for first look
3:00pm First look
3:30pm Photographers/videographers head to ceremony spot and set up
4:00pm Ceremony
4:30pm Family portraits
5:00pm Bridal party & bride and groom portraits
5:30pm Introduction and first dance
6:00pm Toast and dinner
*We recommend planning your toasts before or after dinner
so that we can capture reaction shots without your
guests chewing.
7:00pm Sunset portraits (we will grab you when lighting is best)
7:30pm Parent dances and cake cutting
8:00pm Open dance
9:00pm Photographers / videographers depart
Rainy Days
Rainy days never seem ideal, but they truly can be magical!
In Northern Michigan it is extremely rare for rain to stick around for an entire day. It usually comes in spirts and can be possible to work around the bursts.
If you don’t have a wedding planner the best first step is to contact your venue. Almost all venues have a rain plan, but if you don’t like the backup plan you could always have the option of purchasing umbrellas for your guests in case the rain starts during the ceremony.
We also suggest purchasing two clear umbrellas in case the rain comes and goes during your portraits.
Its super cute and documents the day the way it happened.
Wedding Day Details
Google says that the average amount of time for planning a wedding is 12-18 months. Thats an entire year of your life planning every tiny detail.
We want to document it all, especially the ones that reflect your love story in a personal way.
Whether it’s the delicate lace of your gown or the heirloom charm in your jewelry, every element plays a part in telling your story.
When I arrive, I’ll typically spend about 15-30 minutes styling and photographing these special pieces.
A well-lit, tidy space with natural light will be chosen in the moment and from there I will let your details shine.
About two weeks before your wedding I will send you an email with final information that will also include a list of items to set aside. This list usually includes your rings, jewelry, shoes, veil, perfume, invitations, and any keepsakes you’d like photographed.
As for your dress—once it’s unwrapped, I’ll take care of the rest, finding the perfect spot to highlight it in all its beauty.
Looking for an exact list to have prepared? Check out the checklists below!
Bride Checklist
O Dress
O A Nice Dress Hanger
O All Of The Rings
O Shoes
O Veil
O Bouquet
O Hair pieces
O Jewelry
O Invitations (2 sets with envelopes
and save-the-dates)
O Any other paper stationary
(Menus, program cards, etc)
O Vow Books
O Any other sentimental items
O Extra florals from your floris
Groom Checklist
O Suit
O His shoes
O Special Socks
O Cuff Links
O Tie / Bow Tie
O Pocket Square
O Boutonnière
O Vows Book
O Rings
O Other Special Items
Rings
If possible, I like to get a few close-ups of your engagement ring.
For the best sparkle, have it cleaned before your session.
If a professional cleaning isn’t possible, you can soak it at home in warm water with a little dish soap, then gently scrub it with a soft toothbrush.
Portraits On-Location
Whether you choose to do a first look or wait until after the ceremony to take your portraits together, you also should consider whether you want to travel to a different location for extra pictures.
Northern Michigan is beautiful and offers a large variety of gorgeous locations.
If there is a spot in particular you would like pictures at- make sure to plan in your timeline for extra time to do so.
Also consider if you want to include your bridal party in this excursion or just the two of you.
Family Formals
Depending on your timeline, family formals typically take place after your ceremony.
We will pick a location near your ceremony that has the best lighting and utilize the DJ or a family member to collect the family provided on your list.
About a month before your wedding we will send you the sample list below to fill out with specific names and any alterations or notes.
It is not necessary to stick exactly to this list, but it does allow us to move quickly.
This also doesnt mean you can’t request more pictures later in the evening either, feel free to grab us at any time for more photographs of family or guests.
Basic Family Formal List
O Bride + Groom + Bride’s Grandparents
O Bride + Groom + Bride’s Immediate Family + Grandparents
O Bride + Groom + Bride’s Immediate Family
O Bride + Groom + Bride’s Siblings
O Bride + Groom + Bride’s Parents
O Bride + Mother Of Bride
O Bride + Father Of Bride
O Bride + Groom + Both Immediate Families
O Bride + Groom + Groom’s Grandparents
O Bride + Groom + Groom’s Immediate Family + Grandparents
O Bride + Groom + Groom’s Immediate Family
O Bride + Groom + Groom’s Siblings
O Bride + Groom + Groom’s Parents
O Groom + Mother Of Groom
O Groom + Father Of Groom
