The Importance of Downtime on Your Wedding Day
So, you're planning your wedding and you want those killer, photojournalistic, relaxed, and fun photos to remember your big day by, right? I’m here to let you in on a little secret – the magic happens when you plan for some downtime on your wedding day. Yep, you heard me right! Let's dive into why this is super important.
Intense Timelines? No, Thanks!
Picture this: it's your wedding day, and you're running from one thing to another like a headless chicken. Ceremony at 2 PM, photos at 3 PM, cake cutting at 4 PM, dance at 5 PM… and on and on it goes. Phew, just writing that made me tired! Now, let that sink in a second – if you're constantly on the move, where's the time to just be, well, you? Where's the time to kick back and actually enjoy the day?
Here's the thing: intense timelines are the enemy of those amazing, relaxed, and candid wedding photos you crave. When you're rushed and stressed, it shows. In your face, your body language, even in your interactions with others. The camera picks up on that stress, and trust me, that's not the vibe you want.
The Power of Downtime
Now, imagine this instead: you’ve got some built-in breaks throughout the day. Moments where you can sit, relax, and have a laugh with your friends and family. Maybe you’re chilling out with a champers, or just taking a quiet walk with your partner. These are the times when the best photos happen. The ones that capture your genuine smiles, your real emotions, and those beautiful, unplanned moments that make your wedding day uniquely yours.
Scheduling Downtime: Your New Best Friend
Alright, let’s talk about how to make this happen. First, take a deep breath and decide what’s really important to you on your wedding day. Is it that you follow a rigid timeline down to the last second? Or is it that you have fun, relax, and soak in every moment with your loved ones? I’m guessing it’s the latter!
So, here’s what you do: schedule downtime. Yes, put it right there in your timeline. Don’t have things planned for every 5-10 minutes. Give yourself and your guests some breathing room. Trust me, the world won’t end if you take a 30-minute break between the ceremony and the reception. In fact, it’ll probably be the best decision you make.
Ditch the Non-Essentials
You know those wedding checklists that seem to go on forever? They’re not gospel. You don’t have to do everything on them. Seriously, if cutting the cake in front of everyone feels like a chore, skip it. If you’d rather spend more time mingling with guests than doing a bouquet toss, then by all means, let that bouquet fly away in your imagination.
The point is, your wedding day should reflect what matters to you. Cut out the stuff that doesn't and make room for the things that do – like downtime. You'll thank yourself later when you’re flipping through your wedding photos and seeing genuine, joyful moments instead of rushed, stressed-out faces.
Wrapping It Up
So there you have it, folks! Downtime isn’t just a luxury on your wedding day – it’s a necessity for those relaxed, fun, and oh-so-amazing photojournalistic wedding photos you’ve been dreaming of. Take a step back, breathe, and let your day unfold naturally. Your photographer will thank you, and future you will have a wedding album full of genuine, beautiful moments to look back on.
Happy planning, and remember to take it easy! You’ve got this.
Ell xx