Mike B is featured in United with Love, Offering Special Photographer Advice for DC weddings

We caught up with one of my favorite blogs, United with Love, to share some advice and tips for navigating wedding day photos in the DC area. To see what advice I have to give and to see some of our special DC wedding photos, click here.

“How wedding details can make all the difference”

When it comes to planning a wedding, it’s all about the details. Like never before, today's couples can find so many sources of inspiration for their wedding day, from Pinterest to Instagram, so many options exist for them to gather ideas. Wedding details can range from unique floral designs, custom invitations and paper goods, to custom jewelry, handmade signage, unique menu items, and guest welcome bags to name a few. These details give today's couples so many unique ways to express their individuality.

Small Details, Big Impact:

Once the big details like the venue and wedding date are set, the little details are where a couple’s personality can shine through. 

Table décor can be a way to incorporate the wedding colors, and is a subtle way to add a touch of personality. Tables don’t necessarily need to be decorated with only florals. Consider a collection of beautiful candleholders clustered together, a pop of color with ribbon, or something made lovingly by hand. Even the way the table number is displayed can have a touch of personality. With these do-it-yourself elements, couples can point them out years later and say, “I made that!”

Make it Personal:

Cocktail hour can be enhanced with cigars, signature cocktails, and snacks with personal relevance. If there is a unique menu for cocktail hour or dinner, having it artfully displayed brings a pop of flavor to the table. Some couples have a lot of fun thinking of catchy ways to draw attention to drinks or appetizers. 

When it comes to wedding finery, there are even more opportunities to add personal significance. Little touches like a mother’s veil or a grandfather’s handkerchief bring an emotional weight to even the smallest moments. As brides consider their “old, new, borrowed and blue,” incorporating personal items can create a precious memory. A heart cut out of dad’s blue chambray work shirt, or an antique locket with a treasured picture intertwined into the bridal bouquet are just two ways that small details can have big impacts.

Wedding Tips:

As photographers, we feel it is our job to capture all of these expressions of individuality throughout the day. After all, it is such a big part of the wedding planning process and is a reflection of the couple’s tastes.

Here are a few suggestions we make to our couples to ensure we capture their details:

• Bring a complete set of your stationery, including “save the date” cards and invitations, for us to photograph. 
• Make sure that we have the wedding rings as well as the engagement ring to photograph all three as a set.
• Set aside jewelry, shoes, dresses, and any other accessories they might wear so we can photograph those for wedding day preparation photos.

When it comes to weddings, the difference is in the details. We want to do our best to make sure when you get your photographs back, you can see yourself in every bit.

From cigar bars to personalized cuff links, here are a few of our favorite wedding details we have captured over the last year.