Unhinged Wedding Tips Every Couple Needs

Wedding planning is full of “must do” lists, Pinterest boards, and advice from literally everyone. So here’s something different.

These are the slightly unhinged, brutally honest wedding tips from someone who’s photographed dozens of weddings. They might make you laugh, but they’ll also save you stress and help you end up with the wedding gallery you’ve been dreaming about.

1. Get the spray tan. Just… do it.

A good spray tan photographs beautifully.

Notice I said good spray tan.

You don’t need to look like you just spent six months on a tropical island. The goal is simply to add a healthy, natural warmth so you don’t blend into your white dress under bright sunlight or flash photography.

If you’re local to Wisconsin, I highly recommend P.S Beauty Lounge in Fond du Lac. Their tans are natural, even, and photograph beautifully.

Pro tip: Schedule your trial before engagement photos or another event so you know exactly how your tan develops.

2. Five minutes for couples photos is not enough.

I’m just going to say it.

You cannot expect an entire Pinterest-worthy wedding gallery if you only give your photographer five rushed minutes between cocktail hour and dinner.

Those dreamy, emotional, artistic images? They take time.

Walking.
Laughing.
Trying different locations.
Fixing your veil.
Waiting for the wind.
Letting moments happen naturally.

If beautiful portraits are important to you, build 20-30 minutes into your timeline. You’ll never regret having more photos of the two of you.

3. Please don’t tap out during couples portraits.

I get it.

Your feet hurt.

You want a drink.

Everyone wants to congratulate you.

But the portraits you almost skipped?

Those are usually the ones that end up framed on your walls for the next 50 years.

Your wedding day goes by unbelievably fast. Those quiet moments together are often the only chance you’ll have to simply breathe and enjoy being married.

Trust me when I say you’ll never look back and wish you had fewer photos together.

4. If your photographer asks you to sneak outside for sunset…

GO.

Immediately.

Golden hour only lasts about 10 to 20 minutes depending on the season.

Those glowing, romantic, magazine-worthy portraits everyone saves on Pinterest?

That’s sunset.

It usually takes us less than 15 minutes, and you’ll return to your reception with some of the most beautiful images from your entire wedding day.

Your guests won’t even notice you’re gone.

5. Build fluff time into literally everything.

This might be the most valuable advice in this entire blog.

Hair runs late.

Makeup runs late.

Someone forgets their shoes.

Grandma can’t find her corsage.

Someone’s boutonniere breaks.

Life happens.

When I help couples build timelines, I always recommend adding extra buffer time throughout the day. If everything stays on schedule, amazing! Everyone gets to relax.

If something runs behind, nobody is panicking.

A stress-free wedding timeline creates better photos than a perfectly packed schedule ever will.

6. Eat. The. Food.

No, seriously.

I cannot tell you how many couples tell me at the end of the night, “We never even got to eat.”

You spent thousands on dinner.

Enjoy it.

Ask your planner or DJ to protect 15 to 20 uninterrupted minutes for you to actually eat together.

Your future self will thank you.

7. Hydrate like it’s your full-time job.

Champagne is great.

Water is even better.

Drink water throughout the morning and afternoon, especially if you’re celebrating during the summer.

It’ll help you feel better, look better, and survive the dance floor.

8. Unplugged ceremonies aren’t just trendy.

They’re amazing.

Nothing ruins a first kiss faster than Uncle Bob standing in the aisle holding an iPad from 2012.

Let your guests be present.

Your photographer has it covered.

9. Wear your shoes before the wedding.

Breaking in wedding shoes on wedding day is a bold strategy.

Wear them around the house.

Take a walk.

Dance in your kitchen.

Your feet deserve better.

10. Designate one person to answer questions.

Not you.

Not your spouse.

Your maid of honor, planner, coordinator, or a trusted family member should become the official “problem solver.”

Where’s the guest book?

Who has the rings?

When does dessert start?

None of those questions belong on your plate.

11. The weather doesn’t care about your Pinterest board.

Rain happens.

Wind happens.

Clouds happen.

Honestly?

Some of my favorite wedding galleries happened on the rainiest days imaginable.

The best photos don’t come from perfect weather.

They come from couples who embrace whatever the day brings.

12. Your wedding is not a photoshoot.

It’s your wedding.

The photos matter.

But the moments matter more.

Laugh loudly.

Cry ugly.

Dance until your feet hurt.

Hug your grandparents.

Hold your spouse’s hand a little tighter.

The most beautiful wedding photos aren’t perfectly posed.

They’re proof that you were fully present on one of the best days of your life.

Final Unhinged Thought

Here’s the biggest secret photographers know:

The couples who have the best galleries aren’t the ones with the biggest budgets, the fanciest venues, or perfect weather.

They’re the couples who trust their vendors, build a relaxed timeline, give themselves room to breathe, and spend the day soaking in every moment together.

Everything else is just icing on the wedding cake.