Ok… I want to talk about something super important in your wedding day – possibly the most important part of that one very special day.  Stress…

We all know (all of us girls who have had to plan our own weddings) that weddings can be very stressful.  I mean, if you think about it – most of us are not wedding planners.  We probably have never planned an event of this magnitude ever in our lives.  So all of the sudden we are expected to plan a full-scale gorgeous wedding (sometimes while keeping a tight budget)!?!?!  Seriously… it can make a woman a little nutty – especially if we still have to keep our jobs and every day responsibilities!  (hence… why I absolutely LOVE wedding planners… they are the angels of the wedding industry! LOL!!).  Needless to say… I understand all the stress… really, I do. 

So you have stressed out for months (sometimes even years) planning this wedding… agonizing over every little detail.  You’ve invested a pretty penny on gorgeous flowers, reception hall, cake, video/photo.. etc.  So after the wedding, when you’ve received your wedding photos (and/or video) –what do you realize? That you neglected to smile ONCE during your entire day!!!  OMG!!!!!  All of that money, all of that planning – and you have an album full of images where you look like you’re physically  in pain!?!?!

Girls… please… I can’t emphasize this enough – PLEASE…. ENJOY YOUR WEDDING DAY.

I always tell all of my clients the week before the wedding – do all the last minute stressing the last week, heck – do it the last night if you have to… get it all out of your system.  Go nuts trying to get all the details absolutely perfect if you must.  But on your wedding day – please just let it be… relax…. SMILE.  No matter what happens… even if things don’t go exactly as planned (Trust me, they rarely do) – just let it go.  You probably won’t be able to fix anything at that point anymore… you’ll just be stressing yourself out in vain.  Just let things slide off, and enjoy your day.  I mean, seriously… as long as you and the love of your life are tying the knot… that’s what matters the most.. that’s why you’re both there.  So if you said your ‘I do’s’ – then consider the day a success!  The rest is just icing on that wonderful cupcake!!! 

I’m not necessarily saying that you need to smile all day long… or for every single picture.  But even in pictures where the bride isn’t smiling… where it looks like she’s contemplating something – she is still glowing, and you can see the smile in her eyes… that comes from happiness and sheer joy. 

I can’t tell you how sad it is to see a bride that is so stressed out that she can’t even force herself to smile.  As a photographer… I wish I could give her some peace… something to smile about.  I know sometimes things can get stressful… and I always remind my clients to smile… relax… enjoy.  I sometimes even take them away from the wedding day ‘chaos’ during the bride and groom shots (away from family and friends) – because sometimes that helps to clear their minds.  Luckily I haven’t had any cases where nothing I do works, but I have been to weddings as a guest where nothing at all works.  Do you really want to see those wedding pictures 10 years down the line and only remember how stressed you were? 

Remember that even the most amazing photographer in the world can’t add that smile and glow to your face if you’re truly so upset. 

Enjoy your day… you’re there with your family, your friends, your love.  Relax, (maybe have a nice drink), enjoy the food, the fun… and SMILE.

Beautiful and glowing bride... notice how she's not smiling, yet her glow is beautiful

Same bride... now smiling beautifully!!!

Even though she's not smiling... she looks absolutely stunning!

without even looking at the camera, this beautiful bride just glows!