Ryan's Wedding Checklist

Exterior Shot of Venue 
 
 Empty shot of location Bride / Groom are getting ready 
 Ceremony Venue 
 Reception Venue (Can be the sign out front if not ideal) 
 
 
 Details/Setting Shots 
 
 Photogenic details of the scenery/architecture/clouds/greenery 
 Shots of details not planned by the couple/wedding team but are a part of the permanent setting (should not include people) 
 
 
 Ceremony Details 
 
 Wide shot of the ceremony location (vertical & horizontal) 
 
 Close up of details of the ceremony (floral arrangements, communion setup, etc) 
 
 
 Aisle florals or entry decor (signs, runners, program display, etc) 
 
 
 Close up of any instrumentalists 
 
 
 
 Reception Details 
 
 
 Big room shot (vertical & horizontal) 
 
 
 Shots of all different styles of centerpieces 
 
 
 Overhead shot of place setting 
 
 
 Close up verticals of place setting details, glassware, place cards, etc. 
 
 
 Seating Chart Display (wide and tight detail shots) 
 
 
 Any ceiling decor 
 
 
 Sweetheart or Head table decor 
 
 
 Cake Table 
 
 
 Dessert bars/ snack bars 
 
 
 Memory stations (photo displays, personalized decor displays, etc) 
 
 
 
 
 Groomsmen Suite 
 
 Candids of guys getting dressed 
 Groom getting dressed with best man or dad helping him 
 Close up of groom buttoning sleeve/cufflinks and adjusting tie 
 Groom portrait in chair (smiling and modeling shot) 
 Toasting or cheers shot if opportunity presents itself 
 
 
 Groomsmen Detail Shots 
 
 
 Tie or Bowtie 
 
 Groom's shoes 
 Cufflinks if possible 
 Any special alcohol 
 Watch 
 Belt 
 Specialty socks 
 
 
 Ceremony 
 
 Parents and grandparents being seated 
 
 Groomsmen entering, bridesmaids entering 
 
 
 Any children in the ceremony 
 
 
 Pastor/Officiant 
 
 
 Bride coming down the aisle from front and from the back (full length, then closer) 
 
 Groom's reaction to seeing his bride 
 Parent's reaction if possible 
 
 Any readers, soloist, special guests involved in the ceremony 
 
 
 Wide shot of the entire ceremony 
 
 
 Groom looking at bride , Bride looking at groom during vows 
 
 
 Close up of the exchange of rings (especially the bride putting his ring on because 
 she will face outward more than he will) 
 
 
 Parents watching, emotional moments 
 
 
 Candids of flower girls or ring bearers 
 
 
 First kiss, pronouncement, recessional 
 
 
 Recessional of all Bridal party and parents 
 
 
 Main shooter follows bride and groom for first moments married 
 
 
 
 Bridal Party Shots 
 Bride and Groom: 
 
 Bride and Groom together by the arch 
 In several shaded spots 
 Individual pictures of each 
 
 Full Group Shots: 
 
 Guys on one side, girls on other side 
 Intermingled formal shot smiling at camera (vertical and horizontal) laughing at one another 
 Model shot 
 Walking/spread out a little (vertical and horizontal) 
 Extra: Staged sitting shot with a few chairs if time allows 
 
 Bridesmaids: 
 
 Full group, smiling at camera (vertical & horizontal) 
 Tighter horizontal, girls closer to each other and laughing at the camera 
 Girls walking and laughing (vertical & horizontal) 
 Model shot of the whole group 
 
 Bouquet shot (vertical & horizontal, no spaces in the background between 
 bridesmaids dresses) 
 
 Single bouquet shot with a bridesmaid 
 Individual shots with each bridesmaid and the bride 
 
 Groomsmen: 
 
 Full group, smiling at camera (vertical & horizontal) 
 Tighter horizontal, bro hug, arms around neck (unbuttoned jackets to avoid pulling) 
 Guys walking and laughing (vertical & horizontal) 
 Model shot of the whole group 
 Close up of the boutonniere (if possible) 
 
 Individual shots with each groomsmen and the groom 
 
 
 I only take “groomsmen with bride” and “bridesmaids with groom” shots if they are requested 
 
 Family Formals 
 
 We follow the bride and groom's questionnaire list of family formals exactly, but we also have some shots we always want to make sure that we take! 
 
 Bride's mom/pop together (Chris and Connie Cuellar) 
 
 
 Groom's parents together (Jonathan and Denise Vallis) 
 Groom's sister and brother-in-law (Rosie and Nick Karliss) 
 Groomsmen (Brandon, Jerrad, Phil, David, Nick) w/ Groom 
 Bridespeeps (Erika, Kyle, Erica, Rosie, Ashley) w/ Bride 
 Ushers (Anthony, Adam, Ben, Greg) 
 Officiant (Beth) 
 Grandma Kathy 
 Grandma Pat 
 Aunts/Uncles/Cousins 
 
 Grandparents (separately if they are single, together if they are a couple) 
 
 
 
 Cocktail Hour 
 
 10-20 Group shots of guests while they are mingling (depends on the guest count) 
 
 Any passed hors d’oeuvres 
 
 Speciality drinks 
 Wide overall shot 
 
 Looking for who parents are talking to, ask for group photos of those friends 
 
 
 Additional bride & groom portraits 
 
 
 
 Reception 
 
 Table group shots (I will not do every single table unless specifically asked by the bride and groom ) 
 
 All Special Events: 
 
 
 Dances (wide & tight shots of each dance unless it is a fast choreographed dance 
 or too fancy for close shots) 
 
 
 Toasts (shots of the bride & groom , those who are toasting and guests' reactions 
 
 Cake cutting 
 Bouquet toss and garter 
 
 
 
 Party dancing 
 Shot of us with the couple 
 Candids of mingling 
 Any speciality stations for food 
 Any special/unique event 
 Bride and Groom sunset portraits 
 The Exit!