Feb
01

The Length of a Wedding Ceremony Matters

The  length of a wedding ceremony matters! The wedding ceremony is the whole reason why your whole day is even planned out in the first place—why so much effort is even put forth. It is the centerpiece of the day. It is the focal point. It’s why so much money is spent. It’s why you hire all the vendors. It’s why you purchase the dress. It’s the legal formality. And, it’s the religious formality in a lot of cases.

It is “the thing” that every other thing is revolving around on your special day. The length of your wedding ceremony is literally the amount of time that you are giving your wedding photographer to capture images during your ceremony.

In my book, I discuss letting your photographer know when things like your first dance is going to be shortened—especially with dads or moms. Sometimes those relationships have a little bit of friction and those dances are sometimes shortened because the bride or groom doesn’t want to spend four minutes and 11 seconds on the dance floor with their parents in a very intimate situation. So those songs are shortened to just 30 seconds or 60 seconds. Sometimes the photographer is notified sometimes they are not. But I always advise letting your photographer know so they are aware that they only have 60 seconds to capture images and to work all the angles.

The Length of Your Wedding Ceremony Matters

I looked at the timestamps on the images from a wedding that I shot last year that had a very short ceremony—the shortest I think I’ve ever experienced. Excluding the procession and the recession, the timestamp on the first image I took of the ceremony was 5:34 p.m. and 51 seconds. The last image of the kiss happened at 5:39 p.m. and 50 seconds, so that was one second short of a five-minute ceremony. Again, that was excluding the procession and the recession. The couple and the officiant were all aware that this would be an extremely short ceremony, but no one bothered to tell me.

During that five minutes, I took 56 images. And on this particular wedding, I also had a second shooter working with me. Ironically, he also took exactly 56 images. (We have been shooting together since August of 2013. I guess we are very intuitive and we can read each other’s minds. Shout out to Fred!) 

But together, in that five minutes, we took 112 images. If you break this down mathematically, I took 11.2 images a minute or about one image every 5.5 seconds. Together, we captured 22 images a minute or about one image every 2.7 seconds. I cull or toss out at least 50% of the images I take.

The reason that you cull images is that you don’t want to overwhelm your couples with bad images. You only want to deliver the best of the best images. A lot of the images that you take are duplicate images, especially during the ceremony because you are trying to avoid closed eyes or bad expressions. If it’s an outdoor ceremony, the wind may be blowing hair across people’s faces. So you take multiple, consecutive images to try to avoid that or something weird in the background.

Usually during a ceremony, I will tend to make three or four trips around the ceremony site. This particular wedding, I didn’t even make a complete loop around the ceremony. I went around about three-quarters before it was time for the first kiss. 

So out of curiosity, I went back to the very last wedding I shot to review timestamps and the number of images captured.  I shot my last wedding solo, so it was just me. The very first image that I took of that ceremony happened at 5:37 p.m. My last image I took was at 5:56. So it was just short of a 20-minute ceremony and I delivered 124 images from the ceremony alone.

When you are severely limiting the time of your ceremony, you are severely limiting the work that your photographer can do during that time. You are really not giving your photographer time to photograph any of your guests—which is something that I like to do. I like to photograph guests watching and reacting and I like to capture their emotion while they are watching your ceremony. 

I’ll try to catch Grandma crying, dad hugging mom, or mom hugging dad. I’ll try to look for kids playing in the audience or digging in their nose or something cute or devious like that. Sometimes the ring bearer will run off and his mom will go off trying to catch him. You know? It’s something that the couple may be totally oblivious what’s happening and they won’t know that any of this stuff happened until they view the images. 

When you severely limit the time of the ceremony, there’s really no time for your photographer to be creative. They can’t look for a sharp reflections or dramatic shadows. They can’t try to layer subjects or objects. They can’t look for ways to get your parents in the same shot with you. They can’t find ways to shoot through doors or windows or over or under the church pews or through someone’s legs or over someone’s shoulders.  There won’t be any time to discover how to shoot from outside the open-air chapel. There’s no way to tell a very creative story when you have merely minutes to work.

If there’s a reason why you don’t really want to make a big to-do about your ceremony—maybe you’re not very religious or you just don’t like being the center of attention—there are some things you can do to kind of make it not about that. You can ask someone else to give a small sermon, deliver a short speech, recite a life lesson, or maybe tell a story about you and your partner. Have someone else do some readings from the Bible, write and release a short poem, or recite lyrics to a song. 

This is a great opportunity to invite some of your special friends who weren’t a part of your wedding party to be a part of your wedding day. If some of those friends are musically inclined, you could have them come up and sing a song or play a musical instrument. You could also dedicate something or make a tribute to members of your family who have passed on. 

I just really want to stress that your photographer can’t make images out of something that didn’t happen and I would recommend that your ceremony be a minimum of at least 15 minutes. 

I would like to remind you that if any aspect of your day is going to be shortened, whether it be your ceremony, your first dances, your speeches, your toasts, or your reception, make sure that your photographer is aware. 

Make sure that your photographer has worked through your timeline with you and has asked these questions so they know that if there is an obstacle, that they know they need to work with that obstacle or can educate you so that there won’t be an obstacle. But either way, you will get better images because ultimately that’s what you want, right? You want better images, so if there is an obstacle and you don’t know there’s an obstacle, that’s what we want to fix. I hope there are no obstacles in front of your photographer on your wedding day so that they can capture beautiful, emotive, wonderful images.

Let’s “hangout!” I wanna hear about your love story!

Schedule a virtual or in-person discovery meetup!
For more options, visit my “Let’s Connect” page. 

About Ata-Girl

I am a San Antonio-based wedding photographer and I cater to outdoor-loving couples who prefer to have all the realness captured on their wedding days. I am the wedding photographer for the outdoor adventurers, the romantics, the laid-back, the snugglers, and those who wish to capture all their realness.

I am absolutely in love with capturing the kinds of weddings where there are more hugs than handshakes, the dance floor rumbles all night long, and chairs are pretty much rendered useless after dinner. Whiskey bottles are passed around, most of the wedding party has been best-best friends since kindergarten, Grams is likely to lose her shoes and your partner is much more emotional than you are. These kinds of weddings are my jam!

You can always call or text, but if you really want to get to know me, schedule a meetup!

I started Ata-Girl Photography Co., LLC in 2010. I firmly believe that the unique set of circumstances I have faced in life has prepared me to take a personal and genuine interest in my photography clients. I enjoy documenting the important milestones and captivating moments in people’s lives. I love being a part of people’s journeys and consider myself privileged to document their legacies.

If you enjoyed this blog post and would like to get your hands on 20 FREE interactive wedding planning tools that every couple needs, please take a moment to access them here.

I am a published author (purchase my book here), a podcast host (listen here) (watch here) and a WPPI-C certified professional, full-time wedding photographer. I specialize in a 10-day image delivery, same-day prints, same-day slideshows, Italian handcrafted wedding albums and I have a mobile meeting space.

When I’m not behind my camera, you can find me hiking, cycling, backpacking, camping, enjoying water sports, listening to music (Elvis and Prince), hunting for arrowheads, reading audiobooks, occasionally eating a few glazed donuts (my only weakness to sweets) and then re-starting my keto diet about every 10 days. The most important things in life are for me to see my two daughters happy and to create a family history my grandparents and grandchildren would be proud of.

Feb
10

Propose on Valentine’s Day

Do you want to propose on Valentine’s Day? Valentine’s Day is about the most romantic day of the year. It’s a time to show your love and you can do that in any number of ways. You might want to surprise your partner with an elaborate flashmob at work, take him or her out for a romantic movie, plan a weeklong getaway, or just spend the weekend in bed. The choice is yours! (In the wedding industry and according to weddingpro.com, Valentine’s Day is also known as the end of engagement season. Valentine’s Day officially ends the 80-day streak in which most engagements happen each year—the days between Thanksgiving and February 14th.) If you’re up for a proposal, I’ll share the basics of how to propose on Valentine’s Day. You’ll have to come up with the specifics of how you’ll ask someone to share the rest of forever.

There are many different ways in which you could plan a proposal, but this Valentine’s Day you probably want something extra special given the last two years we’ve all had to endure. You could opt for an elaborate flashmob, or go the more traditional route with a romantic dinner (though this is boring if you ask me). But ultimately, the choice is yours!

Valentine’s Day is all about romance, but it doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated; you can make it as fancy (or not) as you like!

Before I get knee-deep in the tips, I first want to address the ladies who are listening. If you are ready to get married and settle down, you don’t have to wait for your partner to ask you to propose on Valentine’s Day. This is 2022! All bets are off and we no longer have to do things the way they did things in 1912. I mean really. Grow a pair. Go get what you want. If you ask your partner for their hand in marriage it can only end two ways… either they will say yes, or they will say no. It’s really just that simple. You can do this OR you can sit around waiting to see if they are EVER going to ask you. Okay. Carry on.

How to Propose on Valentine’s Day

  1. Choose a place that will be/or is very memorable.
  2. Bring chocolotes, sweets, and flowers (unless they hate these things).
  3. Hire a stealthy photographer (a videographer too if it’s in the budge).
  4. Be creative; think outside the box.
  5. Be super sweet. Add special touches.
  6. Don’t let the cat out of the bag (unless there’s an actual cat involved).
  7. Don’t forget the ring.
  8. Have a backup plan… just in case.

Choose a place that will be/or is very memorable.

how to propose on valentine's day couple walking hand in hand by San Antonio TX Wedding Photographer Tammy Blalock, Ata-Girl Photography Co.

When it comes to choosing a location to propose, you have a lot of options. You could go the traditional route and propose at a romantic restaurant, or take your special someone on a surprise trip somewhere special. If you want to do something more creative, you could propose at a movie theater or even in the middle of a crowded street. It all depends on what your lover would enjoy!

When it comes to the proposal, the most important thing is that you choose a location that they will love. If they are more of an introvert, avoid crowded spaces. If they like to be the center of attention, then, by all means, hit the arena with the jumbotron. You might also consider somewhere special that has sentimental value, like the spot where you first met, a favorite vacation spot, or a special place to celebrate anniversaries or precious milestones at. If they are into movies, proposing at a theater could be a great option. If they’re super active, they cross-fit gym could also be an option.

Bring chocolotes, sweets, and flowers (unless they hate these things).

Bring smaller gifts with you. After all, it is Valentine’s Day and you want something to appear somewhat natural and to throw them off the scent of your nervousness (and that ring in your pocket. Wait! Is that a ring in your pocket?) Any gifts will do really because the real gift… the fact that you could be spending the rest of your lives together (betting on the fact that they’ll say YES!) will be the real gift (see step #8).

Hire a stealthy photographer (a videographer too if it’s in the budge)

A long time ago (like six years), I wrote a blog post about how to plan a secret marriage proposal. That blog post was much more about hiring and coordinating with your photographer to make sure you get all the really great candid and photojournalistic shots of the proposal happening. So instead of retyping everything out here again, just go ahead and click on that link when you’re done reading here.

Be creative; think outside the box to propose on Valentine’s Day

When it comes to deciding what to say, I really can’t help you out much. No one knows your significant other the way you do. You want to make sure that your proposal is personal and unique. It’s a good idea to start by thinking about what you love about this special person. What are the things that make them special to you? What do you really enjoy about this person? Once you have a list of qualities, you can start to craft your proposal around those points. For example, if you appreciate their sense of humor, you could say something like, “Will you marry me and make me laugh every day for the rest of my life?”

couple walking hand in hand in landa park in new braunfels by San Antonio TX Wedding Photographer Tammy Blalock, Ata-Girl Photography Co.

Be super sweet. Add special touches.

Back in my day (NO, IT WASN’T 1912!!!), we called this a location joke—you had to have been there to understand the reference. Add special touches to the proposal that no one else will understand except you two. By doing this, you make this moment extra special for your partner. An example might be if you two shared a bag of M&M’s together each time you did something “naughty” but you only ate the green ones. For your proposal, you buried a handwritten note asking them to marry you in a small jar of nothing but green M&M’s. They would instantly know what the green M&M’s referenced, but your mom wouldn’t have a clue.

Another thing to keep in mind is that your proposal should reflect your relationship as a whole. If you’ve been together for a while, you might want to reference some of the funny or memorable moments that you’ve shared together.

Don’t let the cat out of the bag (unless there’s an actual cat involved).

Don’t tell anyone that you are going to propose on Valentine’s Day who does not need to know. The fewer people who know about your plans (a.k.a. “your secret”), the less chance there is that your plan will be spoiled.

Don’t forget the ring to propose on Valentine’s Day.

You can’t really propose marriage without a ring. You gotta have a ring. You can go for something cute like a bread tie or a candy ring pop, but I’d suggest also having a serious backup ring—like something made from a precious metal and encrusted with gemstones. While we’re discussing more serious rings, did you know that ethical diamonds (ones grown in labs as opposed to diamonds mined the ol’ fashioned way) are environmentally friendly, offer greater affordability, and allow diamonds to be sourced from reputable places that don’t engage in poor treatment of workers or communities? Okay, I’m off my soapbox. Also, no one will know unless you tell them?

Have a backup plan… just in case.

Don’t assume that just because you’re going to propose on Valentine’s Day that they are going to say yes. Some people are shocked to be caught off guard and can’t say yes immediately. Some people just aren’t about that married life. And some people are just creeps and like to lead other people on. (I’m sure that’s not your case.) However, be prepared to hear a no just as much as you are prepared to hear a yes. If you can’t imagine hearing a no—even if you have been together for the last seven years, have three kids together, and just closed on a thirty-year mortgage—then I would not recommend you be the one doing this proposal. It may be better to either wait until you are in a place to hear a no, or wait until the proposal comes to you.

No matter what, remember to stay calm and collected. The last thing you want to do is get flustered if things don’t go as planned. Just take a deep breath and remember that everything will work out in the end.

Planning a proposal can be stressful, but it’s worth it to make your loved one feel special. I’ve outlined the basic steps that you need to take to plan the proposal, so take your time and choose the option that will make your Valentine the happiest.

Let’s “hangout!” I wanna hear about your love story!

Schedule a virtual or in-person discovery meetup!
For more options, visit my “Let’s Connect” page.

About Ata-Girl

I am a San Antonio-based wedding photographer and I cater to outdoor-loving couples who prefer to have all the realness captured on their wedding days. I am the wedding photographer for the outdoor adventurers, the romantics, the laid back, the snugglers, and those who wish to capture all their realness.

I am absolutely in love with capturing the kinds of weddings where there are more hugs than handshakes, the dance floor rumbles all night long, and chairs are pretty much rendered useless after dinner. Whiskey bottles are passed around, most of the wedding party has been best-best friends since kindergarten, Grams is likely to lose her shoes and your partner is much more emotional than you are. These kinds of weddings are my jam!

You can always call or text, but if you really want to get to know me, schedule a meetup!

I started Ata-Girl Photography Co., LLC in 2010. I firmly believe that the unique set of circumstances I have faced in life has prepared me to take a personal and genuine interest in my photography clients. I enjoy documenting the important milestones and captivating moments in people’s lives. I love being a part of people’s journeys and consider myself privileged to document their legacies.

If you enjoyed this blog post and would like to get your hands on 20 FREE interactive wedding planning tools that every couple needs, please take a moment to access them here.

I am a published author (purchase my book here), a podcast host (listen here) (watch here) and a WPPI-C certified professional, full-time wedding photographer. I specialize in a 10-day image delivery, same-day prints, same-day slideshows, Italian handcrafted wedding albums and I have a mobile meeting space.

When I’m not behind my camera, you can find me hiking, cycling, backpacking, camping, enjoying water sports, listening to music (Elvis and Prince), hunting for arrowheads, reading audiobooks, occasionally eating a few glazed donuts (my only weakness to sweets) and then re-starting my keto diet about every 10 days. The most important things in life are for me to see my two daughters happy and to create a family history my grandparents and grandson would be proud of.

Jan
12

Top Spots for San Antonio Engagements

If you’ve been looking for the top spots for San Antonio engagements, this is the perfect guide! San Antonio is such an abundant city it literally has thousands of possible spots for your engagement session! This city is known for its historical landmarks, its rich, diverse culture and, how friendly and hospitable its people are. If you are planning an engagement session, this extensive engagement guide can help you narrow down a location, or locations, that best fits you and your partner.

20+Top Spots for San Antonio Engagement Pics

These are my top 27—YES, MORE than two dozen—spots for engagement pics (or proposals) in San Antonio and surrounding areas.

This is the most comprehensive list you will find on the web! I’ve divided the list either by the type of backdrop you may be looking for OR by interests that are most appealing to you as a couple. And I’ve detailed all the “know before you go” pertinent information.

—Engagement Locations By Interest

—Engagement Locations By Specific Location



Top Engagement Spots for San Antonio Engagements: History Lovers



  • San Antonio Riverwalk—Just about anywhere on the San Antonio Riverwalk is romantic enough for engagement pictures. In fact, almost the entire length of the river that flows through the city might be the top spots for San Antonio engagements. There are several specific spots that are just perfect. Since this is a very popular tourist destination, I would definitely advise having your engagement session on a weekday. There will still be people in the background, but it will be slightly more manageable. Plan for a longer session because there will be quite a bit more walking and maneuvering around people.
    • Downtown Tuesday offers parking at city-operated parking garages, parking lots, and parking meters every Tuesday evening from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.
  • The Alamo—If you want an undeniably Texan… a puro San Antonio engagement session, then the Alamo is probably what you’re looking for. However, “wedding/engagement photography is not permitted on Alamo grounds.” So, you’ll have to suffice with shooting from a distance and having the Alamo in the background of your photos.
    • For more information, you can email info@thealamo.org
  • The Missions—The missions of San Antonio are Mission Concepción, Mission San Jose, Mission San Juan, and Mission Espada. (The fifth mission is the Alamo, but it’s owned by the State of Texas and not part of the National Historical Park.)
    • Sessions are only allowed Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
    • Apply at least two weeks in advance
    • You may be required the payment of cost recovery charges and you have to show proof of liability insurance naming the United States of America as an additional insured
    • Website
  • Marriage Island— Marriage Island sits on the Riverwalk behind Hotel Contessa between Navarro and South Presa streets. It is a heart-shaped island in the river that is very small and seems awkward for an engagement or wedding, but legend has it that couples who get married there stay together forever. Marriage Islands holds the distinction as one of the world’s top 10 most romantic destination wedding locations. Since this island is so tiny, I’d definitely recommend pairing this location with one of the other top spots for San Antonio engagements to make sure you get a variety of images! It’s definitely a perfect place for a proposal though!
    • Call (210) 667-6503 to make your reservation
  • The St. Anthony, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Antonio—The 10-story St. Anthony Hotel was built in 1909 and was considered one of the most luxurious hotels in the United States of the time. It hosted a wide range of film stars, royalty, and other famous guests. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The hotel is noteably famous for its “Peacock Alley” added in the 1930s. The St. Anthony Hotel has been host to a number of famous people including President Franklin D. Roosevelt, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, General Douglas MacArthur, Vice President John Nance Garner, and humorist Will Rogers. Lyndon B. Johnson spent his honeymoon there and the Newton Gang often resided there during winter months.
    • Wedding & event clients are welcome to use Peacock Alley, the pool and terrace levels at no additional charge, but must schedule with hotel event coordinator
    • All others, including hotel guests, will be charged a $1,500 fee to use these common areas; must schedule with hotel event coordinator
    • Call (210) 227-4392 for more information
    • Website


Top Engagement Spots for San Antonio Engagements: Contemporary Lovers



  • The Pearl Brewery—Okay, first off, the Pearl Brewery is gorgeous and automatically deserves to be on this list of top spots for San Antonio engagements. You can get a lot of looks here at this single location—riverwalk access, ivy walls, textured architectural elements, industrial art pieces, cobblestone streets, old-fashioned street lights, modern contemporary lighting, stone stairways, and large, towering cypress trees that are lit year-round. The downside is that the Pearl is heavily frequented by local photographers. On any given day, you can probably count upwards of five photo sessions taking place. So, if you’re looking for something unique, this is probably not the best location for you.
    • No fee
    • Photographer must have a signed photo permit on person
    • Absolutely no photography allowed in or around the Hotel Emma without explicit permission
    • Website
  • Blue Star Arts Complex—Blue Star Arts Complex is similar to the Pearl in terms of vibe, but on a lot smaller scale. This engagement location also offers riverwalk access and is just a short walk to the King William Neighborhood. If you’re looking for an engagement location with more of an urban feel, this is the place. Also, if by chance you want to paddleboard (or other non-motorized water recreation) on the San Antonio River for your engagement session, this is the ideal place! The launch and recovery ramp is on Guenther Street by San Antonio River Authority located at 100 East Guenther. You may paddle in the King William zone from Nueva Street to Alamo Street which is nearly a mile in length.
    • No fee
  • Confluence Park—Confluence Park is equal parts modern and artistic, but it still has a very natural feel to it. The paved paths are lined with native and non-native grasses and there is also riverside access. It is managed by the San Antonio River Authority (not a city park), so they don’t require a photo permit per se, but kindly suggest a $20 donation for each day of photography. You can definitely avoid the crowds here at this mostly-undiscovered, hidden little gem.
    • Open daily from sunrise to 11 p.m.
    • Photo donation strongly encouraged
    • Website
Top Engagement Spots for San Antonio Engagements:
  • Thompson Hotel—The Thompson Hotel is located in the trendsetting and newly urban-developed part of the northern reach of the San Antonio River Walk. The art in the hotel is both eclectic and eccentric, but definitely a must see. If you’re considering a shoot here, you must shoot in the Moon’s Daughter and you must finish the night eating at the hotel’s own five-star restaurant, Landrace. You will not be disappointed with any of Chef Steve McHugh’s culinary creations.
    • $1,500 photo fee for rooftop, pool, and Moon’s Daughter access (even for guests)
    • Call (210) 876-1234 for more information
    • Website
  • Eilan Hotel—The Eilan has a strict policy that only hotel guests are allowed to use the property for engagement sessions. Their procedure is for you to request the date to be photographed in writing to the general manager. If it is granted, you have to book a room for the day of and you must also pay a $500 photography fee. I’ve seen many couples get the lowkey engagement experience by just being stealthy and taking portraits by venturing up the stairs leading to the Eilan and around the gazebo in front of the hotel. But be warned! This isn’t the same luxe experience you’ll receive by actually going inside. Inside there is a beautiful marble staircase, a large fireplace, a veranda overlooking the quarry, a private gazebo with the west Texas sky in the background, and lots of oversized, comfy furniture. It has an entire European feel to it.
    • $500 photo permit and permission required
    • Room must also be booked
    • Website
  • Landa Library—The Landa Library is a hidden little gem in San Antonio located in the Monte Vista Historical District. Landa Library does not charge a fee and they have plenty of looks for your photos. There are thickets of bamboo, a flower garden, large oak trees, magnificent architecture, a great cement-sculptured gazebo, a Spanish-tiled porch, and porch pillars to die for. Engagement sessions are restricted to the outside grounds only. You do not have exclusive access, you have to work around other visitors, and there is no access to the restrooms for changing. It had been heavily frequented by other photographers, but since they changed their policy to requiring a photo permit from San Antonio’s Film Commission, that was much better. I only saw one other photographer there on the day of my shoot.
  • Tower of the Americas/Hemisfair Plaza—If you’re looking for another important piece of San Antonio’s history this is it. Tower of the Americas and Hemifair Plaza offer quite a bit. There are several beautiful water features in the plaza park.
    • Free entry, but a city photo permit is needed
      • Apply for the permit at least 10 days in advance
    • Entry to the Tower of Americas starts at $14 per adult
    • Hemisfair Plaza is open— rain or shine— seven days a week from 5:00 a.m. until midnight
    • Tower of the Americas’ hours are Monday through Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 12:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m., and Sunday from 12:00 p.m. until 10:00 p.m.
    • Parking fees range from $8 to $15
    • Pets are allowed in the plaza park
  • Hays Street Bridge—Hays Street Bridge is the perfect place to get the entire San Antonio skyline in the background of your engagement pictures. The bridge is from the early-1900s and is a former railroad bridge. As are many of the other locations featured in this blog post, Hays Street Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Bexar County, Texas. For safety reasons, I would only consider this location for morning or daytime engagement sessions.
  • Japanese Tea Garden—The pavilion, waterfall, and koi ponds are all great places to take engagement photos. The gardens are perfectly-groomed with lots of beautiful stone architecture. This is a great location during non-Daylight Savings Time, but since the garden closes so early, is not really suitable for the rest of the year for sunset sessions.
    • Open 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. seven days a week, 365 days a year
    • Free admission
    • No permit is needed
    • Website
  • Dominion Country Club—The Dominion Country Club provides is gorgeous throughout all the seasons. There are majestic live oaks and hills of green accented by a beautiful lake and a flowing fountain that sets the tone for a peaceful outdoor session.
    • $250 photo permit fee for non-members, no fee for members
    • Must clear your session date with the member events coordinator
    • Website


Top Engagement Spots for San Antonio Engagements: Outdoor Lovers



  • Enchanted Rock State Natural Area—Imagine proposing to your partner on top of the world! This isn’t that, but it’s close! Enchanted Rock might the nearest thing to that and it is a great place to propose to your significant other. It’s a short 100-mile drive from San Antonio but soooo worth it if you and your fiancé(e)-to-be are really into the great outdoors. The views from atop the largest piece of pink granite monadnock in the United States are beyond comment. But beware, the climb to the top—The Summit Trail—is not made without careful consideration. Heels won’t work unless they’re in your backpack. Enchanted Rock is one of my favorite places in Texas and is certainly one of the top spots for San Antonio engagements.
    • Open daily from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; gates close at 8:00 p.m.
    • Entrance fee is $8 per adult (unless you have a State Park Pass)
    • All trails close 30 minutes after sunset, except the Loop Trail
    • The Summit Trail may close in wet weather
    • Pets are only allowed on the Loop Trail
    • Website
  • Lost Maples State Natural Area—Also about a 100-mile drive from San Antonio, Lost Maples is specifically known for its fall color. But don’t be fooled, this state park is worth seeing any time of the year. There are a plethora of wildflowers, small waterfalls, steep canyon walls, and the scenic Sabinal River.
    • Open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
      • October and November are the busiest times; the park reaches capacity daily
    • Entrance fee is $6 per adult (unless you have a State Park Pass)
    • Pets are allowed
  • Eisenhower Park—If you’re wanting to propose in the middle of the country, but you’re not really feeling a long drive (or hike), you’ve got options. Eisenhower Park is located on the north side of San Antonio just outside Loop 1604. The park offers many gorgeous nooks and crannies to take beautiful engagement pictures. Beware though, the last time I visited, there were no flushing restrooms, only port-o-potties.
    • Open daily from sunrise to sunset
secret list of san antonio engagement locations eisenhower park
  • Cibilo Nature Center—Located in Boerne, Cibilo Nature center offers wooded trails, a cypress-lined creek, a wetland, and a tall-grass prairie—providing near limitless backdrops for your engagement photos. This is a beautiful park right in the Texas Hill Country area. This is a gorgeous park to take photos in with wide-open spaces making it pretty easy to avoid crowds. Cibilo Nature Center is certainly a crowd-pleaser on this list of top spots for San Antonio engagements.
    • Open 8:00 a.m. through dusk, seven days per week
    • $25 permit fee for up to 10 people
    • Website
  • Landa Park—Landa Park is 51 acres of pure beauty! The park has a river, bridges, giant oak trees, park trails, a miniature train, miniature golf, and paddle boats all to aid with your engagement pictures so there’s no need to bring any of your own props. It is very popular and I would advise limiting your engagement session to weekdays only.
    • Open 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. daily
comprehensive san antonio engagement guide landa park new braunfels
  • Denman Estate—Most notable at the Denman Estate is the beautiful Korean monument, hand-crafted by artisans from our sister city Gwangju, Korea, but shooting is not allowed on the monument. There are a few paved trails, probably thousands of trees (a lot of deciduous trees and many, many oaks), deer that come out every morning and evening, and a small lake in the middle of the park complete with ducks. Again, you can shoot anywhere but on the monument, inside the estate house, and on the front porch, or in the backyard. In order to shoot inside the estate and in their backyard, a separate permit is required directly from the estate. The cost is $200 for a two-hour shoot and includes up to 10 people.
denman park engaged couple
  • San Antonio Zoo—The San Antonio Zoo would be the ideal place for engagement pictures for any animal lover. Enveloped in the 343-acre Brackenridge Park, the zoo is expansive and has over 750 species of animals, and more than 3,500 animals. Doe to the zoo’s hours, this location is not ideal for sunset sessions.
    • Open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and until 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays
    • Admission is $16.50 per adult
    • I’ve never shot here, but I’m going to guess that since this is city-owned property, you must apply for a photo permit
    • Photo permit information here
    • Apply for the permit at least 10 days in advance
    • Website
  • San Antonio Botanical Gardens—You can have your engagement session on location at the Botanical Gardens, however, you don’t have access to any indoor air conditioning. Using their public bathrooms to change is highly discouraged. You must work around guests who are visiting the center and you are limited to their operating hours.
    • Open from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. March through October, Monday through Friday only, they do have extended hours until 7:00 p.m. the rest of the year
    • They do have restrictions on camera equipment to cameras with attached flash and do not allow tripods or flashes to a light stand.
    • Beginning in 2022, the Botanical Gardens started implementing a $195 photo session fee (even for members).
    • Website
  • Gruene, Texas—Yes, the entire town of Gruene is a huge set for on-location engagement photos! And the Guadalupe River is just a short walk or drive from the main attractions. Again, since this place is extremely popular and even more so in the evening hours, I’d advise that your engagement session take place on a weekday—the earlier the better. Most of the businesses will allow photography on their property without a permit, but beware that shooting on the grounds of the Gruene Mansion does require a permit. However, this is an excellent way to get away from the larger crowds a bit and not have to work so hard to keep everyone else from photobombing your engagement session. Unarguably, one of the top spots for San Antonio engagements.
Top Engagement Spots for San Antonio Engagements:
  • Bracken Village—Bracken Village is a nifty spot to take engagement photos because it’s like a little country village. There are quite a few spaces you can use as backdrops and many of the store’s owners will also let you use their storefronts; you just have to secure permission first.
    • $10 photo permit fee
      • Can either be purchased on-site or by calling ahead with credit card information
    • Monday to Saturday 10:00 a.m.to 6:00 p.m.; Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
      • You have to vacate by the time the last shop owner leaves or you’ll be locked in
    • Website


Top Engagement Spots for San Antonio Engagements: Art Lovers



  • McNay Art Museum—McNay Art Museum a very classy place to take your engagement photos (it’s also lovely for your wedding). The McNay sits on 23 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens and is perfectly manicured and taken care of. It actually feels like you are on the grounds of an estate much less than a museum—mostly because you are. If you finish your engagement session early enough, you can always check out the latest exhibitions.
    • $125 photo permit required for indoors (limited spots), includes the use of outdoors
      • Indoor permits must be made three days in advance for weekday bookings or four days in advance for weekends
    • $30 photo permit required (outdoors only)
      • Outdoor permits must be purchased at least two days in advance
    • Here’s one of my engagement sessions
    • Website
mcnay art museum engagement session
  • Witte Museum—The Witte is right on the banks of the San Antonio River and they offer another opulent portrait experience. You need to purchase a photo permit, unless you’re a contracted couple, but you basically get explicit and unambiguous permission to the full campus—inside and out—to conduct the session. And, you will have a personal escort so you’ll have a staffer showing you to the gardens and galleries! You won’t have to work around any other people which is a major benefit as literally none of the other locations listed herein can offer that, with the exception to the indoors portion of the McNay listed above. The only drawback is that you are limited in terms of time to shooting either the two hours prior to the museum’s opening or the two hours after the museum closes. I’d say the benefits far outweigh those drawbacks though on this list of top spots for San Antonio engagements.
    • Monday-Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m or 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m or 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
    • $300 outdoor photo permit fee, FREE for contracted couples
      • Photo requests must be made two weeks in advance
    • No changing areas
    • Pet-friendly (on a leash)
    • Website

This is the most comprehensive list you will find on the internet for the top spots for San Antonio engagements. For every engagement location mentioned herein, there are probably four or five more. If you want to discuss all the opportunities and locations for your engagement session, get in contact with me. We can put together an engagement shoot that is super spectacular and meaningful to your relationship.

Let’s “hangout!” I wanna hear about your love story!

Schedule a virtual or in-person discovery meetup!
For more options, visit my “Let’s Connect” page.

About Ata-Girl

I am a San Antonio-based wedding photographer and I cater to outdoor-loving couples who prefer to have all the realness captured on their wedding days. I am the wedding photographer for the outdoor adventurers, the romantics, the laid back, the snugglers, and those who wish to capture all their realness.

I am absolutely in love with capturing the kinds of weddings where there are more hugs than handshakes, the dance floor rumbles all night long, and chairs are pretty much rendered useless after dinner. Whiskey bottles are passed around, most of the wedding party has been best-best friends since kindergarten, Grams is likely to lose her shoes and your partner is much more emotional than you are. These kinds of weddings are my jam!

You can always call or text, but if you really want to get to know me, schedule a meetup!

I started Ata-Girl Photography Co., LLC in 2010. I firmly believe that the unique set of circumstances I have faced in life has prepared me to take a personal and genuine interest in my photography clients. I enjoy documenting the important milestones and captivating moments in people’s lives. I love being a part of people’s journeys and consider myself privileged to document their legacies.

If you enjoyed this blog post and would like to get your hands on 20 FREE interactive wedding planning tools that every couple needs, please take a moment to access them here.

I am a published author (purchase my book here), a podcast host (listen here) (watch here) and a WPPI-C certified professional, full-time wedding photographer. I specialize in a 10-day image delivery, same-day prints, same-day slideshows, Italian handcrafted wedding albums and I have a mobile meeting space.

When I’m not behind my camera, you can find me hiking, cycling, backpacking, camping, enjoying water sports, listening to music (Elvis and Prince), hunting for arrowheads, reading audiobooks, occasionally eating a few glazed donuts (my only weakness to sweets) and then re-starting my keto diet about every 10 days. The most important things in life are for me to see my two daughters happy and to create a family history my grandparents and grandson would be proud of.

Jan
05

Wedding Photography Pricing

What are you actually paying for when you hire a wedding photographer? This blog post will reveal the truth about wedding photography pricing. You should understand what you are paying for, or more importantly, what you may not be paying for, on your wedding day.

You can hire someone to photograph your wedding for as little as $300 or you can spend upwards of $25,000.

What is the difference? Do you get what you pay for? My short answer: YES, most definitely, unequivocally, without a doubt, YES!

the truth about wedding photography pricing

Anyone can press a shutter button on a fancy camera, right?

Yes… but not everyone can make a beautiful piece of art that will encapsulate your wedding day. Not everyone can make your experience one you will remember fondly.

In a world where wedding photography pricing varies wildly, it’s confusing to the consumer. The truth is that most people honestly cannot tell the difference between masterful photography and photography that is lacking. Without an intimate knowledge of posing, lighting, framing, compositional layering, proper exposure, connection, story-telling, emotion, post-processing, print quality, and a multitude of other varying factors, most people use only their subjective skills because they don’t have the objective skills or trained eye to properly judge a photo.

Wedding Photography Pricing: The Truth is Exposed

Armed with only a limited knowledge of great photography, couples are reduced to fixate only on price when trying to decide who will capture one of the most magical days of their glorious lives.

Here are some things to consider what you may (or may NOT) be paying for when you hire your wedding photographer. You need to understand every element of wedding photography pricing.

I’m going to try and list them in order of importance to you. These are some of the not-so-obvious things you are paying for:

same sex couple on their wedding day

Insurance

Because we have so much invested in our gear and it is quite literally the backbone of each and every job, insurance is a MUST. This insurance covers our equipment from theft or damage. It also protects us in the event that someone trips over our camera bag and breaks a leg during the family formals, or we lose all of our memory cards on the way home because we accidentally left them on the hood of the car. I’ve never heard of that happening; I totally just made that story up. But, that’s what the insurance is for—our clients’ protection, as well as, our own. (If any of these itemized factors are more important than any others on this list of wedding photography pricing, this might be the one. But, you really need to look at all of these factors as a whole.)

Professionalism

I know photographers who show up in blue jeans and t-shirts and still others who change into grass-stained running shoes the second the lights go down to shoot the reception. I know photographers who climb all over the venue’s furniture and trample the flower beds. I’ve witnessed photographers shout curse words and racial slurs on the dance floor thinking no one can hear them because the DJ is so loud. I’ve seen primary photographers spend nearly an hour arguing on the phone with their husbands while they leave their second shooter to singlehandedly man the reception. I know photographers who brag about elbowing the couple’s family members when they compete for images with their own DSLRs. I also know wedding photographers who shoot weddings in tuxedo jackets—even in the summer. I’ve been witness to a photographer putting down his camera to gently console a bride who wept for the father who wasn’t alive to walk her down the aisle. I’ve seen a photographer very delicately and tactfully ask a bride’s mother to please relent her need to control every aspect of the wedding for the remainder of the day because it was upsetting her client. If you want professionalism, chances are you will have to pay for it.

Experience

Just as you would expect in any other profession, you can expect to compensate a photographer for their experience. The longer a photographer has been in business, the more polished his or her craft becomes.

Equipment (and Backup Equipment)

Having equipment is just not enough. A photographer must also have backup equipment. You never know when that equipment is going to mysteriously stop working, get broke, or get misplaced (all scenarios that have happened while I’ve been smack dab in the middle of shooting a wedding). But because multiple backups of everything (even light stands and reflectors) are transported to events, none of these incidents stopped me from doing my job. Most professional photographers have at least $5,000 worth of gear upwards to $50,000 (and sometimes even well beyond that).

san antonio wedding photographers

Maintenance and Repair

All the equipment needs to be kept in proper working order. Routine cleanings and calibrations must be performed.

Image Storage and Backup

It’s not enough to just have one copy of 85,000,000 RAW images. Proper image preservation means backing up all these images on multiple drives in multiple locations. Don’t you want assurance that if you lose your album or digital images in a house fire, that your photographer can replace them?

Education

Even photographers who are at the very top of their games will continue to seek out guidance and education from other professional photographers and educators… even photographers who have already been named Nikon© Ambassadors—one of the many preeminent accolades in the photographic community. Perpetual gains in skill and creativity have pushed the wedding photography bar to amazing new heights and this tide will only continue. In my humble opinion, any photographer who stops trying to further their knowledge in this industry should also stop serving clients. For the record, I view educational opportunities as learning from someone, in person, who has already met and/or exceeded the level I am currently at and who is viewed critically and honestly by my professional photographic peers as a master of this craft… not by mere popularity, social media presence or even gross income. These masters of the craft have attained that distinction by walking the walk, towing the line, and climbing all the required rungs on the way up. These are my teachers and the artists who are lighting my path.

Certification and Accreditation

Since there is no governmental standardization of the profession, different industry organizations have developed systems for certifying their members to be of a minimal professional standard. The top two organizations are Professional Photographers of America (PPA) and Wedding and Portrait Professionals International (WPPI). Both offer tiered levels of mastery to attain through annual image competitions. Both are very much revered in the community and it takes years to reach even the lowest level. You can rest assured that anyone who is involved in either one of these certification or accreditation processes is interested in providing a competent and mindful customer experience.

Access

There are photographers who refuse to answer the phone after 5 p.m., on weekends or any holiday. They are afraid to create the illusion that they are available 24/7. I have the unwritten policy that if I am not eating, not sleeping, not with family, and not on the toilet or in the shower, I ANSWER MY CLIENT. Chances are, I have been paid some really good money to provide a really swell service. If that means answering a question at 10:19 p.m. on a Sunday, which also might be a holiday, I do it. It won’t kill me. AND, if it happens to start a dialogue that goes on for another 37 minutes, it’s likely I can also start a little late the next morning. I am a solopreneur.

wedding photography and prices

Exclusivity

Do you want someone who shoots 100 weddings every year?Or would you rather have someone make art of your wedding that is audacious, energized and looking forward to capturing your love story with a fresh set of eyes (and feet)? There are many wedding photographers who will shoot three, even four weddings a week… sometimes two ON THE SAME DAY!

Reliability

Reliability means showing up early just to make sure everything is on schedule and that the timeline hasn’t been reworked at the last minute. Reliability means sometimes missing your daughter’s softball game to shoot a rehearsal dinner. Reliability means delivering the digital negatives to the exact terms of your written agreement. Reliability means that your client doesn’t have to second guess when or how their expectations will happen.

Eye/Artistic Vision

You are paying for a particular way of seeing things. Each artist views the world and the things in it in a different perspective. Some artists and photographers are extremely gifted in this regard.

Demand

How many couples are seeking out the photographer? In business class after business class, entrepreneurs are taught to increase prices when it seems that there is little to no resistance at the current price point. Supply and demand will have some impact on the price of your photographer.

wedding photography prices

Here are the obvious things you are paying for when hiring a wedding photographer:

Self-Employment Tax (Federal Income Tax)

Someone operating a small business can expect to pay Uncle Sam anywhere in the neighborhood of 16-35% of their gross income. Of course, this is a generalization and will vary based on each business’s own expenses, write-offs, and accountant’s creativity, but in general, this amount should be siphoned right off the top to avoid garnishments, penalties and jail time.

Company Development

A smart business owner will not be working as a sole proprietor. They will have put some official business entity in place to work under be it a corporation, partnership or limited liability company.

Cost of Goods

You should be receiving more than a thumb drive or DVD of wedding images. You should be receiving some sort of printed product. Don’t be fooled into thinking that you will get around to designing your own album OR that you can print the same quality of the album that your photographer can.

the truth about wedding photography pricing

Website

There’s more to running a professional business than having a Facebook presence or a pretty Instagram feed.

Advertising and Marketing

It takes money to make money. Word of mouth is a wonderful way to advertise but you still have to spend some advertising dollars if you want to the brides to know who you are.

Studio Space

This expense is spared by many photographers who aren’t willing to invest in rented or purchased spaces outside their homes. Most are content to meet clients at public meeting places or coffee shop chains. However, I can say that any photographer who has a business location is most likely more interested in providing a favorable client experience than maximizing his or her bottom line.

how to understand your wedding photography pricing

Software

Licensed software can add up quickly and is almost just as important as the camera equipment. Any studio owner will tell you the must-have softwares are for image cataloging, photo retouching, album creation and design, accounting, client management, and project workflow.

Employees/Contract Laborers

Portrait sessions and wedding days are hectic beasts. It’s virtually impossible to do this alone. In order to continually deliver as promised and maintain good client relations, we need assistants and second shooters.

Outsourcing

Sometimes stuff gets outsourced, either because we don’t like to do it, we don’t have time to do it, or it falls outside the scope of our expertise. This could be anything from having someone perform extensive photo retouching or making a custom-painted backdrop to preparing our federal tax return.

Miscellaneous Expenses

I’ll lump all the smaller expenses here… expenses like land lines, cell phones, postage, printing paper and inks, office supplies, studio samples, and travel and entertainment, just to name a few.

Health Care

Yep. We need to stay healthy too, please.

understanding what your are paying your wedding photographer to do

Retirement

Unless you’re Yervant (undoubtedly one of the world’s most incredible wedding photographers), you can’t do this forever. A portion of each year’s commissions should be placed into some money-making market for the days when we can’t carry a camera bag anymore.

Salary

A salary is usually the last item that a small business owner allocates. This is the amount of money a photographer will use to live on—to pay for things like the mortgage, groceries, transportation, children’s college tuitions, health care, clothing, and family vacations. You know, we are just like you in this regard—we also like those little luxuries too!

My solid advice to you is that if you value photography AT ALL… if you want your children, your nieces and nephews and all the generations of your family that will follow in your genealogical footsteps to know you, and all the faces of the wonderful people you invited to your wedding… if you want witness to all the fun, happy, loving times that were had… if you want beautiful, creative, inspirational art to hang on your walls… if you want archival-quality heirloom albums to pass down…. lean toward the $25,000 photographer. You don’t necessarily have to spend that much, but definitely lean in that direction. ($25,000 will get you one of a few of the world’s very best wedding photographers who are incredibly gifted and talented in every single regard.) DO NOT choose your photographer based on price alone. DO NOT follow the advice that many of the most popular wedding planning websites and magazines tell you. They instruct unknowing brides to invest 10-12% of their wedding budget for photography. Then some even have the nerve to combine videography in that line item too. While it may be a great start if your total wedding budget is $150,000, it’s not anywhere near what will be needed for good photography if your budget is only $10,000. That’s unrealistic advice if you want really good photography. Of course, there are exceptions, but generally, this is the rule.

There you have it. Wedding photography pricing has been completely exposed. You now have full knowledge of what you are (or aren’t) paying for when you hire someone to preserve one of the most cherished days of your life.

**One of the images contained in this blog post was shot while working as lead photographer for Aria Productions. The image is copyrighted but used herein with permission.

Let’s “hangout!” I wanna hear about your love story!

Schedule a virtual or in-person discovery meetup!
For more options, visit my “Let’s Connect” page.

About Ata-Girl

I am a San Antonio-based wedding photographer and I cater to outdoor-loving couples who prefer to have all the realness captured on their wedding days. I am the wedding photographer for the outdoor adventurers, the romantics, the laid back, the snugglers, and those who wish to capture all their realness.

I am absolutely in love with capturing the kinds of weddings where there are more hugs than handshakes, the dance floor rumbles all night long, and chairs are pretty much rendered useless after dinner. Whiskey bottles are passed around, most of the wedding party has been best-best friends since kindergarten, Grams is likely to lose her shoes and your partner is much more emotional than you are. These kinds of weddings are my jam!

You can always call or text, but if you really want to get to know me, schedule a meetup!

I started Ata-Girl Photography Co., LLC in 2010. I firmly believe that the unique set of circumstances I have faced in life has prepared me to take a personal and genuine interest in my photography clients. I enjoy documenting the important milestones and captivating moments in people’s lives. I love being a part of people’s journeys and consider myself privileged to document their legacies.

If you enjoyed this blog post and would like to get your hands on 20 FREE interactive wedding planning tools that every couple needs, please take a moment to access them here.

I am a published author (purchase my book here), a podcast host (listen here) (watch here) and a WPPI-C certified professional, full-time wedding photographer. I specialize in a 10-day image delivery, same-day prints, same-day slideshows, Italian handcrafted wedding albums and I have a mobile meeting space.

When I’m not behind my camera, you can find me hiking, cycling, backpacking, camping, enjoying water sports, listening to music (Elvis and Prince), hunting for arrowheads, reading audiobooks, occasionally eating a few glazed donuts (my only weakness to sweets) and then re-starting my keto diet about every 10 days. The most important things in life are for me to see my two daughters happy and to create a family history my grandparents and grandson would be proud of.

The post, Wedding Photography Pricing: The Truth is Exposed, first appeared on Ata-Girl Photography Co.’s website and blog. Please feel free to comment here, or share this post with your friends via Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. Please email me if you have any questions about this article or want to share a neat idea for a future blog post with me.

Aug
12

Indoor vs Outdoor Ceremonies

There are many decisions a couple will face in the beginning stages of their wedding planning—what is the budget, how big will the wedding party be, what flavor of cake will be served, what will the wedding theme be, what first dance song will be played, and the list literally goes on for miles. Miles!

One question to add to this infinite list of wedding planning possibilities (unless a formal, religious ceremony is required inside an actual religious building) is: indoor or outdoor wedding ceremony?

Indoor vs Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies- The Pros and Cons _4S11108
Circle J Ranch, Lytle, Texas

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Initially, this may seem like a very simple question. But alas, nothing is that simple in the world of wedding planning. There are many different perspectives to look at this question. Here they are laid out in easy-to-understand pros and cons.

Indoor vs Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies: The Pros and Cons

Indoor vs Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies- The Pros and Cons
Carriage Hills Ranch, Blanco, Texas

Cons of Outdoor Wedding Ceremony Sites

  • Off-limits to some religious ceremonies
  • Less formal
  • Susceptible to inclement weather
  • Bugs can be a challenge certain times of year
  • Can be dappled lighting or facing the wrong direction for beautiful lighting
  • May need more time/money for setup (if no chairs or altar available)
  • You may need permits
  • There may be restrictions (crowd size, noise, tent stakes, etc.)
  • You’ll need a bad weather backup plan
Indoor vs Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies- The Pros and Cons
Chapel Dulcinea, Austin, Texas

Cons of Indoor Wedding Ceremony Sites

  • Usually low-light situations (harder to photograph)
  • Sometimes there are rules imposed (where and where not the photographer can shoot from)
  • Can’t compete with the splendor of Mother Nature
  • Limited views (windows) and limited space
  • There may be décor restrictions imposed by venue management
  • Can be more intimate since all your guests are confined to tighter spaces
Indoor vs Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies- The Pros and Cons

Pros of Outdoor Wedding Ceremony Sites

  • You have a beautiful, natural backdrop
  • More available, natural light for photographs
  • Usually means more seating space to fit more guests
  • Photographer can freely move around with fewer restrictions
  • Lawn games!
Indoor vs Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies- The Pros and Cons
Hoffman Haus, Fredericksburg, Texas

Pros of Indoor Wedding Ceremony Sites

  • Way more control on just about every aspect
  • Climate-controlled
  • Weather-proof
  • Fewer logistics to worry about
  • Your food and confections are more likely to be kept at correct temperatures
  • More extensive decorations can be used
  • The wind won’t mess with your veil (or hair)
Indoor vs Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies- The Pros and Cons
St. Joseph Catholic Church, San Antonio, Texas

Compromises: Outdoor ceremony with an indoor reception OR an indoor ceremony and a clear tent for the outdoor reception! Or consider an open-air chapel (a personal favorite of mine!)Compromises: Outdoor ceremony with an indoor reception OR an indoor ceremony and a clear tent for the outdoor reception! Or consider an open-air chapel (a personal favorite of mine!)

The post, Indoor vs Outdoor Wedding Ceremonies: The Pros and Cons, first appeared on Ata-Girl Photography Co.’s website and blog. Please feel free to comment here, or share this post with your friends via Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. Please email me if you have any questions about this article or want to share a neat idea for a future blog post with me.

Jul
31

A Grateful Bride

Warning. I’m writing this blog and offering these tips as if we were not in the middle of a pandemic. Regarding some of the advice given, you might not obviously want to have a “special party” right now and hugging is probably ill-advised.

Any bride will agree that getting engaged sets in motion a flurry of calls, texts, emails, dinners, drinks, tiktoks, snapchats, parties, drinks and gifts. It also is about the exact time that anxiety, stress, anguish, apprehension, concern, panic and trepidation sets in. As happy as any bride is to be engaged, planning a wedding in an incredibly overwhelming endeavor—no matter their level of craftiness, organization or excitement.   

tips to be a good bride wedding planning tips

If you want to be viewed as a graceful, beautiful bride, here is some advice to follow. Too often I see or hear of brides (not mine) getting swept away in a tidal wave of furry and stress over the demands of planning a wedding. There are a lot of needles to thread to get that perfect day that has been dreamed about for so long.

They often say gratitude equals attitude. It’s so true!

Tips on Being a Grateful Bride

Here are some tips to always remain grateful during your wedding planning process.

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tips to be a good bride wedding planning tips
  • Start a gratitude journal. There may be times when you begin to feel off-track or misguided. If you are recording what you are grateful for each day, this may be a steadfast way to remind yourself of your blessings and get yourself back on track. 
  • If you’re not the journaling type, every so often make a quick mental accounting of everything this is going as planned. Be thankful and mindful of that.
  • Properly ask your bridal party to be a part of your day. An invitation to lunch, a drink or a movie is a solid move. There are tons of super cute ideas on Pinterest about how to ask with bona fide gifts and props. You can accomplish this either individually with each bridesmaid/groomsmen or all together during a special party. A Facebook message or text does not qualify as properly asking.
  • Respect everyone’s time when you are asking them to do something. If one of your bridesmaids is still a college student and only available weekends or a mother to young children, give them at least a week’s notice if you need to meet them for something. You can’t expect anyone to drop everything because you are planning a wedding. Be mindful.
  • If your bridal party is paying for their own attire, don’t have them buy a dress early on and then change your mind about what they’ll wear on your big day—EVEN if you offer to pay for the subsequent dresses, shoes, hairpieces, etc. NO ONE wants a bridesmaid dress that they didn’t select for themselves, EVEN if it was ultimately free.
  •  I’ll go old school on this one. This is a lost art. Send thank you cards. Yes, you should write and deliver heartfelt, hand-written thank you cards to anyone who helped you plan your big day. Why does no one do this anymore? Be appreciative; be humble. Share your love and show exactly how delighted you are.
  • When you can’t send a written card, offer a sincere, verbal thank you. Also, hugs are not overrated; they are often appreciated and welcomed.
  • Everyone knows how excited you are about your wedding, but try not to let that be your only topic for conversation. Show interest in others’ personal lives.
  • Even though you are engaged and you are having a wedding, remember is not always about you.
  • Always be nice and courteous to your vendors. They are hired help, but do not treat them as “hired help.”
  • Maintain perspective in everything you do. The goal is to be married to the love of your life at the end of the day. If that happens, then everything went perfectly, right? When things seem to be going awry, stay calm, cool and collected and ask yourself, “Will this negatively impact my marriage or life after the wedding?” If the answer is no, then find a diplomatic way to deal with whatever the “obstacle” is. 

The bottom line is, grateful brides are happier brides. Happy brides are beautiful brides.

Beautiful brides take beautiful photos!

Be a beautiful bride.

The post, Tips on Being a Grateful Bride, first appeared on Ata-Girl Photography Co.’s website and blog. Please feel free to comment here, or share this post with your friends via Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. Please email me if you have any questions about this article or want to share a neat idea for a future blog post with me.

Jul
23

First Steps to Planning a Wedding

For couples who are planning a first wedding, on the surface, it always seems as if it’s just a matter of picking this and that, scheduling a few things and signing a contract or two. But when couples get about knee keep in the wedding planning process, many begin to feel overwhelmed, defeated and stressed out. Wedding planning is much more than picking colors, scheduling the caterer, and signing a venue contract. In order for your day to go as smoothly as possible, it needs to run with military precision. Before you dive headfirst into your wedding planning, take a second to read these very first steps to planning your wedding day. I think they’ll help.

Wedding Planning Step #1: Choose a Wedding Planner

Step one. Choose a wedding planner.

First mistake. Many couples think they can save money by not hiring a wedding planner, but the honest truth is that nine times out of 10, a wedding planner will not only save you money, they will also save you time. AND, they will make your actual wedding day much more enjoyable (and memorable) because they will be the one stressing out about all the minute details of your day while you freely celebrate your love. (What would you rather be the most memorable thing about your wedding day—how you had to look for your wedding bands for an hour-and-a-half before the ceremony, where the champagne flutes got misplaced, why Grandma Betsy was the last one to eat OR how your husband gazed straight into your heart during the first dance and whispered the most amazing love notes in your ear?)

first steps to planning a wedding

But how does this added expense save you money exactly? By hiring a wedding expert right off the bat, they can lead you to reputable wedding vendors who will perform exactly as you need them to. You don’t have to waste time researching and interviewing possible candidates. A good wedding planner will already have knowledge of vendors’ styles and price ranges. They will have a library of vendors who are trustworthy. You minimize the chances of having to re-do or re-purchase things because you started out on a solid foundation.

First Steps to Planning a Wedding

Wedding Planning Step #2: Set a Rough Budget

Step two. You should have a general idea of your wedding budget. This doesn’t have to be an exact dollar amount, but you should know if your budget is closer to $15k or $125k. This will set the guidelines for everything that follows.

how to easily plan a wedding

Planning Step #3: Create an Estimated Guest List

Step three. When asked, I like to advise my couples to use the tiers of wedding guest selection and the ABC’s. How does this work? Create three tiers: 1) immediate family and bridal party 2) anyone you can’t imagine celebrating without 3) all others. Include your ABCs in group 2. These are people that you usually share or celebrate anniversaries, birthdays, or Christmas (or other religious holidays) with. I would even go so far as creating a fourth group and putting everyone in there who you haven’t seen in the last five years (or whatever your personal threshold is.)

Make sure you get both mothers to help with this list, but remember you (the couple) have the final say—especially if you’re footing the bill.

wedding planning 101

Planning Step #4: Select Your Venue/Set Your Wedding Date

Step four. Now that you know what you can spend and how many people you need to accommodate, you can begin looking at wedding venues and simultaneously, set your wedding date. It’s a good idea to have a general idea of what you want your wedding day to look like or a wedding theme. For instance, if you’re envisioning a black tie affair with chandeliers and vaulted ballroom ceilings, there’s no sense in visiting rustic venues. A barn venue can certainly be transformed into just about anything your heart desires, but it’s going to cost you.

Planning Step #5: Hire Photographer/ Videographer

Step five. This is where I come in. Please book your photographer (and videographer) out early. First off, we generally book out a year in advance. So, if you have your heart set on someone, make sure you grab them up quick. Secondly, by having a long-term relationship with your wedding day creatives, it increases the chance that your actual wedding day photos are going to be that much more incredible because these are not just people showing up with cameras. These are friends. And you trust them. And you feel comfortable when they give direction and get in your personal space with your lover.

first steps to planning a wedding

I have to add that these are not how couples usually do things. They usually don’t opt for that wedding planner (step one) and rush to the nearest bridal dress boutique to pick out a gown. They lust for all the fun, exciting parts of the wedding planning which, more often than not, causes headaches, stress, and the need to pivot down the line. And, here are some additional tips from Brides.com if you don’t want to take my word for it.

Do yourself a solid. Take your time and do things in a chronological order that makes sense. Work with professionals who won’t let you down. And love hard.

Let’s “hangout!” I wanna hear about your love story!

Schedule a virtual or in-person discovery meetup!
For more options, visit my “Let’s Connect” page.

About Ata-Girl

I am a San Antonio-based wedding photographer and I cater to outdoor-loving couples who prefer to have all the realness captured on their wedding days. I am the wedding photographer for the outdoor adventurers, the romantics, the laid back, the snugglers, and those who wish to capture all their realness.

I am absolutely in love with capturing the kinds of weddings where there are more hugs than handshakes, the dance floor rumbles all night long, and chairs are pretty much rendered useless after dinner. Whiskey bottles are passed around, most of the wedding party has been best-best friends since kindergarten, Grams is likely to lose her shoes and your partner is much more emotional than you are. These kinds of weddings are my jam!

You can always call or text, but if you really want to get to know me, schedule a meetup!

I started Ata-Girl Photography Co., LLC in 2010. I firmly believe that the unique set of circumstances I have faced in life has prepared me to take a personal and genuine interest in my photography clients. I enjoy documenting the important milestones and captivating moments in people’s lives. I love being a part of people’s journeys and consider myself privileged to document their legacies.

If you enjoyed this blog post and would like to get your hands on 20 FREE interactive wedding planning tools that every couple needs, please take a moment to access them here.

I am a published author (purchase my book here), a podcast host (listen here) (watch here) and a WPPI-C certified professional, full-time wedding photographer. I specialize in a 10-day image delivery, same-day prints, same-day slideshows, Italian handcrafted wedding albums and I have a mobile meeting space.

When I’m not behind my camera, you can find me hiking, cycling, backpacking, camping, enjoying water sports, listening to music (Elvis and Prince), hunting for arrowheads, reading audiobooks, occasionally eating a few glazed donuts (my only weakness to sweets) and then re-starting my keto diet about every 10 days. The most important things in life are for me to see my two daughters happy and to create a family history my grandparents and grandson would be proud of.

The post, The Very First Steps to Planning a Wedding, first appeared on Ata-Girl Photography Co.’s website and blog. Please feel free to comment here, or share this post with your friends via Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. Please email me if you have any questions about this article or want to share a neat idea for a future blog post with me.

Jun
23

Q&A Blog #1

Welcome to my Q & A! These are my honest answers to common and sometimes difficult questions.

My Questions and Answers blog posts are meant to provide guidance on important aspects of wedding photography. This series of continuing blog posts will be an attempt to publicly answer important or common questions backed by over ten years of professional photography experience and years of continuing education received from my mentors.

questions-and-answers-from-a-wedding-photographer-pro-_4S17458

I see a lot of these questions in Facebook groups or in Online forums. Many times, the questions Online are answered by other couples based on the experience that they had or what they think should have been and not normally what is standard professional protocol in the industry. I also hear a lot of questions during my consultations with prospective couples and couples who hire me. These questions will be featured here so that you too may learn what to expect from your wedding photographer.

If you’d like me to answer one specifically for you, please feel free to send me an email.

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Questions and Answers about Wedding Photography from a Pro

Photographer Response Time?

“I have hired our photographer for our wedding in October. She is the first thing I nailed down and at first was super responsive. In the wake of this COVID-19 issue, we have had to reschedule my engagement photos twice. But even before that when scheduling the time to meet about them, she was extremely hard to get in touch with. What should be solved in a quick text, results in me having to text, email, and email again for a response. She always gets with me on it, but it’s usually later causing me to wait days for an answer. I don’t want to be annoying, but she is paid in full and I’m starting to feel stressed about her lack of response time. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.”

The only acceptable excuse I can think of that should prevent any vendor from responding to you within 24 hours is if they have had a death or very tragic event in their immediate family. Beyond that, you should never have to wait more than 24 hours for an answer. Anything longer than that is unacceptable—no matter if there is a pandemic, if your photographer is shooting another project, or traveling cross-country. They are working for you and should be able to provide an exemplary customer service experience. If not, this is your red flag that you’ve hired the wrong photographer. It is a great indication of how your future experiences will be moving forward, i.e., preparing for wedding day, performance on wedding day, image delivery, album design, album delivery, and follow up.

questions-and-answers-from-a-wedding-photographer-pro

How much time do we need?

“So our wedding ceremony starts at 4:30 and we will be doing couple pictures after the ceremony and during the cocktail hour. We want to do a first look, bridal party, and family photos before the ceremony. How long do you think this should take?”

Without knowing how long your ceremony will be, how big your bridal party or family is, it’s impossible to accurately answer this. You can use this wedding day timeline calculator I developed to come up with the perfect amount of time. (If you don’t have MS Microsoft Excel™, you can upload the form to Google Docs™.) Please note the time for bridal party and family photos is noted as family formals. Per the worksheet, allow three minutes for each grouping. This is a little padded, but by allowing three minutes for each grouping, you will never run out of time or be rushed.

questions-and-answers-from-a-wedding-photographer-pro

Photographer has another job?

“So my wedding is coming up July 10th. My photographer messaged me yesterday and asked if I knew it was a Friday and informed me she may have to work… but would try to get it off. I booked with her at the end of April, shouldn’t she have done this at that point? Not wait until 6 weeks before my wedding. I’m starting to wonder if I should just find a different photographer to ensure I have one for my date and to avoid her bailing last-minute on me. What advice do you all have?”

This is the risk you take when you hire a wedding photographer who does this as a part-time gig. (Actually, this is just one of the many risks that you take, but I’ll address just this one.) Ideally and to receive the best experience possible, you should hire a full-time, professional wedding photographer. Here’s a blog I wrote many years ago with tips for vetting your wedding vendors.

questions-and-answers-from-a-wedding-photographer-pro

Deposits and refunds?

“I’m getting ready to book my wedding photographer and wondering what the standard deposit and refund rules are. For instance, how long does a photographer typically allow for a full refund? It’s so nerve-wracking making plans this far in advance and putting down money you won’t get back should something come up. I know it’s the nature of the business and that the vendors have their livelihoods to consider, but it’s scary!”

First off, there is a legal difference between a deposit and a retainer. Deposits are almost always refundable–no matter what your contract says. Retainers, depending on contract language, are usually non-refundable. Look at the exact verbiage in your written contract with your photographer. Deposits/retainers range anywhere from 10% to 50% of the amount of the package. Refunds are usually not permissible because a photographer is likely turning away business from other couples because they have committed to your date. In theory, they have lost business if you choose to not have them cover your wedding day. The non-refundable retainer at least guarantees them some compensation should you decide to back out. Some written agreements allow for refunds only if the photographer chooses to not shoot the wedding. Also, some photographers will transfer your retainer to another date and/or another type of photography service, i.e., family photos, pet photos, etc. In all cases, I recommend insuring your big day. This will protect you should a vendor flake out, your wedding gets canceled due to weather or military deployment, etc. Each policy does have different coverages and different riders, so be sure to purchase exactly what you need and then some.

If you enjoyed this blog post and would like to get your hands on 20 FREE interactive wedding planning tools that every couple needs, please take a moment to access them here.

You can always call or text, but if you really want to get to know me, schedule a meetup!


Let’s hangout! I wanna hear about your love story!

Schedule a virtual or in-person discovery meetup!
For more options, visit my “Let’s Connect” page.
san antonio senior portrait photographers ata-girl photography since 2010

I am San Antonio’s most unique wedding photographer. I specialize in a 10-day image delivery, same-day prints, same-day slideshows, Italian handcrafted wedding albums and I have a mobile meeting space.

I am a full-time, internationally-awarded and WPPI-C certified professional wedding and senior photographer based in South Texas near San Antonio. I offer a premier and personal service coupled with an unforgettable photography experience. I cater to clients who appreciate quality photography and help them to create family heirlooms that will last for generations.

I started Ata-Girl Photography Co., LLC in 2010. I firmly believe that the unique set of circumstances I have faced in life has prepared me to take a personal and genuine interest in my photography clients. I enjoy documenting the important milestones and captivating moments in people’s lives. I love being a part of people’s journey and consider myself privileged to document their legacies.

When I’m not photographing a wedding, family or high school senior, I love to spend my spare time hiking, camping, cycling, reading, listening to Elvis and Prince. The most important things in life are for me to see my two daughters happy and to create a family history my grandparents and grandson would be proud of!

The post, Q&A Blog #1, first appeared on Ata-Girl Photography Co.’s website and blog. Please feel free to comment here, or share this post with your friends via Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. Please email me if you have any questions about this article or want to share a neat idea for a future blog post with me.

Jun
16

Micro Wedding Tips

Back in February, when I attended an ILEA program (San Antonio Chapter) event with Bron Hansboro, The Flower Guy Bron–Event Trend Predictions for 2020: What’s In and What’s Out, I don’t think he had a clue as to just how accurate one of his predictions would be.

One of his predictions was… get this… micro weddings!

micro niche wedding tips

[Tweet “Micro Wedding Tips”]

A micro wedding is considered anything that has 50 guests or less.

Due to Covid-19 completely changing everything we know about life, it has also wreaked havoc on couple’s plans for their dream wedding day. Earlier in the pandemic, weddings were completely canceled, rescheduled for a later date, or just held with a few people… and by few, I mean the couple, the officiant and two witnesses. Sometimes these ceremonies were broadcast online so that others could “join” the celebration.

Currently, regulations and guidelines have loosened in such a way that venues are allowed to host events at a certain percentage of their legal capacity. Right now, that number is 50%. With that, some of the rescheduled weddings are now gearing up for a “micro wedding.” Other couples just love the idea of a very small, very intimate affair and are initially planning to have a micro wedding.

However you got here, here are some steps that you should take planning a micro wedding. Here are my tips:

micro wedding tips san antonio wedding photographers

Micro Wedding Tips

Decide budget.

Even though this is a micro wedding, it doesn’t necessarily mean it has to be a micro investment. Decide what you’re comfortable with budgeting to begin planning.

Arrive at guest count.

Devise a stricter set of rules to decide who gets invited to this smaller affair. For instance, you may want each guest to meet at least three of these qualifications: (1) immediate family (2) known for more than ten years (3) shared dinner (or another meal) in the last year (4) exchange ABC gifts (anniversary, birthday or Christmas) and (5) can’t imagine getting married without them.

micro wedding tips

Hire a planner.

If you’re having an intimate ceremony in a park, you may not need a planner. However, if your wedding—though smaller—will still be detail-driven with a fully-catered meal and a formal reception, hire the planner. Most planners offer a day-of package that may suit your needs just fine. Most couples hire their planner after they’ve selected a venue. However, making this your first official investment will make the next step easier. Many planners are well-informed and in the know as to which venues are offering micro weddings. As such, they’ll know guest limits and estimated costs. This will save you research time.

tips for micro weddings due to covid

Choose a venue that accommodates budget and guests.

Venue capacities are limited right now. They are limited to 50% of their capacity. Venues are deciphering this mandate in different ways. Some are going strictly by fire code limits. Others are choosing to calculate the 50% as half of what their venue can seat (either with or without a dance floor). And still, other venues are using a number that is 50% of either of those numbers but still adheres to six-feet social distancing measures. Make sure you ask how the venue is arriving at their number and ensure you are comfortable with it. (Some venues may have complete micro packages that includes everything you’ll need to celebrate your day.)

Hire a photographer.

You still want your day documented and professionally preserved no matter how small, intimate or clandestine your celebration is.

Cover the basics.

Wedding reception basics are food, drinks and fun, so make sure these are at the forefront of your planning. After you’ve got your basics covered, you can think about the extra stuff—décor, entertainment, or taco trucks.

Make it meaningful.

Just because it won’t include the 350 people you originally envisioned does not mean that your celebration of love cannot be just as impactful. Incorporate all the traditional parts and include your own unique pieces to make your day memorable, meaningful and significant to yourself, your partner and your guests.

tips for micro weddings

Here’s a recap of tips for micro weddings:

  1. Decide your budget.
  2. Arrive at a guest count that coincides with budget.
  3. Hire a planner.
  4. Choose a venue that accommodates budget and guests.
  5. Hire a photographer.
  6. Cover the basics.
  7. Make it meaningful.

If you enjoyed this blog post and would like to get your hands on 20 FREE interactive wedding planning tools that every couple needs, please take a moment to access them here.

You can always call or text, but if you really want to get to know me, schedule a meetup!


Let’s hangout! I wanna hear about your love story!

Schedule a virtual or in-person discovery meetup!
For more options, visit my “Let’s Connect” page.
san antonio senior portrait photographers ata-girl photography since 2010

I am San Antonio’s most unique wedding photographer. I specialize in a 10-day image delivery, same-day prints, same-day slideshows, Italian handcrafted wedding albums and I have a mobile meeting space.

I am a full-time, internationally-awarded and WPPI-C certified professional wedding and senior photographer based in South Texas near San Antonio. I offer a premier and personal service coupled with an unforgettable photography experience. I cater to clients who appreciate quality photography and help them to create family heirlooms that will last for generations.

I started Ata-Girl Photography Co., LLC in 2010. I firmly believe that the unique set of circumstances I have faced in life has prepared me to take a personal and genuine interest in my photography clients. I enjoy documenting the important milestones and captivating moments in people’s lives. I love being a part of people’s journey and consider myself privileged to document their legacies.

When I’m not photographing a wedding, family or high school senior, I love to spend my spare time hiking, camping, cycling, reading, listening to Elvis and Prince. The most important things in life are for me to see my two daughters happy and to create a family history my grandparents and grandson would be proud of!

The post, Micro Wedding Tips, first appeared on Ata-Girl Photography Co.’s website and blog. Please feel free to comment here, or share this post with your friends via Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. Please email me if you have any questions about this article or want to share a neat idea for a future blog post with me.

Jun
09

Postponing During Covid

What happens if you and your partner decide to postpone your wedding? What happens if the reason is Covid… or a natural disaster… or an unthinkable event? Here are some basic tips to help you navigate through any challenging time.

Postponing Your Wedding During Covid (or Any Other Time)

postponing your wedding during covid

[Tweet “Postponing Your Wedding During Covid (or Any Other Time)”]

Top of the List, Notify Your Vendors

Hopefully, you were proactive and smart and you have a planner who can assist you with this first step. This will alleviate much stress. If you don’t already have a planner… it’s not too late. My professional advice is to hire one now!

Many couples think that they can plan and execute a wedding without a planner. And that is 100% true. However, the more pressing point is that you will be able to enjoy your wedding more (both before, during and after) if you have a qualified professional helping you during these stages. [link to post]

postponing your wedding during covid

In addition to letting your wedding team know that your celebration will not take place on the originally planned date, you’ll need to coordinate your vendor team to move forward to a future date. This will be a lot of moving parts and keep in mind that one million other couples in the United States are also looking for future dates—at once. You’re competing for time with all of these other couples and with your team of wedding professionals. It is a highly possible that you will not be able to get everyone on the same page; you may have to move forward with most of your wedding team.
Your wedding professionals should be completely understanding. If they are not, this should be seen as a huge red flag and now is the time to consider firing them. However, keep in mind that most of your vendors are probably small business owners and probably are inundated with calls just like yours. Be patient. In addition to the effects Covid has had on their business, they are also dealing with some of the same personal stumbling blocks as you are¬—sheltering in place/quarantine, lack of childcare, home schooling their children, working from home, spouse out of job, etc.

postponing your wedding during covid

Be Flexible

Above, I mentioned that one million weddings were canceled or postponed due to Covid. That was a literal statement. In other words, yours is not the only wedding getting pushed to a new date. You are not competing with only these rescheduled weddings, you’re also contending with weddings that were already planned and the wedding planning that is just getting started.

Your original date may have been on a Saturday. However, in order to get your entire wedding vending team moved to a future date, you may have to consider a less popular day of the week, i.e., a Monday, Thursday or Friday. If you’re concerned about your guests—yes, they’ll still attend.

postponing a wedding during covid

Review Your Wedding Insurance

In most cases, a pandemic is not covered by event insurance. However, every single policy is different and yours may be the exception. Pull out the plan, review it, and then call your agent to confirm if your policy covers something like this (or the reason you’re postponing). It’s better to check rather than just assuming your event is not covered. [link to the knot post]

Inform Your Guests

The most official way to inform your guests (if time allows), is to send them a re-save the date mailer. However, depending how close your original date is, you could also create a wedding website with all the pertinent and pressing information. However, if your wedding website wasn’t created at the beginning of your planning, you’ll also need to advise your guests about its existence. The easiest way to do this is to send emails or texts. The most formal method would be to call each and every guest. You can split up your guest list between you, your partner, your parents and some of your bridal party to help make this easier.

postponing your wedding during covid

Help Your Guests

If you secured a hotel room block, reach out and see if a full or partial refund is possible on behalf of your guests. This will take a huge burden off of the people who made special traveling plans to be at your wedding.

Grieve

Even though there are HUGE issues that we are currently facing as a country… as a world, it’s okay to recognize your disappointment. Your feelings are valid and you should not keep them bottled up. Hash it out with your partner, best friend, your parent… even your planner. The mere act of speaking the words will help you to cope.

Celebrate Anyway

You can still find ways to celebrate your original wedding date. Here are some ideas:

  • Move forward with the actual nuptials in a minimony—a smaller, less extravagant wedding ceremony that meets the current social distancing guidelines and save the party for the future date.
  • Live broadcast a very small ceremony on social media and again, save the partying with their guests for later.
  • Take a picnic lunch to the venue on your originally-planned wedding date.
  • Have your first dance in a special place—the venue, your living room, the place you met, where he proposed.
  • Spend the day quietly reflecting on how you envisioned your wedding day would go.
    • Create a journal entry detailing these things.
  • Plan a wedding-movie marathon. Here’s a short list: The Wedding Planner, 27 Dresses, Bridesmaids, Wedding Crashers, Crazy Rich Asians, Love Wedding Repeat, Mike & Dave Need Wedding Dates, The Wedding Ringer, Bride Wars, Bachelorette, American Wedding, My Big Fat Greek Wedding, The Five-Year Engagement, Mamma Mia, Meet the Fockers, Table 19, I Love You, Man, Destination Wedding, Hangover, Hangover Part II, The Proposal, Think Like a Man Too, Sex And The City
  • Take a short road trip to somewhere special—a place that has significant meaning to your relationship.
  • Plan a quiet, romantic evening for two. You can either order delivery or prepare the meal as a couple.
  • Spend the day reminiscing about your journey thus far. Get out all the pictures, videos and mementos you saved. Stay immersed in deep conversations, funny stories and light banter about things you have experienced as a couple.
  • Lastly, if you want to include your guests, plan a virtual game night with them. My friend, Winston (Gaines Entertainment) has been hosting group trivia games online that are a lot of fun. And, my friends Liz and Garrett (5050 Photo Booth) and Serena and Dominic (At Last Entertainment) have been co-hosting Fiancé Faceoffs.
postponing your wedding during covid

In closing, here are the steps again should you need to postpone your wedding because of Covid or any other reason.

  1. Notify your vendors.
  2. Be flexible; be willing to pivot.
  3. Review your wedding/event insurance.
  4. Create a plan to communicate with your guests.
  5. Help your guests.
  6. Allow yourself to grieve.
  7. Celebrate your original wedding date.

Hopefully, circumstances will change quickly and you can arrive at a point that you’re comfortable with proceeding with your wedding. (As of the date of writing this blog, event spaces are allowed to fill to a 50% capacity.) If you are unwilling to move forward with your wedding with only half of your originally-planned guests, these steps will help you to postpone your wedding with less stress.

If you enjoyed this blog post and would like to get your hands on 20 FREE interactive wedding planning tools that every couple needs, please take a moment to access them here.

You can always call or text, but if you really want to get to know me, schedule a meetup!


Let’s hangout! I wanna hear about your love story!

Schedule a virtual or in-person discovery meetup!
For more options, visit my “Let’s Connect” page.
san antonio senior portrait photographers ata-girl photography since 2010

I am San Antonio’s most unique wedding photographer. I specialize in a 10-day image delivery, same-day prints, same-day slideshows, Italian handcrafted wedding albums and I have a mobile meeting space.

I am a full-time, internationally-awarded and WPPI-C certified professional wedding and senior photographer based in South Texas near San Antonio. I offer a premier and personal service coupled with an unforgettable photography experience. I cater to clients who appreciate quality photography and help them to create family heirlooms that will last for generations.

I started Ata-Girl Photography Co., LLC in 2010. I firmly believe that the unique set of circumstances I have faced in life has prepared me to take a personal and genuine interest in my photography clients. I enjoy documenting the important milestones and captivating moments in people’s lives. I love being a part of people’s journey and consider myself privileged to document their legacies.

When I’m not photographing a wedding, family or high school senior, I love to spend my spare time hiking, camping, cycling, reading, listening to Elvis and Prince. The most important things in life are for me to see my two daughters happy and to create a family history my grandparents and grandson would be proud of!

The post, Postponing During Covid, first appeared on Ata-Girl Photography Co.’s website and blog. Please feel free to comment here, or share this post with your friends via Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. Please email me if you have any questions about this article or want to share a neat idea for a future blog post with me.

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