When should I get all these pictures done before my big wedding day? Let’s walk through a timeline so you know when to expect to take engagement and bridal pictures.
When Should I Take Engagement Pictures?
You can really do engagements whenever you want, as long as it is 1.5 months before you plan to send out your invites, announcements, and/or Save the Dates . You can often pick whichever season and look you want, depending on how long you have until the wedding.
If you aren’t planning to use your engagements for invites, announcements, and/or Save the Dates, but are planning to include them at your wedding, I would recommend taking engagements 2 months prior to your wedding day at the latest.
A long engagement (although grueling) can become beneficial for engagements if you want your options for all seasons. If you have 12 months or more until your wedding, you may be able to choose between all four seasons for your engagements.
In summary, the latest I would recommend waiting to take your engagement photos would be 4 weeks before you plan to send out save the dates, invitations, or announcements, or 2 months before your wedding day.
Are You Doing Save the Dates, or Just Invites/Announcements?
Are you sending out Save the Dates and invites/announcements, or are you just sending out invites/announcements? There are different timelines and expectations if you are only sending out invites/announcements vs. save the dates. Either way, you have some flexibility and time.
Most invites & announcements can be sent out between 3-1.5 months before the big day.
Save the Dates, however, are generally sent out 4-5 months before the wedding.
Depending on what you are preparing, you just need to plan out an additional 1.5 months into that timeframe so that your photographer has enough time to make edits to the photos and deliver them to you, and so you have enough time to review, print, and prepare them for delivery.
Do I need to send out save the dates?
Save the Dates are considered more traditional, and usually used for formal weddings where dinner will be served in courses and plates are created for each guest. Their intention was to help family members and important friends who are long distance plan for the wedding date a significant amount of time in advance.
With more weddings moving to shared or buffet style food service, and transportation across the country and world becoming much easier, Save the Dates are no longer used as frequently. If you do want to provide enough time for family members to attend and your wedding is 9-12+ months out, Save the Dates can be a good option. However, most couples choose not to send out Save the Dates (especially if you are looking to use that money elsewhere).
When Should I Take Bridal Photos?
Bridal photos require a bit more thought when planning when to take them.
If you are planning to Print your bridal pictures for your wedding day, and have silk flowers or a different boquet:
If you don’t have florals to worry about, or aren’t waiting upon alterations or your dress still, you tend to have more flexibility and less crunch time with your bridals and first look.
I would generally recommend, again, to give a good 2 months before your wedding day for bridals so that the photographer can edit, deliver, and you can review and print your images. This is especially important with larger images, as you will want to make sure the coloring isn’t off on your prints. The last thing you want to do is be running around trying to tie up loose ends a few weeks before your wedding with printing your bridals still on your plate.
You can plan more time than that if you want, however would not recommend more than 3.5 months before the wedding where possible. Unlike engagements, keeping bridals closer to your wedding day will help ensure you look similar to how you will on your wedding day. As well, many hair and make-up artists will do their trial runs 1-3 months prior to the wedding day, which means it can align well with your bridals and ensure your look is consistent.
If you are planning to Print your bridal pictures for your wedding day, and have REAL flowers:
If you are using real florals and want a look to match, or are waiting upon alterations or your dress still, you may need to look at planning a date sooner to your wedding. I would still recommend bridals to align with your hair and make-up artist’s test trail, but see if you can coordinate with the florist.
I would generally recommend if you are using real flowers to still give a good 4-6 weeks before your wedding day for bridals so that the photographer can edit, deliver, and you can review and print your images. However, if you need to coordinate a different timeline to accommodate your bridals, talk to your photographer.
If you are NOT planning to Print your bridal pictures for your wedding day:
If you are not planning to print your bridals for your wedding, then you really have flexibility!
Some bride’s choose to do their bridals the week of the wedding, so they can still get them done prior to the wedding and have an intimate first look. Others choose to incorporate bridals into their wedding day timeline so they don’t have to plan a separate day to get ready and worry about consistency.
If you want to really stylize your bridals but don’t want the stress of arranging it all before your wedding day– plan your bridals AFTER your wedding! That’s right– we’re getting unconventional here. But how many times do you see friends, family, and other couples who now are stuck with all this beautiful decor from their wedding, but no way to use it? Why not get that stylized bridal session with items from your ACTUAL wedding (talk about unique).
Do you and what works for your timeline for engagement and bridal sessions around your wedding day
When exactly you should do engagements or bridals are going to depend upon your specific needs, circumstances, and preferences. So don’t be afraid to step out of the traditional norms– forge the right path for bridals for you and your spouse. Always talk to you photographer about timelines and any special considerations.