Wedding Day Tips For Brides and Grooms

Did you know wedding photographers typically spend more time with the bride on her wedding day than the groom and sometimes more than the maid of honour?

Wedding photographers are there from the time you finish your hair and make up till you hop in the getaway car. So I've learned a lot from brides over the past 15 + years of photographing weddings. 

KATES WEDDING TIPS

TIP 1. Be a guest at your own wedding. Be in the moment the day of. Even though you’ve been anticipating and planning, don’t analyze and fixate on if it’s going according to plan or on what’s coming next. Be present and enjoy the celebration as it comes. That will make the day stick best in your memory and allow you to actually enjoy it and have fun!

TIP 2. Hire a GREAT photographer…not good, but great. Even if you keep it simple, there is nothing more worth the expense than beautiful images to share and look back on. These are the pictures that will remind you of this perfect day forever!

TIP 3. Allow for plenty of getting ready time. You don't want to feel rushed on your wedding day. Hair and makeup often take longer than expected and then push back your timeline. Allow some time to sit and relax with your bridesmaids before the ceremony. 

TIP 4. Make sure you still look and feel like yourself! On your wedding day, you want to enjoy every moment, and you do not have time to be worried about the small things. If you feel wonderful then the rest of the day will be wonderful too!

TIP 5. Be unique, incorporate your personality and history into the wedding details and theme. Don't feel trapped by expectations or traditions. Guest are going to enjoy seeing your personality shine through the music, food, and decor that you pick as a couple. 

TIP 6. Be grateful. Friends and family have travelled and made sacrifices to attend your wedding. Thank them and try to spend some one on one time with each guest at some point throughout the wedding weekend. 

TIP 7. Don’t freak out if things don’t go as planned. For instance, if your cake doesn’t look quite like it was supposed to, hopefully, it at least tastes good! Just remember, everybody will have an amazing time at your wedding, so relax and enjoy your day.

TIP 8. Take a day or two to decompress after the wedding and before your honeymoon to just enjoy each other and get used to being husband and wife before jetting off.

TIP 9. Have a fabulous wedding day and enjoy these moments with your closest friends and family! Live in the moment, dance your heart out, and enjoy every last second of it! This is YOUR day!!

This text is based on a post from: https://charlestonweddingplanner.com/

COVID-19 Tips on Rescheduling Your Wedding

First of all, my heart goes out to you. This is such an important time in your life and the current situation can be stressful. 

TIP 1. Contact your venue about future availability. Most venues will be happy to transfer your deposit to a price comparable date. Ask your venue to give you three dates that are open and work with your schedule.

TIP 2. Once you have the three possible dates, create a Google Form Link and survey your current vendors availability. Then pick the date that the majority of your current vendors have open. Most will transfer the deposit to the new date. 

TIP 3. Be aware you’re vendors prices for 2021 may be higher because they released their 2021 pricing before the Pandemic and were expecting a busy year already. You may be asked by your current vendors to make up the difference if rescheduling in 2021. 

TIP 4. If you reschedule to a date that your current vendor is not available, they are in their rights to keep the deposit. However, they may be willing to give you a partial refund. Remember they have been turning away business on that date because of you. 

TIP 5. Consider rescheduling to a Weekday or a Sunday. These will be easier for your current vendors to accommodate and let’s face it, your guest list has an abundance of work vacation days to use up. 

TIP 6. Think positively. I personally can not wait for the massive celebrations when we can all get together again. Warning, you may get 100% of your guest list! Think about how excited everyone is going to be for your wedding. It’s going to be a truly EPIC party!! 

Pandemic Porch Portraits in Charleston, South Carolina

Last week I offered FREE Pandemic Porch Portraits to all my past Wedding and Family Portrait clients in the Charleston area. I had an overwhelming response and my schedule filled in one day. I decided to do this over my children’s spring break as a way to get out of the house, connect with old friends and entertain my kids.

I would love to continue these in the near future. Send me a FB message if you’re interested. https://www.facebook.com/kate.c.thornton

The Kasack Family, Happy 10th Birthday to Sadie!

My children Claire 8 years, Mary 7 years, Sadie 5 moths is asleep in the car.

The Hoffman Family, I photographed her Bridal Portraits around 15 years ago and have photographer their family portraits too many times to count.

The Lainhoff Family

The Kreminski family, I photographed Maternity Portraits for them on Folly Beach with both kids.

The Lummus Family, I photographed their Engagement Portraits and Wedding around 3 years ago at Wingate Plantation. The baby is due May 2nd!

The Colins Family, I photographed their wedding at the River Course on Kiawah Island 12 years ago.

The Jeter Family, I photographed their wedding 12 years ago at the Mills House and have photographed bth family and newborn portraits for them.

The Berge Family, I photographed their wedding at Pepper Plantation around 9 years ago.

The Hawkins Family, I photographed family portraits, her bridal portrait and wedding at the Carolina Yacht Club around 8 years ago.

The McQuade Family, I photographed Amanda and Preston’s wedding at the River Course on Kiawah Island 2 years ago.

The Young Family, I have photographed their family photos too many time to count.

FREE Pandemic Porch Portraits

I’m offering FREE Pandemic Porch Portraits to all PAST Family Portrait and Wedding Clients!

April 6th - 10th in the Charleston area. Yes, that means if you are celebrating your 15 year wedding anniversary and I photographed your wedding, let's reconnect!

I will bring my long lens and three little girls to entertain you from a very far distance! We will spend 10 minutes per family. Originality is encouraged!

Dogs are welcome in your photo but must be on a leash.

I will post them on my FB page https://www.facebook.com/kate.c.thornton Tag away, please!

You can download them for FREE here: https://client.capturedbykate.com/pandemicporchportraits/

DM me on Facebook to Schedule

Our Photo is by: Chris Rodgers

Bridal Portraits at the Charleston Gaillard Center for the Gown Affair

In December I photographed a styled shoot for the Charleston Jr. League at the Charleston Gaillard Center to advertise the 2020 Gown Affair.

The Junior League of Charleston, Inc., is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. I have been a member of the Leauge for 15+ years and have chaired many committees including the Mentorship program, the Lowcountry Food Bank and the Transfer Program.

A GOWN AFFAIR: JANUARY 31 – FEBRUARY 2

It’s finally here! A Gown Affair, the League’s fourth annual bridal boutique event and fundraiser will be held January 31 – February 2 at the Citadel Mall (2070 Sam Rittenberg Blvd) in a former retail space near Center Court. The multi-day shopping event will feature a ticketed cocktail party for League members and their guests on Friday evening, an early access ticketed event on Saturday morning, the main event on Saturday afternoon and a discounted “last call” event on Sunday. 

Bridal Boutique 
Saturday, February 1 
VIP Early Access: 11: 00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ($10 ticket required; 50 spots available) 
Free & Open to the Public: 1:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 

Bridal Bash Price Slash 
Sunday, February; 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. 
Free & Open to the Public 

Purchase your tickets HERE. 

Location - Gaillard Center

Hair and Makeup - Hello Gorgeous CHS, Casey Mercer, i do makeup 843

Models - Courtney Vorachek, Meagan Vaneerde, Lauren Powell