How to Stay Present on Your Wedding Day
Tips from a Colorado Wedding Photographer
Plan your marriage, and throw a kick ass party. That’s really what this blog post centers around.
Your wedding day will move fast—faster than you expect. One minute you’re sipping coffee in a quiet mountain cabin, the next you’re on the dance floor wondering how it’s already the last song of the night. As a Colorado wedding photographer, I’ve seen it over and over again: the couples who enjoy their day the most aren’t the ones with the most perfect timeline—they’re the ones who are truly present.
If your goal is to actually feel your wedding day (not just get through it), these tips will help you slow it down and soak it in.
Build a timeline that allows breathing room
Most wedding stress comes from being rushed. Instead of packing your day, build in intentional space. In Colorado especially, where weather, traffic, and mountain logistics can be unpredictable, padding your timeline is everything.
Example of a Timeline that went well:
8 Hour Wedding Day
1:00pm Personal Details & Setting shots of Venue
1:30pm Bride and Groom Get ready in separate spaces
2:30pm First Look & some portraits
3:00pm Wedding Party Portraits
3:30pm Ceremony Prep
4:00pm Ceremony
4:30pm Family Portraits
5:00pm Cocktail Hour
6:00pm Entrances, First Dance, & Three Toasts
6:30pm Dinner
7:30pm Cake Cutting & Parent Dances
8:00pm Dance Floor
Why this works - there were two photographers present to help comprehensively capture all the moments of the day and keep things moving! There was plenty of time and buffer space on all ends of the day with an hour of dance floor coverage at the end of the evening in case dinner ran late, and even that was perfectly on schedule. In addition the most impactful timeline pieces were the first look, doing wedding party portraits before the ceremony so the couple could enjoy cocktail hour for the most part, and asking those making toasts to keep the speech brief.
Book your photo and video team for longer than you need
Here is a great rule of thumb, book an hour longer than you need. This allows for you to truly breathe on your day. This section is going to be a bit longer than others because I’ve shot over 150+ weddings in my career and can confidently speak to this as the number one stress of couples.
I offer full day wedding coverage options which eliminate counting the hours for my couples. Click the button to learn more about packages!
Limit the Noise
(Yes, Even Well-Meaning People)
A big part of staying present is protecting your energy.
That might mean:
Keeping your guest list small
Setting boundaries with family expectations
Hiring vendors who align with your vision and will have your back
When you’re not being pulled in 20 directions, you can actually feel what’s happening.
Plan a Private Moment
This is one of the most overlooked—and most important—parts of the day. Carve out time for just the two of you. That can be a first look before the ceremony, sharing private vows at sunset, or just taking a few minutes alone after your ceremony - and no, your photographer does not need to follow you on that alone time. It can really be just you two!
No guests, no pressure.
Be Intentional About Your Morning
How your day starts matters more than you think. Instead of rushing into hair and makeup chaos:
Start your morning slowly with coffee or mimosas
Play music you love to set the mood
Spend time with people who calm you
Whether you’re getting ready in a Colorado mountain Airbnb or a downtown Denver hotel, a grounded morning sets the tone for everything else.
Trust your Photographer
Yes, really! Trust us! When couples feel like they have to perform for photos, they disconnect from the moment.
The best photos happen when:
You’re not constantly being posed
You’re interacting naturally
You trust your photographer to guide when needed
As a documentary-style Colorado wedding photographer, my job is to create space for real moments—not interrupt them.
Let go of the idea of perfection
Colorado weather doesn’t always cooperate—and honestly, that’s part of the magic. Wind, rain, unexpected changes… these are often the moments couples remember most.
The more you let go of:
Perfect timelines
Perfect weather
Perfect expectations
…the more space you create for real, meaningful memories.
Stay Off Your Phone
It sounds simple, but it makes a huge difference. Just stay off your phone!
Lastly remember… presence over perfection.
If you take one thing away from this:
You won’t remember every detail—but you will remember how it felt.
And the more present you are, the more your photos will reflect that honestly, effortlessly, and fully.
