As a wedding photographer, I have seen firsthand how certain details can transform the entire experience. On your wedding day, you and your partner should feel like royalty with everything taken care of to make you feel cared for and special. As they say, you shouldn’t be the host - you should be the guest of honor!
From personalized touches to dedicated services, there are many ways to create a wedding that feels unique and luxurious for both you and your guests. Here are some ideas to make your celebration unforgettable from start to finish.
Hire a Bridal Stylist To Make Your Wedding Day Luxurious
I recently had the pleasure of working alongside a bridal stylist, Julie Centofanti, at a styled shoot. I didn’t realize how much I was stepping out of my photographer role and into a bridal stylist role during portraits until I saw Julie work her magic. Not only does she ensure the dress, train, hair, and flowers are perfectly in place for the camera, but she is there to step in for any fiasco.
For example, the bride got a stain on her dress from some wet fall leaves and she worked her magic to remove it swiftly. I also can't tell you how many times a bridesmaid's dress mysteriously breaks a strap, or zipper, or gets a hole. Fashion emergencies are handled with ease. Then, when entering the reception, bridal stylists handle the bustle or dress change. It is literally someone there for you throughout the day to make sure you're looking and presenting your best self without needing to rely on family or friends.
However, bridal stylists do SO MUCH more than day of services. A bridal stylist starts at the very beginning of planning by helping to choose a gown and picking the right accessories to complete the look. Then on the wedding day, she arrives to steam the dress, help you into it (since she's gone to every fitting appointment she knows how to do it efficiently), and helps with the wedding party getting ready.
Having a bridal stylist there made it so I could focus on my art of photography and deliver the best possible images while you effortlessly look your very best!
Hair & Makeup Touch-Ups on Your Wedding Day
Hair and makeup touch-ups are the perfect way to elevate your wedding day! Hiring your hair and makeup artist to stay throughout (at least) to the end of the ceremony ensures you are looking your best the entire day. After you cry, sweat, kiss off your lipstick, or whatever the case may be your hair and makeup artists are there to make sure it lasts into your reception.
A recent bride of mine, Ashley, had her makeup artist, Glamour Cosmetics, stay during the first look and couple’s portrait time. She waited on Ashley hand and foot in between photos. When it got hot out, she was right there to dab her sweat and powder her shine, as well as touch up her lip. It made her picture perfect and feel absolutely taken care of.
A wedding day can feel really hectic and having someone 100% responsible for the bride's look takes the stress away knowing you're in good hands. I cannot recommend Miranda Lynn Hair and Beauty enough as your hairstylist. She offers services to stay all day to touch up hair (say goodbye to wind-blown hair!) and even changes up bridal styles before the reception. She has even given brides a full-on haircut to truly change their look!!
Color Analysis Services To Design Your Wedding Day
Having a color analysis stylist on your team helps you with choosing the best color scheme for your wedding. Hiring experts to help you select colors for your wedding party based on the season and your skin tone will make sure you look great and your photos turn out fantastic. If you're hoping for a specific color pallet for your bridesmaids, they can assist with what different shades or different patterns and fabric types to include. They can also help determine what is the best shade of white / ivory for your wedding dress. I highly recommend checking out House of Colour and Ali Brodeur to make your wedding day feel even more luxurious!
Hire a Wedding Planner
This goes without saying, but I always recommend hiring a wedding planner! Including a planner in your vendor team IMMEDIATELY helps your day to feel more luxurious and takes some of the stress away. Your planner will take care of all planning and vendor communication leading up to the wedding and take very good care of you throughout the day. Learn more about hiring a wedding planner and why everyone needs one for their wedding!
Hire a Wedding Day Content Creator
I absolutely love this trend! Hiring a wedding day content creator will immediately elevate your day and how you remember it afterward! Your content creator will capture all of the behind-the-scenes and in-between moments of your wedding day. You will have access to these images and videos the very next day. It makes it so your family and friends don’t need to worry about taking iPhone pictures for you and can just be present and enjoy the day. Learn more about hiring a content creator!
All-Inclusive Photography Experience
The photographer you choose to work with on your wedding day is incredibly important. After all, your wedding photos are one of the few tangible items after your wedding day. Consider adding photography for other parts of your wedding journey like engagement party, bridal shower, bachelorette party, rehearsal dinner, day-after brunch, etc. Read more about rehearsal dinner photography!
Luxurious Ideas to Create a Great Wedding Guest Experience
If you want your wedding to feel luxurious, you should also consider your guests' experience at your wedding. Finding ways to surprise and delight them makes it so they also feel taken care of, comfortable, and excited! Some ideas include:
Carefully curated welcome bags or gifts that match the vibe of your wedding
Providing special drinks for your ceremony - think hot cider for your fall wedding or lemonade for your summer wedding
Interactive guest experiences like a “ring a bell for champagne” wall butler
Strings, live bands, or saxophonists (especially ones that come out on the dance floor!)
Live Wedding Painters
Guest Caricaturist
Mobile Charcuterie Cart like CharCute LLC
An interactive photo booth or 360-degree Video Booth
Create a tasking experience like whiskey, wine, bourbon, or cigars
An oyster shucking station
Hanging floral installations - I highly recommend Floral Fixation!
Late Night food trucks or snack stations
Personalized notes to each guest as your seating chart!
Have your videographer do a same-day edit of your wedding video and share it during your ceremony
Gather images of each of your guests at their wedding and have them on display
Your wedding day should be filled with meaningful, elevated moments that you and your guests will remember for years to come. Looking for a New England wedding photographer? Contract Tamara Merri Photography to ensure your special day is beautifully preserved and luxurious.
xx,
Tam
You cannot make your party feel luxurious unless it really is. My brother, when he was getting married, raised some more money at basant club with money-making games. He discovered a few new games and was unbelievably lucky in them. I even envied him, but perhaps this happens because he was motivated and had a real drive for that. The app itself is optimized for quick play, so registration etc. took very little time.