Planning a wedding can be overwhelming, and while Pinterest boards and vendor checklists cover the big things, there are some small but super important tips couples often overlook. Whether it’s how to hold the bouquet, twirl and dip for photos, or sign the marriage license without awkward angles – these little moments make a big difference in how your day looks and feels. Here are some wedding day tips every couple should know before saying “I do”!
1. Learn How to Cut the Cake (Yes, Really!)
Cake cutting is one of those wedding traditions everyone assumes will just happen. But standing in front of a crowd, trying to figure out where to slice, can feel surprisingly awkward.
Tip: Ask your baker which part of the cake is “real” if you have faux tiers, and decide ahead of time whether you’ll be feeding each other nicely or having some fun with it. Hold the knife together (one hand on top of the other), and cut a small wedge from the bottom tier. Have a napkin nearby – trust us! Some bakers will let you know the best place to cut the cake is and I have even seen some mark the cake in some way to show you where to cut. Talk to your baker!
2. Practice Your Photo Twirl and Dip
If you want those dreamy twirling or dipping shots during portraits or your first dance, a little practice helps! It’s not about dancing skills – it’s about creating movement in your dress and giving your photographer something beautiful to capture. I tend to try both of these out during your engagement session to give you a little practice and we go over a little technique so you can execute these two things on your wedding day flawlessly.
Tip: Hold your bouquet in one hand, gently lift a bit of your skirt with the other, and spin slowly. Practice with your partner, too – spin her out and pull her back in for an elegant, romantic look. For a dip, it’s best if one partner holds the other partner’s lower back, leans into their outside knew and dips their partner down. For the partner being dipped, make sure to drop your bouquet down in the outside hand and bend the knee so your leg isn’t just sticking out stiff.
3. Signing the Marriage License: Location Matters and Practicing Signature
This one is rarely talked about, but it’s crucial for photography: be mindful of where and how you sign your marriage license. Too often couples bend over a low table, which can lead to unflattering angles or blocked faces. Now, of course this is if you want the signing of your license to be photographed and of course we may not have much choice on locations, but if you prepare for this, you’ll end up with some better photos. If you aren’t sure where to do it, ask your photographer before you start signing.
Tip: Ask your planner or officiant to have a standing-height table or a chair-height signing station available. That way, your photographer can capture those shots beautifully without odd angles or wardrobe mishaps.
4. Bouquet Holding 101
Brides often instinctively hold their bouquet too high, especially when nervous walking down the aisle. But holding it at chest level can hide your dress and make your shoulders tense in photos.
Tip: Relax your shoulders and hold the bouquet at your belly button or slightly lower (depending on your height and the size of your bouquet). This opens your posture and lets your dress (and your face) shine!
5. Pin the Boutonniere the Right Way
This one goes out to your best man or anyone helping getting ready: the boutonniere goes on the left lapel, flower facing out, stem down, and pinned from behind.
Tip: If it’s a floppy one, use two pins in an X shape for stability. For an alternative to the pinned boutonnieres, get ones with magnets or use pocket boutonnieres that go right in the breast pocket.
6. Know the Order of the Processional
This is one of the most forgotten pieces of the puzzle, especially for weddings without a coordinator. Who walks in when? Who stands where?
Tip: Write out the order of your processional and recessional. Assign someone (usually a planner officiant, DJ, or even a family member or friend) to cue each person. It helps the ceremony flow smoothly and takes stress off everyone involved.
7. Bustle Practice is Essential
If your dress has a bustle, practice it before the wedding day. Have whoever will be bustling you (maid of honor, mom, planner) do a test run. Bonus points if they film it on their phone for reference. We can’t tell you how many times we’ve run into times where we had to help the bride figure out her bustle (which we totally don’t mind helping!) or a bride who just foregoes the bustle because they didn’t prepare this or don’t have anyone who knows how it goes and trust us, you don’t want to be doing your first dance with a bunch of dress either in your arm or tripping all over it.
Tip: Bring extra safety pins and clear garment tape just in case something comes loose.
8. Eat Something Before the Ceremony
It’s easy to forget to eat when nerves and excitement kick in. But an empty stomach can lead to dizziness, fatigue, or an unplanned fainting moment during vows.
Tip: Have a protein-rich snack (like a breakfast sandwich, yogurt, or nuts) a couple hours before the ceremony. Keep a water bottle nearby too.
9. Don’t Forget to Pause and Take It All In
You’ll hear it a thousand times – the day goes by fast. But it’s true. Schedule 5-10 minutes with your partner to step away, breathe, and soak in your surroundings.
Tip: This is often the couple’s favorite part of the day – and it can lead to some of the most intimate, emotional photos. This is probably THE reason I like taking couples away for those sunset photos. It’s usually the turning point in the whole party and I get take the couple away from the hustle and bustle for 15 minutes tops to not only get some amazing golden sunset photos, but also for the couple to get some time together and to just breathe for a moment. Then they can head back to the party for the rest of the night and let loose.
10. Plan Your Wedding Party Reception Entrance
The reception entrance is your chance to make a fun, high-energy first impression as newlyweds – and it’s often where the wedding party gets to show some personally too! But if there’s no plan, things can get chaotic or awkward. If you have a DJ (and a skilled one) they will help you plan this and will make things fun!
Tip: Decide ahead of time if you want your wedding party to be introduced individually or as pairs. Let them know if you want funny dances, props, or something more low-key. Share a quick timeline with your DJ or emcee so everyone knows the order. This way, the entrance is coordinated, fun, and totally you. As an experienced photographer, the best tip for this part is for everyone to come out doing something fun like a silly dance or nobody doing anything, but walking out when called. It creates uniformity. Also it’s best to let your photographer know the path everyone will be taking when entering. It’s not always obvious which way everyone will be going and the photographer is often caught off guard.
Prepare for the Little Moments That Make Big Memories
Weddings are made of moments – many of them small, fleeting, and easy to miss. By learning these 10 simple but powerful things before your big day, you’ll feel more confident, present, and prepared.
From twirling with grace to coordinating a reception entrance that gets the party started, these thoughtful details not only make the day smoother but create space for genuine, beautiful memories to unfold – and for your photographer to capture them perfectly.
We are experienced photographers located in Michigan. All of these tips above are things we have come across in the past years. They are things that we have found that if things were known by the couple and planned ahead of time, things would go much smoother. If you are looking for an experienced wedding photographer, we would love to chat with you! You can connect with us on our website!
No sure how to prepare for your photographer on your wedding day? We’ve got you covered with this blog post! What to Have Ready for Your Wedding Photographer on the Big Day!
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