Ok, so maybe it's impossible to have a stress free wedding, but you can certainly do things to make sure stress is kept at a minimum!  Here are a few tips and tricks to help you have a relaxing and enjoyable wedding day!

1.  Pick the right Venue and Vendors

MG8A4820 Everyone wants a gorgeous venue that has an amazing backdrop for your most amazing day, right?  But before you confirm that venue, make sure you ask around about how well organized and friendly that venue is!  The owners of venues can really put a damper on your day if they are rude or unorganized or have a bad attitude.  The same goes for your vendors!
The last thing you need on your special day is to have someone moping around and snapping at you and your guests.  Hire professionals and read reviews and ask your other vendors about their reputations.  Having qualified people with good attitudes and sunny dispositions can make a world of difference in having a great experience or a miserable one!  The above photo is at Southern Tree Plantation in Blairsville and I can tell you that not only is the venue absolutely gorgeous, but the owners are total angels.  They go above and beyond and always have a smile on their faces.  That's what you want!

2.  Surround yourself with Helpful people

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Being a bridesmaid or a groomsman is more of a responsibility than some people think.  When choosing who is going to be standing next to you on one of the biggest days of your life, make sure they are going to be helpful to you!  There is no reason for the bride or the groom to be worrying or fretting about anything on their wedding day.  Assign tasks to not only your bridal party but other friends and family so that you can relax and know that everything is going to be taken care of.  Even simple things like having a designated dress carrier and positioner for when you are taking photos will give you peace of mind and a helping hand during every aspect of the day!  Allow help also!  I know some people (myself included) like being in charge of all the things but weddings are a huge undertaking with more moving parts than you can imagine, so allow yourself to be helped. 
 

3.  FEED YOUR VENDORS

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Going back to the whole having happy people around you, FEED YOUR VENDORS.  We are there for 8-10 hours and we get hungry.  I'm not talking about throwing them a sack lunch either, set aside in the budget enough money to have a plate for every vendor and their assistants.  Hungry people are not happy people and unhappy people do not do their best work.  So if you want to get the best out of everyone and have everyone be in high spirits, give them food!  They will be very grateful.

4.  Do a First Look

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Ok, so I know some people are very traditional and they don't want to do a first look and that is completely fine.  But I'm giving advice on how to make your day as stress free as possible and a First Look definitely helps with that!  Let's even talk about that tradition for a minute.  The tradition of not seeing the bride until the altar goes back to the days of arranged marriages.  The fathers of the bride were worried that the groom wouldn't find the bride attractive and that the groom would flee if he saw her before the altar.  So they made it a tradition to not see each other until then.  They even went so far as to put a veil over the bride's face so that he couldn't see her until the very last second!  Some confidence, dad!  In this day and age, I'm fairly certain all of my couples have seen each other and are in fact attracted to one another so that tradition is kind of a non issue now.  Again, if you want to wait to see each other, by all means!  It's YOUR day, you do what YOU want, but having a First Look has a lot of benefits.  First, it ensures plenty of time for photos with your spouse.  Not only that but it usually helps ease those pre wedding nerves.  I can't tell you how much both the bride and groom relax after seeing one another.  It's also a more intimate moment to have caught on film.  It's up close and personal and you aren't sharing your reaction in front of all your family and guests.  It is usually more heartfelt and I can promise you, ladies...if your man is going to cry when you walk down the aisle, he is going to do it with or without a first look.  They usually just cry at both so you get two moments to capture of the waterworks instead of just one!  LOL.  But seriously, the biggest bonus is not having to worry about whether people are having a good time during the cocktail hour while you are taking photos or if the wedding runs long and you have not done a first look, worrying about how much sunlight you have to get all the photos in.  It's just one thing you can get done before the ceremony so that the rest of the evening is relaxing and fun.

5.  Wear comfortable clothes and shoes

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I'm sure not all wedding dresses are the most comfortable attire in the world, but make sure it fits and fits well!  You don't want to have to worry if your boob is going to pop out or if your stomach looks tucked in or any of those crazy things we get in our heads!  You want your gown to be fitted properly and comfortably and to have soft material.  I've seen several wedding dresses with pockets also and to me, that's one of the greatest things I've seen in my whole life!  So get a comfy, well fitted dress with pockets!  And if you're dying to have stilettos at your wedding, that's fine!  But maybe pack a pair of tennis shoes or flats that you can slip on for the reception so that dancing is fun and not painful!

6.  Make a list of family photos

MG8A9615 There are always a lot of family and friends at your wedding and while you are taking photos, it gets hectic and hard to remember who you have included and who you haven't.  I always send my couples a questionnaire beforehand to fill out that includes a place for them to write out exactly who they want in their family portraits.  It makes the family photo portion of the day go by quickly and efficiently and it ensures that you haven't forgotten anyone special that you would like to get a picture with!  So before your wedding, sit down and write a list of exactly who you want in your family photos.

7.  Remember that this is YOUR day!

MG8A0949 As much as I have said to delegate tasks and ask for help and listen to advice from professionals and your friends and family, remember that this is YOUR day.  Don't let anyone try to take over and make decisions that should be yours to make.  If your heart has been set on getting a pizza bar for the food and someone is telling you no, you get that pizza bar!  If you don't want any kids in the wedding and you have family members making you feel bad, you tell them that you don't want any kids there.  You will be happier and more at ease with decisions that were important to you if you stick to your guns and do it your way!

8.  Hire a Wedding Planner

MG8A6547 DIY is great and all, but weddings are a HUGE undertaking and not something you do on a regular basis.  Planners know weddings.  They know all the little things that you may not think about and they know how to help coordinate your day.  Let them take care of all the details for you.  I promise that the extra money you spend to get a good planner will save you BIG on headaches and worries later on. 

The above photo shows one of my couples with Marmaros Productions.  They are professional and kind and do a great job!

9.  Relax and have FUN!

MG8A9856 This is one of the best days of your life!  Remember to enjoy it and take it all in!  Take time to dance with your spouse and eat your food and laugh with your friends.  It goes by in a blink and you'll wish you had stopped worrying about the little things and embraced the day as a whole.  Everyone's wedding day has mishaps but it makes them unique and it doesn't ruin the outcome.  So relax and have fun and don't sweat the small stuff!

It was a joyous feeling of celebration as everyone got ready for the day.  During preparations, Lydia & Josh exchanged gifts and a letter.  It was so romantic & you could just feel how excited they were to get married.

Lydia was simply radiant in her dress.  It was so fun to watch her bridesmaids' excitement when they saw her.  

She did a first look with her Dad.  You could see how overwhelmed with love he was for his beautiful daughter.

It was definitely a perfect summer day for an outdoor wedding.  The sun was shining bright and the sky was a deep blue.  

I loved the shabby chic feel of the wedding décor.  With earth tone colors it had a very romantic country feel.  All of their friends and family did the decorations and decor.  They did a phenomenal job!  The ceremony was outside with wooden benches & some were draped with quilts.  I LOVED the ceremony site.  They had old windows hanging from a wooden cross.  It was gorgeous.  Lydia arrived to the ceremony in a cool classic Ford truck.  

The ceremony was so sweet.  Lydia was proceeded by the sweetest little flower girls and a very handsome little ring bearer. Josh kept his eyes on his bride and his expression was that of the luckiest man in the world!

After the ceremony, these two were all smiles and consumed with love for each other.  It created some very romantic shots!

In lieu of a traditional cocktail hour, this fun little couple had lawn games for the guests.  It was the most fun idea!  They included Cornhole, Giant Jenga, and lots of fun, like bubbles, for the littles.

The outdoor reception was such a fun celebration with country food and a lot of dancing. All of their family members made us feel like we were part of their family.  They were so nice and welcoming.  During the father/daughter dance, Lydia and her father included her other sisters as well.  How sweet is that??!!

This sweet couple ended their day with a beautiful sparkler exit.

Congratulations Lydia & Josh!

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The most special thing is that Amanda is one of my best friends and it was such an honor to be a part of her day!

Amanda & John wed at Chief Hosa Lodge in Denver, CO.

The venue was gorgeous & rustic.  I loved the rock walls inside.  It made it very romantic and fairytale-ish.  The view was incredible!!  I'm used to our north GA mountains, which are beautiful on their own, but they are a subtle beauty compared to the Rockies for sure!

Amanda was simply exquisite in her dress.  The wedding color was a beautiful deep blue and she and all the wedding party wore adorable sporting matching blue Converse shoes.  

She did a first look with John & he was all smiles when he saw his beautiful bride.  When you watch them embrace you can just feel the love between them and seeing my best friend have that on her wedding day was priceless.  

The ceremony was outdoors set against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains.  

It was very moving.  I didn't expect any of us to cry but Amanda and I both did, and so did our other besties, Laura and Christy!  Surrounded by their children & loved ones, Amanda & John committed their lives to each other.  They included a foot washing and completed a family tree with their children.  It was emotional and so full of love.

The reception was such a great party!  The toasts were so meaningful & heartfelt.  Everybody cut a rug and quite a few even did keg stands...including the bride and groom!  How fun is that?  LOL.  It was a true celebration! 

Here's to many years of love & happiness for Amanda & John! MG8A7915

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They married at The Church on Main in Chattanooga, TN.

Destiny's dress looked like it was made just for her.  She looked simply breathtaking!

Her bridesmaids were all sparkles in the beautiful champagne rose color she chose for them.

Matt & his groomsmen complimented them perfectly in their navy blue suits.

The first look really captured how in love this couple is.  They were full of love & kisses!

The church décor was like a fairytale!

The ceremony was done amongst beautiful flowers covering the ceiling above.  Proceeding Destiny down the aisle was their beautiful little flower girl princess in her amazing gown.  Destiny was all smiles as she met her groom.  The ceremony was just lovely.

The reception hall was perfectly matched to their colors.  The décor was romantic and elegant.  The food was so fun & included cupcakes, donuts, and a pizza bar!

I really enjoyed photographing this sweet couple. Congratulations! 

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As soon as I met the bridal party, I knew this was going to be a fun wedding.  They were all laughs & celebration and totally fit this fun loving couple.

Samantha looked like an actual princess in her dress.  She was breathtaking! 

I was absolutely in love with her bouquet.  

Their color was a deep red burgundy that paired perfectly with the deep lush greenery that covered the venue.  

The ceremony was outside in a little outdoor sanctuary. It was just a little magical!

Ryan looked so excited to see his bride and when he did he was moved to tears.  

As they stood together exchanging vows we were all just consumed with how in love they are.

The reception was a formal sit down dinner with amazing food!  There were toasts & drinks & dancing.  It was such a good time!

I have no doubt Samantha & Ryan will have many years of good times! 

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They wed on an October day at Mt Liberty Baptist Church in Blue Ridge, GA.

It was a beautiful fall mountain wedding.

Cassidy was a gorgeous bride and one of the sweetest ever, too.  

They exchanged vows in the pretty little sanctuary of the church and it was full of love & tears of joy.  It was such a sweet and sincere ceremony.

It was followed by a pretty outdoor reception with dancing, bubbles, and an incredible cake.

I wish you a lifetime as full of love as your beautiful wedding was!

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It was a beautiful September day and the air was full of romance! The décor was full of incredible flowers and a formal sit down setting. 

Carly was an exquisite bride and she simply glowed as I took pictures of her against the gorgeous landscape of this venue.  

Derrick was overcome with emotion as his bride approached him.  From the moment she stepped down the aisle these two only had eyes for each other.  

The only thing that made it sweeter was watching Derrick say vows to their sweet son Kason.  Watching these three become a family was a joy and a true honor

to photograph.

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Photography:  Amber Cather Photography

Venue:  Sanctuary Estate, Cleveland, GA

The day certainly did not go as planned.  A huge monsoon of a storm swept in right before the ceremony and made things very interesting!  But even in the chaos of the unpredictable weather, Abigail and Will remained calm and happy and focused on each other.  If that's not a great way to start off a marriage, I don't know what is!  Plus, the storm gave us some incredible sunset shots!

Abigail looked like a princess in her breathtaking dress.  When she walked down the aisle Will looked at her the way every bride wants her groom to.  It was so romantic.  

The ceremony was outside & it was so moving.  The love, the prayers, the adorable flower girl & ring bearer.  He grandfather presided over the ceremony and that made it so touching & special.

The décor was elegant rustic with a lot of amazingly gorgeous flowers & greenery.  She used a beautiful plum color and it was intertwined everywhere.  It was perfect! 

My favorite part was when Abigail met with a blindfolded Will before the ceremony.  They prayed together and it was so sweet & heartfelt.

Taking pictures of these two was a joy.  They are so in love & full of happiness.  It was an absolute pleasure to be a part of their day!

#HappilyEverHarbin

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The lush green trees draped in moss created an incredibly romantic setting.

Melissa wore a lovely yellow wedding dress while the groom donned navy blue.  You couldn't have asked for a more Disney like atmosphere.

Everything was simply magical in the breathtaking chapel where they exchanged vows.  Love filled the room as they committed to each other, prayed with each other, and completed a family. 

The ceremony was so sweet & heartfelt.  

The reception was such a good time! That family could dance!!

They left under the light of sparklers to their happy ever after...

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This wedding was classic and romantic. Walking into the venue was like walking into a fairytale. 

The tables were formally set and covered in big gorgeous flowers and lush greenery accented with glowing candles.  We had stormy skies for a lot of the day so they moved the ceremony inside.  It quickly became one of the most beautiful ceremony sites I'd ever photographed.  The greenery and the candles and the attention to detail was phenomenal.  

The connection between Tori & Christian was profound.  You can especially see it in how they look at each other in their first look photos.  

The ceremony was so sweet and romantic! Tori walked down the aisle of rose petals and candles to meet her groom. The room was filled with love and happiness.

Let me tell you, this family really knew how to party! They danced and laughed & truly celebrated these two!

They exited under a sky of sparklers and stopped only to share kisses under the light of the fireworks.

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