The ring is still catching the light. Your phone is full of screenshots, group chats, and “oh my gosh” messages you haven’t even had time to answer yet. Somewhere between the excitement and the overwhelm, it hits you — we’re really doing this.If you’re newly engaged, first things first: ***pause***. This season deserves to be felt, not rushed.
And when you’re ready, here’s what actually matters next — without the noise, pressure, or Pinterest overload.
1. Let It Sink In (Yes, This Is Productive)
Before diving into planning, give yourselves permission to just be engaged.
This moment — the beginning — is fleeting. The way it feels right now, before timelines and guest counts and decisions stack up, is something you’ll want to remember. Celebrate it. Go to dinner. Take a walk. Talk about how it happened and what you’re excited for.
The best weddings — and the best photos — begin with couples who stay connected to why they’re doing this in the first place.
2. Start With the Vendors Who Shape the Experience
You’ll see a lot of advice telling you to book a venue first — and while that matters, there’s something equally important to consider early on:
Who will be with you on your wedding day.
Your photographer isn’t just there to document what happens — they shape how the day feels. They’re present for the quiet moments, the nerves, the in-between glances, the way your people show up for you.
When choosing a wedding photographer, especially here in Marshfield, Missouri and the surrounding areas, look for someone whose work feels like home to you. Someone whose images make you feel something — not just impressed, but seen.
3. Choose a Photographer You Trust (Not Just One You Like on Instagram)
It’s easy to love a highlight reel. It’s harder — and more important — to trust someone with real moments.
As you research photographers, ask yourself:
- Do their galleries feel consistent?
- Do their couples look comfortable, not posed or stiff?
- Can you imagine yourself in these images — on a quiet morning, in a loud reception, during emotional moments?
Wedding photography is deeply personal. Trust allows you to let go on your wedding day — and that’s when the most meaningful images happen.
4. Don’t Skip the Engagement Session (Here’s Why)
Engagement photos aren’t just for save-the-dates (though they’re perfect for that).
They’re a chance to:
- Get comfortable in front of the camera
- Learn how your photographer guides and prompts you
- Experience what it feels like to be photographed naturally
- Build trust before the wedding day arrives
For many couples, this is the moment everything clicks — “Oh. This is how it’s supposed to feel.”
When your wedding day comes, you’re not meeting a stranger. You’re being photographed by someone who already knows you, your dynamic, and how to make you feel at ease.
5. Think About the Feeling You Want to Remember
Trends will come and go.
What lasts is how the day felt.
As you plan, ask:
- Do we want our wedding day to feel slow or structured?
- Intimate or energetic?
- Emotional, playful, grounded, celebratory?
These answers will guide every decision — from your timeline to your vendor team. And when your photographer understands this vision, your images become more than documentation. They become memory-keepers.
6. Book With Intention (Not Pressure)
There is a lot of noise in the wedding world telling you to move faster, book sooner, decide now.
While some vendors do book out quickly (especially for popular dates), the most important thing is alignment. When you choose vendors who feel right — whose values and approach match yours — planning becomes lighter. The experience becomes more enjoyable.
You deserve a wedding day that feels like you, not a checklist you survived.
A Gentle Next Step
If you’re newly engaged and looking for a wedding photographer in Marshfield, MO or the surrounding area who values connection, emotion, and honest storytelling, I’d love to hear your story.
I photograph weddings for couples who want to be present, who value the in-between moments, and who want images that feel as real as the love they’re celebrating.
You don’t need to have everything figured out yet — just a vision for how you want it to feel.
When you’re ready, I’m here 🤍
