Alright future brides, listen up.
Here is the scene: the ceremony is breathtaking. Dad tears up and the bride glides down the aisle smoother than Kristi Yamaguchi winning the gold. Everything is a fairy tale… and then come the followup family portraits. Family portraits are—how shall I say it politely… pretty much always a cluster, uh, fudge. Yea, we’ll go with that. They always are. Okay that’s an exaggeration, but they are if you have a big family. I was also unfortunate enough to inherit a super soft voice (so much for my singing career) so my only chance at having things go my way is to stand on a chair and flail my arms and pray someone sees me and listens because they feel sorry for me. From this point family portraits would last AT LEAST an hour. Okay, that’s also an exaggeration. But I swear I’ve done an hour before. The larger the family, the longer it takes (clearly).
An hour of waiting for Uncle Fred because he went to smoke a cigarette, and the flower girl had to run to the ladies room. Then people forget to smile because they were smiling so hard while Fred was outside and grew tired. Everyone always grows impatient knowing that their beloved cocktail hour is waiting for them–and MY personal favorite hour (the time I get for portraits with the bride and groom–yeah, I said it. I love LOVE, okay?!) Anyway, people grow impatient with the process. I get it.
All was lost–or so I thought–until I met Kaitlyn. She puts my organizing skills to shame (do I even have any?) and this girl knows what she’s doing. A week prior to her wedding, she sends me an email with this spreadsheet and my initial reaction was something like this:
That’s mostly because spreadsheets scare the hell outta me. Once I actually saw what she was trying to do with this, the heavens parted. And THEN I actually saw it in action… that was it. I could never go back to the old way. This was the ONLY way, as far as I’m concerned.
So, my future brides, I beg you to take this into consideration. I’ll even give you a hug because I’ll be so grateful.
I’ll break it down so it’s easy to comprehend. Takes a liiiittle more effort on the bride prior to the wedding day (what’s another task on top of everything else you’re juggling, I mean REALLY). Kidding, I know how tough it is to be a bride these days. Anywho, you will thank your future self on your wedding day if you do this. So just listen. Especially if you have a huge family.
1. Create spreadsheet like exhibit A below, of your own family. Don’t forget Uncle Fred, even if he smokes cigarettes.
2. Print individual cards for each person and the numbers that correspond with which photos they are to be in.
3. Wait for Photographer [me] to yell [pathetically squeak] “Photo 1 (2) (3)… etc…!” and whoever has said number on their card will assemble by height.
4. Clap because we saved 4o minutes of your time. YAY!!!
So there ya have it folks! The most efficient way to assemble people! Who knew tiny little mint green cards hold so much power?
This might be my favorite post of yours, EVER. I love when you write how you talk. It makes me miss you and love you even more! And I'm totally picturing you on a chair flailing your arms and squawking…and this bride is the BOMB!
I will definitely be doing this Kins!
Pretty dealing on wedding sharing! I get pleasing and amusing when read the post and want to share of my opinion on wedding issue that wearing fashionable and white classic dress with diamond or gold jewelry is stunning to make beauty of bride.
t creates me skip you and really like you even more! And I'm completely imagining you on a seat flailing your hands and squawking.