Planning a wedding can feel overwhelming, but breaking it down into clear steps makes the process manageable — and even enjoyable. Whether you’re planning a traditional wedding, destination wedding, or an intimate celebration, these wedding planning tips will help you stay organized and create the day of your dreams.

1. Set Your Budget and Guest List: Start by determining your overall budget and drafting a preliminary guest list. This helps guide key decisions, including venue selection, catering, and wedding photography coverage.

2. Choose Your Venue and Date: Your venue often sets the tone for your wedding, so book early. Consider the location, size, and style — and whether it allows outside vendors, like your preferred wedding photographer.

3. Hire Key Vendors: Prioritize booking essential vendors such as your photographer, caterer, florist, and DJ or band. Your wedding photographer is particularly important early on, as they help capture the moments you’ll cherish forever.

4. Create a Wedding Timeline: Plan your wedding day schedule, including getting-ready moments, ceremony, portraits, and reception. A clear timeline ensures your photographer captures every meaningful moment without stress.

5. Focus on Personal Details: Select your wedding attire, décor, flowers, and entertainment. Personal touches make your wedding unique and elevate your photos, creating timeless memories.

6. Send Invitations and Manage RSVPs: Choose invitations that match your style and track responses efficiently. Clear communication ensures an accurate guest list and helps your photographer plan for group shots.

7. Finalize Details and Enjoy Your Day: Confirm vendor contracts, prepare a shot list for your wedding photographer, and trust your team. On the day, focus on enjoying the moments — your photographer will capture them beautifully.

By following these steps, couples can plan a wedding efficiently, reduce stress, and ensure every moment is thoughtfully documented. Proper wedding planning not only creates a seamless celebration but also allows your wedding photography to reflect the authentic emotions and energy of your day.

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One of the biggest challenges couples face during wedding planning is managing the wedding guest list. A guest list that grows too large can quickly affect your budget, venue choice, and even your wedding photography timeline. Here are some practical tips to keep your guest list under control while still celebrating with the people who matter most:

1. Prioritize Your Must-Have Guests: Start with immediate family, closest friends, and anyone who is essential to your day. Distinguish between “must-invite” and “would-be-nice-to-have” guests to help make tough decisions.

2. Set Clear Boundaries Early: Decide on a maximum number of guests before you start sending invitations. Communicate clearly with family members about your guest limit to prevent last-minute additions.

3. Consider an Intimate Wedding or Micro Wedding: Choosing a smaller, more intimate celebration can help you focus on quality over quantity. Fewer guests also gives your wedding photographer more time to capture meaningful moments, candid interactions, and family portraits without feeling rushed.

4. Track RSVPs Strategically: Use digital RSVP tools to manage responses efficiently. This ensures you know exactly who’s attending and helps you adjust your list if necessary.

5. Stick to Your Vision: Remember, your wedding is about you and your partner. It’s okay to say no to distant acquaintances or extended contacts if it means keeping your day authentic, comfortable, and stress-free.

Keeping your guest list manageable not only saves time and money, but it also ensures your wedding photography captures genuine moments with the people who truly matter. When your guest list is intentional, your photos feel more natural, emotional, and timeless — exactly what every couple hopes for on their wedding day.

Family dynamics can get complicated when it comes to weddings — and that’s okay. This day is about you and your partner, not anyone else’s expectations. When it comes to invitations, you’re allowed to set boundaries that protect your peace and keep your day feeling genuine and comfortable.

If not inviting someone helps you feel more present and joyful, then that’s the right choice. You can always find gentle ways to navigate it — keeping the guest list small, framing it as an intimate celebration, or saying you’re keeping it to immediate family only.

From a photography perspective, your emotional comfort directly shapes how your photos feel. When you’re surrounded by people who truly support and celebrate you, it shows — in every candid laugh, tear, and quiet moment. My job is to capture that sense of ease and authenticity, which only happens when you’re genuinely at peace with who’s there.

At the end of the day, it’s not about who wasn’t invited — it’s about the love and energy that was in the room.

One of the most common questions couples ask when planning their wedding photography is: “How many hours of coverage do we really need?” The answer depends on your wedding day timeline, the type of celebration you’re planning, and the story you want your photos to tell.

If you want a complete visual story — from getting ready to the last dance — I always recommend 8 to 10 hours of wedding photography coverage. This allows your photographer to capture every part of your day naturally: the quiet anticipation in the morning, the ceremony, portraits, golden hour moments, and all the energy of the reception.

For more intimate celebrations like elopements or city weddings, 4 to 6 hours of coverage is often ideal. This timeframe beautifully captures your vows, couple portraits, and the celebration that follows — without feeling rushed or overdone.

Here’s a quick guide:

• 4–6 hours: Perfect for elopements, micro weddings, or short city ceremonies.

• 8 hours: Great for most traditional wedding days — from getting ready to early reception.

• 10+ hours: Ideal for destination weddings, multi-location events, or couples who want every detail captured.

When we plan your photography timeline together, I help you build a coverage plan that reflects your priorities — so every meaningful moment is documented with intention. The goal isn’t just to capture everything, but to preserve what truly matters most.

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Many couples wonder why they should choose film wedding photography over digital, and the answer comes down to timeless quality, emotion, and artistry. Shooting weddings on film offers a unique look and feel that digital photography often can’t replicate.

1. Timeless and Romantic Aesthetic: Film has a naturally soft, organic quality that creates cinematic and romantic wedding photos. The subtle textures, colors, and tones captured on film give your images a classic, enduring look that never goes out of style.

2. Captures Genuine Emotion: Film encourages a slower, more intentional approach to photography, which allows your wedding photographer to capture authentic, candid moments. The result is a gallery full of emotional, meaningful images that truly reflect the energy of your day.

3. Dynamic Range and Natural Light: Film handles light differently than digital cameras, giving your photos a beautiful dynamic range and natural, soft highlights. Whether it’s golden hour portraits or moody indoor shots, film enhances the atmosphere and mood of every frame.

4. Unique and One-of-a-Kind Images: Each roll of film produces slightly different results, making every photo distinctive and personal. Your wedding album becomes a curated, artistic collection rather than just a series of digital images.

5. Long-Lasting Memories: Properly developed and stored, film negatives can last for decades — ensuring your wedding photos remain vivid and cherished for generations to come.

Choosing film wedding photography is more than just a stylistic choice — it’s an investment in timeless, emotional images that will tell your love story for a lifetime. By hiring a skilled film wedding photographer, you ensure every moment is captured with care, artistry, and authenticity.

Creating a family photo list is one of the best ways to ensure you capture all the important people and moments on your wedding day — without feeling stressed or overwhelmed. As a professional wedding photographer, I recommend a few strategies to keep the process organized, efficient, and enjoyable.

1. Prioritize Must-Have Shots: Start with the most important family combinations first — parents, siblings, grandparents, and any special relationships. Focus on the shots that matter most, and don’t feel obligated to include every extended cousin or distant relative.

2. Group Strategically: Combine similar family groups to save time. For example, take all parent/child combinations together, then siblings, then extended family. This approach ensures you cover everyone efficiently without multiple roundups.

3. Create a Simple List Ahead of Time: Share a concise, prioritized list with your photographer before the wedding day. I can help guide you on how to structure it for speed and clarity. Having this prepared in advance means the photos flow naturally and don’t hold up the day.

4. Be Flexible and Relaxed: Even with a plan, some photos may need to adjust on the fly. Trust your photographer to capture the moments seamlessly while keeping the energy light and stress-free.

By creating a well-organized family photo list, you’ll ensure your wedding portraits are complete, meaningful, and fun — all while keeping the day moving smoothly. Proper planning allows your photographer to capture authentic moments without overwhelming anyone, resulting in timeless wedding portraits you’ll cherish forever.

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One of the most important decisions in wedding planning is choosing when to hire a wedding photographer. Your photographer captures the moments, emotions, and details that make your day unforgettable — so securing the right professional early is key.

1. Book Early to Secure Your Date:
Wedding photographers, especially those specializing in film or destination weddings, often book 12–18 months in advance. Popular dates and venues fill quickly, so reserving your photographer early ensures you get the professional whose style and approach you love.

2. Consider Your Wedding Timeline:
Hiring your photographer early allows you to plan your wedding day timeline around photography needs, including getting-ready moments, first look sessions, and sunset portraits. A well-planned timeline ensures every special moment is captured beautifully.

3. Coordinate With Other Vendors:
Booking your wedding photographer early makes it easier to coordinate with your venue, planner, florist, and other vendors. Your photographer can advise on lighting, timing, and shot locations — making your day flow smoothly and helping your wedding photography look effortless.

4. Invest in Experience and Style:
A professional wedding photographer brings not just equipment but expertise, creativity, and a unique artistic vision. Booking early guarantees that your wedding photography reflects your story, from intimate candid moments to grand portraits.

5. Avoid Last-Minute Stress:
Waiting too long to hire a photographer can limit your options and create unnecessary stress. Early booking lets you focus on other aspects of wedding planning while knowing your memories are in expert hands.

In summary, couples should plan to hire their wedding photographer as soon as they have a date and venue. Doing so ensures a seamless wedding day, a carefully planned photography timeline, and timeless images you’ll treasure forever.

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A common question I hear from couples is: “Will we get the raw wedding photos, or only the edited images?” With my wedding photography packages, you receive only fully edited images, not the raw files.

Here’s why: the photos you see in your gallery are the product of my professional expertise, artistic vision, and unique editing style. Every shot is carefully curated, color-corrected, and styled to reflect the emotion, atmosphere, and story of your wedding day. Providing raw images would mean sharing unpolished files that don’t reflect the look, mood, or quality that my couples hire me for.

When you book a professional wedding photographer, part of what you’re investing in is the experience, the artistic direction, and the polished final images that will last a lifetime. My goal is to ensure every photograph in your wedding gallery feels timeless, cinematic, and true to your day, without the distraction of inconsistent or unfinished files.

By choosing fully edited images, you can focus on reliving the moments, not post-processing them yourself, and trust that your wedding photography captures the day exactly as you envisioned it.

Take a look at some of Vida Petrou’s wedding photography here

Creating a beautiful, elevated wedding reception doesn’t have to mean breaking the budget. With thoughtful planning and strategic design choices, you can achieve a polished, sophisticated look that translates beautifully in wedding photography — all while staying affordable.

1. Focus on Key Statement Pieces:
Instead of overloading your space with décor, choose a few high-impact elements such as a stunning floral centerpiece, dramatic lighting, or a unique backdrop. These focal points draw the eye and create a sense of elegance in your photos.

2. Use Lighting Creatively:
Lighting is one of the most cost-effective ways to elevate your reception. String lights, candles, and uplighting can transform a simple venue into a warm, romantic space. Your wedding photographer will love how soft, ambient lighting enhances portraits and candid moments.

3. Mix High and Low Elements:
Combine splurges with budget-friendly décor. For example, invest in a few luxurious linens or statement tableware, and pair them with DIY or affordable accents. This creates a luxury feel without overspending, and your wedding photos will look thoughtfully styled.

4. Personal Touches and Greenery:
Simple greenery, potted plants, or personalized signage can make a huge impact. These affordable wedding décor ideas add charm and character to your reception while keeping costs down.

5. Minimalist Design Approach:
Less can often feel more. A clean, cohesive design with carefully chosen colors, textures, and arrangements makes your reception look elegant and intentional. Minimalism ensures your wedding photos feel timeless and sophisticated.

By focusing on intentional, high-impact décor and strategic lighting, you can create an elevated wedding reception that feels luxurious without overspending. Thoughtful design not only enhances your day for guests but also results in stunning wedding photography that captures the style, energy, and emotion of your celebration.