I know most of you want to spend your time celebrating with your family and friends on your wedding day.  But at the same time, you don’t want to miss any photo.

The problem is most people are not planning their day with precision and that’s why they spend too much time away from their guests.

You know what…

Because what I’ve just shared is exactly what I’ve seen when I first started shooting weddings. I know how awful it feels to try to rush everything because there’s no schedule to follow.

Today, I’m sharing 3 secrets on keeping your guests entertained when you’re away taking photos and a strategic plan to take less than 30 minutes taking formal photos, like family and bridal party portraits.

Here are 3 secrets on keeping your guests entertained when you’re away taking photos.

(1) Host a rehearsal dinner or welcome party.
A wedding brings together two families and sets of friends that are completely stranger to each other. However, there are things you could do before your wedding day that could help make everyone feel more comfortable and relaxed during the cocktail hour.

If you’re having a destination wedding, it is best to host a rehearsal dinner or welcome party and invite relatives and guests from abroad to break the ice and to introduce the group to each other.

By the time the wedding rolls around, your guests are more relaxed and hopefully will keep the conversations going at the cocktail hour and reception. This is great as they will feel more comfortable starting conversations when you’re gone taking pictures.

(2) Stick to the schedule
I’m sure you have a basic idea of how you’d like things to unfold, but there are various aspects of your day, like family and bridal party portraits, that you may have not taken into account when planning your day. Every wedding is unique and there’s no perfect timeline for every wedding. However, these photo sessions can take too much time if you don’t plan in advance.

Here are 5 questions you should ask yourself when you start creating your wedding timeline:

These questions are crucial to draft up a basic outline for your wedding day to ensure everyone is on the same page.

You can download a FREE Wedding Photography Timeline HERE. This timeline will help you plan your wedding whether you’re doing a first look or a traditional reveal. Trust me, there are differences you should know!

(3) Entertainment
While you’re gone taking photos, it best to keep everyone on their feet enjoying the day. Think about things that can make your wedding unique and personal. Here are some ideas to help you start brainstorming what fits best for your wedding.

• Photo Booth
• Entertainer
• Karaoke Room
• Candy Bar
• Live Painter
• Ice Cream Stall
• Live Band
• Signature Cocktail at the Bar
• Caricaturist
• An unexpected performance

Now, the best part of all of this is that you can be away from your guests knowing they will be having a great time. Next, the best way to keep everything organized so that you don’t take too much time away is to create a shot list of the most important photos you’d like.

I’ve created a complete guide on the most important photos you’d not want to miss on your wedding day.

You can download your FREE guide HERE!