When To Book Your Engagement Session | For MW Brides | Minneapolis Wedding Photographer

When is the right time to book your engagament photography session? I have got you, girl. 

Plan for your favorite season! Up here in Minnesota we have all four seasons! My favorite season is winter. The snow is makes the world magical. Plan on shooting the season you want to be a part of within the year of your wedding. 

Many use engagememt photos for their save the dates! To make sure you have plenty of time to shoot the session and your photographer has time to edit to perfection and deliver and then add in the time to order and be delivered. I would suggest to have your engagement session shot 2 months before you plan on sending out your save the dates. That will give you time for all the mentioned process above to take place!

From a photographers standpoint you want to avoid shooting your session too late in advance. I would suggest having your photos done not later than 2 months before your wedding. This will give you plenty of time to have your photographer shoot and edit and send back your photos. 

Do you need more engagement session tips? I have a handful of blog posts that will better prepare you for your engagement session!  
1) http://www.mwphotographymn.com/blog/2015/9/7/3-tips-to-rock-your-engagement-shoot
2) http://www.mwphotographymn.com/blog/what-to-wear-to-your-engagement-shoot
3) http://www.mwphotographymn.com/blog/howtoprepareforwinterengagementsession

Setting Time Aside for Sunset Portraits | St Paul & Minneapolis Wedding Photographer | For the Bride

At the end of your wedding day you're finally married! As you are starting the reception with your friends and family, you have a little time to eat.  Once you have eaten and hydrated, I encourage you to set aside some 10 - 15 minutes for sunset portraits. Sunset will bring a close to one of the most adventurous days of your life and it also has the mostbeautiful light of the day that really cannot compare to anything else. (Besides sunrise ) At this point all your posed photos are done and I know you are excited to start the dance party! Before the big party grab your new spouse and photographer, put on your sneaky ninja shoes, dodge your guests, and book it out the door for the first photos where you are husband and wife. (People will congratulate you all night long if you let them! Take the back door if you need to!) Even if the sun does not shine on your day, take those few stolen minutes to spend with your new hubby and talk about the day. (With your photographer creeping at a distance)
I highly encourage ( if you haven't gathered that yet) all my MW couples to save at least 15 - 20 minutes from their reception for your first intimate portraits as husband and wife.

When To Change Your Last Name | For the MW Bride

A bride who was SOOO excited to take on her new last name had to shell out additional money to re-book her ticket because it was purchased under her maiden name.  (You can read the full story here ) CRAZY RIGHT!? This national story had me thinking, when should you change your last name?  My story was a little bit different. From Molly Waits to Molly Sanchez, I almost had a little bit of anxiety thinking about a new Molly Sanchez. I know it probably sounds a little silly, but I loved my maiden name. So it took me almost a year and a half to get my last name changed; I don't think it is necessary to wait THAT long, but here are some things to consider before you start the process to change your last name.

Do your research first! I found a couple of websites that I could send almost all my information to and they would fill out everything I needed and I was in the clear. After almost paying to hand over this obligation to someone else, I came to realize that I would still have to submit everything in person at the DMV. At that point I figured I could still do everything, so I just sucked it up and did it. For all my Minnesota Brides you can look here : https://www.dmv.org/mn-minnesota/changing-your-name.php for the DMV instructions on changing your name.

Plan on changing your name when you have time to take off work. If your DMV is the one downtown st. Paul, it literally takes hours of waiting to get through. It wasn't until the day we got back from shooting a wedding in NY that we took the rest of the day and spent at the DMV. The DMV work hours make it impossible to go at a more convenient hour. Grab a good book, (I would say coffee too,but they don't allow food or drinks) take the day off and go get that name changed!  

If you are honeymooning it out of country within a week after the wedding, wait to change you name until after the honeymoon. (Real Life story at the top as example for this) The fees that go into changing your name on your passport and then trying to get the new one in time for the trip is just not worth the additional stress. 

There is no other rush to change you last name right away other than pure excitement, which is 100% understandable! With your wedding adventure behind you, wait for everything to settle down  that is the best time to get your name changed.