Jake Proposes to Dana at the Point!

Secret proposals are always my favorite… and Jake and Dana’s was no different!

Jake had contacted me a few months ago inquiring about having me take some photos at Point State Park for his proposal to his then-girlfriend, Dana. The plan included Jake taking Dana to dinner in the city. After, they would walk over and he would pop the question!

Leading up to the day of the proposal, there was a threat of rain, but it seemed to subside once the actual day came. However, when we were waiting (sneakily!) at the fountain for Jake to walk Dana to our agreed upon proposal spot, we noticed some dark storm clouds starting to roll in. The sky kept getting darker and darker, and we were a little nervous, wondering if the rain would hold off for the proposal, and if we would have enough light to actually capture it.

Well… the rain did hold off, and we had just enough natural light! Jake and Dana walked across the Point State Park lawn, and as Jake went down on one knee, I pulled up my camera - and Dana started walking towards me, away from Jake! Thinking I was just a casual photographer who hopped on the moment after seeing what was happening (I think!), she said “oh, he’s just kidding!” And I replied… “I don’t think so!!! Go back!” 😂 And well, she did. And to her surprise, Jake was quite serious. And yes… she said yes!

We had a few minutes after the proposal for a few more photos before the super dark clouds rolled in and we lost the majority of our light. The winds picked up so much that they were practically blowing us over as we rain back to the parking garage (lots of camera gear + no umbrella = not a great combination for getting stuck in a rain storm!). BUT we made it, and the most important thing was that we were able to capture that sweet moment, and Jake & Dana were able to take that moment in - sans rain!

Jake & Dana, a huge congratulations to you both on your engagement! Thank you so much for the honor of being a part of such a sweet moment!

Gavin S: North Catholic High School Senior Photos at McConnell's Mill

Meet Gavin, who's graduating this Spring with the class of 2022 from North Catholic!

Gavin is heading south for college, and plans to be a part of the medical field - his choice was inspired by his own personal experience and diagnosis.

Gavin also plays hockey and has a car that he's proud of - so of course, we had to incorporate it into some photos! We had the perfect night for photos at McConnell's Mill, and were able to get lots of variety and unique shots during our time together!

Congratulations on your senior year, Gavin! And thanks so much for the honor of taking your photos!

McConnell's Mill Summer Family Photos

This sweet family had the most gorgeous day for their mini session at McConnell’s Mill!

We’ve known Darren & Kim for a number of years, all the way back to before they were married! We’ve run in many of the same circles and have had the pleasure of seeing them get engaged, married, and grow from a family of two to three, then from a family of three to four.

I love the colors these four chose for their photos! They opted for lighter, summer-themed tones, which popped perfectly against the sun-lit forest background. I’m so excited about how these images turned out!

Kim & Darren, thank you so much for the honor of taking these photos for you. You two (and your two boys!) are a blessing to our lives! ❤️

Interested in booking a family session for yourself? Feel free to click here to get some more info, or email me directly at: jhidingerphotography@gmail.com.

Riley W: North Catholic High School Senior Photos at Mellon Park

Riley is a senior at North Catholic High School who plans on attending Penn State in the fall! She is an amazing volleyball player and loves Japanese food, and was so much fun to photograph on a beautiful spring day at Mellon Park! It’s hard to believe that, three years ago, I photographed her brother at McConnell’s Mill (check it out here!)

I loved that we were able to find some blue florals to compliment Riley’s blue dress - and that her white dress went with everything else! She also brought a few of her volleyball medals, her cap and gown, and a Penn State baseball hat to incorporate into some of her photos. It’s always so fun to incorporate some personal memorabilia into senior shoots!

Congratulations on your senior year, Riley! And thanks so much for the honor of taking these photos for you!

6 Ways to Make Senior Photos Less Awkward & Uncomfortable

When I talk to people my age about their senior photo experience, they will often say things like….

“It was SO awkward.”

“I felt so uncomfortable the entire time.”

“I couldn’t wait for it to be over.”

“What am I supposed to do with my hands?!”

Let’s face it - senior photos can sometimes have a bad rep for being uncomfortable, awkward, and simply an experience that you have to “get through” in order to get what you really want in the end - the images.

Well, let it not be so for my clients! I strive to create an environment that is laid back, relaxed, and comfortable - like you have a friend taking your photos!

But I know that those pre-session nerves can sometimes still get the best of anyone. So today, I’m sharing some of my TOP tips and recommendations for ways to make your senior photos less awkward and uncomfortable! First up…

1 - Consider doing them alongside a friend!

These twins opted to have their photos taken together, simultaneously! We had such a blast!

Have a friend who needs their senior photos taken, too? Consider having your senior photos taken simultaneously! I’ve done a few “best friend” senior photo sessions, where two separate seniors have booked me together - and because they are doing their senior photos together, they can encourage each other, share outfits, and even have some photos taken together! Plus, that session will be a fun experience and memory for the two of you to have together!

2 - Bring a friend or trusted family member with you.

The person you bring to your session doesn’t necessarily have to be having their photo taken, too. Bringing a friend or trusted family member to your session is a great way to feel a bit more comfortable, rather than having your photos taken on your own.

3 - Have your senior photos taken at a familiar location.

This senior opted to have her photos taken at a camp she had attended and counseled at for years!

We all feel more comfortable in places we’re familiar with, right? The same is true for a photo session! If you want to keep things comfortable, consider locations for your session that are meaningful to you in some way. Maybe there’s a park that you visit often with your friends. Maybe you grew up visiting the Strip District with your family and feel comfortable there. Maybe your parents, grandparents, or a family friend have a picturesque property that you’ve visited many times - that could be a great spot, too! Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box!

4 - Consider a morning senior session vs. an evening senior session.

As a more natural-light style photographer (meaning that I don’t generally use off camera/artificial lights to light my senior subjects), I take senior photo sessions within two hours of sunset, and two hours of sunrise when the natural light is at its best. There are a few advantages to morning senior sessions that might help a senior feel more comfortable!

First, you can get your session done. Instead of waiting around all day for it, you can wake up, getting ready, and get it finished before lunch time! That way, you don’t have to spend the day thinking about it.

Second, there are generally less people in public spaces in the morning. Lots of popular photo locations have WAY less people early in the morning, rather than later in the day (especially on a nice evening, when we’re bound to run into lots of other photo sessions taking place!). If you want more privacy for your senior session, I would recommend a morning time slot!

5 - Look at your photographer’s work in advance.

All photographers have different ways they pose and direct images. To be more familiar with the poses your photographer might pose or direct you into during your session, be sure to look through some of their photo sessions in advance! That way, when they ask you to do something, you might be able to recall how it looks on camera based on what you’ve seen of their work - whether in their portfolio or on their blog.

Personally, I love sharing blog posts from my senior sessions with my favorite 10-25 images! I love giving upcoming seniors a feel of how they can expect to be posed/directed through the work that I share, in advance, so they can feel more comfortable and confident going into it!

6 - Talk with your photographer beforehand.

Whether it’s over the phone, by email, or by text, having a conversation with your photographer prior to your session might alleviate some of your pre-session jitters! They can reassure you, provide outfit advice, give tips for what to expect, and even quell some of your specific fears that you’re willing to share.

I always love to prep my seniors as much as possible before a session! Every senior who books with me gets digital access to a “Senior Style & Experience Guide,” which is meant to walk seniors through the process of what a shoot with me will be like, introduce who I am, and give tips for what to wear, what not to wear, and how to get the most out of their session.

---

I truly hope this blog posts helps you feel more comfortable and confident heading into your senior session! Can having your photo taken be awkward and uncomfortable? Of COURSE, because it’s something we’re not always used to doing in a professional setting! But by implementing one, two, or all of these steps, you’re sure to have a great session and feel more confident going into it!

IF YOU ENJOYED THIS POST, YOU MIGHT ALSO BE INTERESTED IN…

24 of the Best Locations for Photo Sessions in and around Pittsburgh

One of the most frequent questions I get from my clients is: what location would you recommend for my photos? While I always encourage my clients to choose a location they resonate with, I always love to give suggestions based on some of my favorite locations to shoot!

In this list, you’ll find 24 of my favorite locations for photo sessions in and around the Pittsburgh area! All of these locations are either in, around, or North of the city. While I’m sure there are many beautiful locations in the South Hills, the North Hills are my stomping grounds and the areas I frequent most!

If you have questions about any of these locations, please feel free to email me directly at jhidingerphotography@gmail.com

1. MORAINE STATE PARK

Moraine State Park has so many beautiful features - forest, pathways, a lake, docks, and fields all make it a great spot with lots of variety for photo sessions!

Location: Butler County, in Portersville

 

2. MCCONNELL’S MILL STATE PARK

McConnell’s Mill features forest, large boulders, the mill itself, a covered bridge, pathways through the woods, and lovely areas down by the river that runs through it.

Location: Butler County

 

3. MELLON PARK

Mellon Park is a favorite location among photographers and pedestrians alike! It features beautiful historic architecture, archways, black iron gates, an ornate fountain, and brick walls. In the Spring & Summer, there are beautiful flowers that decorate the walkways! Specifically, the walled-garden area is very popular.

Be advised: this location is very busy with photographers in the evenings, and if there is a wedding happening in the walled-garden area, pedestrians and photographers will be asked to leave.

Location: Allegheny County, in Shadyside

 

4. HARTWOOD ACRES MANSION

Another favorite among photographers, Hartwood Acres Mansion is one of the most unique (and popular!) locations for photoshoots in the Pittsburgh area. The Hartwood Mansion is large and features historic stone architecture, stairways, archways, doors, pathways, and interesting nooks and crannies. There is also a large garden located on the property, which is beautiful in the Spring & Summer. In addition, there are also lots of foresty areas. You really do get so many backdrops to work with here!

On any given night at Hartwood, you’ll find a plethora of photo sessions taking place. On the weekends, they also host weddings. They do ask pedestrians and photographers to vacate the property during private events. I would recommend calling their office in advance to check for upcoming events while planning a photo session! (If you are a client of mine, note that I will call for you in advance! :) )

*Note that Hartwood Acres Mansion is closed through May of 2022 for construction & renovations.

Location: Allegheny County

 

5. NORTH PARK

A lovely spot for those looking for a photo session featuring nature! North Park has a beautiful lake, foresty areas, and an area with a large wood bridge that crosses to a small island.

Location: Allegheny County, in Allison Park

 

6. POINT STATE PARK

Located within walking distance of downtown Pittsburgh, Point State Park is the perfect mix of a little bit of nature and a little bit of city! You can see some of the yellow bridges from the park. But the best part might be the large Point State Park fountain, located at “the point.”

In the summer time, this spot is SUPER busy with tourists and pedestrians.

Location: Allegheny County

 

7. NORTH SHORE RIVERWALK

One of the most picturesque Pittsburgh locations for photos! The North Shore Riverwalk is right along the river near PNC Park. The Roberto Clemente Bridge (closed for two years beginning in February of 2022) and the Andy Warhol Bridge are both right on the Riverwalk. You can also use the streets around the Riverwalk for some cool shots. I recently found a brightly painted wall a few streets back from the Riverwalk, too!

This location is VERY busy on PNC Park game days. Generally, it gets a lot of traffic in the summer as well.

Location: Allegheny County

 

8. THE STRIP DISTRICT

This has become a new favorite of mine! If you want that grungy Pittsburgh look, this might be a good spot for you. There are LOTS of brick walls and brightly colored scenery in and around the Strip District. I usually like to begin at the Terminal, and go from there! There is also a parking garage nearby that has a beautiful view of the city right at sunset.

I would recommend planning a shoot here on a non-Saturday. The Strip gets tons of traffic on Saturdays!

Location: Allegheny County

 

9. HISTORIC HARMONY

Arguably one of the best spots for photos (in my opinion!). Historic Harmony is a small German town that’s gotten a facelift in recent years. There are beautifully painted brick walls, colorful doorways, a nearby bridge, and lots more located here!

But please note: you DO need a permit to be able to shoot at this location, and you can purchase one from the Harmony Museum. Even then, there are some buildings that you will be able to use, and others that you will not be able to use. Ask the Harmony Museum for information regarding what locations they allow photos to be taken at. And if there is another building that you’d like to take photos in front of, make sure you check with the owner before doing so.

If you are a client of mine, note that I will cover the permit fee to shoot at this location. I love shooting there so much, that it’s worth it for me to eat the cost!

Location: Butler County, north of Cranberry Township

 

10. ZELIENOPLE

If you’ve never heard of this town, you’re going to be pleasantly surprised at what you find here! Zelienople is a bustling small town with many restaurants and shops along its main street. It has lots of adorable spots for photos, and has a nice urban feel (without having to go all the way into downtown Pittsburgh! ;) ). It’s also very close to Historic Harmony (they are neighbor towns!). There is a nearby park (Zelienople Community Park) if you want to also get some nature-esque photos!

Location: Butler County, north of Cranberry Township

 

11. MELLON INSTITUTE

You might have seen this grand building with its beautiful columns in some Pittsburgh wedding photos. It’s a popular spot for couples to have wedding portraits taken, but it makes a great backdrop for any type of portrait session! It’s also a great location to use in case of rain. It gets great natural light, but is covered from inclement weather under the columns!

Location: Allegheny County, in Oakland

 

12. CATHEDRAL OF LEARNING & PITT CAMPUS

A lovely spot with a nice pop of color! The Cathedral of Learning is a large building on the University of Pittsburgh’s property that houses lots of classrooms. Post-covid, only University of Pitt students are allowed to enter the building, but the outside makes for an incredible backdrop with its historic architecture! The pop of color I mentioned earlier comes from the large red door on one side of the building. It’s iconic!

Location: Allegheny County, in Oakland

 

13. PHIPP’S CONSERVATORY

Note: there are differences here between the indoor and outdoor areas at Phipp’s. You cannot walk into Phipp’s, buy a ticket, and have a professional photo session. You do need to reserve one of their available rooms in advance (available in 45 minute increments). Anyone can, however, shoot outside of Phipp’s. They have an area off to one side with a cute little garden, small fountain, benches, and a beautiful building that can be used freely, and free of charge. Indoors, they have beautifully curated rooms that make perfect backdrops for photos, if you’re willing to spend a little extra money!

Location: Allegheny County, in Oakland

INSIDE:

 

OUTSIDE:

14. SCHENLEY LOCK BRIDGE

This bridge is located right next to Phipp’s Conservatory in Oakland! It features a variety of beautiful locks, left by lovers… and makes for an interesting and unique backdrop!

Location: Allegheny County, in Oakland

 

15. CLELAND ROCK

Technically, Cleland Rock is considered to be a part of McConnell’s Mill, but it’s about a 12 minute drive from the “main” McConnell’s Mill area. It features large fields (which are sometimes cut down, sometimes not… it just depends!), a lovely tree line, and a beautiful overlook. This spot is best later in the day, closer to sunset. And note that it does tend to look very different throughout the different seasons!

Location: Lawrence County, ~10 minutes from McConnell’s Mill

 

16. HIGHLAND PARK

Highland Park is located near the Pittsburgh Zoo. It has some nature areas, along with a little bit of architecture. They sometimes have flowers in their garden area, too! It’s a fairly busy place in summer months.

Location: Allegheny County

 

17. ALLEGHENY COMMONS PARK

Located on Pittsburgh’s North Side, this park features bridges, a small lake, a stone war monument, and even a view of the city! This is a great location to pair with the following location, the Mexican War Streets.

Location: Allegheny County, North Side (near the Aviary)

 

18. MEXICAN WAR STREETS

This is a super fun location to shoot! The Mexican War Streets feature lots of beautiful and colorful buildings. The streets themselves are even pretty for photos… you might just be dodging some traffic! I love to pair this location with Allegheny Commons Park.

 

Location: Allegheny County, North Side (near the YMCA)

19. LAKE FOREST GARENS

This location is super unique… it is a Christmas tree farm! It features rows of beautiful pine trees. However - you do need advance permission to shoot here, as it is private property, and there is a small fee associated with shooting there.

If you are a client of mine, note that I will cover the permit fee to shoot at this location. I love shooting there so much, that it’s worth it for me to eat the cost!

Location: Butler County in Fombell

 

20. CRANBERRY TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY PARK

This is a very simple location that gets the job done! Cranberry Township Community Park doesn’t have a ton of different spots for photos, but it does make for a solid simple, natural backdrop. There’s also large log that can be used for posing!

Location: Butler County in Cranberry Township

 

21. ADAMS TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY PARK

This simple park has a few backdrops to work with, including an old white schoolhouse and small buildings. It can be a nice spot for those located out near the Mars area who may not want to travel far from home for photos!

Location: Butler County in Mars

 

22. THE FRICK PITTSBURGH

A lovely spot with lots of historic, stone architecture to work with! The Frick Pittsburgh is located right across the Street from Frick Park, which also has some beautiful backdrops for photos!

I would recommend calling the Frick in advance about any photo sessions that take place on their property. They host outdoor events from time to time and like to make sure that nothing will interfere with what they have planned!

Location: Allegheny County

 

23. SUCCOP NATURE PARK

Succop Nature Park has lots of features, including: a willow tree, pond, red and white barn, old lamp posts, and an old mansion type building! It’s a pretty unique spot.

I would always recommend calling prior to a shoot here. They do sometimes have events where they close down the property for private use!

Location: Butler County

 

24. SCHENLEY FOUNTAIN

Schenley fountain is in the heart of Oakland! It’s a small fountain right out front of the Frick Fine Arts building on Pitt’s campus.

Location: Oakland, University of Pittsburgh’s campus

 

Payton A: Seneca Valley High School Senior Photos at Mellon Park

As you might be able to tell from just the header image, we had THE most beautiful day for Payton’s senior photos at Mellon Park!

Payton is a sweet, bubbly senior who is graduating from Seneca Valley High School as a part of the Class of 2022! She is heading to the University of Tennessee in the fall (hence the orange baseball hat we incorporated into some of her photos!). She wanted lots of florals and some architecture in here photos, so Mellon Park was a lovely choice!

We started off our time together by hitting alllll of the pink blooming trees - which perfectly complimented her first dress (which I absolutely adored!) For her second outfit, she chose a white eyelet dress, which had the perfect amount of texture to add some visual interest to her photos.

Congratulations on your senior year, Payton! ❤️ Thank you for the honor of taking these images for you to celebrate!

As a note: for those looking to have beautiful spring blooms in their photos, the last few days of April and the first week of May is the ideal time to book (of course, this can vary slightly year to year depending on early Spring weather)!

Spring Mini Sessions 2022 Recap

We had a beautiful afternoon for our back-to-back mini sessions at Moraine State Park!

It was an absolute joy to be able to photograph three beautiful families - two of whom I photographed weddings for just a few years ago! And one of whom I used to work with!

Mini sessions are a great option for families who want a few updated images as their kids grow - but they are also great for a short engagement session, a quick headshot, or even a quick extended family photo! I try to offer them a few times throughout each calendar year. I hope to offer Christmas tree farm mini sessions this fall! (Check out my last set from 2022 here!)

Interested in knowing when mini sessions events are happening? Feel free to click here to sign up for my email newsletter so you can be in the know!

And for now - enjoy a few of my favorite images from our mini session day!

How to Prepare for Your Senior Photo Session

Preparing for senior photos isn’t hard, but it certainly can be if you wait until the last minute!

Today, I’m sharing things to think about months and weeks out from your session, as well as what to remember the day of your senior session!

One to Three Months Out:

• Schedule any hair, makeup, or nail appointments you might want!

• Start thinking about what you might want to wear - go through your closet in advance to see if you’ll need to purchase any additional garments

• Choose a location where your senior photos will take place

The Week of Your Session:

• Finalize and steam or iron all of your outfit choices (wrinkles be gone!) & props!

• Drink LOTS of water! This is good for your skin and will give it a nice glow!

• Make sure you are applying chapstick, especially if you are prone to chapped lips! (Chapped lips can’t be fixed in photoshop!)

• Make sure your nails are clean or, for the ladies, painted!

• Refrain from wearing sunglasses for the week leading up to your session so you aren’t squinting during your session!

The Day of Your Session:

• Give yourself plenty of time to get ready – more than you think!

• Don't forget to arrive 10 to 15 minutes before our scheduled start time. Your session will begin at the time we set in advance, not at the time you arrive.

• Eat a snack before you come – it’s not fun getting your photo taken while you’re hangry!

What to Bring:

• Any outfit changes you might have

• Any props you may want to include (an instrument, soccer ball, pet, etc.!)

• A change of comfortable shoes to walk in

• A hair brush or comb (or anything for on location touch ups!)

• A parent or friend (moral support is always a good thing – plus, if you’d like they can step in for a few photos at the end!)

HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?

One of my favorite ways to prepare my clients for their senior sessions is through my blog! Check out the popular blogs below to see if any of your senior Q’s can be answered, or reach out using the contact tab in the navigation above to start a conversation! ☺️

• Pittsburgh Area Location Ideas for Senior Girl Portraits

• Pittsburgh Area Location Ideas for Senior Guy Portraits

• 4 Tips for Preparing for Your Senior Photo Session

• When to Have Your Senior Photos Taken

• 4 Ways to add more “Umph” to Your Senior Photo Outfits!

• 4 Reasons to Have Your Senior Photos Taken Over the Summer

• Why Professional Prints are Worth the Investment

20 Small Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding Day

Weddings can be expensive, but they don’t have to be! Believe it or not, there are small ways you can cut costs while planning without sacrificing style or aesthetic on your wedding day.

As a wedding photographer of 10 years, I’ve seen many couples choose budget-friendly options without sacrificing the parts of the wedding day that are most important to them.

Believe it or not… I photograph a lot of budget-friendly wedding days. When I was first getting started in wedding photography, I heard a big name photographer in the wedding industry mention that a good photographer can make a budget-friendly wedding look like a savvy soiree… and really, it’s true! If you invest your budget in the right places and in the right vendors, you can still have a beautiful wedding day without spending more than you want to!

So, without further ado, today I’m sharing some of the top ways I’ve seen my couples save $$$ while planning their wedding days!

1.     Skip the matching PJ’s and robes.

These are definitely cute, but the cost for these can add up quickly!

2.     Skip the boutonnieres.

Or, have your husband-to-be be the only one to wear one. Boutonnieres are nice, but not necessary, especially for groomsmen.

3.     Go BIG for your bridal bouquet, but choose smaller bridesmaid bouquets.

Bridesmaid bouquets don’t have to be huge to add to your bridal party photos visually! Focus more on the bridal bouquet, which will be in more photos.

4.     Instead of programs for the ceremony, use a big sign at the ceremony entrance.

One less thing to have to print! You can even thrift a mirror or piece of glass and write the program on there yourself. Most people throw these out anyways!

5.     Instead of escort cards at the reception, use a large sign at the reception entrance to direct guests to their seats.

Escort cards are another small item that just get thrown away. Consider a large sign instead.

6.     Choose a venue that only allows a certain number of guests (that way, you have to stick to it!)

If you choose a venue that only allows a certain number of guests, you have to stick to that number. Which means less meals to pay for than a venue that allows basically an unlimited number of guests!

7.     Consider doing ALL of your wedding day festivities (getting ready, ceremony, photos, reception) at the same location.

This will MAJORLY cut transportation costs. Bonus points if guests from out of town can walk to your venue from their hotel, or if the hotel provides free transportation for guests to the venue! Also, investing in a limo/party bus for the bridal party to ride from place to place in can be a big expense.

8.     Consider getting married in the “off season.”

If you’re in a state that has super cold winters or super hot summers, consider getting married during that timeframe where people don’t really want to leave their houses. You might be able to get some discounts from your vendors for having an off-season wedding.

9.     Consider getting married on a week day.

You know what’s great for a wedding vendor? Getting to work during a week day! We work a lot of weekends, so when someone comes along and wants to get married on a random Tuesday, we are ALL FOR IT! For us, that means one more Saturday that we get to spend with our friends & family!

10.  Have your guests RSVP via a wedding website.

Guests RSVP-ing online means = one less envelope, card, and stamp to include in your invitation suite!

11.  Don’t wait until last minute for dress alterations.

Alterations can be expensive as is, but when you’re trying to get them done last minute? They can be even more expensive! Try to plan out your alterations in advance with enough time so your seamstress doesn’t have to charge a rush fee.

12.  Ask your florist what flowers are in season during your wedding, and go with those.

Did you know that it costs more money to get flowers that are out of season than those that are in season? Tell your florist your vision if you have one, and then try to make that vision happen with flowers that are in season.

13.  Borrow jewelry, hair pieces, shoes, and even your veil from a friend or family member.

Not only will this save you money, but it will make everything you’re wearing on your wedding day a bit more sentimental!

14.  Consider going for a smaller cake, and having friends & family contribute cookies and other small desserts for a big dessert spread for guests!

If you happen to be from Pittsburgh, you know that we go BIG with cookie tables - so getting a small cake for you and your spouse to cut, then serving cookies and cupcakes to guests, can be a great way to go!

15.  Skip the favors. Or, make it something simple (like taking home cookies from the cookie table!)

Favors can be hit or miss - if they’re not something people will actually use, they’ll usually just get left behind or thrown out anyways. Unless you live in Pittsburgh and make your favors boxes of cookies from your cookie table ;)

16. Choose your top three most important vendors to spend on, and go cheaper on the rest.

If you’re on a budget, you can’t spend big on everything - but you can certainly choose parts of the wedding day that are most important to you and spend on those! For me when I got married, we went bigger on the venue, photographer (surprise surprise! ;) ), and food. With everything else, we did the best we could, and did what we could!

17. When choosing packages from wedding vendors, start with a lower package, then upgrade later if necessary.

This is advice I actually give to my own couples that book with me! Sometimes, my couples aren’t sure if they need 8 hours or 10 hours of coverage, if they want an engagement session or not, or if they want an album or not. So I always tell them - go for the cheaper one, and upgrade later if you decide you need more coverage, want an engagement session, or want an album! That way, you’re spending less to begin with and can add on as-needed.

18. Have a lower-key rehearsal dinner.

This is another one that we used for our wedding day - we catered Chipotle for our rehearsal dinner and ate it at our church instead of eating out at a fancy restaurant or venue! The food was actually a huge hit with all of our families and bridal party!

19. Limit alcohol.

This one may not be for everyone… but it certainly does work! Limit the types of alcohol you serve on your wedding day to save a little bit of extra money.

20. Nix “wedding welcome” packages for guests.

I know, I know… but these are so fun and sweet! Wedding welcome packages often include small gifts and souvenirs from the town/city/area where the wedding is taking place.

These are always so cute, but are they completely necessary? Maybe for you, they’re a must have! But if you’re willing to part wit them, consider trying to go a more cost effective route. Consider writing your guests hand-written notes instead, paired with a small guide for things to do and places to see while they’re in town!

Is there anything else you would add to this list? Feel free to let me know in the comment section below!