The truth is that if you want photos of your reception space, you need to plan for that moment to happen on your wedding day. And it’s worth planning for! It encapsulates forever all of the HOURS you’ve spent making small decisions on colors, linens, decor, signage, lighting, florals.

This is the moment it all comes together in one place from that dream tablescape all the way down to the last candle. It deserves to be remembered in this special way!

But if we don’t have a chance to photograph it before guests arrive, that moment will get swept away and the room will (understandably and very quickly) get cluttered with purses, coats, drinks, and more filling up the tables and guests sitting across the room.

So how do you solve and plan for this to happen perfectly on your wedding day?!

Glad you asked. We’ve got you covered.

Schedule it into the timeline

All we need is about 15-20 minutes to photograph the empty room while it is still untouched by guests. It’s best to coordinate the timing of this with your wedding planner, venue staff, photographer, and videographer. That way they’ll help ensure everything is fully setup on the tables, the candles are lit, the lighting is set, and all of your vendors have the chance they need to capture your vision and bring it to life. Our goal is to capture this all before the sun sets while there is still natural light flooding into the room to have bright images that show the whole scene!

Host cocktail hour in a separate space

The easiest way to ensure the room stays empty long enough for us to get those photos is to host cocktail hour in a separate area of your venue. This might be just outside the doors along the hallway or corridor, outside on a patio if the weather is nice, or in another large room the venue has available. Setting up a bar space out there and serving hors d’oeuvres will ensure your guests are well taken care of during this time!

Plan a “Room Reveal” moment with your spouse

While the room is empty, one of our favorite traditions is for you as the bride and groom to go in and see the room all setup before the guests do. This private moment allows you to really take in all of your hard work planning for this day, soak in the moment, and have a chance to be alone together as a couple. It’s fun for us to step back and capture your reactions as you’re filled with awe and excitement for the rest of the night ahead.

Share the extra meaningful details with us

In addition to getting the wide overview of the room and photos of the centerpieces, let us know if there is a story or vision behind any of the decor! When you share those little details with us, it helps us step into the role of being the visual storytellers of your day, and focus on what truly matters to you as a couple so that you’ll have more than “beautiful photos” you’ll have you keepsakes for your album that you can treasure forever.

You’ve put so much heart into planning this day.

With just a little planning and teamwork, we can capture the beauty of your reception and give you that experience of taking in all of your hard work!

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Venue: Old Palm Golf Club – Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Wedding Planner: Above the Rest Events
Photographer: Katzie and Ben Photography
Videographer: Adrian Alvarado