Headed to Porterville for Eduardo & Ashley's Engagement Session

Composure Photography & Videography: Headed to Porterville for Eduardo & Ashley's Engage...

After arriving in Porterville and meeting Eduardo & Ashley we made our way to some local businesses who had some fabulous brick work for us to check out. The images from this limited engagement session of 30 minutes were fun and I feel captured the love these two people have for each other. They have purple wedding colors with Peacocks as the general theme, so they color coordinated their outfits as such.

 Driving to Porterville down Hwy 99 - Beautiful sun - Great to see it after a rather dreary January.

I loved the bricks and urban setting.

They really didn't have any trouble "looking the part"

The SHOES Rocked!

The park had the remaining places we needed for the
session.

I know, the sun. I can't help it. I love the sun and I want it in every picture. I would have photographed those shoes in the sun all day if I could have... 

Local Porterville business that allowed us
to use their wall...The owner came out and asked
"Do you want me to clean that up?" I said "No way,
that's my favorite part"

Little pond out at the park was a nice backdrop.

Porterville has a lovely view of the mountains,
but the couple looked so nice I couldn't bring myself
to open up my aperture. But, they were beautiful!

Very few people look good while purposely not smiling,
they two 

It was getting very chilly and Ed was so nice and always
trying to put Ashley's jacket on her. Great couple. Good time!.

Important Timelines for Weddings - The Countdown to the big day.

First things first:                         

                                                                                                                    Print this Time-line Here

• Share the news of your engagement with family and close friends
• Announce your engagement in the local newspapers.
• Set a budget. Establish who will be able to contribute, and how much.
• Set the date.
• Meet with potential wedding planners or event designers, if you anticipate using one.
• Choose your ceremony and reception sites.
• Interview Officiants
• Establish the number of guests you’d like to invite, and compile a list with input from both sets of parents
• Choose your maid of honor, best man and other honor attendants.
• Start shopping for your gown.
• Begin a pre-wedding beauty regimen to improve your complexion
• Schedule any beauty treatments (facials, waxing, brow-shaping, teeth-whitening) that you’d like to have over the next few months.

6 to 9 Months before

• Book the caterer.
• Register for wedding gifts.
• Order your gown and schedule fittings.
• Purchase your shoes, headpiece, jewelry and lingerie for the wedding day.
• Choose bridesmaids’ dresses.
• Choose our photographer & videographer and schedule engagement portraits
• Select your floral designer and schedule a meeting.
• Select musicians or DJ for ceremony & reception.
• Begin exploring honeymoon options.
• Send out save-the-date, if desired.

4 to 6 months before:

• Place orders for all wedding stationary: invitations, envelopes, and thank-you notes. Negotiate a price for programs, menus and escort cards, which will be ordered closer to the date.
• Book a calligrapher, if using one.
• Meet with cake bakers and schedule tastings.
• Book wedding-day transportation.
• Make wedding-day appointments for hair and make-up, as well as a run-through four to eight weeks prior to the date.
• Research accommodations and group rates for out of town guests.
• Finalize the  guest list.
• Plan the honeymoon and reserve flights, hotel rooms and a rental car.
• Plan the rehearsal dinner.

2 to 4 months before:

• Contact the town/city clerk’s office to inquire about marriage-license requirements.
• Choose attire for groom and groomsmen and place orders (Black socks in our Packing list)
• Choose and order wedding favors.
• Order the wedding cake.
• Meet with officiant to discuss option’s for the ceremony and choose readings; invite loved ones to perform readings, if appropriate.
• Select the ceremony and reception music
• Shop for attendants’ gifts.
• Choose and order items for welcome baskets, if you’re giving them.
• Shop for and order wedding bands.
• Reserve party rentals-linens, tables, chairs, heaters and tents – if necessary.
• Reserve your accommodations for the wedding night.
• Confirm group hotel rates for out-of-town guests.

4 to 8 weeks before:

• Mail wedding invitations six to eight weeks prior to the date.
• Meet with caterer to decide on menu
• Send programs, menus and escort cards to stationer to be printed.
• Do hair and makeup run-through with headpiece.
• Decide on any necessary insurance policy changes.
• Gather information from the town/city clerks office to change your name, if desired.
• Send wedding announcements to local newspapers.
• Finish Bride’s essential Packing list (see List Here)

2 to 4 weeks before:

• Create a seating chart for the reception.
• Contact all vendors to confirm all details and set a time-line for the wedding day.
• Have your final dress fitting with shoes, headpiece, jewelry and lingerie.
• Compose your vows, if desired.
• Write a toast to give at the rehearsal dinner or during the reception.
• Visit the salon for one last haircut and color (guys too)
• Send escort cards and seating chart to calligrapher to fill guests’ names and table numbers one to two weeks before the wedding.

1 week before:

• Arrange for dress to be picked up or delivered.
• Organize all wedding day payments and gratuities in envelopes and decide who will distribute them.
• Decide who will transport and collect heirlooms (unity candle, toasting glasses, cake knife)  to and from the ceremony and reception
• Deliver a final headcount to the caterer.
• Take care of last-minute beauty treatments, including waxing, facial (at 2 least day’s before, to avoid redness) manicure’s and Pedicure.
• Pack for Honeymoon.
• Pack wedding day bag with Essentials List, Lingerie, rings, license, slip on shoes and padded hanger for the wedding dress.

Bride's Essential Packing List

All of the listed items here, even the marriage certificate, have been over looked in the potential chaos of last minute packing, at many of the weddings we have covered.

I recommend you start now, 3-6 months before the big day, by picking up small items and putting them into your special bag.  These small items can really make the difference the morning of the wedding.  Treat yourself to a stress free morning and cover your bases now. Have the bag sitting near your day bag in the corner of your bedroom and add things as you purchase them. They are ALL items that can be thrown in your travel bag at the end of the day and go on your honeymoon for possible wardrobe malfunctions there too!

1- Gallon Clear Zip-lock bag

Unscented Clear deodorant Hers & His

Small Sewing Kit – needle/colored thread -specifically Flower girl and Bridesmaid dress color.

Scissors – IMPORTANT!

Nail Clippers

Extra Makeup for Bridesmaids - Mascara, Eyeliner, Eye Shadow.

Lipstick / lip Gloss - light colors, just an extra precaution

Makeup Remover

Hair Spray
Excedrin, Ibuprofen, Tylenol

Tide Stick

Travel toothpaste -White Colgate - does wonders to covers spots on dresses.

Travel Tooth Brush

Mens Black Socks size 9-11

Boys Black socks 

Disposable razor - small shaving cream 

A printed list of the vendors in the wedding - stick the copy in the clear bag.

List of Vendors phone numbers programmed into your phone & the groom's phone.

Bobby pins 

Safety pins

Limo Driver's Cell Phone

 -Day of Bag for the Bride -

Marriage Certificate

The Wedding Rings

Undergarments

Flip flop sandals

purse

Jewelry

Garter

Headpiece

Dollar Dance purse & Pins for the groom

Honeymoon Information - printed and in the bag.

If you take the time now, purchase an item or two extra there are no big expenses the week before the wedding, when budgets are already strained.

You can print this list Here. It will open in Preview or Adobe Reader.