Getting Ready

· Bride's clothes hanging on the wardrobe, on the bedpost, or over a chair
· Bridesmaids doing bride's hair and makeup
· Bride and bridesmaids getting dressed, applying makeup
· Mom helping bride with one last detail, such as veil
· Full-length shot of bride in gown checking herself out in mirror
· Detail of clothing, shoes, garter, something borrowed, something blue
· Touching shot of bride with parent/s and/or stepparent/s
· Touching shot of bride with sibling/s
· Bride hugging honor attendant
· Bride with bridesmaids
· Bride with all the women
· Groom getting ready with Dad and pals (tying the tie is a classic)
· Touching shot of groom with parent/s and/or stepparent/s
· Touching shot of groom with sibling/s
· Groom with his arm affectionately around best man
· Groom with all the groomsmen
· Groomsmen putting on boutonnieres or bowties
· Intimate shots of bride and groom chatting with/crying with/hugging parents and siblings preceremony
· Dad whispering last-minute advice to groom
· Groom ready to go
· Bride ready to go
· Bride and groom separately making their way to the ceremony (in a limo backseat, hailing a cab, walking down the street/hall/stairs)

The Ceremony

· Guests streaming into the site
· Ushers escorting guests to their seats
· Ushers escorting moms to their seats (Christian wedding)
· Close-up of groom's adorably nervous mug waiting for his other half
· Bridesmaids and groomsmen walking down the aisle
· Flower girl and/or ring bearer entering
· Honor attendant walking down the aisle
· Grandparents walking down the aisle (Jewish wedding)
· Wedding party waiting at the altar
· Groom walking down the aisle
· Bride and Dad/escort/parents (Jewish wedding) walking down the aisle
· Close-up of bride just before she makes her entrance
· Bride and groom at the altar
· Altar or canopy from the back during ceremony
· Wide shot of audience during ceremony, from bride and groom's point of view
· Faces of bride and groom as they exchange vows
· Close-up of bride's and groom's hands as they exchange rings
· The kiss
· Bride and groom proceeding up the aisle, guests' smiling faces at their sides
· Bride and groom outside ceremony site
· Congrats shots: bride and groom hugging, laughing, and crying with good friends and family
· Bride and groom leaving ceremony site
· Bride and groom in limo backseat

Before the Reception (During the Cocktail Hour)

Note: You can also take these before the ceremony.

· Bride and groom together
· Bride with her happy, proud parents and/or stepparents
· Bride with her entire immediate family
· Groom with his happy, proud parents and/or stepparents
· Groom with his entire immediate family
· Bride and groom with all parents
· Bride and groom with immediate family members from both sides
· Bride and groom with groomsmen
· Bride and groom with bridesmaids
· Bride and groom with whole wedding party

The Reception

· Shot from outside reception site (to set the tone)
· Reception details such as place cards, guest book, centerpieces, decorations, table settings, favors table, and champagne glasses
· Bride and groom arriving (make it dramatic -- their faces through the dark limo windows, the two lovebirds atop a staircase or pushing through a curtain)
· Receiving line moments
· Bride and groom at head table
· Parents' table
· Guests' tables
· Close-up of friends and family making toasts
· Bride and groom sipping champagne
· Bride's and groom's parents whispering to each other during dinner
· Bride and groom chatting up the guests
· Bride and groom's first dance (maybe with a slow shutter speed so the movement blurs the image a little)
· Parents dancing
· Bride and Dad dancing
· Groom and Mom dancing
· Wedding party dancing
· Grandparents dancing
· Kids playing or dancing
· Musicians or DJ doing their thing
· Guests going nuts on the dance floor (again, slow shutter speed could be effective)
· Bride laughing with bridesmaids
· Cake table
· Bride and groom cutting the cake
· Bride and groom feeding each other cake
· Dessert table
· Bouquet toss (perhaps a vertical shot from in front of the bride)
· Tossing and catching of the garter
· Bride and groom leaving, waving from getaway car's backseat
· Rear of car departing