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Why the engagement session is so special
The engagement session is a celebration of this moment in time. This moment your proposal is so special. As you grow in life, it is so special to document and capture the essence of the moment. It is so important for us to document stunning photos of you today so years from now you can look back from our photos and be so proud, so humble. Capturing the essence of this moment, your lives and this chapter in life together. Below are just a few tips to kickstart your engagement session planning!
With that being said, your engagement session planning process deserves so much attention to detail and
So much love
We’ll want to bring so much attention to detail to ensure that your engagement photography session is planned beautifully and goes off with a hitch. Below I have just a few details and helpful hints on how to plan that dream engagement photography session that you have been dreaming of.
When to photograph the engagement session
You’ll want to plan and execute your engagement session surrounding when you send your save the dates out. The basic rule of thumb is to send save the dates out approximately six months prior to the wedding. It is always best to give your guests plenty of notice for your day so they can of course, be with you to celebrate your best day ever! If you are planning for a destination wedding, it is customary to ship save the dates 10-15 months in advance. For a local affair, 9-12 months will suffice.
With that being said, it takes a little while to review your images and choose your selects so from your engagement session. Plan on two months to finalize your images. Once your images are finalized, you’ll then want to narrow down your selects. Selects are your top choices from your session that you could use for your save the date and your wedding website.
bride-to-be it is
Your time to shine
I highly recommend to choose your save the date in advance and communicate/share this link to your save the date. As I process your images, you can work out the kinks of the save the date such as narrowing down your typography on your save the date. You’ll also want to iron out details like guest addresses uploaded into the Minted spreadsheet. Once I have the engagement session complete, you can simply place photos in there and purchase your save the dates. My favorite part of all, they are shipped direct to your guests with Minted.
Planning your session
So if your day is scheduled for September of next year and you are hosting a destination wedding, you may want to think about hosting your engagement session during the summer, fall or earlier winter of this year pending the session aesthetic you desire.
The season chosen and venue(s) will further influence the mood and aesthetic of your images.
Questions about your upcoming New York City engagement session and photographing your romantic engagement session? Comments? Drop me a line in the comments.
Engagement Session Venue
While dreaming and choosing of your engagement session venue(s) envision you both. You may want to sit with a few questions:
What inspires you together?
Where do you find yourselves?
What kind of story do you want to tell with your images?
The engagement session is a nod to your relationship and your love story. How do you want to share the very beginning of your love story?
Engagement Session Vendors
Once you have your engagement session venue chosen, you’ll then want to plan and prepare the details of your session. From styling outfits and accessories to hair and makeup. All details are crucial. Let’s not forget about his details and grooming, too! Executing your vision is key.
More things to think about
It’s always great to have more than not enough when it comes images. Go the extra mile. It’ll be worth it, I promise.
Read more about planning Engagement Sessions here: Top 5 Tips on Engagement Session Planning.
What engagement session tips questions are you thinking about right now? Let me know in the comments below!
Vendors
Couple: Jennifer DeCillis & Joe MacLellan
Hair: MJ Bridal Artistry
Makeup: MJ Bridal Artistry
Stylist: The Style Duo
Venue: 620 Loft & Garden, Rockefeller Center & Maison Close Restaurant
NEW JERSEY ENGAGEMENT SESSION PHOTOGRAPHERS
Michelle Behre is based in Northern New Jersey Wedding Photographer and specializes in romantic, timeless, and sophisticated weddings. Michelle services New York City engagement sessions, New Jersey engagement session and beyond for your destination engagement session. Her fine art photography style is the perfect blend of editorial and documentary photography. Michelle Behre Photography captures all beautiful moments unfolding throughout your session and wedding day including the excitement as the champagne pours to your picture-perfect bridal details. Are you planning your dream engagement session? Are you planning your wedding? We accept a limited amount of proposals, engagement sessions and weddings per year. Inquire to learn about our New Jersey Wedding Photography services and availability today.
We can assist you in photographing and engagement session planning for your romantic New Jersey and New York engagement session and your wedding day! Inquire with Michelle for availability and further details, today!
Comments? Leave them below!
Questions? Contact us to learn more about our wedding photography services.
VIEW THE POST
Why the engagement session is so special
The engagement session is a celebration of this moment in time. This moment your proposal is so special. As you grow in life, it is so special to document and capture the essence of the moment. It is so important for us to document stunning photos of you today so years from now you can look back from our photos and be so proud, so humble. Capturing the essence of this moment, your lives and this chapter in life together. Below are just a few tips to kickstart your engagement session planning!
With that being said, your engagement session planning process deserves so much attention to detail and
So much love
We’ll want to bring so much attention to detail to ensure that your engagement photography session is planned beautifully and goes off with a hitch. Below I have just a few details and helpful hints on how to plan that dream engagement photography session that you have been dreaming of.
When to photograph the engagement session
You’ll want to plan and execute your engagement session surrounding when you send your save the dates out. The basic rule of thumb is to send save the dates out approximately six months prior to the wedding. It is always best to give your guests plenty of notice for your day so they can of course, be with you to celebrate your best day ever! If you are planning for a destination wedding, it is customary to ship save the dates 10-15 months in advance. For a local affair, 9-12 months will suffice.
With that being said, it takes a little while to review your images and choose your selects so from your engagement session. Plan on two months to finalize your images. Once your images are finalized, you’ll then want to narrow down your selects. Selects are your top choices from your session that you could use for your save the date and your wedding website.
bride-to-be it is
Your time to shine
I highly recommend to choose your save the date in advance and communicate/share this link to your save the date. As I process your images, you can work out the kinks of the save the date such as narrowing down your typography on your save the date. You’ll also want to iron out details like guest addresses uploaded into the Minted spreadsheet. Once I have the engagement session complete, you can simply place photos in there and purchase your save the dates. My favorite part of all, they are shipped direct to your guests with Minted.
Planning your session
So if your day is scheduled for September of next year and you are hosting a destination wedding, you may want to think about hosting your engagement session during the summer, fall or earlier winter of this year pending the session aesthetic you desire.
The season chosen and venue(s) will further influence the mood and aesthetic of your images.
Questions about your upcoming New York City engagement session and photographing your romantic engagement session? Comments? Drop me a line in the comments.
Engagement Session Venue
While dreaming and choosing of your engagement session venue(s) envision you both. You may want to sit with a few questions:
What inspires you together?
Where do you find yourselves?
What kind of story do you want to tell with your images?
The engagement session is a nod to your relationship and your love story. How do you want to share the very beginning of your love story?
Engagement Session Vendors
Once you have your engagement session venue chosen, you’ll then want to plan and prepare the details of your session. From styling outfits and accessories to hair and makeup. All details are crucial. Let’s not forget about his details and grooming, too! Executing your vision is key.
More things to think about
It’s always great to have more than not enough when it comes images. Go the extra mile. It’ll be worth it, I promise.
Read more about planning Engagement Sessions here: Top 5 Tips on Engagement Session Planning.
What engagement session tips questions are you thinking about right now? Let me know in the comments below!
Vendors
Couple: Jennifer DeCillis & Joe MacLellan
Hair: MJ Bridal Artistry
Makeup: MJ Bridal Artistry
Stylist: The Style Duo
Venue: 620 Loft & Garden, Rockefeller Center & Maison Close Restaurant
NEW JERSEY ENGAGEMENT SESSION PHOTOGRAPHERS
Michelle Behre is based in Northern New Jersey Wedding Photographer and specializes in romantic, timeless, and sophisticated weddings. Michelle services New York City engagement sessions, New Jersey engagement session and beyond for your destination engagement session. Her fine art photography style is the perfect blend of editorial and documentary photography. Michelle Behre Photography captures all beautiful moments unfolding throughout your session and wedding day including the excitement as the champagne pours to your picture-perfect bridal details. Are you planning your dream engagement session? Are you planning your wedding? We accept a limited amount of proposals, engagement sessions and weddings per year. Inquire to learn about our New Jersey Wedding Photography services and availability today.
We can assist you in photographing and engagement session planning for your romantic New Jersey and New York engagement session and your wedding day! Inquire with Michelle for availability and further details, today!
Comments? Leave them below!
Questions? Contact us to learn more about our wedding photography services.
December 30, 2022
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Michele and Tom’s romantic sunset Central Park New York engagement session was set at a few of their favorite locations in the heart of the park. View their romantic sunset Central Park session below.
Central Park New York Engagement Photos
Central Park was the picture-perfect destination and location for this engagement session named THE most romantic spot in New York. This session includes just a few of the top romantic destinations such as the Bow Bridge, Cherry Hill along the Pond, and Belvedere Castle.
During our sunset session we ventured through the park, this couple gave me their own very special personal tour and shared their love story. Leading up to the proposal, the couple ventured through the park and truly connected. They found a meeting ground and a few places to truly disconnect from the hustle-bustle of the city. Some of these places incorporated beautiful streams and overlooked the park beside Belvedere Castle. So beautiful!
Tom scouted the park almost on the daily. He found the picture-perfect, intimate, and romantic setting as to where he was going to pop the question in the park! He brought Michele to this location a few weeks before popping the question and they now have their very own special place in Central Park New York that they revisit together. So romantic!
Prior to our session, we checked the forecast and saw it was going to rain yet totally went for it. Loving the romantic portraits at the Castle and the reflections in the evening!
We wrapped up the session riding a few bikes through the park back to the Upper East Side! So fun!
I cannot wait to meet these two again in October for their wedding at the Crossed Keys Estate in Andover, New Jersey. It is going to be epic!
LOVE THIS CENTRAL PARK NEW YORK ENGAGEMENT SESSION JUST AS MUCH AS WE DO? PIN THIS SESSION FOR INSPIRATION FOR LATER!
CENTRAL PARK NEW YORK ENGAGEMENT PHOTOS
Michelle Behre is based in Northern New Jersey. Michelle specializes in romantic, timeless, and sophisticated weddings. Her fine art photography style is the perfect blend of editorial and documentary photography capturing the excitement as the champagne pours to your picture-perfect bridal details. Are you recently engaged and planning your wedding? We accept a limited amount of weddings per year. Inquire to learn about our New Jersey Wedding Photography services and availability.
VENDORS
Photography: Michelle Behre Photography
Venue: Central Park New York
Inquire today to learn all about our New York wedding photography services. Visit Central Park Conservancy to find more information about this location. We can assist you in photographing your romantic engagement session! Inquire with Michelle for availability and more details, today!
Comments? Leave them below!
Questions? Contact us to learn more about our wedding photography services.
December 9, 2022
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This Black Friday we’ll be taking a look at the awesome wedding sales and discounts.
Black Friday is a great time to save where we can as we plan and navigate our wedding budgets. So all the savings, the better! This Black Friday it’s definitely time to take advantage deals offered by fellow vendor(s) (that only come once per year!)
To assist my fellow brides I have compiled a list of a few really beautiful products and our Top 10 Best Black Friday Wedding Deals for 2022 that we would find advantageous to take advantage of as you approach your wedding day.
In our list you will find items such items from sunglasses for the dance floor, fashionable flip flops, perfume, to those gorgeous Bella Belle Shoes that you have been eyeing for quite some time.
We look forward to seeing what you love most from this list and of course, capturing those beautiful flat lays the day-of your wedding. Check out our list of Top 10 Black Friday Wedding Deals for 2022 below and leave us your thoughts in the comments.
With love and light,
xo Michelle
Bridal & Bridesmaid Robes
We adore photographing the matching robe portraits with you and your girls in the am accompanied by a glass of bubbly. For a pretty, floral robe, check this out these beautiful silk robes here.
Bridesmaid Gift
As your ladies assist in planning your day and celebrate such special moments, let them know how thankful you are with a very special and customized gift. Below are a few really cute items we found that we knew you’d and your ladies would enjoy most and can carry along to your wedding events or better, a girls day at the beach!
Perfume
Perfumes are always fun to enjoy on the day. I love to also include your bridal perfume in your flat lay so it’s perfect if its brand new.
Ring Boxes
Mrs. Box Ring Boxes Save 40% starts 11/24 at 6PM
Save the Dates & Invitation Suites
Save the Dates and Invitation Suites are the beautiful paper goods that we adore styling on the wedding day. These are two paper items showcase your engagement photographs. It’s essential to schedule your engagement session accordingly to notify guests in a timely fashion. Check out our post all about designing and creating your Save the Dates. In the beginning phases of planning your engagement session? Check out our post all about planning your dream New Jersey engagement session.
Engagement session photographed and ready to print your stunning paper goods? This holiday season, Minted has an amazing offer for you on invitation suites and save the dates.
The sale starts early on November 23 with 20% off wedding orders worth $150 or more (and 15% off everything below that price) with code BF2022.
Minted is also offering 25% off save-the-dates with code BFWED22 until November 25.
Sunglasses
Square & Round
Dior Logo Square Acetate Sunglasses
Burberry Monogram Round Acetate and Plastic Sunglasses
Heart
Kate Spade New York Velma Acetate Butterfly Heart Sunglasses
Dior Logo Acetate Butterfly Sunglasses
Sculptural
Dior Crystal & Metal Cat-Eye Sunglasses
Dolce & Gabbana Structured Cat-Eye Sunglasses
Loewe Cat-Eye Acetate Sunglasses
Heels
Bella Belle Shoes Save up to 40% starts 11/25 Friday 12am EST with code FRIYAY2022.
Crystal
Stuart Weitzman XCurve Weitzman Crystal Slingbacks
Stuart Weitzman Promise Crystal Slingbacks
Leather
Sculptural
Cult Gaia Gold-Metallic Sculptural Heel
Cult Gaia Pearly Stud Mule Sandal
Bridal Prep Sandal & Reception Sneaker
Jimmy Choo Hawaii Leather Low Top Sneakers ($75 Gift Card with Code BFGCSF at checkout)
Valentino Rockstud Leather Sneakers ($75 Gift Card with Code BFGCSF at checkout)
Handbag
Kate Spade New York Pearly Bucket Bag
LafShar Eva Diamond and Acrylic Bag
Sophia Webster “Wifey for Lifey” Clutch Bag
NEW JERSEY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Michelle Behre is based in Northern New Jersey Wedding Photographer and specializes in romantic, timeless, and sophisticated weddings. Her fine art photography style is the perfect blend of editorial, photojournalistic, and documentary photography. Michelle Behre Photography captures all beautiful moments unfolding throughout your day including the excitement as the champagne pours to your picture-perfect bridal details. Are you planning your surprise proposal? Are you planning your wedding? We accept a limited amount of proposals, engagement sessions and weddings per year. Inquire to learn about our New Jersey Wedding Photography services and availability today.
We can assist you in photographing your romantic New Jersey and/or New York proposal session and your wedding day! Inquire with Michelle for availability and details, today!
Comments? Leave them below!
Questions? Contact us to learn more about our wedding photography services.
Affiliate Disclaimer
When I link to products and services, those links may be affiliate links. If you click on any of those links and make a product purchase within a certain time frame, I’ll earn a small commission. The commission is paid by the retailers, at no cost to you. As a Minted Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. I mention these products because I believe in their product and want to service you.
November 23, 2022
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Mady and Matt hosted a beautiful garden Crystal Springs Resort Wedding on an absolutely beautiful fall day. This couple was married on a beautiful September day at the breathtaking Sweetgrass Pavillion at the Minerals Hotel at Crystal Springs Resort in Vernon, New Jersey.
Wedding Day Prep at Minerals Hotel
With family and friends by their side traveling from across the nation and coming in from California, Crystal Springs Resort was the picture-perfect location for all the family to gather for their wedding weekend. The beautiful bridal suite overlooked the ceremony site and stunning vistas of the Appalachian trail.
A few moments we absolutely adored to capture included the champagne toast, excitement and joy of the bridal reveal, and the beautiful bridal prep of Mady beside her bests. Once she was in her gown we captured beautiful portraits of her and her bests in the stunning gardens.
Ceremony at the Gardens at Sweetgrass Pavillion
Mady and Matt shared their nuptials at the beautiful garden ceremony space at the Crystal Springs Resort. With family and friends by their side, this couple tied the knot. Immediately after their ceremony, their reception was kicked off at the Pavillion. The couple enjoyed a few moments together soaking in their newlywed bliss with their romantic sunset session.
Cocktail Hour and Reception at Sweetgrass Pavillion at the Minerals Hotel at Crystal Springs Resort
Cocktail hour was kicked off with bottomless signature cocktails, entertainment, and hors d’oeuvre. Cocktails concluded and this couple kicked off the evening with epic dancing moves with their wedding party joining in following their first dance. This East Coast meets West coast party raved into the night. See all of the epic photographs captured by New Jersey Wedding Photographer, Michelle Behre Photography from this Crystal Springs Resort wedding bash below!
LOVE THIS GARDEN CRYSTAL SPRINGS RESORT WEDDING JUST AS MUCH AS WE DO? PIN THIS WEDDING FOR INSPIRATION FOR LATER!
GARDEN CRYSTAL SPRINGS RESORT WEDDING PHOTOS
Michelle Behre is based in Northern New Jersey. Michelle specializes in romantic, timeless, and sophisticated weddings. Her fine art photography style is the perfect blend of editorial and documentary photography capturing the excitement as the champagne pours to your picture-perfect bridal details. Are you recently engaged and planning your wedding? We accept a limited amount of weddings per year. Inquire to learn about our New Jersey Wedding Photography services and availability.
VENDORS
NJ Wedding Photographers: Michelle Behre Photography
Florals: Bloomery Floral Studio
Guestbook: After the Tone
Venue: Sweetgrass Pavillion at Minerals Hotel – Crystal Springs Resort
Videography: 4K Wedding Videography
Wedding Signage: miscellaneousmethods.com/
Inquire today to learn all about our New Jersey wedding photography services. Visit Crystal Springs Resort find more information about this location. We can assist you in photographing your romantic engagement session! Inquire with Michelle for availability and more details, today!
Comments? Leave them below!
Questions? Contact us to learn more about our wedding photography services.
November 16, 2022
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You have photographed your romantic engagement session with New Jersey Wedding Photographer, Michelle Behre and now it’s time to notify your guests of your date. If you have guests coming in from out of town and traveling or if hosting on a holiday weekend, you definitely want to have those guests aware of your wedding date to providing plenty of advance notice about the upcoming nuptials.
New Jersey Wedding Photographer, Michelle Behre provides step-by-step instructions and deadlines on how to plan, create, and approach your wedding Save the Date cards in a few, easy steps.
Schedule the Engagement Photography Session
Schedule your engagement session at your desired session locations with New Jersey Wedding Photographer and communicate your needs for your Save the Dates and the deadlines desired. Remember, it’s going to take some time for your photos to be delivered and for your Save the Dates to be printed. So you want to keep all of these deadlines in mind while you’re planning your session date and when you need to send your cards out to your guests. Upon booking your engagement session with Michelle, notify her and the team of your desired engagement session date so you can get those back in time.
Here are a few tips from Wedding Photographers, Michelle Behre Photography on designing your Wedding Save the Dates:
Choose Favorites
When choosing a few images for your Save the Date, think about an image that truly represents you, your love story and your wedding day. When photographing your engagement session, we incorporate your elevated, sophisticated, classic and timeless wedding vibe into your session so you can introduce that to your guests in your Save the Date. After your romantic and timeless engagement session with NJ Engagement Photographers, Michelle will choose a select series of images and deliver those one week from your engagement session as sneak peeks. Think of your engagement photos and Save the Date as your own personal cover image.
The remainder of your session will be delivered approximately 4-6 weeks during the off-season (winter months of January-March) and 6-8 weeks during the height of the season.
Provide Guests Notice
Once your session date is booked, begin taking a look at Save the Date card designs, layouts and how they meet the vibe of your wedding. In the layout of the card, enter all of your wedding day details and have the card organized and ready to go so then you can drag and drop your photos when they are delivered.
PRO TIP: Remember, you’ll also want to order your POSTAGE as well. So at the time of booking your session, get your postage all set, as well as your list. Create your master guest list that you will be using and stay organized to stay on top of your shipment deadline.
Create that shipment deadline and stick to it. We recommend anywhere from a minimum of 6-8 months for local weddings. For guests traveling for a destination wedding, we recommend 8-12 months to providing guests with ample notification. Remember, your guests are traveling and have other events. So the more time you give them to place your date on their calendars, the better!
Create Your Guest List
To keep it as simple as possible (and accessible as possible). We recommend creating a document of your guest list to stay organized (and up to date with details). Minted and the other wedding Save the Date platforms create an address book ‘address assistant’ spreadsheet for you. (For our wedding, I found the Minted platform the most user-friendly and most cost effective).
We recommend to create your guest list as your photos are in the process of being edited. Once your images are edited, your save the date is chosen and created, then all you have to do is simply upload your guest addresses direct to their site for your cards to be shipped direct to guests. Easy peasy!
Create your Save the Date
We have shared your online gallery. You have chosen your favorite ‘select’ images. You have your guest list final. Now it’s time to move images over to the Minted design platform and get that Save the Date designed, printed, and sent to notify all guests of your date! Yay! Cue the bubbly!
We cannot wait to see our final ‘select’ images printed in your beautiful Save the Date card when we photograph your day of details!
Until then, love and light,
xoxo, Michelle
Sample Designs
NEW JERSEY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Michelle Behre is based in Northern New Jersey Wedding Photographer and specializes in romantic, timeless, and sophisticated weddings. Her fine art photography style is the perfect blend of editorial, photojournalistic, and documentary photography. Michelle Behre Photography captures beautiful moments as they unfold including the excitement as the champagne pours to the emotive ceremony moments. Are you engaged and planning your wedding? Congratulations, lovie! We accept a limited amount of weddings per year. We cannot wait to learn all about your day, love story and what you planned! Inquire to learn about our New Jersey Wedding Photography services and availability today!
We can assist you with your Save the Date cards to photographing your romantic engagement session and wedding! Inquire with Michelle for availability and details, today!
Comments? Leave them below!
Questions? Contact us to learn more about our wedding photography services.
November 15, 2022
MICHELLE BEHRE, THE PHOTOGRAPHER
GET TO KNOW her
xoxo,
Michelle
With cheerful energy, a contagious smile, and an intentional eye, award-winning celebrity New Jersey wedding and commercial photographer, Michelle Behre, captures love stories to stand the test of time.
She uses her refined fine art photography skills to expertly capture the wedding day. From the excitement as the champagne pours to your picture-perfect portraits, Michelle expertly blends editorial documentary, and photojournalism photography in fine art curation of your special wedding events and day.
She confidently empowers each client who steps in front of her lens. During your time together, she illuminates your personalities, genuine compassion, and captures the joy that you and your families bring to one another in an unobtrusive fashion.
