Are you planning your special day and are one of your biggest items to tackle is the family formal list to hand off to your wedding day planner and NJ Wedding Photographer? Let’s begin with a few of our go-to wedding day photo tips on family formals to make this process as easy as possible from New Jersey Wedding Photographer, Michelle Behre!

Notify family they will be photographed

If you are planning for a first look we recommend to notify your immediate family of the scheduled session time. Let them know when and the location of where they will be photographed. If the location has not yet been determined, choose a meeting point for family to gather. This will allow for everyone to be organized and together. Once everyone is in front of NJ Wedding Photographers, Michelle Behre and her team, we will provide clear direction of each photo we will take to make it as simple, fast, and FUN!

Announce extended family at your ceremony

If you would like to photograph your extended families following your ceremony, we’ll want to communicate this prior to and remind the day-of. Communicate this to your officiant so they can request for the extended families to hang out for a few photos to be taken with the beautiful bride and groom immediately after the ceremony!

Create a list and provide to photo team for the day of

While creating your family formal list, we recommend to start with the largest groupings first for both immediate and extended family formals. We will then work our way down to the smaller groupings to photograph all of the possible combinations. Family can be notified to stick around with an announcement at your ceremony to keep your events moving and get you to your cocktail hour. We will work from our portrait list to capture the combinations in a speedy, efficient, and fun manner! Your family formals will move as quickly as possible in effort to get you and your family to cocktail hour! Interested in learning more about our Wedding Photography services? Inquire within today.

Communicate with your photographer

We highly recommend do educate and clearly communicate with your photographer in regards to your family and their needs. Clear communication will make this process as simple as possible and as easy as possible. Does a family member/friend have an ailment such as a handicap issue? We want to take them into consideration to ensure that this will be as easy as possible for them. Do you have a few sensitive issues and groupings to create in an attempt to prevent any complications or awkward situations? Each family is unique and we want to accommodate you to the best of our abilities to make this process as easy and efficient as possible. We recommend to communicate with Michelle on these sensitive issues. We can best aid in this process to make your wedding day family formals as easy as possible.

Schedule appropriately

Have a lengthy family formal list? First, I recommend scheduling immediate family portraits prior to the ceremony. Following the ceremony, plan on photographing extended family formals during cocktail hour. If you are hosting a traditional timeline, it is essential to capture your combined wedding party, extended family formals, and work our way down to combined immediate family following the ceremony. If possible, I recommend extending your cocktail hour by 30 minutes so you can enjoy a few moments of your cocktail hour with your husband. Last but not least, bride and groom pics are scheduled thereafter. Without a doubt, again, I highly recommend to extend your cocktail hour by 30 minutes so you can enjoy your cocktail hour.

NEW JERSEY WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Have these few family formal tips assisted you and eased your mind about your busy, big family portraits on your wedding day? Do you have a huge family that you want family formals with and also want to enjoy your cocktail hour? This is your day and you can have the best of both worlds! Chat with Michelle on her go-to wedding day family formal approach and schedule your consultation to chat all about your wedding day with Wedding Photographers Michelle Behre Photography today!

Michelle Behre is based in Northern New Jersey and specializes in romantic, timeless, and sophisticated weddings.  Her fine art photography style is the perfect blend of editorial and documentary photography. Michelle Behre Photography captures the excitement as the champagne pours to your picture-perfect bridal details. Are you 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.

Inquire today to learn all about our New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania wedding photography services. We can assist you in photographing your romantic engagement session and your wedding day! Inquire with Michelle for availability and more details, today!

Learn all about how to plan your wedding day timeline and find inspiration for your wedding day color palette!

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Questions? Contact us to learn more about our wedding photography services.

Have you picked your venue yet you’re not sure of the colors of that picture-perfect color palette that will blend beautifully within your venue? Do you feel that you are between colors that you love so much? Below are a few wedding day color palette tips to assist you in your wedding planning process!

Value of the color palette

So first things first here, why is the color palette such a staple in planning? Your colors are the anchor of your wedding day design and décor. The wedding color palette plays a role into your venue, locations, and season, too! Once you have nailed down your colors, your design will be more consistent and feel as if it flows more cohesively. This makes a huge difference in your photos, too! Check out a few samples we have from real, New Jersey weddings photographed by New Jersey Wedding Photographer, Michelle Behre!

Top 5 Wedding Day Color Palette Tips

Here are just our top five tips to follow while choosing your wedding color palette and a few sample wedding day color palettes created from real weddings to get you started on planning your very special day!

Define the season that you are hosting your wedding in, in color

You have booked your venue and locked in your date, congratulations beautiful bride-to-be! When you’re thinking of the season, what are your favorite colors? OR do you want to plan and choose your date around something that is special to you? Below are a few ideas to inspire you!

What about summer, classic navy blues? Fall foliage and beautiful muted tones? Soft, winter hues?

Planning your date around a sentimental date such as your anniversary? What about surrounding your first date? Your colors can accent the season that your date is in so beautifully.

You have your season! Now time to set an anchor color

You have chosen your season. Amazing! Your season can inspire your wedding day color palette and vision as you begin planning your very special day. What is the anchor color you may ask? The anchor color will be the “main” color used throughout and several colors will be chosen in addition to this main color to contrast that anchor color.

Choose one or two colors as main anchor colors, then select one or two secondary colors (one of these should be a neutral, which will help blend those focal point colors together seamlessly) for support. To finish it off, choose a fun accent shade—like a metallic-like gold or silver—that you’ll use accent throughout your event.

For example, spring can incorporate a whole range of color such as beautiful spring cherry blossom pinks, vintage baby blues, soft yellows and greens.

Summer, think of soft pinks or pop of bright, bold color to accent that pink.

For fall think of reds, deep maroons, and oranges.

Winter can be dusty blues, winter whites.

Add in some metallics for some bright, beautiful contrast

Want to incorporate the color of your engagement ring? What about some gold or silver metallic accents? Your florist can paint your florals with metallic paint. Décor can incorporate champagne flutes, cake painted in gold. Gold foil lettering on your invitation suite and much more!

Think about your venue and incorporate the colors from your venue

When you first drove up to your venue, the moment you knew it was the one, was it the colors, textures, you loved most? Incorporate those beautiful colors and textures into your palette to give your wedding day color palette that ultimate pop and for your photos to flow beautifully.

Subtle hues for balance and a contrast color

For subtle balance in your color palette, add in a contrasting color to your anchor color to balance your palette. If your anchor color is pink, the contrast color can be green with subtle hues of yellow for a beautiful balance. See Lillian and Adam’s wedding color palette for inspiration below!

Summer Wedding Color Palette Inspiration

Fall Wedding Color Palette Inspiration

New Jersey Wedding Photographers

Michelle Behre is based in Northern New Jersey and 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.

Inquire today to learn all about our New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania wedding photography services. We can assist you in photographing your romantic engagement session and your wedding day! Inquire with Michelle for availability and more details, today!

Comments? Leave them below!
Questions? Contact us to learn more about our wedding photography services.

Lillian and Andrew’s heartfelt wedding day was hosted at the Crossed Keys Estate in Andover, NJ. Their wedding day includes a day of family-fun, a vibrant color palette accenting their joyful, fun-loving personalities, and a one-of-a-kind love story captured at the Crossed Keys Estate, Andover by Crossed Keys Estate NJ Wedding Photographer, Michelle Behre.

The Couple

The couple are fun-loving, joyful, and energetic. They love sharing time together with their best friends, their families, and enjoying athletics, and the outdoors. 

The Proposal

Lillian and Andrew began dating in elementary school and the groom asked for Lillian’s hand in marriage two years prior to their wedding. Andrew designed an absolutely beautiful custom heirloom engagement ring. To make his proposal extra special, he incorporated their family and friends, the people that they love the most to celebrate by their side! 

Lillian and Andrew’s Wedding at the Crossed Keys Estate Andover New Jersey Wedding Venue

Their wedding day was set on a beautiful, early summer day in August. Their day included the people that they love most, a day of fun with their family, and best friends celebrating their very special love.

The couple’s color palette included bright, sunny mustard yellows, contrasting with baby pinks, tropical oranges, an abundance of textures of lush greenery. Their gorgeous color palette was designed and coordinated surrounding Andrew’s custom burgundy suit designed at Indochino, Short Hills. 

A few highlights captured include Lillian’s bridals and the couple’s first look. Her florals by the Crossed Keys Designs team accented the textures and the jewels of the Justin Alexander gown from Bridal Suite Boutique. Her makeup is done to absolute “natural” bridal perfection by Makeup and Lashes by Joyce and her hair design, so so elegant and soft by Kelly & Co. 

Prep

Bridal details organized so beautifully captured by Crossed Keys Estate NJ Wedding Photographer.

Bridesmaids gather to assist the bride in her finishing touches moments prior to her first look!

Andrew’s Burgundy suit contrasted so perfectly with his details and florals designed by Crossed Keys Designs.

Andrew’s custom boutonnière designed beautifully by Crossed Keys Designs. Finishing touches on his outfit incorporated shoes by Steve Madden, a colorful and vibrant tie by Dazi Usa, and the customized, dapper maroon suit by Indochino at Short Hills Mall, Short Hills, New Jersey.

Andrew is absolutely ecstatic and is totally pumped to see his bride for the first time on their special day.

Bridals

Moments prior to their first look I captured a few beautiful bridals of Lillian on film. This one in particular is a favorite. This bride is so ecstatic to marry the love of her life and to see her groom. She is glowing.

First Look

This couple hosted their first look and their bride and groom portraits at the gorgeous gardens beside their ceremony space at the Crossed Keys Estate.

Wedding Party

Following their first look, we captured beautiful portraits of their wedding party and family formals! Gentleman adorned in Indochino and Dazi Usa accessories with their floral bout’ contrasting so beautifully.

Ladies of the wedding party dressed in vibrant, glistening velvet, mustard yellow gowns by Lulus.

That gorgeous extra pop of color from their bouquets by Crossed Keys Designs contrasts so beautifully with their maroon dahlias against the groomsmen suits!

There’s nothing better than a perfect day with the love of your life and your bests by your side. 

Ceremony Details

Their ceremony space was was ready with beautiful signage, gorgeous floral decor, petals to toss, and fresh beverages for guests to enjoy!

Their color palette was carried throughout so beautifully. Check out this absolutely stunning ceremony arbor crafted so beautifully by the talented team at Crossed Keys Designs, isn’t this amazing?!

The wedding ceremony was set at the beautiful gardens at the Crossed Keys Estate in Andover, New Jersey beside the tent. This gorgeous arbor was designed by the talented, Crossed Keys Designs. 

Ceremony

A few emotive moments captured on Lillian and Andrew’s wedding day captured that I love most were from their ceremony. Lillian’s father walks his baby girl down the aisle. An emotive moment for all parties, the bride, groom, the bride’s family and the entire crowd. There was not a dry eye in the house.

Many hugs and kisses as Lillian is now starting a family of her own.

The couple’s wedding day favors included shot glasses of tequila and lime sat reside beside their tent. They were ready to get their party started upon entrance to their tent!

They also had a tropical pineapple beverage, yum and in their color palette!

So creative!

Reception

Check out the gorgeous twinkle-lights overhead, setting a romantic ambiance, the lush greenery, beautiful table-top bouquets, and velvet runners! Wow! 

A few more of my favorite moments captured from their day includes their very exciting grand entrance, bouquet toss, and sunset photos on the swing captured on film. These moments truly encapsulate their fun-loving personalities and energy.

This energy is so much fun to capture!

Lillian & Andrew at Sunset

Beautiful candid sunset moments on the swing together.

LOVE THIS Crossed Keys Estate NJ Wedding JUST AS MUCH AS WE DO? PIN THIS wedding FOR INSPIRATION FOR LATER!

Crossed Keys Estate Andover New Jersey Wedding Photographers

Michelle Behre is based in Northern New Jersey and 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.

Lillian & Andrew’s Engagement Session

Check out their romantic Summer Engagement Session hosted at the Verona Park by NJ Proposal & Engagement Photographer Michelle Behre!

Featured

View this wedding featured on The White Wren!

Vendors

Crossed Keys Estate Andover NJ Wedding Photographers: Michelle Behre Photography | Ceremony Venue: Crossed Keys Estate | Reception Venue: Crossed Keys Estate | Floral: Crossed Keys Designs | Event Planning: Crossed Keys Designs | Videography: Brandon Matisak | Wedding Cake: Crossed Keys Designs | Linens: Inspired Living by Andrea Martha | Hair: Kelly and Company Hair Design | Makeup: Makeup and Lashes by Joyce | Shoes: Steve Madden | Favors: AllGiftsShop | Handmade Items: Inspired Living by Andrea Martha | Wedding Ring: jordan jack | DJ: Griffon, Pure Event Group | Bridal Salon: Bridal Suite Boutique | Wedding Dress: Justin Alexander  | Venue: Crossed Keys Inn | Gifts: HappyManor | Groom’s Attire: Indochino | Groom’s Shoes: Steve Madden | Groom’s Attire: DAZI USA | Bridesmaid Dresses: Lulus | Calligraphy: Crossed Keys Designs | Catering: Crossed Keys Estate | Bakery: Crossed Keys Estate | Backdrops: Heirloom Bindery | Film Lab: Photovision Prints

Conclusions

Lillian and Andrew discovered Michelle Behre Photography a NJ Wedding Photographer online and moved forward with services for their NJ Wedding at the Crossed Keys Estate after immediately falling in love with the bright, vibrant, colorful photos provided in the galleries on view and my approach to the wedding day.

Inquire today to learn all about our NJ Wedding Photography services. Visit Crossed Keys Estate to see more photos from this property and to learn more about your wedding day and we can assist you in planning your wedding day schedule!

Comments? Leave them below.

Questions? Contact Us today to learn more about our Crossed Keys Estate wedding photography services.