How to Get Your Wedding Published

Here's the thing: we all know that the two of you joining your lives together in a tangible way is the truly paramount part of your wedding day. And I'd say that being surrounded by so many of your close friends and family-all in one place-is rather significant as well.

But after spending months-sometimes years-on planning your exquisite nuptials, many couples are happy to have their day celebrated on a wedding blog. It's fun to share what you've created!

Perhaps you've given this no thought one way or the other, but read further because maybe just maybe your wedding would be a good fit for publication.

It may feel overwhelming, but having had quite a few of our weddings and shoots published, we're here to help.

What do I need to get my wedding published?

First of all, please chant this with us:

Details, details, details.

And the more *unique* details you have, the better. Get your inspiration from Pinterest if you must, but put your own spin on the particulars of your big day. 

Another thing to remember, is to leave a good amount of time for the photos of the two if you. This can often be lost in the whirl of things vying for time on your day. But blogs love dreamy couple photos..and so do we!

You may feel intimidated by the thought of planning a blog-worthy wedding, but it should be noted that you don't need a $100K budget in order to style a wedding that is publishable. 

Your union can be simple, simple, simple- and as long as it's done well, your chances of being published are greater.

Bridal Musings recently published a wedding we shot and their post started like this: Sometimes the most simple weddings, are the most special. And Tobi and Cait’s sweet DIY wedding, was pretty special.

Meet Cait and Tobi-

We were so honoured to fly to Idaho to document Caiti and Tobi's sweet DIY wedding. From Toronto to the Dominican we want to be your photographers!

You can sneak a peek at two of our most recently published weddings to get an idea of what the finished product looks like.

Cait and Tobi's adorable DIY wedding:

Sarah and Nathan's lovely Colorado affair:

Lastly, if you are in love with a particular wedding blog, style your wedding according to what you see published on their site to increase your chances of publication. And work with us-let us know this is important to you and we can help you submit your wedding to the best-fit blog.

If it's in the budget we also suggest a wedding planner or stylist for your day. This takes quite a bit of the workload off you and helps take those details to the next level.

Here's what some of our fave wedding blogs are looking for:

Green Wedding Shoes-

Whether the style is rustic, modern, vintage or whimsical – we love them all! 

We love:
• Couples with personalities that really shine through in the photos
• Creativity
• A keen eye for fashion and styling
• Gorgeous locations + unique venues
• A love for the small personal details
• And most importantly, the couple has to be madly in love!

100 Layer Cake- Our readers love content that is romantic, trend-setting, creative, handmade, unique, or any combination of the above.

Ruffled Blog-

WHAT WE LOOK FOR
-Creativity and personality above all else!
-Seasonal weddings and shoots
-Time-appropriate holiday shoots and weddings
-Destination Weddings (domestic or international)
-Unique elopements and city hall weddings with stylish couples
-Ultra modern weddings
-Unique and eye-catching DIY projects
-Shoots and weddings loaded with decor and design inspiration

 If you have any questions on the subject, let us know-we're happy to share anything we've learned along the way and want to help make your wedding blog dreams become a reality!

Happy planning.

xo.

Wedding Morning 101

We've had the privilege of documenting over 100 weddings in the last few years and have learned quite a bit along the way. 

There's a lot about planning a wedding that you don't learn until you've done it once, and by the time you reach the enlightened perspective of hindsight, it's too late to go back and re-tweak those details for your big day.

But fear not-we're here to hold your hand and let you in on a few secrets we've learned through the years. From planning our own wedding to documenting dozens of others, there are a handful of simple things you can coordinate into your day that will keep your life sane and take your wedding photos to the next level.

So take a deep breath. Go grab a pen (maybe a cup of coffee too) and let's chat through what you can expect from us as your photographers on your wedding morning. It'll be fun-we promise.

Here's what you need to know to help us help you.

1. Scheduling:

Allow more time than you think for each item on the schedule. In our experience, the hair and make-up artists inevitably go 15-30 minutes over the time they think they will.

Uncle Ben doesn't show up with the flowers when he said he would and it takes a bit more time to get everyone out the door and into cars than it should.

That's okay, but to keep your stress levels at bay (and to make sure we have all the time we need for photos!), let's pad the schedule with an extra 30 minutes here and there. But don't tell your hair and make-up gurus or they may take full advantage of our secret plan!

2. Paper shots:

We love having a nice, clean copy of your invitation {and other important paper details!} onsite the morning of your wedding. You've spent a lot of important time choosing your colours and stationery, and we want to make sure we're able to get all these details. This is a great task for your MOH as long as she knows ahead of time!

We are Toronto and Niagara based wedding, lifestyle and portrait photographers and videographers. We love what we do and are passionate about getting The Very Best images we can from your wedding day. Your story matters!

We are Toronto + Niagara based wedding, lifestyle and portrait photographers/videographers. We love what we do and are passionate about getting The Very Best images we can from your wedding day. Your story matters!

Whether we are documenting your day with photography or videography (or both!) we are committed to excellence in all the details. We love capturing moments and shoot weddings from Toronto/Niagara to Mexico, Texas, Nashville and beyond.

3. Where:

When you're considering when, where and how you will get ready, we suggest that you find a room that is clean, bright and open. Window light makes for some stunning getting ready photos. And spending your time in a tidy space is going to go a long way in keeping your morning as worry-free as possible. Sometimes this means renting a hotel room if your home is overrun with guests. Trust us, you won't regret your oasis!

4. Keep it classy:

We love having a nice hanger for the dress shot. We don't even need an extra fancy hanger (though we love them too!), but we don't want to showcase your gorgeous dress on an old, rusty wire hanger or a cheapy plastic one either. It's surprising how much that can distract from the beauty of your choice.

We also love getting a shot of the bridesmaid dresses with your dress; so the hanger rule extends to their sassy garb as well. Matching or coordinating hangers is ideal. Again, this task can be delegated!

We are Toronto and Niagara based wedding, lifestyle and portrait photographers and videographers. We love what we do and are passionate about getting The Very Best images we can from your wedding day. Your story matters!

5. You are queen for a day:

In the swirl of wedding decisions, it's easy to put zero thought into what you'll be wearing during your getting-ready hours. But when you see the photos later you may just regret your choice of the smelly hoodie you grabbed from the bottom of your closet in a pinch.

We suggest a you treat yourself and buy a nice robe well ahead of time. You're a classy gal and this simple choice looks great in photos! This also makes a cute gift for your girls, but even if you don't go this route, you can request that they bring their own robes.

There are many other adorable options-like BRIDE shirts which are lovely too. As long as you feel pretty in your choice, both you and the photos will be happy later.

6. Gifts:

We love hearing about the thoughtful gifts the two of you traded early the morning of your big day. What we love even more is being there to see your emotion as you open your present for the first time.

If you and your beloved are exchanging gifts and letters, please make sure you wait until we're there to open them. We love capturing the surprise on your face at his/her thoughtfulness and the sweet notes too. And that way your beloved can see your reaction when you look at the photos together later.

We love capturing the details of your big day. As wedding photographers it is one of the highest honours to capture all the "behind the scenes" moments.

This is from Travis and Melissa's sweet Dominican wedding. We love that photography keeps us busy at home in the Toronto and Niagara regions-but we love booking jobs internationally too!

7. The bling:

We love capturing all the little bits of your day-from shoes to jewelry. If you put one of your bridesmaids in charge of having all the shoes in one place, for example, we can grab those shots you'll be so happy you have when you look at your wedding album later.

Whether your wedding is big or small, intricate or so simple, it's your day and we want you to enjoy every single minute of it.

At Jono & Laynie Co., we're committed to excellence, to telling your story the way it should be told. We love capturing all the pretty particulars of your day and all the moments that make it so special. At the end of the day, it's about all about the people in the photos and the fact you get to marry your love after all.

What to Worry About on Your Wedding Day.

Even after months of planning, the list of things that could "go wrong" is daunting to think about. No matter how organized you are, it doesn't feel good to think about the unknown "what ifs"...

so we say just don't.

And from a photography/videography standpoint, we'll share how we roll so you can sleep easy tonight.

What if

there is tons of traffic:

We are crazy ridiculous about leaving early. The further away your wedding is, the more (extra) time we allow. We are committed to being on time.

one of our cameras break:

Whether we are shooting alone or together, we both shoot with two cameras just in case. We also have multiple lenses at our disposal. 

We also carry extra batteries for both our cameras and our flashes.

it rains on my wedding day:

I hope it doesn't (though rainy days are my favourite in general).

But if it does, then we'll deal with it. 

I've stood out in the rain before to take photos of families standing inside. We've recently bought some beautiful, clear umbrellas for just  such a scenario. And more than that, it rarely rains the entire day. In our experience, even on the rainiest of days, we've found small pockets of time to take photos outside-as long as you're up for an adventure and willing to get a teensy bit damp, then so are we!

These are all photos from rainy wedding days:

Your day is going to be perfect-tiny mishaps make for wonderful stories later. So just sit back, relax and enjoy the show. At the end of the day, you'll be married no matter what. We can't wait!

xo.

And on this rainy, rainy day, it even got sunny at the end.

As the premier photographers in Guelph, Kitchener, Toronto and Niagara, we love capturing the moments from your wedding day. We also travel internationally and all over Ontario with our work. This stunning moment is from a wedding we documented in Thunder Bay. 

The Case for a #

So many mothers feel your wedding is about them-their status, the wedding they didn't get to have, the friends they want to invite, their chance to show you off...well, you know. The list goes on.

Their list of advice and requests can be as long as Rapunzel's hair and they often don't take "No" for an answer. Their tidbits come in early morning phone calls and late-night texts. They make passive aggressive comments at your bridal shower and answer for you when you're asked a question.

I mean, I love your mom; you love your mom. But let's be real: we all know this can vacillate between being Highly Amusing for the stories it creates and utter frustration.

But this subject my pets, is a story for another blog. 

Because the one thing your mom will neglect to suggest is a thing so commonplace it's often overlooked, but so valuable that you will roll your eyes if you forget to make it happen. Namely this: a hashtag for your wedding.

Last decade we bought disposable cameras and left them on each guest table. This year, the guests bring their own cameras in the form of their phones and snap away. We know you look good, but so do they and they want the world to know it.

But you may not ever see these photos unless you create your simple, (clever if you're feeling extra inspired) wedding handle.

#jonathanloveslayne

#jonathanisTheCutest

#jonolayniestory

It's fun to have the collection to scroll through in the week right after your wedding...and in all the coming months as well. 

Let's be honest; in 10 years, hashtags, like floral crowns, may be gone with wind, but for now, they are shiny and sweet and need to make your wedding cut. Plus, they are budget friendly!

Spoiler alert: we often put different sneak peeks of your big day on our instagram (@jonolaynie) as well as on our Facebook page. We like the love to be spread far and wide.

If you create it soon enough, it's fun to have for your wedding showers and you can continue it through your honeymoon..or even through your marriage if you choose carefully.

But before you jump on your hashtag bandwagon, let's talk about some common # mistakes:

1. Making your # too complicated (this includes tricky spelling). Your guests will love #'ing your wedding away, but if you make it too long or include names that are hard to spell, they may just give up or in their happy, open-bar state, create their own version of your brand. Your eyes will never gaze upon those sweet snaps.

2. Not prominently displaying your sign. People need a big, fatty sign with a couple of helpful announcements from the DJ throughout the night. If you just put it on a crowded table, many may overlook this.

Who knows. Maybe Sally danced with Jonny for hours at your wedding but he failed to get her number. Thanks to your helpful hashtag love, he can contact her the very next day without having to track her down through the string of connections. And boom goes the love. And there you have it, you little matchmaker, you.

Okay, now you are ready-go forth and create your hashtag dreams! We believe in you.

Happy week, peeps.

xo.

How to Timeline your Wedding Day

Happy Monday beautiful brides (brides-to-be and my parents.)

We love sunset photos with our bride and groom. It's one of our favourite parts of documenting any wedding day. 

Today we're going to chat about something that most couples struggle with at least on some level-timelining your wedding so that your day is seamless. 

The struggle is real, and also completely understandable. Presumably you've never planned a wedding before, so you don't have a gauge on how much time to allot for what.

We, the wedding whisperers, having planned our own wedding and documented dozens (hundreds?) of others, are here to hold your hand and help you out. 

Obviously we think that the wedding photography and videography is pretty important so this timeline *may* be a bit biased. 

But hey-you're paying us for greatness; give us time to shine.

We believe in excellence and creativity in all we do. We are passionate about telling your story-it's so worth telling. We work primarily in the Toronto and Niagara regions (Oakville, Burlington, Cambridge, Kitchener), but also document weddings in faraway places-like this one in Thunder Bay.

Let's say you've hired us for 8 hours, our standard day package. Here's how we'd suggest using your time.

12:00 Getting Ready & Details (shoes, dress, invitation, flowers, etccc. It's ideal for these to be in a corner waiting for us. Perfect job for one of your hottie bridesmaids.)

1:00 All Hair and Makeup Finished. Put dress on.

1:15 Travel to first look

1:45 First Look

2:00 Bride and Groom Portraits
2:30 Family Portraits
3:00 Bridal Party photos

3:45 Break for you / details, details, Details for us (we especially like this because it's nice to get all the reception details you worked so hard on before your guests stampede in.)

4:15 Ceremony Begins

4:40 Ceremony Ends

4:45 The Couple (it's pretty sweet to document the first few moments of your wedded life. Why not sneak away and relish it together...and let us document the love?!)

5:15 Couple Joins the Cocktail Hour

6 Reception entrance

6:15 First Dance/s (*we recommend scheduling all the important bits on the front end of the reception-at least all the important bits you definitely want documented.)

6:30-8 Dinner/Speeches

7:30 sneak away for sunset photos

8 Cake cutting

8:05 We sneak away to post a sneak peek on our Facebook page and you party the night away

Obviously you need to make this fit your special day and we're here to accommodate in any way we can.

We understand that timelines get off and we gift you about half an hour of flex time; we don't just rush out the door as soon as our time is up. We want to do an Amazing job for you and capture so many special memories from you day.

There is always the option to add an extra hour or two, even on the day of your wedding. 

Andddddd for some couples, a first look is not in the cards. Perhaps your schedule would look more like this:

12:00 Getting Ready &  Details
1:00 Hair and Makeup Finished-dress on
1:15 Dress On; Final Touches

Getting ready photos are a fantastic way for us to document all the quiet, special moments of your wedding day. 

All of our wedding photography packages come with a layflat photo book and having the full spectrum of moments from the day are a way to share the story of your wedding day.

1:45 ceremony

2:15 Bride and Groom Portraits
2:45 Family Portraits
3:05 Bridal Party

Carmens Lakeview is one of our favourite wedding venues in Hamilton.

Another sweet capture from Jessa and Dan's wedding at Lakeview. Bridal party photos are a fun place to get creative and think outside the box.

3:25 Photos of the two of you.

Having lots of time to document all the LOVE between our sweet couples is one of our highlights of the wedding day. We recommend leaving around half an hour for photos of the two of you.

3:45 Break / Details, Details!
4:00 Cocktail Hour begins
6 Reception starts

Either way, we recommend 1-2 hours for getting ready photos, 1.5-2 hours of official photos (family, bridal party, you two), making sure you account for travel time and prioritizing your reception to get the photos that are the most important to you. (***If you only have one photographer it's especially important to add more time for your photos!**)

In addition, it never hurts to pad your schedule with half an hour here or there for more photos or simply to rest and enjoy your day.

It's better to have more time than less.

Let us know if you have any questions. We can't wait to document your day. And we want to do everything we can to help you feel relaxed and peaceful about all the details we can.

xoxo.

L + J