March 4, 2021

Best Bridal Shops in Southern California

by Jessica DiBella in Blog, Wedding Tips

Your man asked you to be his forever! You’ve officially updated your relationship status to “engaged”, called everyone you know and your profile picture is your face holding up your left hand & that new sparkler… am I right? Now that the dust has settled, it’s time to put your planner hat on and start making appointments and bookings for all of the essential vendors & items you want for your special day! Other than your venue, your dress should be one of the first things you try to get nailed down. Why? Because most bridal shops have a 5 month turn around to get your dress in and that’s before alterations. Don’t have 5 months to spare? No problem- there are plenty of shops that have off the rack dresses that are beautiful and ready for the perfect bride!

After polling a bunch of my past brides, I created a list of the best bridal shops in Southern California. Finding the perfect dress can be stressful & exhausting— make sure to book appointments at shops that have great referrals for not only beautiful dresses, but also a great experience, since some dress designs can be found at a handful of shops. In no particular order, below you’ll find bridal shops referred by my own brides who had a positive & memorable experience.

*(Photos of dresses may differ from the shops they’re from).

Blush Bridal Couture- TOP rated shop for experience from my past brides! Feel special, luxurious and taken care of by their warm & knowledgeable bridal stylists. Have a semi-private area with friends & family to sip champagne and find the perfect dress.

2. Love & Lace Bridal- A non-traditional bridal shop with eye catching dresses & accessories. Dresses that are not only non-traditional, but fun, unique & modern! Like Boho dresses? They’ve got ‘em!

3. Grace Loves Lace- “Wedding Gowns With Soul” as their tagline says. Known for their signature flattering bridal silhouettes and an essence of romance. Their dresses are designed for comfort, luxury and movement! From classic, simple, bohemian or romantic… they’ve got you covered.

4. BHLDN- If your favorite smelling Volcano candle & a wedding dress had a baby- that would be BHLDN. Created by Anthropologie, they provide everything from sleek, modern bridal gowns, to ballroom and bohemian lace or a trendy two piece wedding look.

5. The White Dress- Located in Corona Del Mar & Santa Barbara, you can find the perfect dress from their selection of over 20+ luxury wedding designers!

6. Mon Amie- One of the largest bridal gown selections on the West Coast for over 43 years! This shop features elegant bridal gowns with a budget below 1.5k to 8k+.

7. The Dresser Bridal - Located in Downtown Fullerton for over 30 years, the stylists at this shop provide a warm & welcoming atmosphere for each bride with an intimate, personal appointment only experience.

8. Bridal Gowns Orange County- Specializing in last minute weddings or gowns can be ordered from this intimate, little bridal shop found in Mission Viejo, CA.

9. Mary Me Bridal- Serving brides for over 40 years, this one stop bridal shop has everything you need from various styles of dresses to veils, accessories, bridesmaids dresses and preservation services for after your special day!

10. Ferndales- Another popular shop amongst my brides who had positive experiences. A small shop located in Orange, CA. Helping brides find the perfect dress for over 60 years, this hole in the wall family-owned shop is more than meets the eye with friendly bridal consultants and an array of dresses from various designers.

January 25, 2021

Top 10 Places For A Maternity Shoot Dress

by Jessica DiBella in Wedding Tips

You’re excited for your little bundle of joy after telling the fam, doing the official social media announcement, the nesting has probably already started kicking into gear and thennnn you realize you need to book a maternity session before you pop! CHECK- booked your favorite photographer ;)

Now where the heck are you going to find a dress that you feel good in as your body continues to grow and change? You want to feel comfortable & beautiful, but also display your adorable bump. If you haven’t been pregnant before, this is even more of a task, because let’s be real—maternity clothes were the last thing you were looking through before you got pregnant and every body type is different during pregnancy.

Whether you want loose & comfortable, tight & sexy or somewhere in-between, there’s maternity dresses for everyone! Below I’ve compiled a list of mine and my past maternity clients’ favorite shops to buy the best maternity dresses for your shoot!

*(Photos of maternity dresses may differ from the shops they’re from).

Shop Pink Blush (one of my personal favorites!)

2. Fillyboo (boho inspired)

3. Free People

4. Baltic Born

5. Amazon

6. Sexy Mama Maternity

7. Show Me Your Mumu

8. Bump Biddy

9. ASOS

10. Reclamation Design Company (Show stopper dresses you can buy OR rent through their ETSY account as well)

September 7, 2020

Top 5 Places To Hang Your Wedding Dress

by Jessica DiBella in Wedding Tips

You’ve seen the photo- it’s a classic and typically on a list of “must have” photos for brides on their special day: The Wedding Dress.

As a wedding photographer, early on I use to try to recreate the same Pinterest dress photo for every bride, not realizing each venue, location and dress is unique in its own. Not every venue has a perfect curtain rode in front of a clean, large window or tree with the perfect branch … you get the picture.

Because every bride and every wedding is unique, I love being able to find spots that fit the environment and give a clean look at the dress. Below I have provided my top 5 places to hang your wedding dress on your special day.

1. Clean, large bedroom window with an actual curtain rod

2. Tree

3. Picture frame/ Art canvas on the wall

4. Chandelier

5. Any ledge around the venue

Expert tip: make sure to pack either a special hanger (customized, velvet, etc) or a clean wooden one (Hollaaa at Ikea for a pack of 8 for $5!) that your dress will stay on for your photographer to use for your dress shot.

March 16, 2020

When Unforeseen Changes Affect Your Wedding

by Jessica DiBella in Wedding Tips

Unforeseen, unknown, unexpected changes… My heart breaks for all my 2020 couples, as well as their families whose wedding days are currently being affected by the Covid-19 virus. My heart hurts as my upcoming wedding couples try to navigate what to do and how it will impact their special day that some have been planning for a year+.

While my silence on the issue is not due to a lack of empathy, but more so being in shock, frustration, trying to decipher truth from fear mongering, silencing social media & the news, protecting mine & my families health (physical, mental & spiritual) as we process and quite honestly, feeling like theres not a whole lot I have to say right now. What I do know is that I have peace.

It might be hard to correlate, if you’ve never been through it, but bear with me… I had to wait for something beautiful that my husband & I had planned, hoped for, prayed for and were excited for, but repeatedly got pushed back and delayed due to unforeseen & unexplained reasons. I went through the 5 stages of loss every month our plans didn’t pan out… denial, anger, bargaining, depression and then acceptance. I was happy for those whose plans worked out, but was still sad that mine didn’t… asking God why over and over again.

Yes, I’m talking about going through infertility and waiting for a miracle baby. No, our pain, frustration and waiting didn’t effect everyone, but it did impact us and those around us in a ripple effect.

We had to trust that God was bigger than our current circumstances and was in control of all of it… if not, we would drive ourselves crazy and give up the idea of it ever happening. We had to have hope and have a faith over fear that things wouldn’t work out for good.

Everyone has their own views, perspectives, levels of anxiety and ways of navigating everything pertaining to the current Covid-19 pandemic. Instead of being crippled with anxiety & fear of the unknown not only for the future of my own business, but my couples’ weddings they’ve been planning & looking forward to, I want the focus of this blog post to help alleviate anxiety, provide hope for my clients and other couples out there, as well as provide options for those effected. Whether its the virus of the year, a parent being diagnosed with cancer, your photographer expecting a baby near your due date, a natural disaster, fill in the blank… there are endless things that can impact your wedding day, as we truly do not know what tomorrow holds. While this can cause undue stress & anxiety, please don’t let it. Sometimes plans have to be moved up, moved around, modified or changed to allow your love to still be celebrated. Trust that if you have booked professionals for your special day, they’re here to help you and have experience with navigating through sudden or unforeseen changes.

Instead of flat out cancelling your special day, being robbed of your joy and potentially losing your non-refundable retainers with various vendors you’ve booked, consider one of these options to give you two something to still look forward to and use as an opportunity to still celebrate the union of you two becoming husband and wife despite possible unfavorable circumstances.

-Ask your venue about a discounted weekday rate for a later 2020 date, if they will be closed or you wedding is effected for your upcoming date: Recently I spoke with one of my client’s venues about the possibility of cancelling their upcoming wedding. A lot of privately owned venues are allowing their couples to make the final decision on whether to move forward with their upcoming wedding date or not. The venue coordinator at this specific venue let me know that they are offering discounted weekday dates later in the year for any 2020 couples whose date is currently being affected by the coronavirus. Pro Tip- check in with your photographer first before moving forward with a new date.

-Moving your date to a date within a year that both you and your priority vendors are available: While a weekday later this year might not be what you had in mind, a lot of venues that have to close are allowing couples to transfer their retainer to a date within a year of their set wedding date. If this is the case for you, make sure to keep all of your vendors in the loop prior to booking, so you don’t miss out on having them apart of your special day.

-Elopement Style Nuptials: Still want to get married, but limit it to an extremely small and intimate gathering? Ask your photographer about elopement locations and using your non-refundable wedding payments towards that. Another idea is to see if payments you’ve made can be used towards: a boudoir session, a Fall family session or gift certificate for a friend or family member. While most photographers can’t give a refund after payments are made for a reserved date due to unforeseen circumstances or else it would be impossible for us to stay in business otherwise, what we CAN do if offer options that work for everyone, so we can all continue to show grace, move forward, celebrate, stay working and support our families to best of our abilities without anyone feeling taken advantage of in an unfortunate circumstance.

-Associate Photographer: Have to move your date but your photographer is already booked on that day? No need to fret. I have associate photographers I’ve worked with for years who know my style, brand and serve my clients with the same love & care on their wedding day, all the while I handle all the logistics, planning, coordinating and edit all of your photos in my personal Jessica Di Bella Photography touch post wedding day! Want to see one of many successful associate weddings under my business? Check out Zareh & Cat’s Wedding!

At the end of the day, I pray for peace, discernment and faith over fear for all of my clients as they navigate in the unknown and circumstance. The Lord has you and He alone is the greatest hope & comfort in every season.

If you need help navigating your special day due to unforeseen circumstances, please don’t hesitate to reach out! I’m here to help <3 info@jessicadibellaphotography.com

January 31, 2020

My Favorite Southern California Venues

by Jessica DiBella in Wedding Tips

Over the past 6+ years I’ve photographed at countless wedding venues in and around Southern California as a lead, associate and second shooter photographer. With majority of my bookings come from the OC/SD/Riverside/Temecula areas, a handful of venues I’ve had the opportunity to photograph at more than once! I always LOVE photographing at a new, beautiful venue and receive inquiries for venues all over, but theres something to be said about having a pleasurable experience at a venue as a vendor and through the eyes of my clients: esthetics, how my clients are treated (& how other vendors are treated) and the overall atmosphere for guests. With the new year and new inquiries coming in for 2020-2021, I wanted to share some of my favorite venues from experience, along with some tips and basic information for each of them.

Below I have my CURRENT 10 favorite wedding venues in the Southern California region… in no specific order ;)

1) The Villa, San Juan Capistrano- A beautiful and intimate little Italian garden tucked away in the historic area of San Juan Capistrano. Not a huge venue, but what it doesn’t have for size, it has in beauty and romance! The first time I shot at this venue, I fell in love and even convinced my brother-in-law and sister-in-law to get married here, so I could live vicariously through them. Their in-house coordinators (shout out to JOY N’ COMPANY ) are phenomenal and take care of everything flawlessly!

2) Franciscan Gardens, San Juan Capistrano- Another stunning venue tucked away in the historic district of San Juan Capistrano. With options for either indoor or outdoor reception, you can have both a garden setting and indoor industrial brick backdrop. Photo locations are endless with Los Rios Street and the Mission SJC being a block away.

3) Ethereal Gardens, Escondido- The most recent NEW wedding venue I have photographed at. I fell IN LOVE with it’s romantic, bohemian vibes! With a few different options for ceremony and reception areas, this venue is HUGE! With that being said, it’s tucked away in the mountains of Escondido, so the location itself is intimate. It’s beautiful, with every corner offering a “Kodak Moment” spot. The space and amenities lend itself to have a fun and magazine worthy feel for you and your guests.

4) Serendipity Gardens, Oak Glen- Although I’m not a preferred vendor here (yet!), I photograph at this cute venue atleast 1-2x a year! The property owners are constantly adding to the venue to have more to offer clients and provide a gorgeous setting in the lower mountains of Oak Glen with a backdrop of the mountains (sometimes snowcapped). With the majority of the venue being outdoors, choosing the season to get married here (or upgrading to a tent) would be word to the wise due to drastic weather conditions. The in house DJ and coordinators are super sweet and friendly, adding a personable touch.

5) Casa Romantica, San Clemente- Another tucked away venue providing a, well… romantic feel in on an intimate hillside overlooking San Clemente Beach and pier. Set in a historic building-- the ceremony site has a gorgeous backdrop of the ocean as you two exchange “I Do’s” without sand in your shoes. My kind of beach wedding ;)

6) Rancho Las Lomas, Silverado Canyon- The one wedding I have photographed here it was pouring rain, so unfortunately my clients didn’t get an opportunity to use the outdoor space they offer that is classic and beautiful in such a unique way. With antique tainted tiles and a historic feel to the grounds- the setting is extremely classy and romantic. It doesn’t hurt that they have their own mini zoo to entertain your guests!

7) Galway Downs, Temecula- A part of the Wedgewood Weddings network, this specific venue doesn’t feel like the rest. The first time I photographed here, I was really impressed! Don’t get me wrong, Wedgewoods have been stepping up their game over the past year or two, but in the past they have been known to be very cookie cutter as an “all inclusive” wedding venue network. Galway Downs is in a league of its own with gorgeous vegetation, spacious grounds and a quaint, rustic feel throughout the venue. After attending a wedding here, my husband half jokingly said that we should have our vow renewal there one day, because of how impressed he was as well!

8) The Inn at Rancho Santa Fe- I’ve photographed at this gorgeous, ritzy venue twice and fell in love both times! With lush, green grounds year round, the venue feels like something out of a movie (and has been featured on various network reality shows). Your vows would be exchanged under a large tree canopy and your reception taking place in a luxurious, spacious lawn below the resorts main building.

9) Bella Collina, San Clemente- This might be one of my favorite “golf course” venues. Golf course venues typically all feel the same, but Bella Collina is tucked away in the hills of San Clemente and it’s ceremony site is to die for! With a regal windy road to and from the venue, you once again feel like you’re on a movie set. There isn’t much for a getting ready area (girls are in a windowless yoga studio room and guys are in the golf course restaurant), but otherwise it’s a beautiful place to say I Do.

10) The Hacienda, Santa Ana- A cute Spanish style venue hidden behind a strip mall in Santa Ana. On the outside it might not look like a lot, but the inside takes you away to a romantic, Spanish house with 2 beautiful ceremony sites and killer Mexican food. Being on the preferred vendor list, I couldn’t help to give a little nudge to this affordable hidden gem.

Below are some other awesome wedding venues that I’d LOOOOOOVE to shoot at, so take a peek if you’re in the market for a rad venue:

The Estate On Second- Santa Ana
The 1912- Santa Ana
The Casino- San Clemente
The Loft on Pine- Long Beach
Smogshoppe- Los Angeles
Millwick- Los Angeles
Luce Loft- San Diego
BRICK- San Diego
Ebell Long Beach
Calamigos Ranch- Malibu
Saddlerock Ranch-Malibu
Rimrock Ranch- Pioneer Town
Wolf Feather Honey Farm- Pioneer Town
Avalon Hotel- Palm Springs
Frederick Loewe Estate- Palm Springs
The Ace- Palm Springs
Parker- Palm Springs
Tradition Golf Club- La Quinta

January 22, 2020

How To Build The Perfect Wedding Day Timeline

by Jessica DiBella in Wedding Tips

Trying to plan the timeline for your wedding day can be an overwhelming task. How much time do I need for formal photos? What about my big extended family? What time should my ceremony be at? Should I do a first look?

The amount of time needed for specific events and photos can easily be under-estimated and lead to possible stress the day of. The time of day these photos should be taken can also weigh heavily on the time of year and sunset time.

*For the best & clearest timeline set up, make sure to check in with your photographer and/or wedding coordinator PRIOR to setting your ceremony start time. They do this EVERY weekend, as well as in different circumstances & locations. Their advice and guidance will guarantee the best timeline for the vision you have for your wedding AND photos.

I pride myself in not only ENJOYING the creation of wedding timelines, but also helping set realistic expectations for my clients with the amount of photography coverage they have, their venue location and the amount of time needed for the photos they desire.

Here are key tips & rules of thumb to help construct a basic timeline for your special day:

On average, bride & groom photos take 30-60 minutes
On average, bridal party photos (bridesmaids & groomsmen) take 20-60 minutes (the size of the bridal party varies the time needed, as well as if you’re doing a first look or not)
On average, family photos take 30-60 minutes
On average, ceremonies are anywhere from 20-60 minutes, depending on special traditions, readings, etc.
Look at SUNSET time prior to setting your ceremony start time.
Decide whether or not you want to do a first look.

Now, with the time needed for formal photos considered, deciding whether you WILL or WILL NOT do a first look will drastically affect what time your ceremony will need to start IF you want all of your formal photos to be taken in natural daylight (what all of the formal photos I take look like) and NOT with a flash after the sun has set.

Here are 2 sample timelines based on 5 key factors:

sunset time
ceremony time
venue location (next to the beach, behind a mountain, etc)
first look
whether bridal party & family photos are before or after the ceremony end time

What you will want to do PRIOR to setting your ceremony start time is to look up the sunset time for your wedding venue location on the day of your wedding, then build your timeline around time based on the time needed for specific photos and events.

SPRING WEDDING TIMELINE (March-June)

-Sunset Time: 7:00/7:30pm

SUMMER WEDDING TIMELINE (June-September)

-Sunset Time: 7:30/8:00pm

FALL WEDDING TIMELINE (September- November)

- Sunset Time: 4:30/6:30pm

WINTER WEDDING TIMELINE (December- March)

-Sunset Time: 5:00/5:30pm

I hope this helps you to plan your perfect wedding day timeline based on exactly how you envisioned your wedding day and photos! If you’re unsure about the time needed for specific photos or your ceremony, make sure to reach out to your photographer and wedding coordinator before you make any final decisions.

November 21, 2019

Why An Engagement Session Matters

by Jessica DiBella in Wedding Tips

He just popped the question, you’ve been flashing your left hand any opportunity you get and now it’s crunch time to plan the big day! After booking your venue and date-YAY! The next on your list should be your wedding photographer. Chances are, you’ve had your eye on a few since before you got engaged (it’s ok, your secret is safe with me). The light, the emotions, the chemistry and the joy— all exuding from this photographer’s portfolio of happily married couples! Let me share a little secret with you— 8 out of 10 couples I photograph tell me upon inquiring that:

A) They’re “super awkward in front of the camera”

B) They hate taking photos

MOST people have not spent a lot of time in front of the camera (selfies don’t count), so it’s totally normal to not feel 100% comfortable at the idea of having hundreds of photos focused on you. You want to know one of the biggest ways you overcome & get rad emotion/joy/romantic filled photos on your wedding day? Aside from booking a great photographer you love— you book an engagement session WITH THEM. I’ve never had a couple regret doing an engagement session before the big day! Even though it might be a couple hundred extra on the wedding package or maybe even your cousin who is a hobbyist photographer offered to do them for free (sweet deal, right?)… there are 7 big reasons why it matters to do an engagement session with your wedding photographer:

1) It helps you to get to know your wedding photographer. Think about it— they’re with you ALL day on your wedding, up close, capturing every moment and emotion that unfolds. The last thing you would want is for it to feel like a blind date on the most important and emotion filled day of your life.

2) It helps your wedding photographer get to YOU. Photographing the two of you before the big day is super helpful for your photographer to get to know your personalities, your inside jokes, if your shy or outgoing, if you have a “side” you prefer to be photographed from, if you enjoy moodier/serious poses or playful/laughing ones, get to know your love story, as well as to get an idea the best way to lead you & guide you through photos on your wedding day. Its basically like a first REAL date, but with your photographer.

3) It will help you to be more comfortable in front of the camera. After doing your engagement session, you’ll know what to expect on your wedding… basically like muscle memory for the two of you during your formal photos. A lot of couples get anxious, while having their photos taken, which can sometimes come out in the photos. During an engagement session, your photographer can show you glimpses of your photos during the session (because there’s no rush) to not only put your mind at ease, but to reassure you that you guys GOT THIS. The majority of grooms that do an engagement session with their bride-to-be end up telling me how glad they did it, how much fun they had and how much it helped ease their anxiety for photos on their wedding day. Theres a reason why they say “practice makes perfect” and although perfection isn’t the goal, feeling comfortable is.

4) It will help you to be fully present on your wedding day. With knowing how your wedding photographer takes photos and already knowing how you’ll look in them— you’ll have one less thing to be anxious about on your wedding day. Doing so will allow you to be able to be fully present— focusing on your new spouse and all of the friends & family there to celebrate with you!

5) You’ll have RAD photos for all wedding needs. Your wedding website, save the dates, a custom guest book and photos to display around your reception. Engagement photos fulfill the need for all of these AND they’ll look similar to the style & coloring of the photos from your wedding— I’m all about similar flow & consistency. It’s also a plus that you can print them for family members in advance (think birthdays, mothers day, Christmas, etc).

6) You can use your engagement session as a hair & make up trial. Professional photos versus cellphone photos are completely different. It’s super helpful to see and be able to imagine how you’ll look in your wedding photos done by your wedding photographer with a particular hair style and make up done, if you use your engagement session for a trial run.

7) Lastly, getting engaged is a milestone worth celebrating & capturing in it’s own! Have fun, incorporate different outfits, your personalities, hobbies or things you enjoy doing together (think IN N OUT burger, going to the fair, a baseball field). Your engagement session can be classic & timeless in nature or at the beach OR it can be fun, different and quirky— that’s the perk of doing engagement photos! You have the time, space and opportunity to personalize the session to you two.

Hope this helps encourage you to book an engagement session with your wedding photographer!

October 14, 2019

What Are Wedding Vows?

by Jessica DiBella in Marriage Advice, Wedding Tips

“Until death do us part..”

Probably one of the most romanticized lines of wedding vows that there is. As a bride-to-be, we day dream about our perfect day with our soon-to-be husband surrounded by our closest family and friends as we vow to forever, before falling asleep in each others’ arms every night, pouring coffee for one another in the morning, being greeted sporadically with a gorgeous bouquet of flowers— “Just Because”— of course. Buying a puppy that is your “first baby”, eventually having beautiful babies that look just like our husband and growing old together like Allie & Noah in the Notebook.

None of these things are bad- let me first start off by saying that. However, they aren’t the most realistic expectations when it comes to marriage and the trials that happen in-between the perfectly curated Instagram feeds that you see of old friends from high school or the new cute couple you sit next to at church. It’s the devotion, commitment and long-suffering in the hardest of times, the moments we feel like giving up, the days your spouse really lets you down & we don’t like them, the months you scrape by from paycheck to paycheck just to pay your bills together, the years of trying to get pregnant with your first baby & crying each month it doesn’t happen… THAT’S when “until death do us part” and your vows hold their weight from your wedding day.

So, what are wedding vows? Simply put- they are promises expressed to one another in order to state intention for marriage, as well as to be held accountable by our spouse, family, friends and God.

Based upon Christian norms, the oldest standard wedding vows can be traced back to the Book of Common Prayer, by Thomas Cranmer, Archbishop of Canterbury— for a little history for ya. Although there have been minor changes in the wording since then, the meaning in the vows of marriage are clear— only death ( in other words, by God, Himself) can end a marriage. Unlike a contract between two individuals, which can be broken by one of the parties, a covenant with vows is considered a lifelong commitment, with the marriage pact only able to be broken by death.

Vows aren’t just cute or romantic anecdotes— they’re promises, a serious commitment that you’re making in front of God and your loved ones as witnesses (hence the whole reason for a wedding). That doesn’t mean that they have to be completely heavy, but they should hold some weight to the importance and significance of a lifelong commitment— not just inside jokes or expressions of love in poetic form.

I have to be honest— I can’t begin to tell you how many weddings I’ve photographed or attended as a guest (although I love you all!) where what was expressed as personal vows were simply quirky jokes, song lyrics, compliments or stories. I get it— it took me THREE drafts to write my vows. THREE! I first wrote what read as a letter, I then wrote what read as something similar to poem and then I combined the two for my third draft. Three pages later- front & back- in HUGE font and spaced out sentences, so I could read between my tears, I had in front of me some of the most difficult promises as a flawed woman, I would ever make and have to uphold for the rest of my life. Some of my vows seemed so simple and a matter of fact, but I never realized what they would mean until the storms of life would come into our marriage.

If you’re like most people who have never been married, sitting down to write your vows can be daunting and overwhelming— which is probably why most people wait until the night before or day of to write them. Although I would never want to sway you on how to write your vows, the message I’m trying to drive home is to know WHAT vows are and how they will impact your marriage.

Not sure where to start? Think of the healthy, long-term marriages you have witnessed in your life and the pillars that keep those marriages standing: loyalty, respect, trust, fidelity, selflessness, etc. Now think about some of the hardest things that a marriage can face and how those vows will be upheld: death of a family member, health problems, loss of a job, loss of income, unpaid bills piling up, having to move, depression, dreams being put on hold, anxiety, addiction, etc. It’s in the hardest seasons of life, that your vows will serve as the pillars that your marriage will be held up by.

August 26, 2019

Top 3 Things People WISH They Spent More Money On For Their Wedding

by Jessica DiBella in Wedding Tips

What I Would Do Differently Looking Back…

My husband & I recently celebrated 7 years of marriage and every year we reminisce our wedding day: the moment I walked down the aisle, our vows, our crazy families, the fact it was a DRY wedding (classic early 20’s Christians), how the dance floor was LIT the entire time (pays to have a young, lively wedding) AND what we would do differently looking back now.

Obviously hindsight is always 20/20. As well as, we were newly graduated college students, early 20’s with low paying jobs. We also were the first in our families to get married, Pinterest wasn’t really a thing yet and we were pretty much the first out of our friend groups to get married— simply put, we had NO idea how to plan or throw a wedding. My biggest priority for our wedding, a great photographer! Even before becoming a wedding photographer, I’ve always known the value of have a great wedding photographer— and you better believe I worked 3 jobs to make sure I could get the one I wanted, plus everything else I wanted without going into debt. Somehow, we pulled it off with A LOT of help from friends, family, church family and avoided going into debt to pay for it. But looking back… what would we do differently, if we could have?

The TOP 3 Things we wish we would of spent more money on:

1) DJ/MC- Mario was beside himself when I spent $500 on a DJ, who also happen to bartend at the restaurant I worked at. He did a great job, given his weekend DJing experience at local bars and the fact I only paid him $500. BUT, looking back, Mario says this is the BIGGEST thing he wishes we would have spent money on. DJ/MC’s can make or break your wedding— they kill or create the vibe and pretty much run the show on the front end. Mario ALWAYS goes up and compliments DJ’s now at weddings when they do a great job and can read their audience, music wise— because it makes a difference! If money wasn’t an option, we would have LOVED a live band!

I still remember being mortified when not only was the long, extensive list of songs I wanted played, wasn’t, but very explicit versions of Ying Yang Twins and other various artists was blaring as our grandparents and sober guests looked around at each other with their jaws on the ground. I’m down to have a party, but I also like my guests to feel comfortable and have a good time too.

2) VENUE- If we could go back, as well as had the funds- we would have our ceremony & reception at the SAME place. Looking back, it probably wasn’t the best idea to have a 5:00pm ceremony on a Friday and then have our guests fight rush hour traffic to get to our reception venue that was 20 minutes away. For the convenience of our guests, as well as to be less stressed ourselves, having everything at one venue would have been ideal. Granted, we had 250 guests! Looking back, if we would have cut 100 people (because let’s be honest, a HUGE chunk of those people we haven’t seen SINCE our wedding), we probably could have had everything at ONE place.

3) VIDEOGRAPHER- Man oh Man, I wish I could go back and hear us recite our vows to one another, as well as see all of our friends and family dancing & having a good time. We realized that since our wedding, we’ve had 5 loved ones pass, who were at our wedding. It would be so cool to go back and see them in a video at our wedding. We didn’t have the funds for it at the time, but I honestly wish I would have done more to try to make it a possibility, without lowering my standards for what I wanted from our photography.

Top 3 Things

People Wish They Spent MORE Money on For Their Wedding…

When I did a recent poll on Instagram to ask my followers what they WISH they would have spent more money on, I received a TON of responses, but there were 3 things that seemed to be a common trend.

1) VIDEOGRAPHER- Sooooo many responses from people said they WISH they would have spent money on getting a videographer. Honestly, I think I got 10 or so people saying this. It’s the biggest thing people seem to regret not getting for their wedding.

2) A BETTER PHOTOGRAPHER- This one breaks my heart, for obvious reasons. I received so many messages of people saying how much they wish they would have spent more money on a better photographer and not skimp on it thinking it won’t matter. Messages telling me that they hide their wedding photos, because they can’t stand to look at them and it makes them depressed every time they do. You usually won’t regret investing in a great photographer, but you’ll definitely regret if you don’t.

3) COORDINATOR/PLANNER | FLORIST | DJ/MC- These 3 pretty much had a 3 way tie for multiple reasons.

The people that said a coordinator/planner said they were SO tired, exhausted and worn out trying to do everything themselves- it really rob them of a lot of joy building up to their wedding and the day of. They also mentioned the importance of having things run on time and without a coordinator, this is almost impossible.

Florist was mentioned for similar reasons. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good DIY wedding, but theres something to be said about people who are professionals and do this for a living— not only the beautiful creations they make, but saving you the time & grief of trying to do everything yourself the NIGHT BEFORE or MORNING OF your wedding!

DJ/MC was brought up for pretty much the same reasons I would have spent more money on one— they carry your entire wedding! The way they guide your reception, their jokes (or lack of), the music they play and transitions, as well as knowing how to read your guests with what to play and when.

Top 3 Things

People Wish They Spent LESS Money on For Their Wedding…

On the other end of the spectrum, I asked my Instagram followers what they wish they would have spent LESS money on for their wedding, when looking back after. Some of the answers surprised me, but most of them, I agreed either from personal experience or hearing from friends of mine after their wedding was all said and done.

1) WEDDING DRESS- Don’t get it twisted, I had a couple past bride’s who wrote in saying their dress was worth EVERY PENNY, BUT the majority of people who responded to this question said they wish they would of spent less money on their wedding dress— because what the heck are you gonna do with it after?! I’m just going to say this— if you’re thinking of spending MORE money on your wedding dress than your photography, I hope your dress will be able bring back the same memories & be passed on for generations to come after you’ve passed away like your photos would. That’s my one comment & I’ll leave it at that :)

2) DECORATIONS- I love me some pretty decor, but with the pressure of Pinterest and every other wedding blog sharing the most recent trends every month for weddings, sometimes decor gets the front seat & most attention, while everything else gets lost in the background on a wedding day. Decorations were the second most popular item people wish they would have spent LESS money on for their wedding.

3) THE CAKE- All my cake making/ baker friends, don’t hate me! But the third thing people said they spent too much money on for their wedding was the cake. Yummy cake is the BEST, but unfortunately it DOES get wasted A LOT at weddings. Think about it- you cut the cake, then everyone is brought out on to the dance floor to groove, all the while it gets sliced up and set out on tables to sit & not be eaten except for Aunt Sue who doesn’t like dancing. I can honestly see & understand why couples are now starting to lean in the direction of less traditional desserts that their guests can just grab and eat: cupcake, mini desserts, donuts, etc.

I hope if you’re currently planning your wedding that you find this blog helpful! Take it from me and ALL the other people who already planned a wedding. There are things you WON’T regret spending money on for your wedding, because it’s an INVESTMENT and theres things you can probably sleep on and discover that its really not THAT important. At the end of the day, what’s most important is that you’re getting married! As I always say, KEEP THE MAIN THING, THE MAIN THING <3

July 22, 2019

Waiting Until The Ceremony vs First Look

by Jessica DiBella in Wedding Tips

The most epic part of your wedding day- the moment you both lay eyes on each other for the first time. The question is- will you wait until the ceremony or do a first look prior? “Which one is better” you might ask? Well, there are PROS and CONS to both, considering what is a priority on your wedding day, as well as your personality types.

Let me first start out by saying, my husband and myself decided to wait until our ceremony to see each other. We’re both very outgoing people and it was a priority to share that moment with our loved ones who we had hand picked to be at our ceremony. We still LOVE having waited to see each other and treasure that moment & our ceremony most from our wedding day. From a photo perspective of a past bride myself, this did cut down the time we would have AFTER our ceremony to do photos, but it was worth the compromise for us on our special day. However, this is not always the case for couples. Here are some PROS, CONS and list of tips based on my experience as a past bride, as well as being a wedding photographer.

WAITING UNTIL THE CEREMONY is the traditional way for a bride and groom to first see each other on their wedding day. The scene is set, the processional music has begun and everyone builds with anticipation as they look back and forth between the approaching bride and the emotional groom. Theres truly nothing like it and quite honestly, one of my favorite parts of a wedding as a seasoned wedding guest, but is it the right choice for everyone?

Traditional
Can lead to the bride and groom being more emotional & tearful when they first see each other, but not always.
Considered a special & magical moment.
Allows for family and friends to take part in the special moment.
However, can cut time short for photos after the ceremony.
Can prevent from being able to enjoy cocktail hour at all (due to doing all your photos after).
For those who don’t mind being emotional in front of their guests, waiting until the ceremony won’t be a big deal.
Outgoing personalities don’t usually mind waiting until the ceremony to see each other.
Can be overwhelming due to having a figurative spot light on each of you (then again, when is the spot light NOT on you during your wedding?)

FIRST LOOKS aren’t a new trend, but they’re definitely not traditional. With Pinterest & Wedding Blogs becoming an increasingly popular source for wedding inspiration, first looks have slowly started to become the norm for younger couples. Why is that? Well, the reasons range from easing nerves to having more time for photos and time with guests after the ceremony. Is a first look right for you?

Non-traditional
If you want to ease nerves, but don’t want to see each other, a “No Look” prayer is beautiful & intimate moment you two can share.
Allows for more time for photos (flexibility to take photos before & after the ceremony OR all of them before).
Allow for natural light wedding portraits before the ceremony, if you have a late ceremony around sunset.
Some couples have expressed that their first look felt “awkward”, due to not knowing what to do- especially with the heightened expectation by Instagram, guests & sometimes the bride for most grooms to cry at the first look.
Can allow for a personal, private moment for a bride & groom prior to the ceremony.
Seeing each other before can ease nerves for couples who don’t like a lot of attention on them or don’t feel like they can get through their personal vows in front of their guests.
Good option for couples that are shy or quiet.
By having flexibility to get photos done before the ceremony, couples have the possible opportunity to spend time with guests at cocktail hour.
Doesn’t necessarily take away an emotional response at the ceremony, as some brides may worry it will.
If you don’t do a first look with your husband to be, you can always do one with your Dad and/or Mom.

Whether waiting until your ceremony or having a first look, it’s personal choice and one that I don’t try to pressure my couples either way, unless its absolutely necessarily for the sake of time or lighting. Whichever one you decide, your day will still be beautiful & magical!

July 1, 2019

Avoidable Stress on Your Wedding Day

by Jessica DiBella in Wedding Tips

Time Reserved for Getting Ready

It’s the beginning of the day and your chillin in your hotel room with your girls nibbling on bagels & sipping champagne, while jamming out to your favorite high school tunes. There’s SO MUCH TIME until your first look- there’s no way you’ll run behind or be late… right?

I’ve found that the beginning of the day usually sets the mood & stress level for the remainder of the day (or at least until your ceremony is over)… in a good way or bad. Making sure your hair and make up regiment is running on time and according to the timeline created by your coordinator and photographer is essential. Being behind schedule can turn a fun, exciting morning into a stressful one quickly- which quite honestly, it’s such a bummer! It breaks my heart every time I see bride’s realize how behind schedule they are and then their mood immediately shifts from joyful and playful to serious and quiet.

Seeing brides run into the same issues time and time again with staying on time with getting ready, I always give this advice ahead of time…

Easy steps to avoid stress, while getting ready and not following behind for the rest of your special day:

Hire experienced professionals that you trust. 9 times out of 10, they know what they’re doing and know the amount of time needed to not only make you and your 8 bridesmaids look beautiful, but to also keep everything on time. (Check out my vendor recommendations for top notch vendors)
Do a trial run prior to your wedding day. This avoids make up or hair mishaps or disappointments, and eases your mind to know what to expect.
Cushion Time- the biggest advice I give my brides. Trust me- you would much rather have time to relax, sip some champagne, go over your vows and take some adorable robe photos with your girls than be rushing to jump into your dress or stressing out about getting to your First Look on time.

Time Reserved for Formal Family Photos

Family photos can be THE most stressful part of your wedding day— coming from a past bride bride myself and many brides I have talked to—but it doesn’t have to be! Your family is EXCITED for you two, which can come across in different ways post-ceremony and sometimes cause undue stress. Formal family photos will guaranteed be some of the most printed photos from your wedding, so it’s important to give them the time and attention needed, without robbing you of your joy, cloud 9 high and time left for your bride & groom portraits.

By using these tips, you’ll be able to enjoy your family photos and have them done in a timely manner.

Have a clear, agreed upon family photo list in advance. Make sure this list is communicated to your photographer in advance.
If you’re not doing a first look, you’ll have less time for photos after family photos are done post ceremony. In this case, scale down your list and do immediate family (parents, siblings, grandparents). Set aside a time during your reception after events where you photographer can grab you and your extended family for some additional photos.
Family photos tend to take a significant amount of time. In my wedding day questionnaire I send out to my couples prior to their wedding day, I let them know that on average, immediate family photos take 20-30 minutes minimum. For each additional family photo requested, add 5-10 minutes.
Have a designated family member to grab family members who might wander off to the bar or to mingle post ceremony, so you’re not waiting around during family photos.
Let family members know PRIOR to the end of the ceremony that they will be in formal family photos.
Reassure family members that you will share the family photos with them after you receive your gallery, so they’re not concerned about hovering behind your photographer & snapping cellphone photos that can distract and cause family members to look in different directions.
Let your photographer know the family dynamics in advance to help avoid embarrassing them or anyone in your family. Example: divorced parents, deceased parent, strained relationship or estranged immediate family member.
Trust your photographer on the location they’ve chosen for family photos. They have your best interest at heart and want a clean, clear and solid backdrop for your formal family photos to be timeless for years to come.

Don’t know where to start with creating your family photo list?

Here’s a good basic list to work off of:

Jessica Di Bella Photography Family Photo List.jpg

June 24, 2019

Choosing Vendors You Trust

by Jessica DiBella in Wedding Tips

So you’ve decided on forever with your best friend— now what?! After you’ve chosen the perfect venue and your date to say “I Do”, the next step is choosing vendors that will help bring your vision to life and work together to help make your day unforgettable.

With endless wedding blogs, Pinterest pins and “liking” wedding photos on Instagram for what feels like forever, it can feel a little overwhelming now that the day is here for you to plan your wedding.

If you’re reading this, first off- thank you! The fact that you trust me enough to deem my recommendations worthy for your wedding day, I’m humbled and honored. My number one goal is to serve you two on your special day, providing you with tangible memories to look back on throughout your entire marriage and encourage you in different seasons you’ll face together.

Another way I hope to serve you on your wedding day is to provide vendor recommendations for other professionals who I have witnessed first-hand serve and treat couples with the utmost care and respect. There’s exceptions to the rule, but there’s helpful tips for a successful & stress free wedding. Hiring professionals that not only have your best interest at heart, but work well together to best serve couples is SO important. Hiring vendors that already have a working relationship and refer clients to each other helps give you peace of mind on that “they’ve done this before”.

My biggest piece of advice for every couple I ever meet with is to not only choose vendors you love, but choose vendors you trust. Truly trusting who you choose for your wedding day will prevent you from feeling like you need to micromanage on the day of— in turn taking your focus away from the main thing— YOU’RE GETTING MARRIED!

Below is a list of the best wedding vendors I’ve had the pleasure of working with!

COORDINATION

Weddings by Cortney Helaine

DJ’S & LIVE MUSIC

Elevated Pulse Productions (DJ)

DJ Griff Entertainment (DJ)