By Emily Schmutz of www.keepingcomposurephoto.com
When I first see my couples on their wedding day, I always ask: “How are you feeling? …Are you breathing?!” (Oh, silly altitude jokes!)
And then again, after the ceremony: “Still breathing?”
Here’s the thing: I don’t really mean, “Are you alive? Are you out of breath? Is your dress to tight?” I want to remind every bride & groom to breathe in deep and take in the moments.
Look around at everybody who chose to be here on your day to support the two of you. Look at one another – really see one another on your wedding day. Smell the air outdoors: is a storm rolling in? Are the pine trees fresh and fragrant? Are there snowflakes falling during your ceremony? Find grace in the little things that go wrong (something will go wrong) and find joy in between all of your scheduled events.
Pencil some time into your schedule to have five or ten minutes alone with your new spouse. Hold hands, take some big, deep breaths, cry, pray, giggle, jump up and down, drink some champagne… do whatever it is that you two need to for yourselves in those minutes. Enjoy your time together before heading back to your guests.
Trust your photographer (and videographer) to capture the rest of the day in a way that will bring all of your senses rushing back.
Long story short: Be present. Soak it all in. Your Big Day flies by in a flash, and it’s so important to just Stop. Look around. And breathe.