
Wedding Day Photo & Video Packing List
When planning your wedding day, one thing you don’t want to overlook is preparing for your photography and videography. Your wedding photographer and videographer will need certain items to ensure they capture every perfect moment, and you may also want to ensure that you have the essentials on hand for your photos and videos. To help you stay organized, here’s a Wedding Day Photo & Video Packing List that covers everything needed for a smooth wedding day shoot.
1. Essential Items for the Bride and Groom
- Wedding Attire: The bride’s dress, veil, shoes, and accessories; the groom’s suit, shoes, tie, and cufflinks.
- Rings: Don’t forget the wedding bands — these are essential for both photos and video.
- Bouquet: The bride’s bouquet and the groom’s boutonnière (if applicable) should be prepped for photos.
- Personalized Details: Bring items with sentimental value, such as a family heirloom, special gifts, or a framed photograph of loved ones.
- Makeup and Hair Touch-Up Kit: Include powder, lip balm, and any other items you may need to touch up your makeup throughout the day.
2. Essential Items for Your Photographer and Videographer
- Timeline of Events: Make sure you share a copy of the timeline with your photographer and videographer to ensure they know the schedule of events.
- Shot List: Provide a list of must-have photos and video moments (first look, family portraits, etc.).
- Permits and Access: If your wedding is in a venue that requires a permit for photography or videography, make sure that your photographer/videographer has it.
- Extra Batteries: For both photography and videography, ensure your photographer and videographer bring plenty of extra batteries for their cameras, microphones, and drones (if applicable).
- Memory Cards/Storage Devices: Professional photographers and videographers should bring backup memory cards and external storage drives to avoid running out of space.
- Camera Lens Options: A variety of lenses is important to get the right shots in different settings. Discuss with your photographer to ensure all necessary lenses are available.
3. Props or Special Items
- Wedding Signage: If you plan on using any wedding signage, like welcome signs or seating charts, make sure these are ready for photos.
- Guest Book: If you plan to have a guest book, make sure it’s set up and ready for photos.
- Personalized Items: Think about any special props you might want, such as a framed photo of loved ones who couldn’t attend, or a note for your partner.
4. Items for the Ceremony and Reception
- Wedding Vows: Bring a printed or handwritten copy of your wedding vows, so they’re ready for photos and video.
- Reception Details: Make sure reception details like the cake, centerpieces, and place settings are in place and ready for shots.
- Lighting Equipment: If your wedding venue has low lighting, discuss lighting options with your photographer and videographer before the big day.
- Microphones: If you’re planning speeches or vows that will be recorded, consider using lapel microphones for clear audio. Your videographer should have this on hand.
5. Practical Items for the Couple
- Comfortable Shoes for Posing: Plan ahead for a comfortable pair of shoes if you’re going to be standing or walking during the portrait session.
- Water and Snacks: Wedding days can be long, so have snacks and water on hand for yourself and your bridal party.
- Tissues and Breath Mints: For freshening up during the day, have tissues and mints on standby.
- Emergency Kit: Small essentials like a sewing kit, deodorant, and hair ties can come in handy in case of any mishaps.
6. Optional but Helpful Items
- Video Messages or Guest Clips: If you want to record short messages from your guests or a heartfelt message for your spouse, be sure to have a plan in place with your videographer for capturing these moments.
- Drone for Aerial Shots: If you’ve chosen a venue with beautiful outdoor scenery, a drone can add a breathtaking touch to your wedding film.
- Confetti or Flower Petals: If you plan to do a confetti or flower petal toss for the exit, have these ready for the photographer and videographer to capture the action.
Why This Packing List is Important
The key to having a seamless photography and videography experience on your wedding day is preparation. By gathering everything your photographer and videographer will need beforehand, you ensure they can focus on capturing beautiful moments rather than scrambling to find essential items. This packing list will help keep everything organized, ensuring your wedding day photos and videos are as stunning and stress-free as possible.