engagement session tips, timeline guidance, vendor recommendations & more!
Wedding GUide
The MacMeekens Photography
Welcome
We’re so excited to be working with you and we can’t wait to get to know you better over the next several months! We know photography is one of the larger investments you're making for your wedding day and we're so honored you chose to work with us!
Even if you're working with a wedding planner or you're planning a simple wedding, there are likely still a lot of moving pieces left leading up to your big day.
Having photographed more than 130 weddings over the past few years, we tend to get asked the same things over and over again. So we thought it would be beneficial if we put together a guide that walks you through everything from your engagement session, our favorite vendors, wedding day logistics and what to expect after the wedding.
a note about this guide
Thank you again for choosing to work with us and please don't hesitate to let us know if we can offer any additional guidance throughout the wedding planning process! We are here to help!
- Christina & Will
a custom curated experience
We're Official! Let's Kick Off the Celebration with
Your Engagement Session
Click here for our engagement session prep guide
We’re big fans of engagement sessions for a few reasons. Not only do they allow you to get comfortable in front of the camera, they also give you the opportunity to showcase your personalities in a more casual setting that is significant to the two of you. We've created an entire page dedicated to outfit tips, location ideas, timing considerations and more!
who will make your wedding dreams come true
Over the years, we've learned the important role quality vendors play in creating a stress-free wedding day. We've worked with many of the vendors below and we can't recommend them enough! This is not a paid list but instead of a list of people we would trust with our own wedding day. We chose these vendors for both the quality of their work as well as their professionalism on the actual wedding day.
Plan It With Me
Kendra's Events
Ruth Spirer Weddings
Ophelia Event Affairs
Simply Elegant Group
Edwards Floral
Kendra's Events
Dr. Delphinium
Petals Couture
The Floral Eclectic
Haute Floral
Photobooth
Infinity Media Dallas
DFW 360 Booths
hair & Makeup
Simply Sarah Jane
Pretty on Premises
Kiss and Makeup
She Is Art Beauty
Cake
DJs & Bands
Mobile DJ Services
DJ Nate Nelson
It's Your Night
Emerald City Band
Royal Dukes Band
Kim Cake 4 U
Cake-a-holics
Creme De La Creme
Loft 22 Cakes
Delicious Cakes
Invitations
Rentals
Big D Party Rentals
Lawson Rentals
Social Llama Rentals
Royal Event Rentals
Borrowed Treasures
Simply Chic Rentals
Officiant
One Fine Day- Danielle
Officially Golden Ceremonies
Painters & artists
Reception Treats
Girls Who Twirl
Steel City Pops
Night Owl Coffee Cart
Magnify Coffee Catering
Encore Productions
The Original Butt Sketch
Julia McNally Live Artist
Print World TX
Brown Fox Creative
Scribbles and Swirls
Bartending
HD Liquid Catering
On The Rocks Bartending
Prestige Event Services
GORGEOUS PHOTOS + STYLE PRACTICE RUN
BRIDal & Red Carpet Session
There's a big difference between looking at yourself in the mirror at a hair and makeup trial and actually seeing how that hair holds up in the elements and how that makeup photographs. When it comes to being confident in your choices on your wedding day, photos are invaluable!
If you're considering a Bridal or Red Carpet Portrait Session, we recommend a full trial run of hair, nails, makeup and your bouquet. We typically spend 1-2 hours shooting at bridal sessions and it's nice to have something to hold to make your hands feel a little less awkward!
When it comes to choosing a location for your session, we recommend using locations that are well manicured, clean, and have great variety in indoor and outdoor locations.
Wedding venues are usually a wonderful place to start - especially historic homes and resorts that have well manicured areas. We want to keep your dress as clean as possible and still get a lot of amazing images inside and outside.
Many venues charge a fee for portrait sessions. Although inconvenient, the fee is often worth it in order to have use of their getting ready room and other venue services. We typically have to work with the venues on times, but we love to shoot bridal portraits in the afternoon as late as we can to get that softer afternoon light. However, if your venue has strict hours, we are happy to work with their allotted times.
documenting your family for generations to come
This is typically the most tedious part of the day. To have more time for your wedding party and couples portraits before the sun sets, we suggest limiting the groups to the immediate family as much as possible. Extended family is generally photographed in a more casual setting as you interact with them during your reception. On average, we need 2-3 minutes PER family grouping.
** PLEASE MAKE SURE TO NOTIFY EACH FAMILY MEMBER THAT THEY ARE INCLUDED IN THESE PHOTOS AND TO STAY AT THE CEREMONY SITE AFTER THE WEDDING FOR FURTHER DIRECTIONS.
Sample Family Formal List:
Christina + Will + Christina's Parents + Siblings + Grandparents
Christina + Will + Christina's Parents + Christina's Siblings
Christina + Will + Christina's Parents
Christina + Will + Christina's Siblings
Christina + Mom
Christina + Dad
Christina + Will + Will's Parents + Siblings + Grandparents
Christina + Will + Will's Parents + Will's Siblings
Christina + Will + Will's Parents
Christina + Will + Will's Siblings
Will + Mom
Will + Dad
Family Formal Photos
For family portraits, we’ll place you in the center of a large group photo with all of your grandparents, parents, siblings, their counter parents, and your godparents, etc. Then we’ll remove the extended family so it’s just parents and siblings.
We’ll keep removing family members and switch a few closer family members in and out so we get photos of you and your parents, you and your siblings, some with your fiance (SPOUSE! WOO HOO!) and your family, etc. Then we’ll repeat the process with your spouse's family. The whole thing will go quicker and smoother if you let family know how the portrait process will work ahead of time.
When we send out our pre-wedding questionnaire, we'll ask you for a list of specific groupings, special situations (such as divorces or handicapped family members & more), but if you want to start brainstorming photos in the meantime, you'll find our typical list below
Handcrafted albums
the perfect way to remember your wedding day
We’re big believers that images aren’t meant to solely exist in a digital space. One day, most likely, Instagram will be gone, your phone will be replaced and images that you can physically hold in your hand will be the best way to remember those precious moments we captured.
Think about this fact: twenty years ago, if we had delivered you digital images, they would have been on a floppy disk. With the fast updates to technology, you would have no way to access those images today. Even the online galleries we deliver will eventually fade away.
Wedding albums are available a la carte or as part of your wedding collection.
One of the best ways to make your wedding memories last is by ordering an album. These high quality professionally designed albums come in a variety of linen & leather colors. These aren’t the same albums your parents' wedding photos came in. They’re modern, lay perfectly flat and look incredible on a coffee table.
album PRICING
15 spread 9.5 x 9.5 album
15 spread 12 x 12 album
$1250
Additional 2-page Spread: $60
$1550
Additional 2-page Spread: $60
After we deliver your gallery, we'll work with you to order prints and design an album that will become an heirloom for your family.
Albums must be prepaid before design begins and typically take between 4 to 6 weeks to complete (including revisions).
With the exception of printing errors, all albums are non-returnable. Albums may be ordered anytime before or after the wedding day. The holiday deadline for beginning an order is November 1st.
$700 each
Additional 2-page Spread: $50 each
8x8 parent album
thank you!
We can't wait to start planning with you and getting to know you! If you haven't scheduled your engagement session yet, let's get that in the books. Feel free to email us any time at info@themacmeekens.com
If you have any questions or would just like to chat, we're here for you. We hope this guide helps make the process of planning your wedding details much easier and less stressful. We can't wait to see you soon! Thank you so much for taking the time to read through our guide!
for trusting us with your memories
social: @themacmeekens
web: www.themacmeekens.com
phone: 214-668-3939
email: info@themacmeekens.com
Monday - Friday
9am - 5pm
Contact Us
Office Hours
Photo Session Hours
Monday - Thursday
Begin approx. 3 hrs. before sunset.
