Wedding Blog
Portrait time with the wedding party was really important to me. We had to be at the temple at 11 AM, and all of our wedding party wouldn’t be going inside with us so it didn’t make sense to do pictures before (some of them were able to get some extra sleep because of this!). We knew we would emerge from the temple somewhere around 1:15, and we wanted to get a few pictures with all those in attendance as well. We knew we had to budget around 20 minutes for the drive from the temple to the hotel, and that everyone would be driving in different cars and arriving at different times.
All I can say is budget extra time for your portraits. More time than you think would ever be possible to fill, because there will be setbacks. Like how the groomsmen all decided to swing by the hotel and pick up their “party clothes” to spend a night on the town after the wedding. As the bride, I stuffed my face with a sandwich and tried to pretend like I didn’t care (Oh, did I sound sort of shrill when asking where they were? My bad).
No matter now though, because we ended up with photos like this:
Do I even need to explain why I love this photo by Kelli Nicole?
1. Everyone somehow managed to have the same kind of expression on their face. Not just any expressions, but some of the hottest and sassiest expressions I have ever seen in a wedding photo.
2. I knew the suitcases could be a stretch. Would they look awkward, would the bridesmaids (and man) want to haul them around and pose with them? Whether they liked them or not, at least they did a good job pretending.
3. Look at my little junior bridesmaid in the bottom left. We only had to coach her one time, and that was to keep her panties from showing. 
4. Does bridesman Trevy not look like a GQ movie star? I’m feeling a little flushed.
5. We managed to pull off shots like this even though we had to get up about every other shot and allow people to walk up and down these stairs. These stairs are only a block or two from Pike’s Place Market so they stayed pretty busy the entire time.
I can’t say it enough: make time for your wedding party portaits. All of the people you see here are my favorite people, and it is the last time I will ever be together with all of them, in the same place, again. Photos like this mean so much to me now.
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Share this post: Teaser 4: Party Portraits
This is such a neat photo! It’s magazine worthy! I love it!
We definitely didn’t budget in enough time for our bridal party shots and I regret it so much. We have a couple of everyone together, but none of the really fun ones that I wanted. 
I’m so jealous of your photos!
Excellent advice! The photo is HOT!
This shot is hot!! I LOVE it!!!! Yah… it’s honestly perfect and has left me speechless
I love this picture, and all of the rest for that matter! It seriously looks like its out of a magazine — you have a very photogenic bridal party. You’re a beautiful couple and Kelli Nicole is a genius! Too bad I don’t still live in Seattle (I did for 14 yrs.) or I’d call her without thinking twice!
wow, what a great shot… was there something that the photographer told you to go for/pose as to achieve this look?
LOVE LOVE LOVE that shot! Absolutely stunning. The suitcases are an incredible addition and their faces are priceless. Well done!
You are all too fabulous for words! I can’t help but click over on each post — you rock avo.
You’re friend Kelli is an amazing photographer…
I second your recommendation. Despite having ample time (we finished portraits 30 minutes in advance), our photographer didn’t get any formal portraits of us with our wedding party! We were in such a haze, we didn’t realize it until we were in bed that night. Darn it! I guess since we only had one attendant each, our photographer was under the impression that we didn’t want photos with them? - even though we dragged them around with us during all our couple photos sites! I genuinely was happy with our photographer overall, but brides: be specific about what you want - and to pay attention to what you are getting!
That photo is WONDERFUL. In fact, what I love most is that it isn’t the usual stand-in-a-line-and-smile poses. In fact, once you’re done with your wrap-ups, can you post about how you organized all of your shots? Did you make a list of poses/ people-mixes you wanted, or did Kelli take care of that? I’d love to have great pics but I’ll either a) chicken out at the last minute in terms of stage directing or b) not prep well enough to make it happen. Hook a girl up, will ya?
Why do you all look so ticked off?
@almostananderson: You actually can find Kelli in California, Utah, North Carolina, and possibly Texas in the near future. She flew up to Washington specifically for my wedding
@Luvbug6315: I think Kelli and I worked together as co-directors for the entire shoot. My advice would be to use key phrases like “vogue, sassy, hot” etc, and make sure that everyone in the photo knows what kind of attitude and face they should be portraying at the appropriate time. Kelli also did a tiny bit of directing, saying things like “Your panties are showing” and “Move that left arm”. The stairs were really helpful because they helped give levels and dimension without a lot of effort.
@Erin: Oh man! I haven’t thought of any photos that we missed out on yet, other than that fact that I didn’t spend as much time in the photo booth as I would have liked. I didn’t give my photographer a shot list, but I had the day really well planned out and so I knew where I wanted to be at what point and I made sure to budget this time into the day.
@Miss Cheese: Great idea for a post Cheese! I think I’ll do that very thing.
@Lisa: I think the correct phrase would be “sullenly sexy.”
Absolutely AWESOME.
@Lisa: Maybe they are feeling sorry for all the other brides that won’t have portraits as hot as these?
@alexinwonderland: Absolutely hilarious! Awesome comeback.
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Mrs. Avocado, Seattle
Age and Occupation: 23, Student
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 26, Consultant
Engagement Date: July 27, 2008
Wedding Date: October, 2008
Blogging Since: June 30, 2008
Venue: LDS Seattle Temple & Hotel 1000
About Me: Somehow this little farm girl found herself a genuine Pole to fall in love and eventually move away to Poland with. I am an LDS bride attempting to plan a private religious ceremony, ring ceremony, seated reception for 100, and an open house while coordinating for guests flying in from across the United States and as far away as Poland. I try to avoid fads, excess waste, and saturated fat. I strongly endorse photography, DDR, calorie counting, rss feeds, cooking, and utilizing your resources.
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