The whole time Mr. Wallaby and I were planning our wedding, I’d been stockpiling a small folder of must-have photos. Wedding photos are generally gorgeous and swoon worthy, but after spending too much time browsing wedding blogs for inspiration, pictures started to blur together. Except every once in a while, I stumbled across a photo that took my breath away.
Here are a few of my all-time faves:
A bride quietly admiring her dress before getting ready / Photo by Moore Photography / Image via Aphrodite’s Wedding Blog
All of the bride’s accessories with the album of the first dance song…how lovely / Photo by Callaway Gable Photography / Image via Junebug Weddings
A bride almost all buttoned up in her dress—how beautiful and sensual / Photo by Braedon Flynn / Image via Ruffled Blog
A private mother-daughter moment / Photo by Braedon Flynn / Image via Ruffled Blog
I’m not crazy about bridal-party photos with everyone standing up in a row…this picture has so much more visual interest. And we happen to be renting a pink velvet couch, too. 
/ Photo by Gabe Aceves / Image via Ruffled Blog
An adorable first-look photo that captures the essence of Mr. W’s and my perpetual playfulness / Photo by True Photography / Image via Bridal Guide
I ALWAYS look at the groom’s face as the bride walks down the aisle; it’s invariably filled with heart-melting emotion. This picture captures it all. / Photo by Audrey Hannah Photo
Awwwww. Mr. W promised and pinky-swore that he would pick me up and carry me down the aisle. / Photo by Gina Zeidler / Image via Blueberry Weddings
A moment of sheer joy walking back down the aisle as Mr. and Mrs. / Photo by Amy & Stuart / Image via Once Wed
A groom excited to show off his new bling? Yes! / Photo by Amelia Lyon
The perfect shoe shot. Also, can I just have her shoes? / Photo by Erin Hearts Court / Image via Wedding Sparrow
The married couple taking in special toasts from the family and wedding party / Photo by Kirsten Schultz Photography / Image via The Knot
A breathtaking silhouette /Photo by Scobey Photography / Image via Bridal Bar Atlanta
Soon after we mailed in our contract and deposit, our photographers sent us an über-pretty packet (wrapped up in kraft paper packing!—you all know I’m a sucker for kraft paper!) with tons of information: what to wear for an engagement session, how to get the most out of your wedding photos, etc. They recommended bringing a “photo list” for our wedding day to ensure that they photograph everything that is a priority for us. I spend a good amount of time working on that list, but you can guess that all of these inspiration photos made the cut! If your wedding is getting closer and you need some resources to help you develop a “must-take” photo list, here’s a couple resources I’ve found helpful: the Frugal Bride’s photographer’s checklist, the “Offbeat guide to the wedding photo shot list,” and Real Simple’s must-take wedding photo checklist.
I will share our photo list with y’all after we get back from the honeymoon, but I will add one more thing: our list is probably not as detailed as the suggested lists on any of those websites. Mustard Seed Photography is super professional, and I’ve been impressed with every single wedding album of theirs that I’ve seen. We didn’t give them any guidance at all before our engagement session, and the photos turned out ahh-maz-ing. So by creating a photo list for the wedding, I was not trying to micromanage our wonderful photographers. The list was more to ensure that we took pictures with every family member (parents photo, siblings photo, grandparents photo, etc.), since the photographers don’t know our families, and to share some inspiration I’ve found on the internets. And also, I wouldn’t mind a silhouette photo like the one above. 
Are you providing your photographer with a must-take photo list? What wedding photos make you swoon?
Wow these are freaking amazing! I LOVE that first one. I’d love to have a picture like that as well – with that light and all. It’s perfect. Also LOVE the one of the groom carrying the bride down the aisle. That is one beautiful photograph. Gah, what am I saying? I love all of these. Nice choices!
I collected a few inspirational photos, but in the end I figured that our photographer knew her business and would get awesome shots no matter what.
And we totally have one (or several) of Mr. B carrying me, though during our twosome photo shoot and not the ceremony. 
those are all great pics! i like the album one – i’m definitely stealing that.
I could be wrong…but I think that’s a bride/bridesmaid moment, not a mother daughter moment.
I love the photo inspiration idea, I think it gives your photog a great idea of what you like when you can’t always explain it in words! I can’t wait to see the beautiful moments your photographer captured on your wedding day!
I wish we’d created a photo list. I love our photos, but there were a few shots we didn’t get because we didn’t sit down and make a list.
I wish I had gotten one of the ring shots and the last shot of the silouettes. its really pretty. I could see that sitting on my piano for decades
@Miss Camel: Thanks girl! You should def put together a photo list before your wedding!
@Mrs. Bracelet: Awww I can’t wait to see the photos in your recaps 
@Miss Gray Wolf: Do it! We never got around to finding the album for our first dance song (Van Morrison – “Crazy Love”) but I really loooved that idea.
@cbgg: Lol I know… I thought it was really cute though, so I did the same thing with my mama @Mrs. Pony: Yes, I totally agree, I think it helps out the photogs a lot!
I need a silouette picture of myself in front of a window, I am inloved with them and I need to have it, I also like the bride’s accesories detail shots.
Classic and Beautiful! What a great venue and love the ceremony shot.
Mrs. Wallaby, Houston Age and Occupation: 24, Environmental Engineer Engagement Date: January 1, 2012 Wedding Date: November 2012 Venue: Oak Tree Manor About Me: I'm a free-spirited, adventurous girl who loves anything active, reading, traveling, cooking up new dishes for my fiancé, and working on my budding garden. My fiancé is an athletic, intellectual, animal-loving guy with an obsession with basketball and who treats me with the deepest compassion and respect. We are both engineers, and we met at our workplace. Together we complement one another and make a great team, and we are excitedly counting down the days until our outdoor wedding in Houston in November. We're planning a green wedding with lots of Persian cultural touches, and I can't wait to share all of the before-and-after details of our special day
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