As a Southern California wedding photographer of four years, here’s how I would plan my own wedding if I was a 2027 bride. I’m looking at you, overwhelmed brides. The ones who want to actually experience their wedding day but are afraid they’ll be rushed around and not really LIVE their wedding weekend. From vendors and Southern California venues to what photography + videography package I would book for myself, here’s how I’d plan my 2027 wedding as a Southern California wedding photographer.
Southern California Venues | Private Estate or Vineyard
If I was a 2027 bride, I would book one of two different wedding venues in Southern California. I’d either go with a private estate like Canyon Oaks, or a vineyard. Here’s why:
Private estates like this Southern California wedding venue are VERY customizable to exactly your style. Some brides want it whimsical, some want elevated Mediterranean vibes. And with a private estate, you can make the feeling whatever you want. It feels cozy. Tucked away. Unique. It isn’t a DIY backyard wedding. It’s a fully curated design and experience.
If I were looking at other Southern California vineyard wedding venues, I’d consider a winery in Temecula. Somewhere with greenery and luxurious details, like Monserate Winery. I just love how wineries and vineyards INSTANTLY feel elevated and still have so much earth to them. Falkner Winery would be another venue that any Southern California wedding photographer would agree: you can’t go wrong here if you’re looking for views.
My Perfect Timeline
No rushing. No hostage photo sessions. Breathing. Living. Here we go:
The Details
I’d do a first look because I’m an anxious girly, and I like to get ahead of schedule. I’d want to see Justin and maybe do private vows (that’s what we did in real life in 2021–no notes). We’d take a few pics and see our venue!
No bridal party, this time! The easiest way to make your day feel RUSHED is by depending on a bajillion people to be ready and to be in a bunch of photos. No shade to bridal parties, but the vibe for my 2027 wedding is CHILL and intentional.
I’d do family photos right before the ceremony and it would ONLY include parents and siblings + their families. Here’s the list:
- Bride + Groom + BOTH sets of parents
- Bride + Groom + Bride’s parents + siblings + their families
- Bride + Groom + Bride’s parents
- Bride + Groom + Groom’s Parents
- Bride + Groom + Groom’s parents + siblings + their families
- Bride + sisters
- Groom + siblings
Any other combos or pics can be done during cocktail hour or the reception. These are the main event. The ones the family will print. I’m not wasting my time on a million combinations that only, like, one person cares about. Easy. Done. Then 5 minutes of couple’s photos at the ceremony site. The rest of cocktail hour is for SNACKS AND DRINKS AND HUGS.
Sunset begs for portraits. 15-20 minutes of this for me, because I love it. Everyone else is eating dinner. They don’t miss me!! BYE!
Last: Dance and play and eat tiramisu and ice cream the rest of the night. I don’t care if those don’t really go together, we’re having both.
The Schedule in Detail
2:00 I’d get in my dress early because I like having time to do fun little getting ready photos. Jewelry, last touches, getting some lovely bridals in the suite. Justin would get ready at the same time, and the second shooter would hang with him to get all those details. My sisters and a couple close friends would hang with me for fun moments before the first look. Lots of time for candids and laughing together.
3:00 First look! We’d share vows privately and then take portraits for a few minutes. Lots of candids, walking through our venue to go to family photos, and enjoying the moment.
3:40 Immediate family photos. This would take only 10ish minutes because my list is no fuss, and this leaves room for visiting and saying hello. This is where more candids happen! Say hi to family, admire the details at the ceremony site.
4:00 I’d wait for the ceremony in the bridal suite with my sisters and friends! Guests would be arriving by this time so I’d recharge my social battery real quick before things get going.
4:30 Ceremony time!
5:00 Cocktail hour would start while we do those handful of portraits. I firmly believe in amazing cocktail hour appetizers, so we’d devoir gourmet breads and cheeses and drinks.
5:10 we join cocktail hour!
5:45 Walk around the reception details to take it all in! I love this time to see what people have planned and get detail pics. Guests would take their seats at 5:55-6:05.
6:05 Reception would start with first dance! I’d probably skip a formal entrance, just because I don’t care about it for myself. We’d already be in the reception space!
6:15 Dinner served!
6:45 Sunset photos are a must for us. 15ish minutes is good! But if our venue was a little more spread out, we’d account for time to get around. This is also the time I’d recharge my social batter again.
7:00 Sunset Time/finish pics and return to reception
7:10 Toasts (just 2, the rest can be at the rehearsal dinner!)
7:20 Dance! And eat ice cream.
Southern California Wedding Vendors I’d Hire in a HEARTBEAT
Alright, to be COMPLETELY CANDID, the hardest vendor to get RIGHT at weddings are DJ’s. It’s hard to find someone who is actually a kind human being AND a killer DJ. I’d hire Lorenzo in a heartbeat. And I did for my sister’s wedding.
For planning and coordination, I’d hire Truthfully Yours, because they did an unspeakably beautiful job at this Bel Air Bay Club wedding. Communication, design, running the day smoothly–Kimberly had it all. Teamwork and diligence go a long way between photo and coordination teams.
Flowers, baby!! I’d hire Christine Petal Planners because Terah gets it DONE and her boutonnieres don’t make me want to cry. She makes it easy with magnetic pieces. (Seriously, let’s retire the pins, y’all!) Terah starts set up before photography even arrives. Details are done in advance. She doesn’t up charge flat lay florals. She’s lovely.
For photography, I’d hire my Southern Californian photographer to shoot the rehearsal dinner the night before. I’d have speeches at that time, and lots of visiting with family and friends. Lots of candids, and fun candlelit family style dinner. Day of coverage would be 8 hours for me, since I wouldn’t have a bridal party and we aren’t huge partiers. We’d probably do coverage from 1-9 to get a some details like rings, shoes, veil, etc. during getting ready, as well as some of the party. Of course we’d have 35mm and/or 120 film of the whole day.
I’d focus during planning on DESIGN and then day of, PEOPLE. The photos matter most to me, so my budget would not skimp on visuals, and it would prioritize a team that had my style–true to color, lived in, details of the day in between the events, and editorial moments on digital and film. Would we have video? Probably. But my usual videographer is busy that day!
