Ann Coen Studio is a Long Beach Island-based photography and videography team, covering LBI weddings, destination weddings, family portraits, brand photography, and more in New Jersey, and beyond. For more information visit anncoen.com
We love Long Beach Island weddings! Here are a few things we have learned over the 20+ years of shooting weddings in the LBI area.
1. First Look
Deciding to do a First Look is a personal decision that most photographers leave up to their couples to decide, however, being informed about your timeline with and without this feature is important when understanding how your wedding day will flow! Timelines featuring a first look allow the wedding couple to enjoy time together pre-ceremony, allowing the option to finish family photos and bridal party photos before guests arrive. This option also gives couples more time to attend their cocktail hour. Timelines without a first look allow couples to experience a special moment at the ceremony and places most formal photos after the ceremony. In this timeline option, each side’s immediate family and bridal party photos are typically taken pre-ceremony (avoiding each other by blocking time for each side), with couple’s portraits and combined family and bridal party photos happening during cocktail hour. Both options can work great, as long as the sunset is not too close to the ceremony end time!
2. Sunset Timing
LBI brides are fortunate to have some great opportunities for beautiful sunset photos! Whether you pick a venue near the beach or the bay, carving out a few minutes in your timeline for photos just before sunset is always a good idea. Depending on the cloud coverage the day-of, your photographer might shift this timeline feature by a few minutes, but it is worth it for some stunning golden hour shots.
3. Weather Planning
Life on an island is subject to wind, rain, heat, snow, and more! Being flexible and understanding that “weather happens” is the best way to go with the flow and enjoy your day. A good photographer will always try their best to find a way to get shots that document your day in a way that allows you to look back and reminisce on your day fondly, even with a little rain! It is important to consider an alternate plan in the case Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate. Having a formal plan can help avoid confusion and assure a seamless day no matter the weather conditions!
4. Beach Photos
Beach photos are one of the best parts of Long Beach Island weddings! If time allows it, we are always up for a beach photo session with our couples or even full family and bridal party photos! Keep in mind, the beach is usually windier than some other locations and can be harder to walk on for family members with mobility issues. As long as your guests are confident with these challenges, family photos can be done on the beach. With the extra travel time and challenges, we recommend adding a little extra time to your timeline for beach group photos!
5. Using Local Vendors
Hiring knowledgeable, local wedding vendors is key to assuring your day runs as smoothly as possible. We promise, we’re not just saying this to benefit our friends! Local wedding vendors know the ins and outs of many of the LBI venues, allowing for a more seamless delivery of the service or product you paid for. From unloading, to communicating with venue staff (before and after the event), to cleaning up, you will have to deal with fewer questions and less “back and forth” from local LBI vendors than one who is unfamiliar with the area or the specific venue.
We wish you the best of luck in your planning process!
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