There are a few things you can do to avoid tan lines:

• Use sunblock, lots of it. Or, stay out of the sun… but who really wants to do that!
• Make sure your swimsuit has the same cut as the wedding dress. This way you can tan and it won’t be obvious.
• Take a bronzing powder with you just in case. Bronzing powders won’t actually change the color of your skin… it’s more like a base that will match the tan lines to the surrounding area.

There you have it! A few simple things you can do to make your photographer’s life a little bit easier and s/he will love you for it.

“Easy! I’m in a hurry.”

This applies well to weddings. As a photographer I have seen all kinds of things happen and I have to say that taking your time to enjoy your wedding is probably one of the most beneficial things you can do to improve the pictures.

It has happened many times. In the nervousness of the moment I have seen brides and grooms hurriedly exchange rings or the kiss. As a photographer I know when to expect these important events and do my best to not miss them. But if you take your time and hold each other’s hands while you exchange rings, you give your photographer an opportunity to get a second shot. The first shot is made on instinct, the second is always an improvement.

So, give your photographer that opportunity! Take your time, enjoy the moment. Let yourself linger on those moments as they unfold.

Two crucial moments you will want to savor are:

• Ring Exchange: Hold your hand out, let him/her hold your hand. Hold the ring on the finger before slipping it on, savor that moment, look into each others eyes.
• The Kiss: Hold it. Hold that kiss just an instant longer, enjoy it. You don’t need to keep kissing in an embarrassing PDA, just stay there a second, just long enough to get a second shot. But then if a passionate kiss where your new husband bends you over into a dip is more your style, then by all means let go and be passionate! It will be spectacular.

However, there is one list I like to have. It is a list of group pictures that are important to you. This is tremendously helpful. With the list I can efficiently go through the shots and we have more time to work together on the portraits.

Enlist an assistant. Pick someone who is familiar with the group and can help identify people for the pictures and get them together. This way, while I am working on one group he or she will be gathering the next group.

Commonly requested group shots:

• Bride and groom’s parents with bride and groom
• Bride’s parents with the bride and Groom
• Bride’s family with the bride and Groom
• Groom’s parents with the bride and Groom
• Groom’s family with the bride and Groom
• Brides maids and grooms men with bride and groom
• Brides maids with bride and groom
• Grooms men with bride and groom
• Entire wedding party (usually for groups under 30 people)

Keeping the list short will allow us more time to work together on the sunset portraits and ensure we get some spectacular images. If you have a long list of must-have group shots then it might be a good idea to consider a “Day After” shoot or even a “Trash the Dress” session the next day.

When planning your wedding day make sure to hold the ceremony early enough so there is time to make the pictures before the sun sets. This close to the equator our afternoons are very short when compared to the northern and southern latitudes. In November it sets as 5:15pm and in June it sets at 6:05pm.

I suggest the following schedule for a summer wedding. Be sure to adjust it according the time of year of your wedding. I use this page to find out what time the sun will set in Costa Rica.

• 3pm Start Photography
  In this time I will make pictures of you and your family as it is getting ready for the wedding. These are fun pictures that capture the ritual and chaos of everything that happens before the wedding.
• 5pm The Ceremony
  The ceremony usually will not last beyond 20 minutes. At this time the light is still good which will allow me to concentrate on the activity of the ceremony without using artificial lighting.
• 5:20pm Pictures on the Beach
  This hour before the sunsets is when the light is magical. It is coming in from the side and just above which means it is great for portraits. As the sun approaches the horizon and the sunset brings out its colors we will begin to photograph against the backdrop. We can even photograph for about 10 minutes after the sun has set… while it is still very nice it is not as spectacular as the images made at the peak of sunset.
• 6:15pm Onwards
  It’s up to you! Cocktails, dinner or an all out party!

Some beaches are narrow, and at high tide there is no room at all! Fortunately at low tide these beaches open up a nice area of sand that will easily accommodate you and your guests.

However, if there is going to be a high tide for your wedding don’t fret. There is always, somewhere, a spot above the tide line that will accomodate you. Your wedding planner will be able to advise you on this. Also, if you are there a day or two early you can scope the area and find a good spot.

See this Puntarenas Tide Chart for the tides on the Pacific or this Limon Tide Chart for the Atlantic.

Surfs up!

These are are a few things to keep in mind when making that final selection:

• The climate
  Getting married on the beach can be hot. Very hot. A multi-layered dress will be unbearable. Elegant and simple is the way the to go.
• Are you willing trash it? (just a little)
  No matter where you get married get something that can easily be cleaned! If you are on the beach the train will get full of sand and maybe, if you allow me, get wet in the ocean. Having the train float in the water at sunset looks fabulous! So don’t let a little salt water stop you from getting a dress with a train. If you are getting married in the mountains dragging a train (or carrying it) through trails will certainly get the train dirty and will be very difficult to keep clean for the pictures. I would suggest a dress without a train under these circumstances.
• Don’t forget the groom!
  Think about the same questions. If you want to wear a jacket, which looks elegant, obviously get something light. Jackets can work for you and against you. Some people just sweat, it’s a fact of life, and a jacket can help keep it from showing through the shirt. For others a jacket may not be necessary, but could prove to be unbearably warm.

Having your wedding in Costa Rica probably means that your friends and family have a ton of questions. Where is Costa Rica? Why Costa Rica? When are you getting married? Who is going to marry you? What about the pictures? Where can we stay? How do I get there? Just to name few.

There are tons of commercial options that will charge for a site where you can keep friends and family abreast of you latest plans. They have good tools and are well integrated into many wedding registries.

However, if you want something more personal, or free, then build your own blog. This site you are looking at is a blog. You can create pages and write little stories about your plans. You can list links to hotels, travel agents and, of course, your photographer. This is a good way to tell friends and family where they can see the pictures of your wedding.

The two most popular places to get a blog are:

• WordPress The one I am using.
• Blogger by Google

If you prefer a regular website then try Google Pages. Here you can build your own website using the templates and tools made available to you by Google. This really is an easy and quick way to create a site.

So, go ahead, build your own wedding site. And remember to add a link to my site so your friends and family can see the pictures when I add them to my blog.