I put a lot of pride into capturing the natural moments. The in between stuff. The unplanned, unscripted, blink and you miss it kind of things.
That said.
Some moments you just need to have. Not because they are trendy or Pinterest famous, but because years from now they are the ones that bring everything back in one second flat.
If I had to narrow down my must have wedding moments, these would be it.
1. The First Kiss as a Married Couple
Yes, duh.
Also yes, absolutely non negotiable.
It is the exhale. The moment where everything you just planned for months finally lands. Whether it is a quick peck or a full movie moment dip, it is pure relief and excitement wrapped into one second.
Needed to be said. Needed to be captured.
2. The First Look
Even if you are not doing a traditional first look, some version of this moment matters.
The second one of you sees the other and everything else fades out. Nerves, timelines, family members asking questions, all gone. It is just you two and a very real “holy crap this is happening” moment.
Quiet. Emotional. Underrated.
3. Exchanging Private Vows or Gifts (Outside the Ceremony)
This one hits hard.
Private vows or gift exchanges take the pressure off performing in front of a crowd. People cry more freely. People say more honest things. Hands shake a little.
It is intimate in a way ceremonies cannot always be, and the reactions are always real.
4. Signing the Marriage Certificate
This moment is so often overlooked and I do not know why.
It is the most official thing you will do all day, and yet it usually happens quietly in a corner with just a few people around. Laughing. Joking. Sometimes with a little “wait, where do I sign” confusion.
It feels human. It feels grounding. It is real life happening inside a wedding day.
5. Post Ceremony, Pre Dinner Couple Time
This is one of my absolute favorites.
The ceremony is done. The pressure is off. You are married. People are grabbing drinks and finding their seats. And you two finally get a second to breathe.
Smiles are bigger. Shoulders drop. Sometimes there is a little extra liquid courage floating around. This is when couples look the most like themselves all day.
Pure gold.
6. The Walk Back Up the Aisle
Everyone talks about the walk down the aisle. The walk back is where the joy lives.
Hand squeezes. Laughing. That look of “we actually pulled this off.” It is fast, but it is full of energy and emotion.
Do not sleep on it.
7. A Quiet Moment With Parents
This can be a hug. A forehead touch. A whispered sentence no one else hears.
These moments tend to happen naturally when things slow down for a second. They are not loud. They are not staged. And they usually end with someone crying, in the best way.
They mean more as time goes on.
8. The End of the Night
Not the posed exit. The real ending.
Shoes off. Ties loosened. Dresses stepped on. A couple leaning into each other knowing the day they worked so hard for is officially over.
There is something deeply romantic about that tired, happy, done feeling.
Final Thoughts
I will always chase candid moments. That will never change.
But having a few intentional moments woven into your day gives space for those candid moments to exist. Structure creates freedom. Planning creates breathing room.
Get the must haves.
Then let everything else happen naturally.
That is where the magic usually lives.