There are a million little moments that make up your wedding day — some big, some small, and some so fleeting that you might not even realize how much they meant until later. That’s where intentional photography comes in: capturing the raw, real pieces of your day that you’ll want to hold onto forever.

Here are five meaningful moments you’ll want your photographer to capture — with real-life examples to paint the picture:

1. Getting Ready with Your People

Think: your mom carefully fastening the buttons on your dress with slightly shaky hands, your sister trying not to cry as she helps zip you up, or your best friend hyping you up in the mirror with a glass of bubbly in hand.

These are the calm before the storm, the sacred little pauses — the laughter, the nerves, the “can you believe this is happening?” looks exchanged between childhood friends.

These are the moments that ground you before everything begins.

2. The First Look (or That First Aisle Glance)

If you choose a first look, imagine walking up behind your partner, tapping them on the shoulder, and watching their face as they turn around — jaw dropping, eyes welling up.

Or, if you’re waiting for the ceremony, there’s something incredibly powerful about that moment when the music starts and your eyes meet for the first time down the aisle. Maybe their lips part in disbelief, or maybe they cry — either way, it’s everything.

One glance says it all: I’m ready. We’re here.

3. Exchanging Vows with Emotion

You might be reading handwritten vows you scribbled the night before, or repeating the words your grandparents once did — but in that moment, it’s just the two of you. Maybe your voice cracks, maybe you laugh mid-promise, or maybe you just can’t stop smiling.

The way your hands shake a little as you hold each other. The way your guests quietly wipe away tears. These are the details you’ll want frozen in time.

4. The Quiet, Candid Moments

Not everything is planned — and thank goodness for that. Some of the most beautiful images come from the in-between. Like when your partner brushes a strand of hair behind your ear during golden hour portraits. Or when your grandpa pulls you aside just to say how proud he is. Or when your flower girl sneaks an extra cupcake under the table.

These are the little slices of real life that make your day yours.

5. Your First Dance & The Celebration That Follows

Whether you’re slow dancing under string lights or twirling around barefoot in the grass, your first dance is one of those surreal “we actually did it” moments. Maybe you’re laughing your way through the steps you forgot or singing along to the lyrics together.

Then comes the party — your dad’s questionable dance moves, your best friend belting out every word, the champagne toasts, the hugs that last a little too long. This is your love, your people, your joy — in motion.