Getting Your Wedding Published
Having your wedding or engagement photos featured in a blog or magazine is exciting. Brides put so much thought into the decor of the day that we feel those details deserve to be showcased and shared with the world. Blog and Magazine submissions are often done by the bride and groom or photographer. Due to our busy schedules we aren’t able to submit every wedding for feature, and if we do send in our photos, it may have to wait until our off season. This is why we encourage our couples to apply for feature on their own favorite websites or magazines. Publishers love getting the info directly from the bride and groom AND it gives couples the chance to be a star on the sites they like. If you are looking to submit your wedding photos for publication, here are a few helpful tips we have to help you be successful:
1. Go heavy on the detail shots. Blogs and Magazines are all about giving their readers inspiration in planning their own wedding. Any shots you have of the dress, shoes, jewelry, ceremony or reception decor should be submitted. Also, if you have pictures of anything out of the ordinary that you included in your wedding, submit those. The more unique your wedding, the better your chances are of getting published.
2. Be Selective. Most blogs only want about 50-100 shots in considering their submissions. Obviously, we give you much more than that, so you will have to narrow things down when deciding what to submit. When selecting your shots, think like a magazine. Choose the most beautiful shots that showcase what made your wedding day unique and wonderful.
3. Gather the info on all your vendors and designers. Blogs and Magazines love to give credit to everyone involved in making your wedding day or engagement session. Many publishers wont even consider you if you don’t provide your credits. They will want to know who made the dress, tux, florals, invitations, cake, and any unique details included in your submission. If you got crafty and DIY’d anything, be sure to include yourself. And of course, don’t forget to give cred to your photographer.
4. Write something thoughtful. When you submit your wedding or engagement, you will be asked to send a short description of yourself and your day. Most of the time, this is about one or two paragraphs. Give your take on the wedding day and your thoughts or inspiration in planning. Any sweet anecdotes you can give about you and your other half are usually appreciated as well.
5. Don’t get discouraged. Sometimes it takes more than one or two tries to get published. Many blogs are looking for something specific. If they don’t accept you, it doesnt mean that your wedding wasn’t beautiful- just maybe doesnt fit the vibe they’re going for at the moment. Keep trying and you’ll find a site that clicks with you and your wedding.
Some of our personal favorite blogs are Rock N Roll Bride, The Lovely Find, Ruffled, Junebug Weddings ,and Offbeat Bride . You can also try submitting to Southern Weddings and Trendy Bride Magazine, both of whom are based here in North Carolina!
Don’t forget to share with us when your wedding gets published so we can give our followers a shout out. Good Luck! ~ Josh and Shelley Hartman
