Your portraits don’t need to feel awkward. Done right, portraits can be natural, even fun — and when you look back years later, you’ll remember the experience with warmth, not tension.

It’s natural to picture your ceremony and reception first when planning a wedding timeline. But the part of the day that most impacts whether you get to relax with your guests — or feel pulled in every direction — is cocktail hour.

Most couples tell me they want the same thing on their wedding day: time with their people. The truth is, presence doesn’t just happen — it’s something you can plan for. Here’s how to protect the moments that matter most.