Photo by Juliana Noelle Jumper for Issue 3

FAQ

Get in contact if you have any additional questions! I'm more than happy to answer them.

Q: What exactly is "wedding journalism"?

Wedding journalism is pretty much what it sounds like—journalistic coverage, but for your wedding.

I attend your celebration as a guest to observe and document what's happening while you're busy being the center of attention. Then, after your wedding (usually a couple weeks later), I interview your friends and family when they've had time to actually process what they experienced. All of that gets turned into a custom editorial magazine featuring your photographer's images and the heartfelt stories behind them.

Q: When do you interview my wedding guests?

I interview your chosen sources after your wedding, not during. Usually within a couple weeks of your big day, once people have had time to come down from the emotional high and really reflect on what they witnessed. This approach gives me way better content than trying to grab someone between cocktail hour and dinner while they're catching up with friends they haven't seen in years.

Q: Do you interview people during the wedding?

Nope! I'm there as a guest to soak in the atmosphere and witness what you're missing, but I'm not pulling anyone aside for interviews during your celebration. Everyone deserves to be present and enjoy your day without being bothered. The interviews happen separately, after the fact, when people can give me their full attention and thoughtful responses.

How is wedding journalism different from photography or videography?

They're complementary, not competitive. Your photographer captures the visual moments. Your videographer gets the moving montages and audio from the day itself. I capture the context, the reflections, and the stories that only come out later when people have time to think about what they witnessed.

Think of it this way: your photographer gets the image of everyone crying during your first dance. I find out why they were crying by interviewing them afterward. Together, you get the complete picture.

Q: How much does wedding journalism cost?

My packages range between $2,000 and $4,500. Pricing is based on how many hours I spend at your wedding and how many post-wedding interviews you want me to conduct. Some couples want me there for six hours and a few key family interviews, while others want full coverage with 14 interviews.

Head over to my Packages & Pricing page for the full breakdown, or shoot me an email if you want to chat about what makes sense for your specific wedding and guest list.

Q: How long does this whole process take?

Here's the honest answer: it varies, and a lot of it depends on things outside my control. What I can promise is that I will be in contact with you throughout the process and I am happy to send you updates.

The typical timeline:

Wedding day: I attend as a guest
1-2 weeks after: I start reaching out to schedule interviews
Interview phase: This can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple months, depending on people's schedules and availability
After interviews wrap: I start writing once I have your photographer's final gallery (this is the big variable—some photographers deliver in 4 weeks, others take 12+)
Draft delivery: Usually 4-6 weeks after I receive the photos
Final magazine: Depends on how many revision rounds we need and printing time

Bottom line: I move as fast as I can, but I'm also dependent on your photographer's timeline and your guests' availability for interviews. Most couples get their final magazine within 3-4 months of their wedding, but it can be longer if there are scheduling challenges or photographer delays.

Q: What's actually included in a wedding journalism package?

The core of every package includes:

My attendance at your wedding (hours vary by package)
Post-wedding interviews (number varies by package)
Custom magazine writing, editing, and design
Professional printing and binding
One printed magazine copy (with the option to print more)
One preservative plastic sleeve
Previews throughout the process

The specifics—how long I'm at your wedding, how many people I interview, how many magazine copies you get—all depend on which package you choose. Check out Packages & Pricing for all the details, or let's chat about what would work best for your wedding.

Q: Where do you provide wedding journalism services?

I'm based in Kansas City, Missouri, so I cover the entire KC metro area and anywhere within about 50 miles without additional fees. Beyond that, you'd just need to cover transportation and potentially lodging depending on how far out you are.

I'm also available for destination weddings! I have free lodging options in Los Angeles, New York, Birmingham, St. Louis, Orlando, and potentially London, Vancouver, and Puerto Rico through friends and family. And honestly, I'm always down for an adventure—so if you're getting married somewhere cool, let's talk.

Q: Is wedding journalism even worth it?

That's honestly up to you and what you value. Wedding journalism is perfect if you:

Worry about forgetting what people said on your big day
Have important people in your life whose voices you want preserved
Want something more meaningful than a traditional guestbook
Appreciate storytelling and narrative
Want to give your kids something they can actually read someday
Tend to get overwhelmed by big events and know you'll miss things
Have friends or family who can't make it but would love the opportunity to immerse themselves in the experience from afar

Ask yourself this: How much do I really know about what my parents' love story and wedding was like. Would I want the opportunity to have those details? If the answer is yes, then your kids will probably one day feel thee sam

Q: What if my photographer won't give permission to use their photos?

In most cases, photographers are totally fine with it once they understand this is for your personal use, not commercial. It's usually covered under your personal usage contract with them, but I always recommend giving them a heads-up about what we're doing so there are no surprises.

If we run into any issues, I'll work with you and your photographer to figure out a solution. In most cases, this would require a licensing fee, which you would be responsible for financially. Worst case scenario, we can design the magazine with fewer photos or find creative workarounds, but honestly, I haven't had this be a problem yet.

Q: Why are all the stories the same in each magazine package?

I don't want anyone to feel cheated out of the content I think they deserve. It is the amount of information I have from experience and interviews that will lengthen the amount of pages you receive in your final product.

If your story demands more space, I want to give it that space, which is why I do not price based on the final page count.

Q: Why do you need to physically attend my wedding?

Part of journalism is to do on the ground reporting. It's part of getting the facts right, and as someone who has been in and been at a few weddings, the timeline tends to shift. Things might not always go to plan, which is why i'm there to act as your eyes and ears. want to make sure you have the full picture of what it was like to enjoy the celebration and watch everything happen from the outside looking in.

Q: Do you cover destination weddings or elopements?

Absolutely!

I think including me in your destination wedding or elopement is the perfect way to placate anyone who can't travel or be included in the festivities. I have a passport and love discovering new locations. I've been to England, Ireland, Scotland, Germany, The Netherlands, and France.

Q: How do I get additional copies printed?

Each issue has a unique page number, which means its print cost will fluctuate. The average print cost is $12-20 per issue. Discounts are available for quantities over 20.

We will discuss how many copies you would like before your final payment so we can itemize everything together.

Q: What is your privacy policy?

Your issue belongs to you primarily. You choose who receives a copy. I retain a copy and may (with your permission) have additional copies printed for your photographer, planner, and/or venue. Depending on what you are comfortable sharing, I can customize the issue for more casual consumption by taking out the profiles, vows, toasts, specific quotes, and names.

We will review this together.

This issue will also live somewhere in my portfolio and on my table at bridal shows. In my experience, wedding show attendees are more interested in feeling the pages and looking at designs than actually reading any content.

Q: Why do you use a magazine format instead of a book?

Great question!

Traditional wedding photo books are beautiful, but they're also bulky, expensive to print multiple copies of, and honestly kind of a pain. They sit on a shelf looking pretty, but they're too heavy and precious to casually flip through.

Magazines are different. They're meant to be read, not just looked at. They lay flat on your coffee table, people actually pick them up, and they're way more accessible than a giant leather-bound book.

Plus, magazines let me pack in way more content. More stories, more photos, more depth. The format is designed for storytelling, not just image display.

But the real reason? If your photographer shot editorial-style photos (and most great wedding photographers do), a magazine format gives you your Vogue moment. It complements that aesthetic perfectly. Your wedding gets treated like the cover story it deserves to be.

It's not just about the format—it's about presenting your wedding as the complete narrative it is.