How Does A Wedding Journalist Preserve My Wedding Memories?
- Hannah Strader
- 6 days ago
- 4 min read
Wedding journalism is the act of reporting on and recreating your wedding day in an editorial magazine or newspaper. There are different ways that different creators may work or classify themselves, but I take a straightforward journalistic approach to preserve wedding memories.
That means I will be sending you periodic updates and previews, but the content itself will remain under wraps until you have the opportunity to sit down with your partner and review it all. Remember – I'm a professional journalist and I know the line between what should and shouldn't be included regarding personal stories, but I may have clarification questions later.. This is primarily done to maintain the integrity of the story, keeping it authentic rather than curated or directed.
Step One
I begin my process by interviewing you and your partner. I'll ask questions about your life before and after they entered it, what your favorite moments from your shared journey have been, and other overarching relationship history questions. I will then transition into more personal and emotional questions. We will discuss what you admire most about them, why they're the person you want to spend the rest of your life with, and how you envision your future.
This interview alone will inform your love story, proposal article, and descriptive profiles of one another. Now that we're more comfortable with one another, we'll both feel better about my attendance on your wedding day.
Step Two
I will arrive at your wedding ceremony as close to an hour early as I can. I do this to check in with you and your planner or coordinator, then begin taking notes on the setting as arrivals start to trickle in.
My main objective is to blend in as just another guest, except with an obnoxious notepad and pen in my hand. I've found that your friends and family would much rather catch up with one another than be bothered by me. They also get intimidated by the presence of a microphone, so I limit my usage of it in favor of handwritten notes to preserve wedding memories.
I'm taking notes on everything from the playlist to the smell of food, the hospitality, activities, cocktail menus, and all things in between. When I'm not engaging In light conversation with your guests, I'm trying to keep up with my notes. I'll stay pretty occupied until dinner is announced.
I'll find my spot in your seating chart (it is stipulated in your contract that I am included among your Invited guests, hopefully beside your most friendly and talkative guests), then introduce myself to my table mates. This is one point where I request to record conversation, just to help cure some of your dinnertime FOMO by giving you a rough idea of reactions and discussions.
I also record your toasts to make sure you never forget them, even if they're not written down. Consider it to be complementary to your videography, but slightly more convenient to revisit. While you're shedding tears, raising a glass, and exchanging hugs, I'm acting as your eyes and ears to capture the part of the day you can't experience firsthand.
Once the dance floor opens, I try to leave your guests to themselves as they let loose. I'm still around to keep an eye on things for the most part, but this is when I start winding down with the other vendors and preparing to wrap things up.
By the end of the night, I'll have anywhere from 12-20 pages of handwritten notes.
Step Three
While you're whisked away on your honeymoon (or otherwise occupied with post-wedding life), I'll be setting up and carrying out interviews with your chosen sources, which typically includes your parents, siblings, and wedding party members.
This is typically the biggest undertaking of the projects because conflicting schedules can be difficult to coordinate, but I should hopefully have everything wrapped up with at least two or three stories started before your final gallery arrives.
Step Four
Once your final gallery is ready, I can dive into design details and begin building out pages. This can also take a while depending on the amount of photos there are to incorporate. I'll read through eveything and review the design a few times before sending a copy to print and double-checking the quality.
I'll review the initial print twice for design and story content before getting in touch with you about your final payment and pricing for any additional issue copies you'd like to have printed.
Copies usually take 2 weeks for print and shipping. I always receive them at my home in Kansas City first to ensure no mistakes have been made and everything is printed to standard. If you live out of state, I will re-pack the issues and have them delivered to you via USPS.
I keep a copy of your magazine for my records and portfolio, and am more than happy to discuss any privacy concerns you may have. Your photographer, coordinator, and/or venue may also ask for a copy to keep. If you decide you would like to have more copies made at a later date, that is also an option available to you.
Enjoy your custom written and designed editorial magazine from the comfort of your own home or gift a copy to your parents. You can frame it or leave it open on your coffee table for visitors to see. Prop it on a shelf or tuck it away in its preservative plastic sleeve for safekeeping until your kids are old enough to get curious.
Your wedding is more than just a fleeting moment – it's a story that deserves to be told.
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