10 Ideas for Intimate Moments on Your Wedding Day

As a wedding photographer in the Denver area one thing I am always pushing for my couples to do is to create intimate moments in their wedding day for JUST the two of them. If you think about it, SO much of your wedding day is spent in the company of other people. And while it is fantastic celebrating your love with your closest friends and family, sometimes you need a moment where the two of you can just exist and enjoy each other's company (with me photographing the moment of course!!) That’s what led me to create this article. Come with me as we take a look at 10 of my favorite ways for couples to slow down and enjoy an intimate moment with one another on their wedding day!

Close up photo of a Bride and groom holding hands around a corner, the bride is in her wedding dress and has her wedding ring on, the groom is in a green suit, photo taken by a Denver wedding photographer

Why It’s Important to Create Time on Your Wedding Day

Real quick before we get into my 10 ways to create an intimate moment on your wedding day, I wanted to go over why this is so important from my view as a Denver Wedding Photographer. In short, your wedding day is going to feel like it is FLYING by. There is SO much excitement in a wedding day, and that combined with the seemingly endless socializing, as well as all the activities that make up the day, and you can start to see how it is all going to feel like a blur.

Now I know with my role as your Denver wedding photographer I’ll be capturing all the best moments of your day for you to look back on and relive for years and YEARS to come, but trust me when I say that sometimes you need to just slow down and enjoy the moment on your wedding day!! Setting aside some time for just the two of you not only lets you catch your breath, but it lets you reflect and be present with one another. It’s a moment where you can talk about how incredible the day has been, where you can share your excitement in the future that you’re creating together, it’s a time for you both to take it all in as you ready yourselves to head back into the crazy fun wedding day you’ve both made!

1. Get Ready Together

First on our list we have one of my FAVORITE options, and something I don’t see often enough as a Denver wedding photographer, getting ready together! Having a moment to yourselves in the morning is a great way for couples to ground one another before their big day starts. There are a TON of emotions and nerves you’re going to be feeling the morning of your wedding day. Having your person there with you can be a game changer for a lot of people, and is honestly a really fun way to start the day!

Of course you can still get ready with your respective wedding parties as well, and then afterwards spend a little time getting ready with your partner. Have them zip up your dress, pin the boutonniere on their jacket, or help make sure their tie is on correctly. These moments are so much fun to experience, and as a bonus make for some awesome photos!!

A bride smiles over her shoulder as the groom behind her helps button up the back of her dress as they get ready together for their wedding day, photo taken by a Denver wedding photographer

2. First Look

First looks have become more and more popular recently, and I am SO here for it! There is SO much emotion and excitement that builds up leading to seeing one another for the first time on your wedding day. While it is equally as amazing to see one another for the first time during your ceremony, having a first look lets you experience that feeling in a more private and intimate setting, which can be a fantastic way for couples to capture a moment to themselves on a wedding day.

As a Denver wedding photographer I’ve had the pleasure of photographing plenty of first looks, like Molly and Zack’s, so I know just how well they fit into a wedding day as well as how special of a moment it is for the couple! If you’re on the fence about having a first look on your wedding day, check out this article I wrote about them to see if one fits your vision!!

2 photos side by side of a bride and groom, the left is of the groom smiling at the bride after seeing her for the first time, the right is of them walking together and kissing one another

3. First Touch

For those that want to wait to see one another until their ceremony, but still want to share an intimate moment with one another, fear not for you’re in luck!! Fairly recently a trend has emerged called the first touch, where like a first look you and your partner will meet up with one another before your ceremony. Instead of seeing one another though you’ll stand either on opposite sides of a wall, or with your backs to one another (with some help and guidance from me so no one trips or sees one another!) You’ll then be able to share an intimate moment where you can talk with one another, hold hands, and experience this time together before the craziness of your day kicks into full gear! A first touch or first look are also great times to include the next item on our list!!

2 photos side by side of a bride and groom holding hands around a corner so they don't see one another, the left is of both of them with their eyes closed, the right is a close up of the bride smiling

4. Exchange Private Vows

A private vow exchange often becomes one of, if not the most emotional moment of a wedding day for a lot of couples. With so much emotion going into your vows to one another it can feel a little overwhelming to have to deliver these vows while standing in front of all of your guests during your ceremony. That’s why as a Denver wedding photographer I ADORE private vows, since they let the couple share these words they wrote for one another in a private and intimate setting. It just so happens that a first look or a first touch is the perfect time to do so as you’re already alone together and present in the moment.

5. Write Letters to One Another

If you do want to keep the vows as a part of your ceremony, another option for creating an intimate moment on your wedding day is to write letters to one another for you to then read together!! The first look or first touch are also a perfect time for you to do this, similar to the private vows. The difference is that these letters can be whatever you want them to be. They can include some vows, they can be pure letters of affection, they can be a reflection on your relationship so far and excitement to see where this next chapter takes you, really whatever you want them to be!

2 brides face one another and hold hands while standing outside, one bride is holding a letter and reading it to the other, photo taken by a Denver wedding photographer

6. Set Aside Time for a Treat

If you’re like me then you have a bit of a sweet tooth, so this one is easily one of my favorites on the list! Set aside some time during your reception for the two of you to sneak out and get a treat together, like Katie and John did when they ventured out for some ice cream!! Of course, as your Denver wedding photographer I’ll be tagging along to capture this sweet (pun intended), moment of the two of you! Not only is this a ton of fun, but it can be a great way for you two to get some space from the celebration and really reflect on the day as a whole.

A bride and groom kiss one another in an ice cream shop, the bride has an ice cream cone and the groom has a spoon with ice cream on it, photo taken by a Denver wedding photographer

7. Put Sunset Portraits in Your Timeline

I am ALL about sunset portraits for a wedding day! While you don’t necessarily need to plan time for them into your timeline, trust me it makes things 100 times better. Without the time in your timeline you’ll be feeling rushed and the urge to head back into your reception ASAP, so you may not even have a chance to take in just how beautiful the moment is. If you set aside time for these portraits it lets you really relax and take the moment in instead. Having this time to be present with one another and create this intimate and romantic moment is something that I love to photograph as a Denver wedding photographer, and something my couples love to experience. I strongly recommend setting aside some time in your day for some sunset portraits! Or you could go the route of our next option…

8. Put Nighttime Portraits in Your Timeline

That’s right, nighttime portraits for your wedding day! This is something that my couple Jeannie and John scheduled into their timeline and the results speak for themselves! There’s also no need to decide between one and the other, as long as you’re willing to set aside some extra time for portraits you can capture both sunset portraits and nighttime portraits if you’d like. Either way, I always recommend as a Denver wedding photographer for my couples to plan this portrait time into their timeline so that this intimate moment we’re creating isn’t rushed and they’re able to enjoy it!!

A bride and groom sit on a staircase together, the bride's eyes are closed as the groom kisses her head, photo taken by a Denver wedding photographer

9. Have a Private Cake Cutting

Next up on our list we have the tradition of the couple cutting the wedding cake together, only this time we’re going to make it a private moment for just the two of you! Rather than making this a large event for your guests to see, a fun and intimate option is to turn the cake cutting into a private experience for just the newlyweds!! This lets you have a moment together where the two of you can have a sweet treat as well as a sweet moment alone, and maybe a little bit of cake smeared on someone’s nose! Glavine and Doug did this for their wedding day and absolutely loved it, and so do I!!

A bride and groom hold a knife and smile as they cut their wedding cake together during their indoor wedding reception

10. Have a Private Last Dance

Last but not least we have the private last dance, which is honestly THE best way to end your wedding day! A private last dance let’s you two end the night in practically the most intimate and romantic way possible. It lets you reminisce on the day after all the celebrations are said and done, it lets you unwind a little with your new spouse, and it’s a beautifully sweet moment to photograph as well! As a Denver wedding photographer this is easily one of my favorite things that a couple can add into their wedding day timeline, and one of the best ways to create an intimate moment between the two of you on your wedding day!!

2 photos side by side of a bride and groom alone together on the dance floor, the left photo is of them dancing and the right is of them kissing one another

One of my favorite things about weddings is how different and unique each of them are. If you have an idea of an intimate moment for your wedding day that isn’t on my list here I would love to hear it and experience it with you! If you’re ready to book me as your Denver wedding photographer send an inquiry through my contact page so we can reserve your date today! And if you’d like to see more of my work be sure to check out my Instagram as well as my blog!!