This day is a pretty big deal for you two, no matter what it looks like. No matter if you’re off eloping in the mountains, having an intimate ceremony with just your closest people on the cliffs of Gros Morne (if you live in Canada and don’t know this place, look it up), or having a week of celebrations with all your friends, family, and neighbours, it all comes to an end eventually. And all you’ll have after are your marriage and the memories. So here’s to making sure your memories stick.

Tip #1 – Practice mindfulness intentionally.

Take 3 moments in your day, one could be while you’re getting ready, one in the middle of your ceremony or walking up the aisle, and another during photos or during the reception when you’re with your partner.

During these times, be mindful of each of your senses. Go through all five and think of three things that you notice with each sense.

For example, see your friends during cocktail reuniting after a long time and embracing with big smiles, smell the flowers of your bouquet, feel the texture of your dress.

There are so many things to sense, and doing this will add context to your memories of those moments so that you’re able to recall them quicker and with more depth.

Tip #2 – This one sounds a bit strange, but just trust me on it. It’s all about repeated exposure.

Find a new mint, gummy, or liquor that tastes strong and is relatively enjoyable to you and taste it several times throughout the day.

After the day, put the rest away until your anniversaries, starting with the 1 month mark. Then pop one in and let it trigger your brain back to the memories of the day!

Another variant of this tip is to play a song you’ve never heard before repeatedly throughout the day (and I’m not talking like 3 or 4 times, play this thing 8 or 9 times to get it the heck in there). I think you’ll be surprised the next time you hear that song of the memories it brings back. And how pleasant a surprise would it be to hear it come on the radio when you’re not suspecting it?

P.S. There’s a million ideas that you could sub in for this tip. Perfumes and colognes would also work, brainstorm ideas to make this one unique to the two of you.

Tip #3 – I guess you could say I’m paying myself to say this, but you can’t really blame me, I believe in what I do! Hire a documentary style photographer.

Even if you’re drawn to beautiful, hair-blowing-in-the-wind, romantic photos and you can’t imagine anything else. You’re here, reading this post, aren’t you? So remembering your day must be important to you.

Just consider this–hire a documentary style photographer who can accurately capture your biggest day while still getting those epic photos of you and your lover that you really want. And hey, if that’s not me, I’m not mad about it, just find someone.

To help you in your searches, notice while you’re on the hunt for a photographer if their website has great candid photos alongside beautiful portraits. If they use language like “documentary-style photographer,” “candid moments,” “lifestyle,” or “photojournalism”.

A lot of people worry that they’ll have to sacrifice the beauty of their photos in order to get a documentary style. Let me assure you, you don’t, you just have to make sure you find the right photographer!

Tip #4 – Right before I send my clients a preview of their wedding photos, I will tell them to do this because I don’t want my photos of their day to replace the memories they have in their mind as we are super visual beings.

Write down your memories right away!

Talk about them on the plane–or car if you’re getting married in 2021– heading to your honeymoon or heck, even in the car driving away from the wedding. I suggest writing quick jot notes of stories that you want to remember, comments people made to you about the day, how the food tasted, what the weather felt like, jokes made in the speeches. You get the idea.

Writing these down and repeating them to each other will help them stick in your mind so you are able to have more memories from your day that really stick with you.

You’re way more likely to remember things you repeat to others then things you don’t. So repeat repeat repeat!