Michael Saab Photography
Your wedding day
preparation guide
A resource for every couple who has booked Michael Saab Photography for their Jamaica wedding — designed to make your day feel calm, intentional, and completely yours.
Read it at your own pace. Share it with your partner, your wedding party, and any family members who will be part of the coverage. If anything raises a question, reach out. I am always happy to talk things through.
A note from Michael
You are in good hands
After more than two decades photographing weddings across Jamaica, from intimate elopements on the Negril cliffs to full celebrations at Half Moon, Round Hill and Tryall Club, the one thing I know for certain is this: the calmer you feel walking into your day, the more freely you can be present in it. And presence is what creates photographs worth keeping for a lifetime.
This guide is here to help you prepare thoughtfully. Read it at your own pace, share it with the people around you, and reach out if anything raises a question. I am always happy to talk things through — over email, WhatsApp, or a quick call.
I am genuinely honoured to be your photographer. Let's make something beautiful together.
With so much excitement,Michael Saab
saabweddings.com
How your coverage flows
Understanding your collection
Each collection is built around your specific day. Below is how a typical timeline flows for all four collections. Think of these as breathing, flexible frameworks rather than rigid schedules — every wedding in Jamaica has its own rhythm and Michael works with yours.
The Grand Estate
US$5,000
7 hours · Michael + second photographer
The Golden Hour
US$3,900
5 hours · Michael + second photographer
The Trade Winds
US$2,100
3 hours · Michael only
Second photographer available to add from US$500
The Horizon
US$1,200
1.5 hours · Michael only
Elopements and intimate ceremonies · No getting ready coverage
"Every collection is built around what matters most to you. The right choice is the one that fits your day — not the one with the most hours."
The Grand Estate · The Golden Hour · The Trade Winds
Making the most of getting ready
The getting ready portion of your day sets the emotional tone for everything that follows. A little preparation here goes a long way toward photographs that feel true to the day rather than hurried.
For the Bride
Aim to have hair and makeup about 80% complete when Michael arrives. This gives time for the finishing touches and the dress, which always deserves its own quiet moment.
Have your details laid out and ready before you put them on: rings, veil, shoes, jewellery, perfume, invitation suite, and anything else that carries meaning. Natural window light is your best friend. Ask your bridesmaids to tidy the space before Michael arrives — a clear, uncluttered room makes an enormous difference to the photographs.
For the Groom
On The Grand Estate and The Golden Hour, a second photographer covers the groom at the same time Michael is with the bride. On The Trade Winds, coverage is with the bride only unless a second photographer has been added to your collection.
Whichever collection you are on, have your jacket, shoes, cufflinks, watch, and tie set aside and ready. Leave time for a relaxed moment with your groomsmen before the ceremony. The more unhurried it feels, the better everything photographs.
Do not schedule your getting ready so that it ends the moment you need to leave. Build in at least 15 extra minutes. Weddings carry a beautiful unpredictability and that cushion means no one feels rushed walking out the door.
The Grand Estate collection
The first look experience
If you have chosen The Grand Estate, the first look is one of the most treasured parts of your day. Here is everything you need to know to make it everything you have imagined.
What to expect
Michael will position your partner in a carefully chosen spot at your venue with their back turned. You walk toward them and tap them on the shoulder. What happens in the moments that follow is entirely yours. Michael stays far enough back that you forget he is there, while still capturing every second of it.
Why couples love it
The first look gives you a genuinely private moment together on what can otherwise be a very public day. It allows you to settle your nerves, say the things you want to say to each other, and walk down the aisle already feeling deeply connected. Couples who do a first look consistently say the ceremony felt even more meaningful because they arrived completely present and grounded.
The smart choice: portraits before the ceremony
Many couples complete family formals and bridal party portraits right after the first look. This is one of the most thoughtful decisions you can make for your guests. It means your entire wedding party and family are free to enjoy cocktail hour with everyone else, and you arrive at your reception having already taken care of the formal photography so you can focus entirely on celebrating.
Your 30 minute refresh before the ceremony
After portraits are done, you have a built-in 30 minute pause before the ceremony. Use it to sit quietly together, touch up, eat something small, drink a little water, and breathe. This break is intentional. It separates the portrait session from the ceremony and helps you arrive feeling calm rather than hurried.
Practical wisdom for every couple
Day of tips
These are the things Michael wishes every couple knew before their Jamaica wedding day. Small details, enormous difference.
Your preparation list
Before the big day
Use this as your running checklist in the weeks leading up to your wedding. Each item here has a direct impact on how calm and beautiful your day will be.
- Confirm your timeline with Michael at least two weeks before your wedding. If anything has changed since you last spoke, now is the time to revisit it together.
- Send your family formals shot list if applicable. Group combinations in a logical order and keep it to your most essential groupings.
- Lay out all your detail items the night before: rings, invitation suite, jewellery, shoes, perfume, veil, bouquet ribbon, and any meaningful keepsakes.
- Share the schedule with your wedding party and family so everyone knows where to be and when.
- Designate your family wrangler and brief them on which combinations are on the shot list before the day begins.
- Confirm with your hair and makeup artist that they will be wrapping up at least 30 minutes before Michael's arrival so you have time to settle.
- Let Michael know your getting ready room in advance, and try to secure one with good natural window light if at all possible.
- Drink well in the two or three days before your wedding so your body arrives already hydrated and balanced. Sip steadily on the day itself rather than drinking heavily.
- Avoid sunbathing in the days before your wedding and apply sunscreen carefully on the morning of the day. Protect the skin you planned for.
- Plan your meals for the day. Eat breakfast, bring snacks, and remind your partner to do the same.
- Save Michael's number and share it with your maid of honour and best man so they can reach him easily if anything shifts on the day.
- Let yourself be excited. You have planned every detail. On the day itself, your only job is to be fully present with the person you love.
Common questions
A few things couples ask
What happens if we are running behind schedule?
Please do not panic. Running behind is one of the most common things that happens on wedding days and Michael plans for it. He will stay calm so you can stay calm. You will communicate in real time and adjust the flow together. The moments that matter most will always be captured.
Can we add a first look to The Golden Hour collection?
A first look is structured into The Grand Estate collection, which gives you the time and flow to do it properly. If you feel strongly about including one within the 5 hour collection, reach out and let's talk through what is possible for your specific day.
What if we want to do family portraits after the ceremony instead of before?
That is entirely your choice and Michael will make it work beautifully either way. Just know that completing portraits after the ceremony means your family and wedding party will miss a portion of cocktail hour. For most couples who have the flexibility, doing portraits before the ceremony is the more comfortable and celebratory choice for everyone involved.
We are on The Trade Winds collection. How is the time divided around our ceremony?
The ceremony is the anchor of The Trade Winds collection. The three hours wrap around it: approximately 30 minutes of getting ready coverage with the bride before the ceremony, full ceremony coverage, relaxed couple portraits, and then approximately 30 minutes of reception highlights including your first dance, parent dances, and cake cutting. The exact timing adjusts to fit your specific day.
We have chosen The Horizon elopement package. What should we prepare?
The Horizon begins at your ceremony so there is no getting ready coverage included. Focus your preparation on arriving at the ceremony location feeling calm and unhurried. If you have meaningful details you would like photographed, bring them with you. After the ceremony, Michael will guide you into a relaxed couples session in whatever Jamaica setting surrounds you.
Can we add a second photographer to The Trade Winds collection?
Yes. A second photographer can be added to The Trade Winds for US$500. This means simultaneous groom coverage during the getting ready portion and additional angles throughout the ceremony. It is a worthwhile addition if your getting ready locations are separate or if your venue has a large ceremony space.
How long after the wedding will we receive our gallery?
Your edited gallery will be delivered within 4 to 6 weeks of your wedding day, sometimes sooner depending on the time of year. Every image is individually and carefully edited. This is not an automated process and that care shows in the final result.
Will we receive every photo taken?
No. Test shots, duplicates, out of focus frames and unflattering expressions are removed. What you receive is the best curated selection, fully edited, with no limit on the number delivered. Quality over volume, always.
What should we do if it rains on our Jamaica wedding day?
Lean into it. Some of Michael's most romantic and memorable images were captured in the rain. He shoots in all weather conditions and always has a plan ready. Jamaica has a way of making even unexpected moments feel extraordinary.
Should we prepare a detailed shot list beyond family formals?
For creative and candid moments, a posed shot list is not how Michael works. His approach is documentary, observational, and storytelling-led. If there are specific people or moments that carry deep meaning, share those with him and he will carry them through the day. For family formals, a clear and organised list is genuinely helpful.
Continue planning
More from the planning hub
This guide is one part of a larger collection of resources for couples planning a Jamaica wedding. Explore what matters most to you next.
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