Prenup shoot is not a prerequisite to a happy marriage. However, it can be a beautiful memory you can keep before you get married.
Glamorous styling.
Wardrobe changes.
Extra scenic locations.
Three sets of concepts.
These are what a prenup shoot is usually about. And no doubt, they look so beautiful in photos.
But then we felt like they didn’t really speak about us.
To us, a prenup shoot is not just another photoshoot. It’s our story, the pinnacle of our 10-year relationship, and the prelude of the start of a new chapter ahead.
We just wanted it to be simple, uncomplicated, something that would genuinely tell our story. 💞
For us it’s remembering where it all started, it’s enjoying nature, catching sunrise together, running our hearts out, chasing sunsets and listening to the sound of the waves as they kiss the shore.
These are who we truly are, what we love and where we feel most alive. 💑
Here’s to that day we dressed up as a runaway couple and walked down the memory lane of the last ten years of our lives. 👫
Planning a prenup shoot can be daunting. We’ve been there and we know exactly how engaged couples feel when asked about how their prenup would look like.
With lots of beautiful concepts online and unique prenup theme of our celebrity idols, deciding how to do our own can get even more stressful. It doesn’t have to be complicated, though.
Here’s how we planned ours and how you, too, can make a prenup shoot last a lifetime.
1. Know What you Want (and don’t want)
While many couples just follow recent trends or what their friends recommend, it is important that you and your fiance decide what you really want (and don’t want). After all, it’s your prenup shoot and not theirs, so don’t get pressured about doing what’s usually done and what others want for you.
Soon-to-be-brides, make sure to involve your partner in this. Men don’t usually say a fuss about prenup shoots so they end up just going with the flow. But it shouldn’t be that way. Ask them what they want, let them share their ideas, and meet them in the middle. That way, planning would be more memorable for you both.
For us, we both don’t want to be extra with our prenup shoot. We wanted to ditch the usual glamour and styling. We didn’t want to change outfits from one concept to another.
Instead, we wanted to keep it raw, simple and personal.
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Let’s take it back to where it all started…
Breadbasket. Eleven years ago, this was where we had our first date.
Unlike now that we already have lots of restaurants and coffee shops, back then it was the only place we could afford. Upstairs was our favorite area.
And here’s a crazy thing — we drafted our covenant here! I was 16, he was 19. Thanks to Ian’s weird idea. What’s even crazier? He insisted that we laminate our agreement so it would last through the years. True enough, it stood the test of time.
Breadbasket has sooo many memories! From our writings and deep conversations about life to the lyrics of all the songs that Ian asked me to write which I later realized he could have just easily Googled, to all the times we ordered the same thing (siopao and mamon) and to all the dreams our teenage selves created.
We could never bring back time but we can freeze memories. So nostalgic to be back here for our pre-wedding shoot.
2. Research Online For Ideas That Would Complement Your Planned Concept
When you already have a clear picture of the concept that you want, it’s time to go deeper into the details. Google and Pinterest will be your best friend here 😊
The internet is rich with everything you might need to help you plan things by yourself. You can create a Pinterest board with all the ideas that interest you and then consolidate them later on.
Other couples research online first before deciding the final concept, others do it all together. For us, we decided on the concept first, which is “walking down the memory lane” before we delve deeper with ideas online. It helped us narrow down our research.
TIP: There are way too many ideas online and it will only confuse you if you don’t have a clear concept in mind ahead of time. So be clear with what you really want and build your research around it.
While finding ideas online, we chanced upon this Thailand-based photographer and fell in love with his style. The majority of his couples just wear a simple wedding look, go around a certain city with the photographer just following them around. No glamorous dresses nor fancy styling, nothing too posey — just candid shots of the couple having fun and enjoying the day.
That was our AHA moment! 😁
On our prenup day, we dressed up in a simple wedding look that would allow us to move. Instead of going around random places, we walked down the memory lane, went to where we had our first date, did what we love to do — enjoying nature, catching the sunrise, running, and chasing sunsets at the beach. We requested for candid shots and the rest was history. ❤️
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On a sunrise hike at the panoramic hills of Alicia, Kristian got down on one knee and asked me to be his wife.
In a way, we wanted to revisit that memory. Though not in the exact spot where he proposed, a hill and a sunrise will do.
3. Make it Personal
While we easily get distracted with a lot of trendy and cute prenup themes out there, keep in mind that a prenup shoot should be all about you. Don’t copy a theme just because it’s the talk of the town or the most unique concept out there. Copy it, only, if it makes sense to you and your relationship.
Make it personal. That way, no matter the trend or new concepts that arise, you will look at your photos someday and still feel in your heart how it feels to be young and in love.
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As you can already tell, we are both avid runners.
And now that we’re standing in yet another starting line in our lives, we will always remember what running has taught us:
- That life isn’t a sprint but a marathon.
- That we should never get scared of starting lines because it’s an opportunity to grow, to see our limits and to crash them.
- That we shouldn’t get pressured nor compare ourselves with others because our race is our own pace.
- That we should always take time to slow down and pause for anything that will refuel our souls and regain our strength.
- That no matter how rocky, how high or how steep the roads are, we should never quit and just keep going, one step at a time.
- That when we feel like our legs couldn’t run anymore, we should run with our hearts because passion and purpose always win.
Four years in running has made our minds stronger, our lives more positive and our hearts happier. While we still can, we definitely will!
Here’s to celebrating every mile together and running towards our happily ever after. 👩❤️👨
On your mark, ready, set, go!
4. Less is More
When in doubt, less is more. While it’s beautiful to have so much stuff, props and styling, you can never go wrong with being minimalist.
You and your partner are the most important parts of the shoot. All the rest are meant to complement and highlight you. It should not be the other way around.
Our chosen concept allowed us to really focus on our relationship and our story. We simply scouted for a simple wedding look that would fit in with our concept. We personally styled ourselves, went to wedding boutiques to find the design and color that would blend with nature, the running oval, Breadbasket, and Amorita Resort.
We didn’t have props at all, except for the food that we ordered and my veil. Nature itself was the best backdrop that we could ever ask for!
”Once upon a time, a boy met a girl, she gave him her hand & he held it tight.
Together, they set off down the unknown path in front of them.
Sometimes they walked slowly; sometimes at a quicker pace. Sometimes they ran so fast it felt kind of like flying.
Whenever he lost his footing , she steadied him and whenever she tripped, he helped her back up.
Whenever she grew weary, he’d carry her.
Sometimes they didn’t know which direction to go, but though they would occasionally lose their way, they never lost each other.
They wandered contentedly and lived happily, forever and always side by side.”
Poem by Kathy R. Jeffords
5. Trust Your Chosen Wedding Suppliers and Communicate With Them
How you look and how your photos will look are two important things that you should prioritize when planning your prenup shoot. No matter how you do it, whether you hire someone or do it yourself, give importance in these two things.
For us, this is something we decided not to put in our own hands. We hired the suppliers that really suit our style. A makeup artist that would only enhance our look, not change it. A photo and video team that would tell our story, not someone who will impress us with too much editing and transitions. This is our style. Yours could be different and that’s okay.
Another important thing is communication. Share with your suppliers what you want to achieve and collaborate with them on how to make them into reality. Trust them with their expertise and give them the freedom to execute their creativity.
For us, we wanted our looks to be natural, simple, and not too made up. We requested for more candid photos. We gave them an outline of our concept but also let them do their magic.
One thing we appreciate about Superseven is that they really made time to meet with us, share their style, and also ask us about our preferences. By looking at their portfolio online, we already know they are exactly who we needed. But by talking to Sir Richard Solis, we proved that our decision was right all the more. 😉🙂
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If you’re looking to get married in Bohol, these are our trusted and highly recommended suppliers:
Photo/Video Team:
Hair and Makeup Artist:
6. Involve Your Bridal Party
Getting your loved ones and the bridal party involved makes your preparations even more special. It’s not about perfection, it’s the thought that counts.
Asking our bridesmaids and friends to help us with our prenup shoot was one of the best decisions that we made. And since our concept didn’t require professional help in styling, our friends’ help was more than enough.
Even when you hire professional coordination and styling, involving your bridal party would still come in handy. They can do minimal support on the background and make the atmosphere lighter. You can even joke around them and enjoy the shoot all the more.
7. Enjoy The Shoot
Last but definitely not least, don’t forget to enjoy the shoot. Being in front of the camera can be intimidating, especially when you’re not used to it. This is one of the reasons why your concept should be genuinely you and something you love. This way, enjoying the shoot will be easier and natural.
Savor each moment, be yourself and have fun. That is what really matters after all. 😊
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Let us end this with how we started.
Prenup shoot is not a prerequisite to a happy marriage.
No law requires you to do it. You can skip it, and that’s okay.
However, it can be a beautiful memory you can keep before you get married.
Should you decide to go for it, never forget to make it your own story. Make it last a lifetime by making it genuinely YOU. ❤️
What’s your prenup story? 😊
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13:4-8
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.”
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