Felton Guild offers small, simple spaces suited for quiet, solo getting-ready time with the bride and a few select people. For full wedding party preparation, we typically recommend a nearby hotel or Airbnb to allow for space, comfort, and a relaxed start to the day. We’re happy to suggest excellent options within close proximity to maximize your time and create an effortless experience. Many couples assume they need to get ready far apart—but distance can introduce unnecessary logistics and time pressure. With intentional planning, you won’t need to worry about seeing one another before you’re meant to.

We recommend hair and makeup be fully complete at least 45 minutes before portraits begin. This allows time for getting dressed, detail photos, natural candid moments, and a buffer in case anything runs long. Building margin here protects the pace of the entire day.

Felton Guild sits beneath a redwood canopy, creating beautiful, soft light that fades earlier than official sunset. We recommend beginning your ceremony at least 3 hours before sunset to allow time for family portraits, couple portraits, and a golden-hour window when possible. Because the trees block light earlier than expected, timing is especially important at this venue. We always dial this in specifically for your wedding date.

At Felton Guild, a first look often provides meaningful flexibility. It allows wedding party portraits before the ceremony, more relaxed family photos afterward, a smoother reception flow, and increased likelihood of attending your cocktail hour. If you prefer the traditional aisle reveal, we simply reserve portrait time immediately following the ceremony.

Immediate family photos typically take around 30 minutes, depending on how many groupings and combinations you’d like. When a wedding party is involved, we usually spend about 15 minutes on this portion. Having a prepared list and a designated helper helps keep things smooth and relaxed.

We recommend dedicating at least 15 minutes, often broken into smaller windows throughout the day during ideal lighting. Quality light is paramount to the energy of the experience and the final imagery. When the light is right, amazing things happen. Some couples choose to visit a nearby redwood location for a more expansive setting. If doing so, we recommend allowing a minimum of 30 minutes to do this intentionally and without rush.

If the timeline allows, stepping away for 10–15 minutes during golden hour can make a significant difference. Ten minutes in ideal light is often more impactful for your experience and your final imagery than 30 minutes in non-ideal conditions.