Stop and smell the peonies is an invitation to slow down and stay present on a day that moves faster than you ever expect.
There’s a timeline to follow, people to greet, photos to take, and a hundred tiny moments happening all at once. The day moves fast, sometimes faster than anyone expects. That’s why my favorite reminder, and the heart behind my work, is simple: Stop and smell the peonies.
What It Really Means
It’s not about literal flowers, though I do love to remind my brides to actually stop and smell their bouquets. It’s about slowing down long enough to notice what matters.
It means pausing in the middle of the chaos to take a breath. It means holding hands a second longer. It means laughing when something doesn’t go perfectly.
It’s choosing presence over perfection.
On a Wedding Day
On a wedding day, “stop and smell the peonies” looks like:
• Taking a quiet moment together before the ceremony • Letting your veil blow in the wind instead of fixing it • Laughing through happy tears during your vows • Sneaking away for sunset portraits instead of rushing to the next thing • Taking a few minutes to stop and journal how you’re feeling
Those are the moments that last.
Perfectly posed photos are beautiful, but the images that mean the most are the ones that feel like something. The ones where you can almost hear the laughter or feel the squeeze of a hand.
Why It Matters to Me
My job isn’t just to document what your wedding looked like. It’s to preserve what it felt like.
Years from now, when you look back at your photos, I want you to remember:
• How nervous you felt walking toward your person • How hard your cheeks hurt from smiling • How safe it felt to finally be married
Because those feelings fade faster than the details.
A Gentle Reminder
Your wedding day doesn’t have to be rushed, rigid, or perfect to be meaningful.
Let it be joyful. Let it be real. Let it be full of moments you actually remember.
So slow down. Take it in. Hold each other close.
And don’t forget to stop and smell the peonies.
Want to learn more about the Kayla Susie Photography Experience? Check it out here: Experience.
0
+ Leave a comment