Putting together a wedding submission isn’t just about curating a chic gallery and having a romantic writeup; there are so many moving parts that can set apart an okay wedding feature from a stellar one. Abiding by a publication’s rules when crafting your submission is one thing, but let’s discuss some significant “don’ts” that could effectively put your submission and relationships at risk.

Not Getting the Proper Permissions

Before you move forward, you’ll need all of the permissions in place to pursue a wedding for submission. As the copyright holder, the photographer should give you explicit permission to curate and utilize their photos. From there, it’s your responsibility to keep them in the loop every step of the way and give them final approval over all of the image selections.

Consent from the couple is also going to make or break the submission. They should be responsive and willing to be featured. Without their permission, the submission can’t go anywhere.

Leaving Out Vendors + Going Rogue

If you know there are plans for the photographer (or another vendor) to submit, you mustn’t go rogue and put together your submission to try and get it featured elsewhere. Dueling submissions can get messy from an editorial standpoint as an exclusivity conflict (and the wedding could potentially not get featured at all). Still, it’s also a huge no-no to go against the photographer who holds legal rights to the images.

Be transparent with your plans to submit, but make sure that you’re also not leaving vendors out of the credit list. Blogs will request a comprehensive vendor list, and omitting any wedding pros can land you in hot water.

Skipping the Collaboration Process

Having the full scope of the big day will be key to making your submission competitive and appealing to editors. Please don’t skimp on collaborating with the couple; ask them about their attire, any DIY details, what they were inspired by while planning, how they got engaged, etc. This can give shape to the feature and help you create an in-depth, immersive writeup.

Even though you’re at the helm of the submission, don’t discount the value of touching base with other vendors to see if they have any unique insight. For example, the florist can help you ID the florals used in the bouquet, or the bartender can share which custom cocktails were served.

Not Following Submission Guidelines

Publications are particular about what they’ll accept for submissions and typically list their requirements on their website. Don’t assume that one blog’s preferences will align with another’s — remember the preferences for the number of images, how many words the writeup should have, any additional questionnaires they require, and the exclusivity policy.

Editors receive upwards of hundreds of submissions, so anyone who doesn’t explicitly follow the guidelines won’t be considered over those who do. Even worse, it could hurt your chances of being featured in the future.

Inappropriate Follow-Up

Once you put together all of the pieces and successfully send off your submission for consideration, the blog will generally have a review period of a few weeks before you can expect a response. Following up on a submission isn’t frowned upon, but there is a fine line before you cross into rocky territory.

A good rule of thumb is to wait through the entire response timeline and check your spam folder before deciding on a plan of action to follow up; never skip the line and follow up too early. Also, be sure that you’re only following up through the appropriate channels, meaning the dedicated submission email or a website portal. Reaching out via Instagram DMs or contacting a higher-up to get a status update is another big no.

Some weddings will speak for themselves and are no-brainers regarding their odds of getting a spot on a coveted blog. But without prioritizing collaboration and following instructions, the most beautiful wedding can get stopped in its tracks. Transparency and attention to detail will serve you well and set your submissions up for success!

Meghan Ely is the owner of wedding PR and wedding marketing firm OFD Consulting. Ely is a sought-after speaker and a self-professed royal wedding enthusiast.