Pre-Wedding Story Session Guide for Couples
Ideas for a pre-wedding session that feels like you and perfectly fits into your wedding film
A Story Session is not really about posing.
It is not about standing in a random field, holding hands in the perfect light and pretending that this is something you normally do on a Tuesday evening.
It is more about taking a small piece of your real life, your relationship, your way of being together, and turning that into something special.
Something that feels like you.
Before the wedding. Before the big day. Before everyone is around you.
Just the two of you.
Maybe at home. Maybe somewhere outside. Maybe doing something very normal. Maybe doing something a little weird. Maybe something you have done a hundred times before, but just never documented.
That is usually where the good stuff is.
What is a Story Session?
A Story Session is a relaxed couple film session before or after your wedding.
You can think of it as a pre-wedding video, an engagement film, an after-wedding session or an adventurous day we spend together.
I like to call it Story Session.
Because it is not only about how you look together. It is about what your relationship feels like.
The small routines. The places that mean something. The way you laugh. The way you talk. The things you do when nobody is asking you to “act romantic”.
Why do a Story Session?
A wedding day is beautiful, but it is also full.
There are people, timelines, emotions, expectations and a lot happening around you.
A Story Session gives us space. Space to slow down. Space to create something personal. Space to film you without the pressure of the wedding day. Space to include places, routines or ideas that would not fit into the wedding itself.
It can also make your wedding film feel deeper, because it adds another layer to your story. Not just the day you got married.
Also the life around it.
The before.
The in-between.
The little things.
Elopements & Weddings in the Alps and beyond
What could we do?
This is actually really simple, once you get the idea of it.
Do not make it complicated.
It should not feel like “we booked a shoot”.
It should feel more like: we are going out together, and someone happens to capture it beautifully.
Here are a few directions.
The Home Session
This is probably the most underrated one.
You do not need a dramatic mountain view for everything to feel meaningful. Sometimes your kitchen, your couch, your garden, your messy hallway or your morning coffee says more about you than any epic location ever could.
Home sessions work really well when you want something intimate, calm and honest.
Ideas:
– Make breakfast together.
– Drink coffee on the floor.
– Cook pasta.
– Dance in the kitchen.
– Play with your dogs.
– Look through old photos.
– Sit outside in the garden.
– Listen to music.
The Date Night Session
This can be simple and works especially well if you want the film to feel nostalgic, playful, warm and a little bit like a memory you already had.
Ideas:
– A pizza place.
– A small bar.
– A walk through the city.
– A cinema night.
– A record store.
– A coffee shop.
– A late-night drive.
– A beer somewhere you enjoy hanging out.
The Adventure Session
This one is for couples who feel most like themselves outside or maybe just want to try out something new.
Mountains. Forest. Lake. Snow. Rain. Wind. A road trip. A van. A hike. A swim. A picnic somewhere with a view.
It does not have to be extreme.
You do not need to climb a mountain at sunrise if that is not your thing.
Adventure can also mean walking somewhere beautiful, sitting on a blanket and eating snacks.
The Memory Session
This is about places that already mean something.
-Where you first met.
-Where you had your first date.
-Where you got engaged.
-Where you always go for walks.
-Where you enjoy spending time together.
-Where a certain chapter of your life happened.
These sessions can be really powerful because the location already carries emotion.
We do not have to invent a story.
We just return to one.
Questions to help you find your idea and plan your story session
These questions can help you find the right direction.
- Where do you feel most like yourselves?
- Is there a place that belongs to your relationship?
- What is something small you do now that you might want to remember one day?
- Do you want the session to feel quiet, playful, nostalgic, wild, romantic or a little messy?
- Are there any routines, hobbies, places, people or animals that are part of your life together?
- Is there something about this season of your life that you do not want to forget?
But the most important thing is to have fun and be yourself!
Whether you want to be alone or even bring your friends. Have a glass of wine at a campfire or go crazy at your favorite artists concert.
There are no rules!
Here you can watch a little mini teaser from a previous multiday wedding in South Tyrol, Italy.
This was planned as a fun and relaxed hiking day in the Dolomites.
But due to bad weather we ended doing a walk, having pizza in Bolzano, going to the mall and playing cards back at the hotel.
Full film is currently in progress.
I am Arian and I love telling beautiful stories in form of a film.
I am here to create wedding films that feel honest, emotional, and true to you.
No stiff posing, no copied ideas, no film that could belong to just anyone else.
Just you, your story and the moments that matter most.
