Wedding Tips
Having shot over 300 weddings, Id like to think I know a little bit about the ins and outs of the day. So here is a few tips that I can offer to a bride and groom to help ensure they have the best day and that they get the photos they want.
When I ask a bride and groom how their wedding day was, the overriding answer is that its the best day ever and quite overwhelming. No one quite prepares you for your wedding day and from personal experience both working in the industry and my own marriage its totally understandable. At no other point in your life will all those people be together. Friends you’ve not seen for years, family that live overseas ,all here at the same place and they all want a piece of you.
The other answer that comes up time and time again is how quickly it goes, literally it’s like blink and you miss it. As a guest weddings can feel like you’re waiting around for things to happen but as a bride and groom you don’t get a minute and often getting the pictures done can be one of the only times of the day where it’s just the two of you. So embrace that time and plan to have moments throughout the day. Make time to go round your guests together, it may sound simple but the day really is a whirlwind.
Allow time, some couples want their drinks receptions to be quick as they want everyone sat down and fed as quick as possible. Remember you will be busy during this time so allow yourselves at least 30 minutes to breathe. I’d recommend upwards of an hour and a half. If you are running late for whatever reason, an hour can be way too short.
Think about the light on the day, this only really applies for winter weddings but. If there’s limited daylight hours make the most of it, it’ll help the photography. Think about when sunset is, if you want the golden photos we’d be looking at going out for pictures an hour before sunset, bear that in mind when thinking about first dance times or wedding breakfast timings.
Embrace the day, what will be will be. If it rains, it rains, if your dress gets mud on it, it gets mud on it. Don’t let it spoil your day just have fun. The bride and groom set the tone for the day so if you want a party make sure you are on the dance floor and everyone will follow your lead.
Nobody likes standing around for group shots…. Least of all the bride and groom. Whether you want to have 4 or 20 it is always worth preparing anyone who you want to be in a photo and ensuring that when group photographs are happening they don’t go to the bar or the toilet. Having an usher on hand to help round up the troops can be advantageous.
I want great candid pictures. Getting candid shots is one of the strongest areas to my photography coverage but the best candid shots always happen when people are preoccupied doing something else, that’s why speeches can be so good for this. But at every wedding there is always a lull, between the end of the wedding breakfast and the beginning of the evening do. Why not fill that time with a magician, they are brilliant and are guaranteed to have your friends fascinated and laughing. If not a magician some kind of garden games, mini olympics, welly throwing. Anything that gets a bit of crowd participation and makes for some great photographs.