THE
Wedding Day
GUIDE
why this
MATTERS
I created this guide with you (my clients) in mind, to bring you digestible information that walks you through the process of your wedding day from someone who's been in the industry over 10 years and seen it all.
Some of the simplest solutions can make the biggest difference to your day!
Small changes or requests can be the defining factor to what keeps you on time, no drama and less anxiety.
So, grab your boo, get comfy, and take 10 minutes to intentionally walk thought this guide together! I promise you, it will be every bit worth it!
GETTING READY
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I know there is a lot going on but try keep clutter hidden and to a minimum. Keep bags, suitcases, laundry, etc in a different room or the closet. Putting a bridesperson in charge of on the day clutter can greatly help. Briefing her of the time we will arrive and asking him/her to ensure that the room is clean and neat before we arrive will go a long way.
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Window light is my favourite. If possible get ready in a room with lots of window light, where we wont need to use lamps or artificial light. As much as possible I like to turn off all lights and rely on natural light where we can.
Don’t forget the groom. Sometimes the groom gets the tiny dark room. He is just as important and should also be put into a well lit room.
Hotel rooms dont always provide the best setting or light. If you can I recommend looking for a well lit AirBnB for your prep.
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Make sure the boys have their pants and shirts on by the time we arrive, this way they are showered, shaves and half ready so we cut out wasted time waiting for them to be photo ready.
We can come in and shoot right away.
If the guys want a cool whisky shot after getting ready please allocate on ‘reliable’ groomsman to check for the correct number of whisky glasses for all the groomsmen and dads( if dads are part of the photos). Often AirBnB’s dont hold more than a set of 4 in their kitchen wear.
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I have worked with many teams in my years capturing weddings and the H/MU teams can make or break your wedding day schedule. Please ask your H/MU teams to be totally finished before I am scheduled to arrive. If they run late, you and your entire day runs late.
Try plan in 15 minuets before you need to leave to go to your ceremony to take some portrait photos with your bridesmaids and by yourself. It’s a few minuets of anticipation and excitement before all the proceedings. I love the shots I get here.
THE CEREMONY
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Don’t plan your ceremony so late in the day. The earlier you have your ceremony the more time with guests you have. You’ve booked the venue for the entire day so you might swell use it for as much of the day as possible. I have always wondered why some weddings are planned so late in the day.
Think about it, you have spent a year or more planning this celebration. Family and loved-ones have traveled from all over the country/world to be there. You’ve poured your money into making this just the best, coolest celebration of your life!
Why stat it at 3 or 4pm? Literally at the end of the day.
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Nature ceremonies are my favourite! The setting, the light, the freedom for me to shoot all around. For outdoor ceremonies, light and the sun are super important factors to consider for good photos.
Spotty sunlight and harsh uneven light is not ideal and should be avoided if possible.
If you are having your ceremony in or close to midday, try and backlight yourselves. This means try place your ceremony so that the sun is as much as possible behind your officiant.
You could also plan beautiful draping or arching over you and your guests to create even shaded light.
If you are unsure about your ceremony light you are welcome to ask me and I would be happy to help.
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An unplugged wedding ceremony is when you ask your guests to refrain from taking photos.
Asking your guests to not use cellphones or cameras allows them to be present and in the moment with you without getting caught up in creating instagram content.
EPIC TIP: Ask your officiant to announce after the isle moment, that guests have exactly 1(timed) minuet to take a photo in their seats after which to put their phones away and be present. This still gives your guests a beautiful portable moment of the day and allows for everyone to be present after.
If you dont want an unplugged ceremony at least ask your guests to take photos from their seats and not to Stan in the isle during the ceremony and especially while you walk down the isle as this could effect the photos I am able to get.
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Your Officiant:
Ask your officiant to please stand (far) off the the said BEFOR you are announced to kiss. No-one wants or needs a bobbing head in the background the first kiss moment. :)
Mic Stand:
Remove the mic stand for the vows and rings exchange. These stands are the Bain of my existence haha! Ask your officiant if it is really needed to have a stand at all. If they insist ask them to move it FAAAAAR away for the exchange of vows, rings and kiss. It is a horrible object to have in the way for such beautiful moments.
Vows:
Having your vows written on paper and in hand selected nope pads make the world of a difference for photos. It really is all in the detail when it comes to beautiful photos and for a moment as special as your vows it is so worth putting in the effort.
The Arch:
Please dress the back of the arch! We often shoot from behind the arch and there is nothing worse than cable ties and flower stems sticking out from behind the back of the arch. Add extra greenery to the back for your arch.
POST CEREMONEY
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Take the time here to enjoy, after the excitement and hype of the ceremony you’ll want some time to eat, drink, laugh, hug and enjoy your guests. Aim for at the very least 30 minuets of ‘down-time’ with your loved ones right after the ceremony.
There is nothing worse for me than bad time planing and management on a wedding day which leads to couples jumping right into a photo/video list after their ceremony.
What can happen is ceremony, family photos, bridal party photos, couple sunset photos, reception. With no time between to talk and eat and laugh and enjoy the day. In this case the couple would only see their guests at reception but generally after walking into the reception the schedule calls for speeches and a sit-down dinner. Which leaves guest interaction to a loud dark dance floor. Not ideal.
Be sure to set a good chunk of time after your ceremony to enjoy any thing from 30 to 60 minuets (even longer if you like!). An easy way to ensure this time wold be setting your ceremony an hour earlier than you might have originally thought or planned. Alternatively, cutting back on long lists of family shoots or unnecessary time on the couple and bridal shoot. Let’s chat through these options and work out the best option for your wedding. I love figuring out how to manage this part of the day to suit you perfectly.
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Keep it simple! I highly suggest keeping the family photos to immediate family. Parents, siblings, grandparents - you don’t need more. CUT OUT THAT GROUP SHOT!! You will never use it. It is not worth the 15-20 minuets spent on rounding up everyone.
Long lists get complicated and are so time consuming, keeping you away from guests and from relaxing and enjoying pre-drinks.
What really helps me so much to fly through the family list and ensures that I dont miss an important family member is having a brides-person or close family member (preferably someone with a loud voice and great ability to round up distracted thirsty loved ones) to help gather family.
If you have any special guests or dearly loved shy family members that you want a photo of I recommend you make a note of that in the timeline that I provide with a brief description so I know who to look out for.
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I recumbent shooting the couple shoot 45 minuets before the sun sets and 10 after the sun sets. As this is the best time for the light. More often than not we will not use the whole hour but I always suggest we add little buffers of time to the schedule incase we run late - the sunset will not wait for anyone so it is important we are a little careful here.
Sometimes I recommend we drive a little bit for the best location for your couple shoot. I will have scouted for the perfect spot beforehand so I will know exactly where to take us but if we drive it wont normally be more than 10 minuets by car. Some of the most beautiful couple shots I have taken on the wedding day have been away from the actual venue.
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Lighting:
As you know, capturing the mood of your wedding is very important to me. This is why I try avoid flash as much as possible. Other than the party and dance floor I try not shoot with flash.
I love candles and bulb lights and a moody romantic feel for reception. Here is how to do it right.
Try avoid using only candles, cadges need to be balanced out as they provide light form below and can cause scary Dracula like shadows on faces. You can balance them out with lovely string lights from above but avoid small fairy lights as they dont provide any actual light. Invest in large bulb lights that create light.
Bar:
Place the bar as close to your dance floor as possible, your guests will gravitate toward the bar weather you like it or not so keep the dance floor full with the bar next to it.
Speeches:
Firstly keep them to a minimal, if you are having a lot of speeches (anything more that 3 is a lot) plan a couple of speeches over pre-drinks outside. Keeps guests entertained and break-up all the talking
SIT-DOWN DINNER: Consider not having any formal sit-down dinner and rather couches and sitting areas so guests can sit where and with who they want. Keep on one table for the oldies ;)
DJ Lights:
While colourd/flashy lights that your DJ provides are fun for the party, they can distract from the romantic mood of your first dance and cause ugly, patch colours on your faces that I wont be able to edit out. If you are having coluor lights ask that they are turned off for special dances.
For the party time, go wild with them!
A FEW MORE THINGS
Dinner for my team:
First off I am a veggie, so I will require a vegetarian meal. My second shooters have their own dirty requirements so please pop me a message with regards to food if your package includes a second shooter.
It is ideal for us to be served as soon as dinner begins so that we can eat and finish quickly to be done in time for toasts, speeches or dancing that might happen during or at the end of dinner. The easiest way to do this is to be considered a “guest” as apposed to a “vendor” Please make sure to talk to the caterer about this so that I don’t miss anything. If you have a buffet or harvest table I am happy to go a grab my own food. :)
RECEPTION
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Dinner for my team:
First off I am a veggie, so I will require a vegetarian meal. My second shooters have their own dirty requirements so please pop me a message with regards to food if your package includes a second shooter.
It is ideal for us to be served as soon as dinner begins so that we can eat and finish quickly to be done in time for toasts, speeches or dancing that might happen during or at the end of dinner. The easiest way to do this is to be considered a “guest” as apposed to a “vendor” Please make sure to talk to the caterer about this so that I don’t miss anything. If you have a buffet or harvest table I am happy to go a grab my own food. :)
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Speeches:
Firstly keep them to a minimal, if you are having a lot of speeches (anything more that 3 is a lot) plan a couple of speeches over pre-drinks outside. Keeps guests entertained and break-up all the talking
Dinner:
Consider not having any formal sit-down dinner and rather couches and sitting areas so guests can sit where and with who they want. Keep on one table for the oldies ;)
-
Lighting:
As you know, capturing the mood of your wedding is very important to me. This is why I try avoid flash as much as possible. Other than the party and dance floor I try not shoot with flash.
I love candles and bulb lights and a moody romantic feel for reception. Here is how to do it right.
Try avoid using only candles, cadges need to be balanced out as they provide light form below and can cause scary Dracula like shadows on faces. You can balance them out with lovely string lights from above but avoid small fairy lights as they dont provide any actual light. Invest in large bulb lights that create light.
DJ Lights:
While colourd/flashy lights that your DJ provides are fun for the party, they can distract from the romantic mood of your first dance and cause ugly, patch colours on your faces that I wont be able to edit out. If you are having coluor lights ask that they are turned off for special dances.
For the party time, go wild with them!
Bar:
Place the bar as close to your dance floor as possible, your guests will gravitate toward the bar weather you like it or not so keep the dance floor full with the bar next to it.
Guide
JUST A
Obviously I'm giving out guidelines and wedding expertise for photography, so of course, if you feel none of this resonates with you, feel not to use these tips. :)
Here are my pointers...
