For most, the lead up to their wedding day is a whirlwind of planning and decision making of huge proportions, and the whole process can seem pretty daunting when the expectation is for it all to magically fall in to place on the big day. Hot tip, it usually does go to plan and the bits that don’t, fall by the way side and are forgotten by the day’s end (or make great stories).
While I can’t alleviate all of your wedding stresses, I can tell you what to expect photography wise and give you a couple of cheats to help things go smoothly!
First up…
Don’t take any of it too seriously. I know it’s a huge day, but it’s a celebration of you and your partner and should definitely feel like that. Try not to fret about timing - the wedding can’t start without you + your partner and no one else will be clock watching, so let it happen.
Personalise your wedding for you + your partner as much as possible. I recommend only doing the traditional bits that fit well with you + that you know you’ll care about after the day is over and/or in 20 years. Don’t fill the day with the ones that won’t matter to YOU. You can do any of it however you like, the whole day is yours.
I recommend putting together a pinterest or milanote mood board that encompasses the stuff you’d love to have in your day. Might sound a bit cheese, but this will keep all your ideas together + help to focus your aesthetic, colour scheme, vibe + photography expectations into something that you can break down and plan out. Share this board with your bridal party, photographer, make up artist, videographer, florist + wedding planner (if you have one). This helps to get everyone on the same page with the click of a button.
Make sure you clear away any unnecessary items that may clutter the photos of you and your partner getting ready, at the ceremony or the reception. Choose a spot for people to put their handbags, coats etc where they won’t be interrupting shots. Less is so much more in situations like this.
Be prepared for any weather. Some brides choose to bring clear or parasol style umbrellas on the day, so that their photos can still be taken outside and they can make the most of whatever weather the day throws at them. Winter weddings are epic and often have more date flexibility - as it’s generally considered the off season.
Delegate someone to round up your family members for family photos so that you don’t have to. It is best if it is someone that knows your family by name, often the MC is a great person for this (or someone with a loud voice). A list of who you would like to have photos together can also be helpful if you have a big family or are super popular.
If you’re nervous about having your photo taken or about showing affection in public, practice doing this with your partner, make jokes or egg out with them on the day - there’s no judgement here. Sounds crazy, but it’s worthwhile and can spare you feeling nervous on the day. I won’t pose you like your ball photos, but I will ask you to move a hand or to get a little closer and share a kiss here and there. I love the photos to be as much about you as they can be and you feeling comfortable is a huge part of that.
Chat to your celebrant about asking your guests to put their phones, tablets and cameras away for the ceremony. You want them to be there with you. And I’ll send you a handful of photos within a few days of your wedding so that you can share everything with them.
This is a big one - ask your celebrant to stand to the side during your ceremony (or at least during your kiss). There’s nothing weirder than a celebrant standing between you two when you share that moment.
The most photo friendly light will depend on the season, but as a general rule, I recommend steering clear of planning your ceremony and/or bridal portrait times for midday (or even between 11am + 2pm in summer) if it can be avoided. The angle of the sun at this time makes harsh shadows and just isn’t the most flattering. The same can be said for altar placement (if you’re having one) - you want the light to be to either your left or right, but not directly behind or directly in front of you to avoid feeling too squinty.
And that’s it! The main takeaway being that the day is yours to enjoy. Do it however you want!
