Useful tips for your wedding day

Now that you are arranging your wedding, we thought it may be helpful to share some tips and ideas with you that we’ve picked up during the many weddings that we have attended over the years.

Planning of the Day A church ceremony will take just under an hour before you are outside again and a civil ceremony about 20 minutes, Then the photography will start in earnest. The groups will more than likely be taken at church, but wherever they are taken the same rules apply. Firstly, don’t have a huge list of group photographs. If you do, we will probably take ages to work though them and the guests start getting fed up, It takes time to arrange groups. As a general rule, 6 groups will take about 20 minutes, depending on the size of them. Of course, you don’t have to have any group photos at all, but if you do, the more people in them, the more scope there is for somebody to be elsewhere. So, if you do want group photos, it is always a good idea to choose some - Efficient Ushers. Ushers never quite seem to know what to do apart from handing out the Order of Service. It is helpful if you choose ushers who will know both sides of the families and friends. At the reception, we will need their help to go and get anybody who is required to be in a group photograph. We hate having to stand and shout for people, so please tell them what will be expected of them. They need to be able to exert a bit of authority and get things moving when necessary.

Then it’s off to the reception or beauty spot. You need to allow travelling time plus photography time. When we have finished the photography session you will want a small amount of time to mingle with your guests. Think about how long it takes to get to the reception, and whether you will be having a receiving line before you sit down. The greeting line with 60 guests and talking to each guest for 30 seconds takes ½ hour!!! What guests hate about wedding photographers. They go on and on for hours. We don’t! We work as fast and efficiently as possible. Serving nibbles to the guests will fend off the pangs of hunger. Ensure the best man and bridesmaids stick with you, if they wander off it will hold up the photography.

Discuss the timings with everyone. If you are late everything else on the day is late. Timings, church weddings last approximately 3½ hours from when the bride arrives at the church, Civil ceremony’s approximately 1½ hours after the bride arrives. Agree the timings with everyone, photographer, cars and reception. There is nothing more frustrating than getting to the reception and they don’t know what is happening. If you request photos at home before the wedding, these are best with lots of relaxed candid photography amongst the posed pictures and the general chaos of people getting ready. Please inform us if you are unhappy with us taking pictures of you getting ready, some brides want photographs in their underwear and some don’t. Make sure you make your preferences clear, and don’t forget we will need time to get to church for the groom arriving.

Photographs during the ceremony, we are “professional” and respect the wishes of the person taking the ceremony. This sometimes means we cannot take any photographs during the ceremony. It always helps if you can respectfully ask permission on our behalf beforehand

The Dress. Every bride wants to arrive at the ceremony looking spotless; however, the very colour and nature of bridal wear means that every single speck of dirt will show. Accept this! It is highly unlikely that anyone other than you will notice anything, so try not to let it spoil the occasion. When choosing shoes think about how they will look if they get wet. We will do all we can to endeavour that nothing gets marked before you make your grand entrance, but unless it is pouring with rain we will be taking photographs at various outdoor locations. This will inevitably mean that you pick up the odd mark or two! Please don’t worry about this. Just think! You will be sweeping the dance floor with it all night. Remember your wedding day will be a fantastic experience.

Plan all the detail and if a small detail doesn’t happen it won’t spoil the day. Plan it, enjoy it and cherish it.
We will use all our professional expertise to provide memorable images If you have a query or want some advice give us a call, we are here to help.