SO, WHAT HAPPENS ON YOUR WEDDING DAY?

All Weddings are different – there’s no right or wrong way of ‘doing’ your Wedding Day, it’s your day… and you have it how you want it.

You’ve probably researched ‘Wedding Day Timeline’ and have an idea of how a Wedding Day is ‘supposed’ to go – but in reality, no two Weddings are the same and that’s exactly why I love what I do – even it at the same venue I’ve photographed a dozen times, it’s different.

If you’re struggling to work out how a photographer works out their day, let me give you my run-down of the Weddings I photograph, that way you know what parts of your Wedding Day are being captured – and I assure you, it’s everything!

I love photographing Bridal and Groom preparations on your Wedding day… this is the start of your Big Day and the excitement and nerves are everything I love photographing. I arrive 2 hours ahead of your ceremony time on full day Weddings, this leaves plenty of time to get photos of your makeup top ups and hairspray shots – if possible, I will always try and get to groom preparations as well to ensure you’re both photographed in the morning!

Getting Ready shots are one of my favourite parts of your Wedding Day – I love the images from this part of your day as it’s sections that your partner doesn’t get to see.. it’s an insight in to how you both spent your morning before you ‘get wed’ when you receive your photos.

This is the part you say ‘I DO!’ …when photographing Full Day Weddings, I leave your getting ready section of your day around 10 minutes before your departure (of course, after the big dress reveal!) This allows me time to capture your arrival at your ceremony! During your ceremony, I tend to stand at the front to ensure I capture the grooms reaction and the brides entrance – where possible, I will always try and get a shot from the back also, so I can capture THE DRESS from all angles.

The signing of the register is photographed straight after you’ve said ‘I DO’ – I like to be super quick in capturing these images and grab your two witness’ to be photographed alongside you both. Again, traditionally the whole family would come up for photos with you – and if you want to do that, let’s do it – however a lot of Weddings I photograph now only have their two witness’ with them, and it’s done super quickly!

Your confetti-covered exit can be done anytime of the day! …but I’ve slot it in here on ‘my timeline’ as it’s normally completed straight after your ceremony. Who doesn’t love a confetti shot?! These always make stunning photos and I’ll be there straight after to get it out of your hair and shuffle it out of your dress!

I say your confetti shot can be completed any time of day as sometimes there’s not enough time to get it completed straight after your ceremony – if this is the case, I will find a handful of people and make sure it happens!

Your Wedding Day goes so quickly, and the period between your Ceremony and Wedding Breakfast is roughly around 1-2 hours. During this part of your Wedding Day, I leave you to speak to your guests, capture candid images of your guests enjoying themselves and obviously – canapés!

Ok, I know – I’ve stressed how much I want to capture your day the way it is and no awkward posing – but I will always ensure you have formal shots of you with your families, bridesmaids, and groomsmen… but I promise, the photos I want are the ones where you’re all laughing anyway!

I hate the idea of your guests waiting around for their photos to be taken, so I ensure this is done super quickly! It’s a one-in-one-out process, with my record time of completing these being 11 minutes (with 36 photo combinations!)

After your family photos are completed, we then go off and complete YOUR PHOTOS of the day – during this time, I leave you two alone for a short period to allow you to take in the day together without anyone bothering you.

During this section I do put you in to different poses (mostly practiced on your complimentary engagement shoot!)  but I don’t want the photo of you awkwardly staring at each other, I capture the realness, the smile, the laugh and everything in-between!

After your photos are completed, I leave you to speak with your guests and photograph your Wedding Breakfast room – all the favours, place names and centre pieces all photographed so you don’t forget a single detail!

 Your Wedding co-ordinator on the day will likely bring you in to see your room ahead of your guests seeing it – I always like to grab a quick shot of you both in here alone and capturing your first look of your room!

So it’s a toss up between inserting Speeches here, or your Wedding Breakfast – these are done in any order your prefer! Speeches before your Wedding Breakfast ensure those that are nervous can get them done and out the way – all the reactions and speeches are photographed before I depart for your Wedding Breakfast

Phew, now let’s eat!

Your Wedding Breakfast is the only thing I don’t photograph. No one looks their best whilst eating and during this time I replace batteries, replace memory cards and get my evening equipment ready!

After you’ve completed your Wedding Breakfast, this is usually the time your venue ‘turns the room around’ in to your evening reception. This time allows you to speak to your guests and top up your lipstick! During this time, I usually try and grab you for 5 minutes to get some awesome shots outside!

Once your evening reception room is ready – it’s time to cut the cake!

Your DJ is usually the one to announce this and gets your guests close to the dance floor ready for the countdown!

One of my favourite parts of your day! I love hearing what your first dance song is going to be, and if it’s a slow one… I will tear up. Not practiced? Don’t worry! All you really need to do is a little spin and after 20 seconds your DJ will invite your guests up to join you!

This is when I make sure I get photos of your extended family doing their awesome dance moves they insist on performing – I can never leave a Wedding without getting dancing photos – it completes an album for me. Are you having a band? I usually stay for the first set when a band is performing and end up wanting to stay for the rest of the night!

A few final shots of your guests not quite as sober as they were when I first met them – and you, for the most part, are all photographed out!

I leave with your day safely stored and you can expect your final edits within 6-8 weeks with full communication and a few sneak peeks along the way.