Top 10 Tips to Plan your Wedding.
TOP 10 TIPS TO PLAN YOUR WEDDING - TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction
2. Morning Preparations
3. First Look
4. Wedding Ceremony
5. Portraits
6. Dinner and Speeches
1. Introduction :
Your wedding day should reflect your journey as a couple and be a beautiful celebration of your relationship, surrounded by those whose company you love. Planning a life-changing event involves many considerations, so I have gathered some useful tips and advice to help you in the process.
2. Morning Preparations :
A.Morning Routine. The morning is one of my favourite parts of the day as a photographer; the excitement, anticipation and nervous energy is palpable and some of the most raw, emotional pictures can be taken at this time. The room that you choose to get ready in will make a big difference – a large space with natural light and room to get different angles and perspectives is ideal and will allow you to arrange all your outfits and accessories beautifully, without clutter spoiling the shot. It is more important that your surroundings are honest than ‘perfect’ so if you are getting ready at your house, leave out all the little details that make it feel like home.
B. Allow plenty of time. Lots of brides want to have their hair and makeup finished last after the rest of the bridal party, to be as fresh as possible. However, this runs the risk of rushing as the ceremony time draws nearer. I suggest to have everything done at least 30 minutes before the ceremony, and then just add some final touch ups if required. Then you will be more relaxed to get dressed and capture beautiful bridal portraits.
3.First Look :
Consider how you would like to see your partner for the first time on your wedding day. Some couples like to do this the traditional way, meeting eyes only as they walk down the aisle. ‘First look’ moments before the ceremony are also growing in popularity, as this gives couples a chance to exchange a few words in private, calm their nerves and really enjoy their partner’s reactions to seeing them in their beautiful attire.
4. Wedding Ceremony :
A. The walk towards your ceremony is a very special one. If you would prefer to take those steps together, hand in hand, meet in the doorway and take your time on the walk you will always remember. If you would prefer an element of tradition, for maximum impact, make sure the bridal party enters well ahead of the partner coming down the aisle, so they are not obscured as they come in.
B. Request your guests participate in an ‘unplugged ceremony’ and keep cameras and mobile phones in their bags for the duration of the marriage service. Your guests will then be fully present in the moment and really listen to the beautiful words you exchange. It will mean more to you to see their emotional reactions and happy faces than a wall of mobile phones and also will enable your professional photographer and videographer to do their jobs.
C. If you’d like to make a confetti exit, buy double the amount of confetti you reckon you will need! Biodegradable dried petals are of course the best option for the environment and are pretty and fragrant. You could also consider bubbles or fabric wands if you are outdoors and do not want to leave a trace.
5. Portraits :
A. Group portraits are important to most families and can be a wonderful keepsake to look back on and show future generations. I recommend to keep the formal combinations to a minimum, and focus more photograph time on natural moments and interactions that show people’s characters. Prioritising candid pictures over formal ones allows you as the couple to spend quality time with your friends and families instead of waiting in line, and will be much more fun to look back on.
B. Don’t limit your couple’s portraits to just post-ceremony. The exhilaration of being newly married will show on your faces and affection will come naturally, but your guests will want to congratulate and compliment you as soon as possible! The golden hour before sunset is my favourite time for romantic pictures of the two of you and if the weather is good, don’t miss this opportunity. The light is warm, soft and flattering and by this point in the day, you will welcome a chance to pause and take a moment together.
6. The Meal and Speeches :
A. Nobody will want to be photographed while they are eating, so plan your toasts or speeches to be before the meal begins, or have a few at the start and some closing words directly afterwards. Carefully plan the lighting for your meal, to create a beautiful ambience and atmosphere for dinner. The use of flash for photographs during speeches can be distracting, so for pictures using natural light, make sure the setting is not too dark, with candles and strings of festoon lights or fairy lights if you’ll be outdoors.
B. Simplicity is welcomed for the first dance too – the beauty is in a pared back moment shared between the two of you, not overwhelmed with flashing coloured lights or smoke effects. Choose a simple backdrop, a song that has special meaning to you both and even if you are nervous about dancing in front of others, take your partner’s hand and lead them purposefully into the space.
