Planning photgraphy for the day
How to plan your day around those important picture moments…
The big day is here at last and you want to make sure every moment of it is captured perfectly. And with our quick and easy guide to timings, you can guarantee that nothing will get missed out!
First things first: be strict with who you invite to get ready with you in the morning. The more people around you, the more people to get in your way! Your parents and bridesmaids are more than enough.
Before the morning, plan ahead
Set up a timetable of what should be happening and when, and distribute it among the people who are included in the activities. Print out a copy and put it in a prominent place. This should include the time your photographer is arriving, the time you are all having your hair and make-up done, right through to when you will be getting ready and your transport to the venue will arrive.
If you set time slots for each person and ask all suppliers and your bridal party to stick to them, you will be sure to have a stress-free morning and capture all the getting ready shots you want!
Your photographer should be able to work around you as you get ready and get the all important 'before' shots of you having your hair done, make-up applied and finally the dress being done up by your mother or a bridesmaid. Make sure you leave at least half an hour before your transport arrives, where everyone is dressed, has their flowers and are ready to go, so that your photographer can take some shots of you all looking perfect.
Your big entrance
As you arrive at your venue, by car, carriage or foot, give yourself 10 minutes to have some photos taken of you getting out of your car, standing by the church doors or walking down the venue's staircase. This is also a good chance to steady your nerves and take a deep breath before your big entrance.
The ceremony
The photo opportunities during your ceremony are obvious! The exchanging of rings, the signing of the register, and you and your new husband walking out together are a must, but also ask for a photo ofyour husband's face as you walk towards him, family members watching the ceremony and other natural shots of the proceedings. This is the most important part of your wedding day, so get as many images of it as possible.
Confetti moment
You must get a confetti shot! If you are getting married in a church or at a civil ceremony venue, check where you are allowed to throw confetti as some have rules about where this can happen. If you are leaving one venue to carry on the celebrations at another, allow half an hour of photos outside the first venue, unless you plan to take all your photos at your reception.
If you are already at your reception venue or as you arrive, this is your last chance to get some pictures of you and your new husband with your wedding car or carriage, so make sure you give yourself five minutes to get this done and also have a few moments alone before your guests surround you for the rest of the day.
Reception
Drinks receptions should last for about one and a half hours. This gives your guests enough time to mingle and chat. Specific timings will depend on what photos you've asked your photographer to take.
If you have asked for a lot of traditional line-up shots, times depend on how well your ushers or co-ordinator gather your guests together. Assume this will take about 45 minutes, depending on the size of your wedding party. If you have requested more natural photos and just a few line-up photos, you will probably only be standing in line for about half an hour
Ask your chosen photographer what they recommend and plan your dinner to start around their estimates. Also make sure you give your photographer a list of any must have' or unusual photos you would like taken and check that this has been done. To ensure an easy job for your photographer and to keep to the time you have allocated for photos before your wedding breakfast, ask your photographer not to accept any requests from family and friends to take photos for them until after all your photos have been taken.
Speeches
These will never be posed and can be taken as they are being said. Speeches can last from five minutes to an hour, but on average each person (traditionally the Father of the Bride, Groom and Best Man) takes about five minutes each and possibly a little more for the Best Man! Ask your photographer to get photos of your guests' reactions to the speeches too - great moments you may not necessarily see.
Cake cutting
This should only take five minutes. You may like to consider setting up a 'fake' cake cutting earlier in the day, when you and your husband go in to see your reception room set up before your guests destroy it! That way, you can be sure of a perfect shot without a member of your family popping up in a corner during the real thing!
First dance
If you would like photos of this moment, make sure your photography package includes the photographer remaining at your venue until this time of the evening. Be prepared for your photographer to get close to you during the dance to get a good shot as it will be dark!
Don't forget the romance
At some point in your day, build in some time for you and your husband to walk away from your guests with your photographer for some 'couple' photos to be taken. Your photographer will have been looking for ideal places to take photos all day, so allow them to lead you to the best spots. This is a great time to spend some romantic moments alone as a married couple! A good time for this would be (light permitting) after your speeches, before your evening guests arrive, or just before you are announced into your wedding breakfast while your guests are finding their tables.
After the wedding
If you don't think you got enough photos of you in your wedding dress on the actual day, organise a 'trash the dress' session for when you return from your honeymoon. This involves putting your dress back on and then taking photos of you in unusual situations like running through the sea or rolling about in long grass. It ruins your dress, but if you're not planning on passing it on, this could be a way of getting some unique shots to treasure forever.
Words: Beverly Pearce