Bride’s Guide

Planning your wedding

Planning your wedding not only takes a lot of time, energy and maybe a small amount of stress!

Wedding planners are available but a free guide can be found here. Or but for the majority of the population it’s all done to the couple or should I say bride!

The only important job the groom needs to do is turn up! You might have been to other weddings before like friends or family so you probably already know it is such a glorious day.

Dealing with anxiety

Dealing with the stresses of general living are challenging enough moreover planning your wedding day might increase those levels exponentially. Have you tried meditation?

“Some research suggests that meditation may physically change the brain and body and could potentially help to improve many health problems and promote healthy behaviours”

(nccih.nih.gov)

As a wedding photographer there is so much to fit into a wedding ceremony, capturing those essential shots can be quite challenging in the time available. Also I seem to turn into some type of Sun God wishing for perfect weather on your special day.

But unfortunately we haven’t got a California climate here in the United Kingdom. Here follows some tips for planning the schedule for your wedding day, but don’t worry I know with vast experience things don’t always run like clockwork.

Depending if you book me for the whole day which will include your preparations I will capture great shots as from your hairstyle to makeup. You might be using the services of a professional hair and makeup artist.

They will advise you on the time they will need to start of course I would like to capture this. I have shot a bride in the past who was ready before I turned up because she didn’t want me to see her without makeup on!

So then we have to act out the whole process of her getting ready! After your makeup because of the stress you might be a little hot and clammy if you are hurrying try and allow plenty of time for this.

As you know during a civil service you will need to attend an interview shortly before the ceremony again this is something to take into consideration.

If am I photographing your preparations please allow 20-30 minutes so I can photograph some breathtaking gorgeous bridal portraits. It is the perfect time when your hair and makeup is flawless.

Please don’t underestimate how long the group shots take, I usually ask you to compile a list a week before your big day this is so I can familiarise myself with some of your friends, relatives and if it’s realistically possible to do within the time available.

It is incredibly difficult organising many different group shots this has to be an efficient operation sometimes I utilise the help of the best man depending on how many celebratory drinks he’s consumed!

With all this in mind I would urge you to restrict your group shots to the wedding party and immediate family keep this list as short as you can this will allow you for your guests to spend more time with you and you with them.

What’s also very important to plan into your day is our portrait session. This is a chance for you and your new husband to have some very relaxed and stunning photographs all depending on location and of course weather. These are very important set of images these will look incredible on your walls at home, in your album or even sent as thank you cards to your friends or relatives.

These are real keepsake photographs you will be coming back to view time and time again. Weddings in general are complex affairs fraught with potential problems. With all our best-laid plans things don’t always run smoothly but don’t worry with my years of experience you can trust me to produce a set of fantastic creative images you both will love!