The Ultimate Wedding Guide
After nearly 300 weddings I’ve picked up a few tips and tricks to help you make the most of your wedding day. Some of these pertain to weddings as a whole and some specifically to making the most of your wedding photography.
Please note, that my number one tip is always to make sure you Do it your way. Your wedding should be a reflection of what you love most. If you’re not a party person don’t feel obliged to throw a rave in the evening and if you’re feeling nervous about doing a speech to the point it will effect your day then you don’t have to do one.
I’ve divided the guide into sections so feel free to skip around the page.
Disclaimer 1 - Every single one of these tips you can take or leave and certainly don’t apply to every couple. No matter what you do you’re going to have a fantastic time.
Wedding Planning
01 - Set a realistic budget & Prioritise
I hate to start off this guide with a more negative tip but it needs to be addressed. Weddings can be expensive! Totally, totally worth it but that doesn’t make it not pricey.
Setting a realistic budget is pivotal in wedding planning, serving as the guiding framework for crucial decisions. It enables couples to prioritize elements aligned with their values, fostering a more meaningful celebration. A well-defined budget promotes open communication between partners, aligning expectations and financial goals.
It may sound obvious but by allocating resources thoughtfully, couples can invest in professional vendors and create a memorable wedding that strikes a balance between aspiration and fiscal responsibility, ensuring a joyful and stress-free planning journey.
And in my opinion some of the best weddings I’ve been to have’nt been the most expensive. After all, limbo sticks and space hoppers are pretty cheap.
My tip would be to go through what is most important to you. If you’re not that bothered about the cake, buy a Colin the caterpillar. If wedding dresses seem overpriced, consider renting or buying a second-hand one.
02 - Choosing The Right Suppliers
As someone in the industry myself I know all too well how overwhelming it can be to find the right suppliers for your wedding. There’s so many to choose from with different styles and approaches. It can be a minefield.
It might be tempting to go with the first one that matches your allocated budget but it’s worth taking the time at this stage to do your research.
One of the more overlooked factors people overlook in choosing a supplier is experience. Look for a bunch of positive reviews. Not only about what they produced but how they positively affected the wedding day.
If in doubt talk to friends and family but be wary of having different tastes. You can also ask wedding suppliers for recommendations but be aware that some wedding venues may only recommend suppliers because they are paying to be promoted so double check.
If you’re stuck feel free to send me a message for suggestions.
03 - Creating a wedding Timeline
Crafting a thoughtful wedding timeline is an essential element in preparing for your special day. Think of it as your personalised roadmap, guiding you through each cherished moment from the excitement of getting ready to the joyous final dance.
This timeline acts as the heartbeat of your celebration and although it doesn’t seem it, having a structure frees up time in between the scheduled moments to spontaneously enjoy the day.
A lot of wedding venues will most likely provide a timeline they stick to that works best for their venue. But if you have the ability to be flexible here are a few things to consider.
What time of the year is the wedding? If you’re looking at a wintered wedding then take a look at sunset times and if you’ll have enough time during the day to get all the outdoor photos you’re looking for.
Take a look at how long the meal will take, as lovely as the meal is. It has the potential to really eat into the day if you have lots of guests and lots of courses.
04 - Should I book A videographer?
I’m a little biased but I love wedding films and think it’s something every couple should at least consider. I’ll be the first to admit that wedding videos can do things that photos can’t. whether it be your uncle’s peculiar approach to dancing or the sound of your parent’s voice in a speech. If budget allows then a videographer is definitely a great idea. Aside from photos, they are the only thing that lasts after the wedding and will grow in value over time.
I don’t offer video myself but can highly recommend Tom Webzell Films who adopts a similar natural approach to mine.
05 - Delegate
Weddings are absolutely a team sport and fortunately, you’re surrounded by people who want to help you make the most of the day regardless of whether you have an official bridal party or not. The phrase ‘it takes a village’ comes to mind when planning a wedding and it’s certainly not something you need to do alone.
Got a cousin who loves to bake? Maybe they’d like to have a go at your wedding cake as long as there’s no pressure. Pick the groomsmen who know the most people and ask them to be the official group photo wrangler. Pick a bridesmaid who is in charge of getting you into your dress. All these small jobs are often honours on the day as long as you don’t take the mick
Delegating also applies to planning between the two of you. Planning a wedding is a fun, collaborative thing you can do together but it can also work to have set tasks for each of you.
06 - wedding insurance
Having shot weddings during 2020 I can tell you that it’s worth being prepared for any surprises that life may throw your way. This isn’t legal advice and i’m certainly not qualified to give any but from what I’ve heard over the years wedding insurance sounds like something worth looking into. There are plenty of sites out there to have a look at.
02 - Making planning fun
Most couples I work with tell me that planning a wedding wasn’t as stressful as they thought it would be. Sure there may be a few spanners in the works along the way. But it can be a really fun and exciting time. If it does start to get a little annoying though be sure to take intentional breaks and date nights away from planning. Close down that spreadsheet once in a while and go out for a movie instead. Get your friends and family involved along the way and treat yourself every time you tick something of the list.
Getting REady
04 - Allow more Time Than you Need
The getting ready stages of the wedding day is one of my favourite times of the day. It’s a lovely chilled-out time where you get to spend time with some of your favourite people before heading out into the larger social part of the day.
If I could suggest one thing to make getting ready a stress-free experience is to allow more time than you may think you need. No matter how prepared you find I always find that the last hour tends to go quicker than the rest.
Its not unusual for a wedding to start late but its not the stress you need on the big day. By making sure you’re dressed a little earlier it’ll be a lot more relaxed. It also means from a photography perspective I can normally capture more guest arrival shots after finishing photographing prep.
05 - Where to get ready
Depending on the venue you’ve booked you may have the prep location chosen for you but if not then picking a nice location to get ready can make a positive impact on the day.
I’m always a fan of getting ready at you or your family’s home as long as it works logistically. I suggest picking the largest space with the best natural light. That way you can all get ready together which is more fun.
If you have the option I’d try to avoid too small a hotel room if there are a lot of people there. With the addition of make-up artists, videographers, photographers etc it can get pretty chaotic.
Finally, if you’d like photos of both of you getting ready think about how logistics would work for that. As the photographer i’d avoid traveling too much before the ceremony just in case, of course you can get a second photographer if needed.
06 - Food, Drink & Music
.This one is pretty self-explanatory but don’t forget to keep yourself well stocked food and drink wise before the ceremony. Weddings are pretty unusual when it comes to food compared to a typical day and you can expect the first big meal to be around 5 pm sometimes. So make sure you’ve had enough food to last you till then especially if you’re drinking. Don’t rely on being full up on the canapes.
drinkwise a bit of prosecco (or no-secco) can be a nice treat for the morning that sets the vibe of the day.
The other thing which can set the mood is having a decent playlist to get ready to. If you’re getting ready away from home a small Bluetooth speaker can be really handy.
07 - Have a corner for bags and other stuff
Bridal prep with all your bridesmaids adds up to a lot of stuff. Especially if you’re getting ready at the venue. This is totally normal but if you want to keep all those Tescos bags out of your wedding photos I’d recommend allocating a ‘crap corner’ where everyone can dump their stuff. Preferably away from the main door or where the action is taking place. Its also then much easier to find everything when time is of the essence. Just look in the crap corner!
08 - Photos of the details
As a mostly documentary photographer, I tend to not move anything around. This includes moving around any of the stuff you’re wearing on the day. You won’t really find me hanging your dress up in a tree or spending too much time photographing your shoes. However I do tend to get photos of these things more naturally.
What I would suggest though is just to have this stuff out in some way in the morning instead of stuffed to the bottom of a bag or hidden in a cupboard.
09 - Practice getting ready beforehand.
Your wedding outfits are probably pretty different to what you wear every day so if you’re someone who typically doesn’t wear a tie on your wedding day it may be worth learning before hand instead of relying on a youtube video on the day.Althought that can be
If you’re wearing
ThE Ceremony
10 - Consider an unplugged ceremony
The dreaded ‘I’m going to get into my dress last minute’. I totally get the thinking behind this but in my experience not allowing a bit of padding in the morning can lead to stress and a late start to the ceremony can have a knock-on effect on the rest of the day.
All of this can be easily fixed by adding a buffer period between getting into your outfits and starting the ceremony. Worst case scenario it will mean things will still run smoothly and chilled if things are delayed. Best case scenario you will have some more time to chill out with your bridal party.
From a photography perspective. Just before the ceremonies is one of the only times in the day when there may be more than one thing going on at once. When you are addressed on time I can then focus on shots like guests arriving and your partner’s excitement before the ceremony.
Allowing more time goes double when you are getting ready at a different location for the ceremony. I will always need to be at the ceremony location half an hour before the ceremony at the least regardless of how ready everyone is so thats something to bare in mind.
11 - Having a celebrant
This doesn’t mean if you’ve booked a makeup artist
12 - Making it personal
The dreaded ‘I’m going to get into my dress last minute’. I totally get the thinking behind this but in my experience not allowing a bit of padding in the morning can lead to stress and a late start to the ceremony can have a knock-on effect on the rest of the day.
All of this can be easily fixed by adding a buffer period between getting into your outfits and starting the ceremony. Worst case scenario it will mean things will still run smoothly and chilled if things are delayed. Best case scenario you will have some more time to chill out with your bridal party.
From a photography perspective. Just before the ceremonies is one of the only times in the day when there may be more than one thing going on at once. When you are addressed on time I can then focus on shots like guests arriving and your partner’s excitement before the ceremony.
Allowing more time goes double when you are getting ready at a different location for the ceremony. I will always need to be at the ceremony location half an hour before the ceremony at the least regardless of how ready everyone is so thats something to bare in mind.
13 - Its normal to be nervous.
This doesn’t mean if you’ve booked a makeup artist
After the ceremony
14 - Confetti
The dreaded ‘I’m going to get into my dress last minute’. I totally get the thinking behind this but in my experience not allowing a bit of padding in the morning can lead to stress and a late start to the ceremony can have a knock-on effect on the rest of the day.
All of this can be easily fixed by adding a buffer period between getting into your outfits and starting the ceremony. Worst case scenario it will mean things will still run smoothly and chilled if things are delayed. Best case scenario you will have some more time to chill out with your bridal party.
From a photography perspective. Just before the ceremonies is one of the only times in the day when there may be more than one thing going on at once. When you are addressed on time I can then focus on shots like guests arriving and your partner’s excitement before the ceremony.
Allowing more time goes double when you are getting ready at a different location for the ceremony. I will always need to be at the ceremony location half an hour before the ceremony at the least regardless of how ready everyone is so thats something to bare in mind.
15 - Hug O’Clock
This doesn’t mean if you’ve booked a makeup artist
16 - Be A wedding Guest
The dreaded ‘I’m going to get into my dress last minute’. I totally get the thinking behind this but in my experience not allowing a bit of padding in the morning can lead to stress and a late start to the ceremony can have a knock-on effect on the rest of the day.
All of this can be easily fixed by adding a buffer period between getting into your outfits and starting the ceremony. Worst case scenario it will mean things will still run smoothly and chilled if things are delayed. Best case scenario you will have some more time to chill out with your bridal party.
From a photography perspective. Just before the ceremonies is one of the only times in the day when there may be more than one thing going on at once. When you are addressed on time I can then focus on shots like guests arriving and your partner’s excitement before the ceremony.
Allowing more time goes double when you are getting ready at a different location for the ceremony. I will always need to be at the ceremony location half an hour before the ceremony at the least regardless of how ready everyone is so thats something to bare in mind.
17 - Having some fun
This doesn’t mean if you’ve booked a makeup artist
Group Photos
18 - Light Over Location
This doesn’t mean if you’ve booked a makeup artist
19 - Keeping it simple
The dreaded ‘I’m going to get into my dress last minute’. I totally get the thinking behind this but in my experience not allowing a bit of padding in the morning can lead to stress and a late start to the ceremony can have a knock-on effect on the rest of the day.
All of this can be easily fixed by adding a buffer period between getting into your outfits and starting the ceremony. Worst case scenario it will mean things will still run smoothly and chilled if things are delayed. Best case scenario you will have some more time to chill out with your bridal party.
From a photography perspective. Just before the ceremonies is one of the only times in the day when there may be more than one thing going on at once. When you are addressed on time I can then focus on shots like guests arriving and your partner’s excitement before the ceremony.
Allowing more time goes double when you are getting ready at a different location for the ceremony. I will always need to be at the ceremony location half an hour before the ceremony at the least regardless of how ready everyone is so thats something to bare in mind.
19 - Keeping it simple
The dreaded ‘I’m going to get into my dress last minute’. I totally get the thinking behind this but in my experience not allowing a bit of padding in the morning can lead to stress and a late start to the ceremony can have a knock-on effect on the rest of the day.
All of this can be easily fixed by adding a buffer period between getting into your outfits and starting the ceremony. Worst case scenario it will mean things will still run smoothly and chilled if things are delayed. Best case scenario you will have some more time to chill out with your bridal party.
From a photography perspective. Just before the ceremonies is one of the only times in the day when there may be more than one thing going on at once. When you are addressed on time I can then focus on shots like guests arriving and your partner’s excitement before the ceremony.
Allowing more time goes double when you are getting ready at a different location for the ceremony. I will always need to be at the ceremony location half an hour before the ceremony at the least regardless of how ready everyone is so thats something to bare in mind.
19 - Keeping it simple
The dreaded ‘I’m going to get into my dress last minute’. I totally get the thinking behind this but in my experience not allowing a bit of padding in the morning can lead to stress and a late start to the ceremony can have a knock-on effect on the rest of the day.
All of this can be easily fixed by adding a buffer period between getting into your outfits and starting the ceremony. Worst case scenario it will mean things will still run smoothly and chilled if things are delayed. Best case scenario you will have some more time to chill out with your bridal party.
From a photography perspective. Just before the ceremonies is one of the only times in the day when there may be more than one thing going on at once. When you are addressed on time I can then focus on shots like guests arriving and your partner’s excitement before the ceremony.
Allowing more time goes double when you are getting ready at a different location for the ceremony. I will always need to be at the ceremony location half an hour before the ceremony at the least regardless of how ready everyone is so thats something to bare in mind.
20- Keeping it speedy
This doesn’t mean if you’ve booked a makeup artist
21 - My Relaxed Approach to couple photos
The dreaded ‘I’m going to get into my dress last minute’. I totally get the thinking behind this but in my experience not allowing a bit of padding in the morning can lead to stress and a late start to the ceremony can have a knock-on effect on the rest of the day.
All of this can be easily fixed by adding a buffer period between getting into your outfits and starting the ceremony. Worst case scenario it will mean things will still run smoothly and chilled if things are delayed. Best case scenario you will have some more time to chill out with your bridal party.
From a photography perspective. Just before the ceremonies is one of the only times in the day when there may be more than one thing going on at once. When you are addressed on time I can then focus on shots like guests arriving and your partner’s excitement before the ceremony.
Allowing more time goes double when you are getting ready at a different location for the ceremony. I will always need to be at the ceremony location half an hour before the ceremony at the least regardless of how ready everyone is so thats something to bare in mind.
22- Breaking up the session
This doesn’t mean if you’ve booked a makeup artist
The Party
23 - The Sunset window
The dreaded ‘I’m going to get into my dress last minute’. I totally get the thinking behind this but in my experience not allowing a bit of padding in the morning can lead to stress and a late start to the ceremony can have a knock-on effect on the rest of the day.
All of this can be easily fixed by adding a buffer period between getting into your outfits and starting the ceremony. Worst case scenario it will mean things will still run smoothly and chilled if things are delayed. Best case scenario you will have some more time to chill out with your bridal party.
From a photography perspective. Just before the ceremonies is one of the only times in the day when there may be more than one thing going on at once. When you are addressed on time I can then focus on shots like guests arriving and your partner’s excitement before the ceremony.
Allowing more time goes double when you are getting ready at a different location for the ceremony. I will always need to be at the ceremony location half an hour before the ceremony at the least regardless of how ready everyone is so thats something to bare in mind.
24- What if it rains?
This doesn’t mean if you’ve booked a makeup artist
The Party
25 - The ‘First Dance’
The dreaded ‘I’m going to get into my dress last minute’. I totally get the thinking behind this but in my experience not allowing a bit of padding in the morning can lead to stress and a late start to the ceremony can have a knock-on effect on the rest of the day.
All of this can be easily fixed by adding a buffer period between getting into your outfits and starting the ceremony. Worst case scenario it will mean things will still run smoothly and chilled if things are delayed. Best case scenario you will have some more time to chill out with your bridal party.
From a photography perspective. Just before the ceremonies is one of the only times in the day when there may be more than one thing going on at once. When you are addressed on time I can then focus on shots like guests arriving and your partner’s excitement before the ceremony.
Allowing more time goes double when you are getting ready at a different location for the ceremony. I will always need to be at the ceremony location half an hour before the ceremony at the least regardless of how ready everyone is so thats something to bare in mind.
26- Band, DJ, Or Playlist?
This doesn’t mean if you’ve booked a makeup artist
27 - Keeping the dancefloor going
The dreaded ‘I’m going to get into my dress last minute’. I totally get the thinking behind this but in my experience not allowing a bit of padding in the morning can lead to stress and a late start to the ceremony can have a knock-on effect on the rest of the day.
All of this can be easily fixed by adding a buffer period between getting into your outfits and starting the ceremony. Worst case scenario it will mean things will still run smoothly and chilled if things are delayed. Best case scenario you will have some more time to chill out with your bridal party.
From a photography perspective. Just before the ceremonies is one of the only times in the day when there may be more than one thing going on at once. When you are addressed on time I can then focus on shots like guests arriving and your partner’s excitement before the ceremony.
Allowing more time goes double when you are getting ready at a different location for the ceremony. I will always need to be at the ceremony location half an hour before the ceremony at the least regardless of how ready everyone is so thats something to bare in mind.
28- Other evening entertainment
This doesn’t mean if you’ve booked a makeup artist
28- Other evening entertainment
This doesn’t mean if you’ve booked a makeup artist
29 - When to expect your photos
The dreaded ‘I’m going to get into my dress last minute’. I totally get the thinking behind this but in my experience not allowing a bit of padding in the morning can lead to stress and a late start to the ceremony can have a knock-on effect on the rest of the day.
All of this can be easily fixed by adding a buffer period between getting into your outfits and starting the ceremony. Worst case scenario it will mean things will still run smoothly and chilled if things are delayed. Best case scenario you will have some more time to chill out with your bridal party.
From a photography perspective. Just before the ceremonies is one of the only times in the day when there may be more than one thing going on at once. When you are addressed on time I can then focus on shots like guests arriving and your partner’s excitement before the ceremony.
Allowing more time goes double when you are getting ready at a different location for the ceremony. I will always need to be at the ceremony location half an hour before the ceremony at the least regardless of how ready everyone is so thats something to bare in mind.
After the Wedding
30- What to do with your photos?
This doesn’t mean if you’ve booked a makeup artist
30- Mini-Moon vs Honeymoon
This doesn’t mean if you’ve booked a makeup artist
31 - Creating A legacy album
The dreaded ‘I’m going to get into my dress last minute’. I totally get the thinking behind this but in my experience not allowing a bit of padding in the morning can lead to stress and a late start to the ceremony can have a knock-on effect on the rest of the day.
All of this can be easily fixed by adding a buffer period between getting into your outfits and starting the ceremony. Worst case scenario it will mean things will still run smoothly and chilled if things are delayed. Best case scenario you will have some more time to chill out with your bridal party.
From a photography perspective. Just before the ceremonies is one of the only times in the day when there may be more than one thing going on at once. When you are addressed on time I can then focus on shots like guests arriving and your partner’s excitement before the ceremony.
Allowing more time goes double when you are getting ready at a different location for the ceremony. I will always need to be at the ceremony location half an hour before the ceremony at the least regardless of how ready everyone is so thats something to bare in mind.
General Tips For the day
32- Embrace the unexpected
This doesn’t mean if you’ve booked a makeup artist
33 - Spend Time Toegether
The dreaded ‘I’m going to get into my dress last minute’. I totally get the thinking behind this but in my experience not allowing a bit of padding in the morning can lead to stress and a late start to the ceremony can have a knock-on effect on the rest of the day.
All of this can be easily fixed by adding a buffer period between getting into your outfits and starting the ceremony. Worst case scenario it will mean things will still run smoothly and chilled if things are delayed. Best case scenario you will have some more time to chill out with your bridal party.
From a photography perspective. Just before the ceremonies is one of the only times in the day when there may be more than one thing going on at once. When you are addressed on time I can then focus on shots like guests arriving and your partner’s excitement before the ceremony.
Allowing more time goes double when you are getting ready at a different location for the ceremony. I will always need to be at the ceremony location half an hour before the ceremony at the least regardless of how ready everyone is so thats something to bare in mind.
32- LGBTQ Weddings
This doesn’t mean if you’ve booked a makeup artist
34- Soak up every moment
This doesn’t mean if you’ve booked a makeup artist
35 - Spend Time Toegether
The dreaded ‘I’m going to get into my dress last minute’. I totally get the thinking behind this but in my experience not allowing a bit of padding in the morning can lead to stress and a late start to the ceremony can have a knock-on effect on the rest of the day.
All of this can be easily fixed by adding a buffer period between getting into your outfits and starting the ceremony. Worst case scenario it will mean things will still run smoothly and chilled if things are delayed. Best case scenario you will have some more time to chill out with your bridal party.
From a photography perspective. Just before the ceremonies is one of the only times in the day when there may be more than one thing going on at once. When you are addressed on time I can then focus on shots like guests arriving and your partner’s excitement before the ceremony.
Allowing more time goes double when you are getting ready at a different location for the ceremony. I will always need to be at the ceremony location half an hour before the ceremony at the least regardless of how ready everyone is so thats something to bare in mind.
Your Wedding Photography
36- What is DOCUMENTARY Photography
This doesn’t mean if you’ve booked a makeup artist
35 - Spend Time Toegether
The dreaded ‘I’m going to get into my dress last minute’. I totally get the thinking behind this but in my experience not allowing a bit of padding in the morning can lead to stress and a late start to the ceremony can have a knock-on effect on the rest of the day.
All of this can be easily fixed by adding a buffer period between getting into your outfits and starting the ceremony. Worst case scenario it will mean things will still run smoothly and chilled if things are delayed. Best case scenario you will have some more time to chill out with your bridal party.
From a photography perspective. Just before the ceremonies is one of the only times in the day when there may be more than one thing going on at once. When you are addressed on time I can then focus on shots like guests arriving and your partner’s excitement before the ceremony.
Allowing more time goes double when you are getting ready at a different location for the ceremony. I will always need to be at the ceremony location half an hour before the ceremony at the least regardless of how ready everyone is so thats something to bare in mind.
Random Wedding Tips
38- Happy Feet = Happy Bride
This doesn’t mean if you’ve booked a makeup artist
39 - Its about what you make of it
All of this can be easily fixed by adding a buffer period between getting into your outfits and starting the ceremony. Worst case scenario it will mean things will still run smoothly and chilled if things are delayed. Best case scenario you will have some more time to chill out with your bridal party.
From a photography perspective. Just before the ceremonies is one of the only times in the day when there may be more than one thing going on at once. When you are addressed on time I can then focus on shots like guests arriving and your partner’s excitement before the ceremony.
Allowing more time goes double when you are getting ready at a different location for the ceremony. I will always need to be at the ceremony location half an hour before the ceremony at the least regardless of how ready everyone is so thats something to bare in mind.
40 - Involving your pets
All of this can be easily fixed by adding a buffer period between getting into your outfits and starting the ceremony. Worst case scenario it will mean things will still run smoothly and chilled if things are delayed. Best case scenario you will have some more time to chill out with your bridal party.
From a photography perspective. Just before the ceremonies is one of the only times in the day when there may be more than one thing going on at once. When you are addressed on time I can then focus on shots like guests arriving and your partner’s excitement before the ceremony.
Allowing more time goes double when you are getting ready at a different location for the ceremony. I will always need to be at the ceremony location half an hour before the ceremony at the least regardless of how ready everyone is so thats something to bare in mind.