The smoothest wedding days are the ones that are quietly well planned. After photographing more than a thousand celebrations, here are the ten things we ask every couple to think about so the day runs gently and the photography takes care of itself.
1. Build a realistic timeline
Most stress on a wedding day comes from a timeline that looks perfect on paper but leaves no room to breathe. Add fifteen minutes of slack around each key moment, getting ready, travel, the ceremony, the meal, and the day stops feeling like a race. Share the timeline with everyone who needs it, including us, a week ahead.
2. Plan the getting-ready space
Morning preparations set the tone for the whole gallery. A tidy room with plenty of natural light near a window makes a huge difference. Keep dresses, suits, flowers and details together in one calm corner so they are easy to photograph without clutter in the background.
3. Make a short, specific shot list
We will capture the day as it unfolds, but a short list of must-have groupings, the couple with each set of grandparents, for example, means no one important is missed. Keep formal group shots to ten or fewer; they take longer than people expect and eat into your celebration.
4. Appoint a family wrangler
Ask a confident relative or friend who knows both families to gather people for the group photographs. One organised person calling names saves twenty minutes of searching and keeps the energy up.
5. Think about light
Golden hour, the hour before sunset, gives the softest, warmest portraits. If your schedule allows, we will steal ten minutes then for couple photographs. Tell us your sunset time and we will plan around it.
6. Look after your suppliers
A quick meal and a moment to sit keeps your photographer, videographer and band sharp for the evening. We are at our best when we have kept pace with the whole day, and small kindnesses keep everyone performing.
There is no such thing as too much planning when it comes to the day you will look back on for the rest of your life. If you would like to talk through your timeline, we are always happy to help, it is part of what we do.
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