Journal

In the weeks leading up to a clients wedding there can be quite a lot of discussions by email, phone no to mention the pre-wedding consultation. I seem to become my client’s first contact if an issue arises about anything to do with their wedding. It’s flattering that they hold me in such regard and trust what I tell them. I should become a wedding coordinator in Northern Ireland rather that a wedding photographer.

Here are some of the main tips that I have learnt over the years doing wedding photography in Northern Ireland.

• When getting a spray tan make sure that you get it done a few days in advance of your wedding day. It is important that you give it time to calm down a little, remember that you are more than likely going to be wearing a light crème wedding dress, this will slightly exaggerate your skin tone anyway. Another reason for leaving a few days is so it will not mark your wedding dress.  Remember to take any rings off or you will have white bands around your fingers.

• Do not wear any skin products that you have not tried before close to your wedding day. You do not want to find out the night before your wedding that you have a skin allergy to a new face cream.

• The week leading up to your wedding day can be one of the most stressful of your life, try not to get overwhelmed by it. Write lists and delegate anything you can to the Best man, Ushers and Bridesmaids. That’s why they are part of the bridal party. Write each of them their tasks in a list format and get them to do the running around.

• The day before your wedding remove all the labels, price tags and clear covers from what you will be wearing. Remember also the labels on the soles of your shoes. It saves time doing it in advance rather than rushing around on the morning of your wedding day when you should be relaxing. If you are having your wedding photographer take photographs of the preparations in the morning make sure the room where you are getting dressed in is de-cluttered of anything that you do not want in the background of the photographs.

• If you require photographs with guests at the wedding reception let them know in advance of the day that they will be required. Guests can sometimes go missing between the service and the reception meal.

• Try to avoid wearing clothes with logos, brash colours and stripes on the morning of your wedding. It will be the first thing you will notice and will date your wedding album. Keep it simple, white blouses and jeans works well and creates continuity between you and the Bridesmaids.

• In the morning of your wedding I advise that the Bride be the first to get her hair and makeup done. The reason for this, in my experience things don’t always go to plan in the morning of a wedding and time seems to disappear and if the Bride gets everything done last she is usually the most rushed and has the least amount of time spent on her. If the photographer is at the preparations on the morning of the wedding they will want to photograph the bride looking her best, if you are not looking your best you will not want to use the images they have taken.

• Your wedding party all have jobs to do on your wedding day, they are not just there to look pretty and make up the numbers. If you split up the word Bridesmaids and turn it around then you get ‘Maids of the Bride’. They are there to see to the Brides every whim, to make sure she is looking her best at all times. Paying particular attention to her makeup and hair, caring for the wedding dress and help her getting out of the wedding car elegantly. Ushers are purely dedicated to the guests, making sure they are seated in the correct places for the service, handing out the Order of Services, and locating guests at the reception for the wedding photographs. They are also a supporting role for the Groom and Best Man. The Best Man is there purely as support for the Groom, no tasks are usually required of him as his duty is quite a large one, the speech. He usually has enough to think about.

• When you are getting out of the wedding car I would advise Brides to never walk around the rear of it, I have seen wedding dresses getting caught by the wind and catching on the exhaust pipes, not a good look! Always walk around the front of the car.

• One of the things for the men to bring to the church is bottled water and mints, especially on a warm day, you will be meeting and greeting the guests before the service and doing a lot of talking.

• Don’t wear your suit jacket travelling to the church. The back of the jackets will get creased and it will be noticeable when you are standing during the service. Take them off and place them carefully in the car.

• If you do not know how to put the buttonhole flower on your jacket leave it to a professional, they can be very delicate and are easily broken.

• After the service is over and if you have a lengthy drive to the reception why not bring a food hamper with you in the car. It will mean that you can hit the ground running when you arrive at the wedding reception venue.

• A good idea is to bring a good pen for the signing of the register, you can maybe buy one for your partner as a wedding present as it will hold sentimental value in the future.

• If you are going to a location for your wedding photography a tip for brides is to bring along a cheap pair of shoes similar to your bridal shoes and change into them so you don’t get your good shoes damaged while the photographs are being taken.

• This one may sound obvious, on your wedding day try to stay together as a couple. So many Brides and Grooms chat to guests individually and don’t enjoy the experience of their wedding day together. It also gives the wedding photographer an opportunity to get casual photographs of you both in the same frame.

• Last but not least relax and enjoy it. If you have booked the best professionals in the wedding trade you will not have to worry about anything. Too many couples forget to enjoy their wedding day, let everyone else worry about you and you get on with having fun with your family and friends.

I could give you more but these are the general ones that are applicable to most weddings in Northern Ireland. Depending on your wedding there may be some other questions not answered above you may have for your wedding photographer, they should be able to help you with any questions you may have.

If you are a client and need some advice about your forthcoming wedding do not hesitate to give me a call, I also meet up with all my clients for a consultation on the lead up to your wedding, usually 1-2 weeks before the day.

If you would like to discuss your wedding photography in Northern Ireland feel free to get in touch, I will be happy to meet you for a consultation.