How to Create a Perfect and Stress-Free Wedding Ceremony
Maddi and Shahin held their wedding ceremony at Appin House in a beautiful garden setting.
In this post I’d like to offer some tips and advice regarding your ceremony, so we can be sure to capture the best images for you guys.
The first question is “What time should we have our ceremony?”
In summer I recommend holding your ceremony no later than 4.00PM. In autumn and winter you should be at the arbour no later than 3.00PM as it’s getting dark by 5.00PM and we want to allow enough time for your family shots and bridal portraits.
Tip No.1: Avoid red carpets!
If you are having your ceremony outdoors on a sunny day, I recommend having a white carpet for the aisle. This is because the sun reflecting off a red carpet will create dark shadows around your eyes and turn your white wedding dress a shade of pink. A white carpet will reflect soft light into your faces and be more flattering to your skin tones.
Zuzana being walked down the aisle by her Dad. It’s a bright sunny day and the white carpet is reflecting light upwards, brightening their faces without adding unwanted colours and keeping Zuzana’s dress pure white.
Terry & Kate held their ceremony at The Public Dining Room at Balmoral Beach. Terry is watching as Kate arrives at the jetty, a lovely moment.
Tip No 2: Grooms, empty your pockets!
Phones, wallets and keys ruin the sharp lines of your suit. Give them to your Mum to mind. Absolutely though, have a handkerchief. Because you’re most likely the one who’s gonna need it. I’ve photographed hundreds of wedding ceremonies and I always keep an open mind as to what’s going to happen.
Sometimes ceremonies are all light and laughter, other times they can be very emotional. A handkerchief is just too handy to not have in this situation.
Tip No.3 Proceeding In
Take your time walking into your ceremony, make the moment last! Look around at your guests, at your fiancé, and take it all in. If you are walking down steps to enter your ceremony, you’ll have to look down. I’ll have prepared for this by asking you to pause and look up for a beat at the halfway point before proceeding in.
Stephanie is accompanied down the aisle by her two boys to marry Ray. This is a good example of pausing a beat to look up and take the whole scene in.
Karen and Kyle had their vows printed on cards marked His and Hers.
Tip No 4: Have Practiced Thy Vows!
Have your vows on index cards or a vows card. A sheet of Reflex paper out of the photocopier is not the right look. It’s so important to be familiar with your vows. A wedding is like a piece of theatre and no one wants to go onstage in front of everyone without a good working knowledge of their lines.
If someone were to ask you what you are going to say, you should be able to give them a fair idea of what it’ll be. If you know your vows well and you know what you want to say, then it’s so much easier to look up and make contact with your beloved in this special moment. With your gaze fixed on each other we can capture wedding photographs you will treasure forever.
Readings and poems are great. They add some extra beats to a wedding ceremony and allow me time to gather more angles. They are also a lovely way to integrate your parents and siblings into your ceremony.
Tip No 5: Close your eyes for the kiss, weirdos!
Your First Kiss: Everyone has shown up and come all this way and they deserve to see a good pash. If your kiss isn’t long enough for a cheer to go up, it must have been a peck, so kiss again, longer this time!
Liz and James’ first kiss.
Stephanie & Andrew nailed their exit.
Tip No.6: Proceeding Out
Grooms, wait for your bride! She’s in a long dress and heels so give her time and don’t drag her! When stepping out for the first time, take your time and look at your guests as they go wild. Again, take the moment in, it’s such a special memory.
Sean and Amy’s guests throwing the confetti over the newlyweds.
Tip No.7: Tell everyone to throw the confetti above you, not at you!
We want the confetti to rain down, we don’t want the guests throwing it straight at you. That leads to closed eyes and outright grimacing, when we most want your faces to be full of joy.
Tip No.8: Get ready for the hugs!
Immediately after your ceremony I’ll do some of my best work for you. Allow for five or ten minutes and mingle amongst your family and friends. Everyone will have a hug and a big beaming smile for you and I’ll be taking photographs all the way through. Some of my favourite moments happen here.
Soak up all that love!
After this it’s time for your family portraits, which I’ll offer some ideas and tips on in a future post.
-Brendan