HONEST WEDDING DAY ADVICE
After ten years of being a wedding photographer, and roughly 250 weddings behind me, I’ve collected a handful of honest observations that genuinely make a difference on the day. Nothing bossy, nothing dramatic, just a few bits of “honest wedding day advice” that will help your day and help your photographer too!
And yes, I will always mention the “dangling hands.” It’s become a bit of a personal mission. If you take absolutely nothing else from this post except that one tip, and it rescues even one ‘first-kiss photograph’, then I’ll consider this entire post a success.
I hope you find this wedding day advice helpful, and it always goes without saying, that your wedding needs to be unique to you. There should never be any pressure at all to do something you don’t want to. If you don’t want the monogrammed dressing gowns or champagne glasses, then please don’t have them. Don’t want a cake? Ditch the idea! Don’t want a first dance? Have a group boogey instead! It’s your wedding day so do it your way…just no dangling hands please! 😁
WEDDING DAY ADVICE – WHAT HELPS AND WHAT HINDERS?
HELPS
TALK TO YOUR VICAR
Some vicars place strict limitations on where photographers may stand during the ceremony. This can sometimes come as an unwelcome surprise on the day, so it’s important to clarify this in advance.
Please speak with your vicar beforehand about where your photographer is allowed to stand. Professional photographers are normally discreet and respectful, but do need appropriate positioning in order to properly document your ceremony.
HINDERS
HAVING SPEECHES BETWEEN COURSES
Speeches spread out between courses will inevitably make your day run late. In my 10 years of shooting weddings, this is almost guaranteed. Catering staff must wait for guests to finish eating, clear tables and reset for toasts before speeches can start. Have your speeches at the beginning or the end. When speeches happen first, any nervous speakers can get them out of the way and then properly relax and enjoy their food — and their drinks — without it hanging over them.
HELPS
BOOK SINGING WAITERS
Singing waiters bring an incredibly unique dynamic to your wedding and when your guests are standing on the tables having the time of their lives you will be so thrilled you booked them!
HINDERS
A DANGLING HAND
Your first kiss is one of the defining moments of the day. Make it feel connected. Bring your hands into the photo – hold a waist, cup a cheek, pull each other close – anything that shows connection, rather than letting your arms hang by your sides.
HELPS
CONFETTI
Confetti is one of the most joyful moments of the day, and it makes for incredible photographs. If your venue allows it, absolutely have it and make sure there’s plenty to go around.
When it happens, walk through hand in hand and take it slowly. There’s no need to look at the camera. Look at your guests, laugh, stop for a kiss, and just soak it all in. Smile your biggest smiles! That’s where the magic is!
HINDERS
PHONES DURING THE CEREMONY
Consider an unplugged wedding, one in which your guests don’t take photos during the ceremony and stay fully present in the moment.
From a photography perspective, it makes a noticeable difference and instead of a row of screens, you see real expressions, real reactions and faces completely engaged in what’s happening in front of them.
HELPS
DITCH THE PINTEREST BOARD
Pinterest can be a brilliant source of inspiration. It helps you gather ideas, explore styles, and work out what you’re drawn to.
Where it can become unhelpful is when a wedding turns into a checklist of images to recreate. Lighting, weather, venues, seasons and even the couple themselves are all different. A photograph pinned online was created in very specific conditions and those conditions can’t always be replicated.
If the focus shifts to copying something exactly, it can create unnecessary pressure. And when reality doesn’t match the board it can lead to disappointment on a day that’s meant to feel natural and joyful.
I hope this advice helps, especially the ‘first kiss’ one, but if you have any to add to my list feel free to get in touch and let me know :)
I’m Tanli, a Cotswold wedding photographer known for my bright, joyful and natural style. My focus is on capturing genuine, unposed moments and creating beautiful portraits where personalities shine through. I’m passionate about my work and I prioritize making clients feel comfortable in front of the camera.
DID YOU KNOW?
Did you know that 95% of the day is spent capturing your wedding ‘reportage style’? Reportage wedding photography, also known as documentary or photojournalistic wedding photography, focuses on capturing candid and spontaneous moments throughout the wedding day. This style emphasizes storytelling, aiming to narrate the events as they unfold naturally, without intervention or posing. These natural, candid and emotive images make up the bulk of your wedding gallery and I think most modern contemporary wedding photographers shoot in this manner.
