planning your day
Every wedding day is a one-of-a-kind celebration, bursting with the couple's own unique style and love story! As you plan your special day, think about each of the exciting elements that couples often prioritise, from the morning preparations to the ceremony and onto the first dance. Each detail adds to the atmosphere and makes for unforgettable memories, making your wedding a true reflection of your journey together. Embrace the magic of your celebration while keeping these key elements in mind for a spectacular and unforgettable day!
morning preparations
As the sun comes up on your wedding day, you can feel the nerves and excitement in the air. With your best friends and family right there with you, every moment is a mix of joy and anticipation as the clock counts down to the big event. It’s a beautiful chaos, where every little detail counts, making it the perfect start to a day full of unforgettable memories.
arrivals
Whether you're planning on arriving in a classic car, horse-drawn cart or something more understated, your arrival at the venue can be a very special moment as you're just minutes away from tying the knot with the love of your life.
As your guests begin congregating I'll be there to candidly photograph all of the excitement and anticipation, waiting for your entrance and walk down the aisle.
ceremony
The main event. From church services, to outdoor wilderness weddings and everything in between, the ceremony is the event that all of the planning has been leading up to. That first glance at each other will almost certainly become one of the most special memories of your day, and sharing that first kiss together at the end of the ceremony marks the beginning of your new married lives.
During your ceremony I go into full stealth mode and hopefully you won't even notice me capturing those incredibly special moments.
portraits
After the whirlwind lead up to your wedding ceremony, the portraits are usually one of the first times where you both get to spend a little alone-time together. My approach to the portrait session is semi-candid...I still want the photographs to be natural, showing the true emotions that you feel for each other, but I will give a little guidance so that we get the absolute best out of this part of the day. I would advise allowing around 20-30 minutes in your schedule for portraits, and around 30 minutes for any group photographs you might like.
reception
During your wedding reception, I take the opportunity to mingle and chat with your guests so that there is a closeness about the photographs that I take. I also keep my eyes peeled for any special little moments between people, and as with the rest of the day's coverage, my wedding photography style is candid documentary, catching those little glimpses and interactions between your family and friends.
speeches
One of my favourite parts of the day. The nerves, the laughter, the teary eyes...the speeches are always a really special part of the day, and they often even choke me up as I'm photographing them.
During the speeches I photograph completely candidly: a fly on the wall, capturing the people speaking as well as the reactions from your guests.
As a little aside, couples often ask me when's the best time for the speeches...my advice is before the wedding breakfast otherwise it can be hard for those people speaking to relax and enjoy their meal.
wedding breakfast
Eat, drink and be merry! And don't worry...I won't be pointing my camera at you as you're eating! When your meal arrives I will spend a little time photographing the atmosphere of the room and (where possible) the dishes themselves, and then I'll put my camera away to give you a little privacy and take the opportunity to refuel myself.
first dance
The moment I'm sure you're both dreading! But in reality, the first dance is a really special moment that you'll actually both treasure when you look back on it; a time when you're in each other's embrace, with all of your loved ones looking on.
If you're a more outgoing couple and you've choreographed a special dance or flash mob, please let me know in advance!
It's also worth thinking about a second dance with parents which always brings a tear to my eye.
Then get ready to call everyone onto the dance floor to join you for the party!
into the evening
It's party time! This is the part of the day where you get to let your hair down, with no more formalities left to do. It's also the part of the day that is the most varied from couple to couple and very likely the part that you'll have the most fun planning. Do you want a DJ or a live band? Have you thought about fireworks or sparklers (if your venue allows them)? The possibilities are endless to enjoy every moment making your wedding day totally unique!