It is your big day, it's your wedding day! You’ve waited your entire life with great anticipation for this very moment, don’t blink, you’ll miss it. Weddings are just like every Christmas, no matter how long you plan for it, once it arrives you never want it to end. You’re surrounded by friends and family, present are given, joy is over flowing and then before you know it, it’s time to leave for your honeymoon. So many important and possibly once in a lifetime things take place on hits all important day. It's the job of your wedding photographer and Videographer to capture these memories for you. There is one under appreciated aspect to the day that can make or break your memories.
Timelines and schedules may not be the “pretty part” of your wedding day but they will make your day a much more enjoyable and stress free day.
As a wedding photographer, the most important thing I have with me on a wedding day is the couples time. When couple look through my portfolio they see beautiful portraits and stunning landscapes but compelling photos don't happen by accident.
What they dont see is all the time that went into planning and setting up those photos. One of the hardest lesson for new photographers to learn is when NOT to take a photo; when is it, "The right time to wait"? The sun, clouds, rain, people in the background and “the moment” are all “mist like” factors to consider, most impossible to control but without a schedule and TIME, none of this matters.
Couples planning their wedding should sit down with their wedding photographer and discuss what’s most important to them throughout the day. In my Wedding Photography Consultations, I can never stress enough the importance of having and sticking to a schedule. I always plan in a little cushion for the couple before the ceremony and in our Couples Portrait session. You need to leave time to be spontaneous and creative with what’s around you. Plus your couple need room to breath, to relax and to get into the moment you are creating for them. A rushed and stressed bride is not a happy bride and the work you produce will suffer as a result.
Here is a sample and very generic timeline
10am - 11am Groom Prep
11am - 11:30am Travel to Bride
11:30am - 1:30pm Bridal Prep
1:30pm - 2:00 Travel to Ceremony
2:30pm Ceremony
3:30pm - 4:00pm Family Portraits
4:00pm - 5:45pm Couples Bridal Portraits
6:00pm Reception......
This is just an example of a typical wedding day but you can get a sense of how much goes into making your wedding day a success.
I hope this was helpful and wish you the best of luck on your wedding adventure!
If you are looking for a wedding photographer, consider Stephen Alexander Photography, no matter where your wedding takes place, I'd love to be there for you.
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