First of all, CONGRATULATIONS! I really hope you’re enjoying all the planning so far! If I can give the most important piece of wedding advice and tips, it would be: don’t stress over small details. Prioritise what is most important to you both, and once those things are organised, just consider anything else a bonus!

Remember why you’re having the wedding in the first place. It’s to celebrate your love and commitment to each other. Whether that be in front of friends and family or just yourselves and a celebrant. On a sandy beach, in your garden or local church, followed by a formal dinner, barbecue under the stars, or a relaxed pub dinner.

There is no such thing as a rule book when it comes to wedding planning. The BEST weddings are those that are a true reflection of the couple, so take a moment to figure out how you want to spend your wedding day.

LIGHT

I am ALL about the light! Beautiful, soft, natural light. Whilst this may be one of the last things on your mind when planning your wedding, it is the basis of all photography and will make or break an image. So, I have compiled some tips and tricks to help you in this daunting yet exciting process of wedding planning.

CEREMONY LOCATION AND TIME

You’ll want to make sure you’ve left plenty of time for portraits and reception details after your ceremony. Think about the time of year and day your ceremony takes place. It gets dark early from October onwards, so consider this when booking your ceremony. Churches tend to be dark and venues have certain artificial lighting so try to have your ceremony early in the day when you have a better chance of natural light streaming through the windows. If you want to have your portraits taken after the ceremony (as is usual) think about whether it will still be bright outside.

Average religious ceremony: 60 minutes. Although some more traditional priests choose the longer 90-minute ceremony for weddings. It is worth checking with your officiant as to his timescale.

You’ll want to make sure you’ve left plenty of time for portraits and reception details after your ceremony. Think about the time of year and day your ceremony takes place. It gets dark early from October onwards, so consider this when booking your ceremony. Churches tend to be dark and venues have certain artificial lighting so try to have your ceremony early in the day when you have a better chance of natural light streaming through the windows. If you want to have your portraits taken after the ceremony (as is usual) think about whether it will still be bright outside.

I’d recommend a 12pm ceremony in Winter, to maximise the daylight hours for couple and group photos. If you’re having a late ceremony, you may want to consider the option of a ‘first look’ (I’ll talk about this in a moment).

If you’re thinking of having a summer feel, for the wedding planning, I would recommend having it a bit later in the afternoon, as you don’t want the sun to be too harsh for your guests, or your photos! Alternatively, see if it’s possible to hold the ceremony under a nice shaded tree. Also, keep in mind the position of the sun. You want the sun to be lighting you both from the front, otherwise you risk one of you being in shadow. When choosing a ceremony venue, try to avoid dark rooms with few windows. Basically, look for as much light as possible.

IMPORTANT COORDINATES

When giving location information to us and your videographer, be sure to give both GPS coordinates and a map of the various locations of the day including; prep/ ceremony/ photos/ venue.

LIST OF CONTACTS

It is worth circulating to everyone involved on the day a list of contact information: Photographer/ videographer/ makeup artist/ hair stylist/ best man/ celebrant/ maid of honour.

RULES AND RESTRICTIONS

Find out what the rules are for photographers at the ceremony location. All venues are different, with some restricting the location of photographs and even the times in which they are permitted. Before booking your church, ask if photos are allowed during the ceremony. It’s very rare that a priest forbids photos during the ceremony, but they do happen, unfortunately.

YOUR GUESTS

Maybe consider asking guests to refrain from picture taking during the ceremony. There is a growing popularity for un-plugged weddings – for good reason. The last thing you want is the professional shot blocked by an iPad coming up the aisle, or streaks of distracting flash! It also means your guests are truly present in the moment.

WEDDING DAY ADVICE AND TIMELINE

Timing plays an important role in every wedding and setting a timeline really helps the day run smoothly, and with no stress for you two. Give a copy of your wedding timeline to each supplier and to a few key family and bridal party members, so everyone is on the same page. The list should include your photographer, wedding planner, maid of honour, best man, driver, and any musicians, bands or DJs.

KEEPING TRACK OF TIME

Speaking from experience, the two biggest causes for lateness are hair, make-up and group shots. Both can be easily prevented. Hair and make-up are undoubtedly an important element of your day, but it is very easy to lose track of time. This part of the day often overruns which makes you late for everything else to follow and causes stress – which is the last thing you want! I have two suggestions that may help. Firstly, have a dress rehearsal, which gives you a chance to time how long the process is likely to take.

Secondly, and this may sound sneaky, give your stylist a deadline that is 30-45 minutes earlier than when you actually need to be ready. That way you’ve left some wiggle room for any slight delays that might occur. It also allows you more time to get into your dress and get some lovely photos before the ceremony.

Another thing that throws a schedule off is the greeting line after the ceremony. On average, 40 minutes is spent greeting approximately 120 guests after the ceremony. Some of our couples choose to skip the greeting line in favour of mingling with their guests back at the drinks reception. By the time we’ve gone back to the venue, and taken the couple photos (if you’ve chosen to do these after the ceremony), you’ll be just in time to enjoy the start of the drinks reception. Most of your guests will have arrived and checked in at this stage, so the party is well and truly ready to kick off.

I encourage my couples to keep group photos to a minimum, as they always take far longer than you might think. It normally takes about half an hour to do ten photographs of small groups. This might seem like a hugely long time, but by the time it takes to find people, pry them from the bar, for people to totter over in heels, granny/granddad to make their way over, and for the inevitable chatting and congratulations between the people in each group, these photographs always take much longer than you think. Normally I advise keeping them to the immediate family, such as:

• Couple with each set of parents
• Couple with each set of parents, siblings and partners
• Couple with each set of grandparents
• Couple with bridal party

That list alone takes a minimum 20 minutes. If planning additional photos, please allow 5 minutes for groups of less than 6 people, and for larger groups, allow 10 minutes. Also, please bare in mind that if you want a large group photo of all the guests, it will take half an hour by the time you’ve found people at the bar/their bedroom to get them into place, etc. The less time I spend doing formal group shots, the more time I have to run around capturing lots of natural candids and impromptu group photos, and the more mingling you get to do. Ultimately, the key to a fabulous and stress-free wedding day is flexibility. By factoring in some ‘buffer’ into your timeline, you will ensure your day runs exactly as you hoped it would.

CREATING YOUR TIMELINE

What time does the sun set at the time of year of your wedding? Be sure to schedule enough time for wedding portraits in the winter months. The sun sets so early at this time of year, and it is something to be acutely aware of if you want outdoor portraits in natural daylight. You’ll want to get out at least an hour before sunset.

Distance between ceremony location and reception venue. Will you be travelling to your venue during rush hour or when children get out of school? You want to ensure you leave plenty of time to enjoy your drinks reception. Don’t forget—when people arrive, they will want to check into their rooms before joining the drinks reception.

If couple photos are important to you, you need to factor in at least 45 minutes for these. The average wedding meal lasts 2 hours. The average wedding speeches last 30 minutes. If you plan on having your speeches before dinner, ensure that everyone giving a speech keeps it to a maximum of 10 minutes. Any more, and there is an awful long time that people are drinking but not eating.

If you plan on having your first dance at 9.00pm-9.30pm, ensure to speak with the musicians. Check with both the venue and the musicians if it is possible for the band to set up either before or during the meal. If not, there can be up to 90 minutes post-meal/speeches where the evening ‘lags’, before the dancing can commence.

RAIN

This is the UK– there’s a good chance there will be rain on your wedding day! However, the stunning Yorkshire landscape truly comes alive when it is raining. The greens are greener, the skies are gloriously moody – and it’s all crying out for you to come be photographed within its beauty! Bring some comfy footwear and a warm blanket to snuggle into. I love exploring daisy-filled fields and soaking in the beauty of amazing landscapes. My couples are always so happy they made the effort to get that unforgettable shot!

Some little tips to making the most of the rain:

• If you’re wearing heels, bring some flats or a pair of funky wellies. Boys – that goes for you too! You don’t want to ruin your new suit shoes
• Bring a warm coat or blanket to keep you toasty between locations. + Get some disposable hand warmers from the pharmacy – instant cosiness!
• Don’t forget the tissues!
• Waterproof mascara is made for wedding days! Especially wet ones.
• Have a flask of hot chocolate in the car, to be sipped on before heading out for photos.
• Don’t forget an umbrella. Either a clear or a white one.
• After that, I get you to snuggle up close and enjoy the moment! You’ll both be floating on that wedding day cloud! So enjoy every second.

However, if it really is utterly torrential, I will of course not be asking you to go out in it. We’ll head indoors, slow things down and do some more controlled shots inside. Be prepared to run outside for a few minutes if there’s a break in the weather though!

TROPICAL HEAT

It’s not too common, but every now and then the UK surprises us with those blazing hot, close-heat days!

So, here are a few tips to minimise the impact of the heat:

• If where you’re getting ready doesn’t have air conditioning, don’t get dressed too early (if possible).
• Try to be the last to get your makeup done.
• Open some windows to get a cross wind blowing through.
• Make sure you have some blotting tissues in your go-to bag.
• Be sure to drink plenty of water.
• I always recommend drinking some dioralyte in the morning, to ensure you stay hydrated throughout the day.
• Make sure there’s a bottle of water by your chairs in the ceremony, and also in the wedding car.

BRIDAL PREP

So, you already know to allow plenty of time for getting ready with your girls, but what about getting the best out of your photos during this time? Wherever you are getting ready, try to find a room with plenty of space and light. Not only will this make your photos look softer and more flattering, but your stylists will thank you for it too. Try and set up as close to a window as possible. Windows act as big softboxes and will create soft, flattering light. The same thing applies when putting on your dress – please try to remember to face the window. If possible, make sure the room you are getting ready has plenty of space, as a small room will make it difficult to get the best photos.

Try and have the room you’re getting dressed in kept clear and clean. Designate an area of the room to ‘dump’ any clutter. Handbags, toiletries, shopping bags, fast food wrappers and energy drink cans, and anything else that you don’t want to see in the background of your photos!

I will more than likely be using this room for detail shots of your dress and shoes while you’re getting hair and makeup done. This is the first thing I usually do when I arrive. Make sure your dress is out of its wrapper and easily accessible, so that it can be moved if necessary. Traditional locations to hang your dress are in doorways or in front of windows. Unless you want to get creative (it’s not unheard of for dresses to be photographed in trees or on fences!). It’s well worth investing in a nice fabric hanger, if your wedding dress designer didn’t supply one already. It’s easy to overlook that black plastic hanger but it will make a world of difference when you see your photographs. Also set aside any other details you would like photographed at this time: shoes, rings, flowers, jewellery, invitations.

Buy yourself and your bridesmaids some nice silky dressing gowns for when you’re getting ready – they will look great in your photos and it’s a nice gift too.

Have food delivered to your room. It may be hectic, but take the time to have a bite before the wedding. Since it will be a while before you have the opportunity to nourish yourself during the reception. If your husband/wife to be has given you a gift. Try and wait until I’ve arrived so I can get some great shots of you opening it. Try and avoid having a fake tan done, as they tend to make people look orange, unfortunately. Speak to your make-up artist about achieving the right colour for your skin tone and something that will give you a healthy glow rather than going down the fake tan route. In the photos I want to aim for nice creamy skin ones, rather than unflattering orange hues.

When having your hair trial and, in particular, if you want to wear your hair down, speak to your hairdresser about trying to keep your face visible. Think about when you are exchanging your vows – all of your guests want to see your face.

I like to spend an hour and a half at the bride prep. This gives me ample time to capture details and lots of getting ready moments! Be sure to give yourself plenty of time. Allowing 50% more time for hair and makeup than you originally anticipated alleviates the number one reason wedding schedules end up running late. Believe me, that last hour zooms by! You want to be happy and excited getting into the dress, not frantic and stressed. It’ll also allow you a little extra time for some shots with family before I leave ahead of you. Prepare an emergency bridal kit with clear nail polish, mints, a sewing kit, stain treatment, eye drops, safety pins, bobby pins, pain reliever and mini deodorant.

I will leave 30 minutes before the bride so that I can get to the ceremony and have a chat with the officiant.