The wedding day schedule. If you’re a bride to be I bet those 3 words send your pulse racing! Planning your wedding schedule is no easy feat and just when you think you have it all down pat along comes Aunt Bessy with her own elaborate explanation of what you should and shouldn’t do.
But it’s your wedding day isn’t it? Or is it everyone else’s day? Yes, after 6 months of planning I bet you feel a bit like you’re chasing your own tail. I know when I got married (way back in the dark ages) all I wanted to plan was my honeymoon. But I am a boy.
So with well over 10 years experience helping couples plan out their photography wedding day schedule I think I might just be able to share with some tips with you. So here goes:
Don’t stress – the sooner your realize that things do not go exactly to plan on your wedding day the better. Those brides that get all stressed out find the day over in a whirlwind and they remember very little. Remember everyone is there for you both. So take a deep breath.
The groom’s home – Generally allow up to one hour to photograph. Remember its great to get all the detail shots here, like shoes, belts, cuff links, rings etc.
Brides home – Allow up to 2 hours. Here it’s great to get all those small personal items, like shoes, dress hanging up (remember a wooden hanger is best) flowers etc. These shots take time and you also need to plan your hair and make up timings to ensure they fall in line with the photographer’s scheduled. There is nothing worse than your hair and make up eating into your wedding photography time.
Ceremony – Allow 30 minutes. Generally outdoor weddings with a celebrant take about 30 mins. Allow extra time if you plan to be late.
Group photography – Allow 30 minutes. You may want to prepare a list of people that you’d like to take photos with to give to the MC.
Location shoot – Allow 1 hour. The location shoot is where you achieve your most treasured wedding images, so you need to work closely with the photographer to discuss ideas and options. We generally spend 45 minutes per location. When planning your wedding timings allow extra slots of 45 mins per location.
The reception – Allow 30 minutes. This area you need to discuss with the photographer, but generally speech shots are pretty tricky (particularly if the spekaer avoids eye contact). The best reception shots are when everyone is looking really relaxed and casual, perhaps during drinks and nibbles before the big formal sit down. Cocktail style weddings make for better images as people are more relaxed and can mingle with who they want to.
One other tip is I would avoid fixed 5 or 6 hour packages as before you know it you will run over time and you will be paying more. Another hint, ask your photographer to give you their rundown of the timings. We do it all the time and have a good grip on how your wedding day might run. This allows for you to plan your day more concisely and avoid running late.
Ms Gingham says: Some solid advice and a great idea to work these things out as a couple before the day comes around.
James says: “What I specifically like about wedding photography in Melbourne is the character of the city. The Docklands offers dynamic images and we love to use the curves and lines in our images that the many bridges of Melbourne portray. The cute laneways lend themselves to black and white contrasty images which really gives Melbourne wedding photography that artistic edge.”
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