Tips to having a stress-free wedding day : a photographer’s perspective

Eat and make sure you stay hydrated!

Summer in Brisbane is hot and wearing a suit standing at the aisle for 30+ minutes can feel like eternity! Ladies, it's worse for you. Wedding dresses in the summer heat can sometimes feel like you're wearing a hundred layers.

Having a couple of waters whilst getting ready (along with your champagne and beer) is a great idea to combat dehydration! In cooler months it’s easy to forget to hydrate as well so make sure you keep your fluids up.  It can be hard to remember to eat on such a huge day, but go out for breakfast to calm the nerves if time permits (makeup can sometimes start super early)! I’ve also found a subway platter is a great option to be able to feed everyone as there is no prep work needed and let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a sub?

Allow enough time!

The simple fact is everything always takes longer on a wedding day. My advice is to add a bit of extra time onto how long you expect things to take. You’ll be able to relax which in turn makes my job a lot easier - win win! I give my opinion (based on my experience) to each couple I work with and help make a timeline so you can get the best out of your day.

Most of the time the guys take a much shorter time to get ready than the ladies. Here’s my tips for the blokes: Make sure you have your suits (ties, shoes, socks, lapel flower and belts) ready and laid out at least 30 minutes before your photographer arrives. I’ve had weddings where groomsmen have turned up with the wrong suit in the suit bag and had to rush off to the local Myer an hour before the ceremony - it happens!

Ladies - your hair and makeup vendors should be able to give you guidance when it comes to the timeline on their end. Don’t be rushed getting into your dress! You may have tried it on a few times but have a practice a few days beforehand - know how long it takes and how to do it. If you have a lace up dress they can take a lot of time to put on, especially when you want it to be perfect!

Delegate, delegate, delegate!

It’s your wedding day so get your trusted friends and family to help you out! You want to be able to relax as much as possible so recruit people to set up certain parts of the day, deliver food and be generally helpful.

On the day coordinators are also a great option as they are there to make sure you have everything you need and so everything goes smoothly!

Unplugged Ceremony!

Picture this, a beautiful photograph of you walking down the aisle with a bright pink iPad case right next to your head. Not pretty is it? I always suggest to my couples to plan an unplugged ceremony as you want to walk down the aisle and see your significant other’s reaction not flashes from phones! You're paying for professionals so you can leave it to us!

This also helps you control which photos go onto social media and lets the first photos shared of YOUR wedding day be the professional ones!

Communicate with me!

Unless I’m shooting a wedding day I’m always here to answer any questions that come up! I send out a questionnaire that asks all about your special day about a month beforehand, along with requesting a list of all your family and group photos you’d like. This ensures we don’t miss anyone on the day!

I’m here to help and love to chat so if you are not sure about anything (big or small), give me a call or send me an email/text and I can point you in the right direction!