AFTER TWO DECADES AS A WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHER
MY BIGGEST WEDDING DAY ADVICE FOR COUPLES
PLAN TO SPEND THE DAY TOGETHER
Sounds simple enough right?
On your wedding day, you’d naturally assume you and your lover will be inseparable, right? After all, it’s your day, celebrating your marriage. That’s the entire point, right? But here’s the plot twist – it’s astonishingly easy to spend the day more apart than together, only joining forces for those headline actions like the cake cutting and the first dance. So my ultimate wedding day advice for couples is to make a concerted effort to spend it together.
If the morning starts separately, your first real coming together is at the ceremony, under the eager eyes of everyone you know. Then, wham! You’re whisked into a whirlwind of drinks, canapés, photos, and endless congratulatory chats. Before you know it, it’s all gone by in a blur and you might find yourselves asking, “How was your day?” to your newly betrothed at the end of your wedding. Weird, right?
At some point, I will give this one piece of advice to all my couples. PLAN TO SPEND YOUR WEDDING DAY TOGETHER. Don’t just assume that you will because after more than twenty years of photographing weddings, this is one of my observations on how weddings often operate.
To ensure you don’t miss out on celebrating together, here are my top tips to keep you glued to each other’s side, just as it should be:
MARIANNE + KARL – BRIGHTON TOWN HALL WEDDING
01.
Get Ready Together
Why not? You do everything else as a couple. Breaking free from the old-school belief that you shouldn’t see each other before the ceremony can actually add a beautifully intimate layer to your day.
Some of my favourite weddings involved the couple getting ready together, sharing those jittery, excited moments before saying “I do.” I’m sure it makes for a much more relaxed and laid-back wedding because you are in it together and experiencing all of it side by side.
02.
Opt for a First Look
If I’ve not convinced you to get ready together and you’re set on spending the morning apart, consider opting for a first look.
Meeting each other before the ceremony in a more private setting can be incredibly moving. It’s a chance to truly express how you feel without an audience, making for a profoundly personal experience that’s just for the two of you. I’ve photographed a fair few of these and usually stand back and let them unfold.
03.
Carve Out ‘Together Time’ in Your Timeline
Take a good look at your day’s plan and Identify opportunities for just-the-two-of-you moments.
Maybe when guests transition between venues or prepare for the confetti toss, take as many time-outs as you can for a brief, soul-recharging rendezvous.
04.
Make a Conscious Effort to Stick Together
Like magnets, pull back to each other if you find yourselves drifting apart over the day. Navigate the room as a duo during the reception, ensuring you experience every aspect of the celebration together.
05.
Choose a Sweetheart Table
Instead of the traditional top table setup, why not dine at a sweetheart table? It’s just for the two of you, offering a cozy, romantic bubble amidst the larger celebration. You’re still part of the party, but in your own love-soaked world.
06.
Elope Together
And for those who really want to ensure it’s all about them with zero distractions – eloping means the day is entirely yours. It’s the ultimate way to focus on each other, making every single second of the wedding day about your connection.
07.
Stay Physically Connected
A handhold here, an arm link there – physical closeness keeps the connection strong amidst the day’s chaos. It’s a small gesture that speaks volumes, reminding you both of the bond you’re celebrating.
YOUR WEDDING DAY, DONE YOUR WAY – TOGETHER
Y
BECAUSE IT’S ALL A BLUR
READY FOR THE UNEXPECTED
BONUS?
Remember, your wedding day is a celebration of your love and partnership. Don’t let tradition or the expected way of doing things keep you from enjoying your day, your way, together.
And here’s the unexpected bonus, the more that you stick together over your wedding day, the better your photos will be. You want natural, unforced images that show your connection? Simply make sure that you are connected on your wedding day
Ready to chat about your wedding day plans?
INSTA LOVE
