A Photographer's Handy Ceremony and Destination Wedding Tips
I photograph a lot of weddings which means I get a lot of opportunities to see what things work well and what things don’t work so well for wedding ceremonies. I’ve created a small list of things I’ve observed during the ceremonies of my incredible couples which you can use to help plan your perfect ceremony! Let’s dive into a photographer’s handy ceremony tips.
The Ceremony Arbor and Positioning
I love arbors. You can get so creative with them and they can add a beautiful, unique element to your ceremony. Whether square, circular, or rectangle, arbors tend to be very symmetrical. What this means is that if you and your partner aren’t centred under the arbor, it will throw the photos off. You can imagine if you were a step or two on either side of an arbor, it would look unbalanced. So when you’re rehearsing your ceremony definitely keep this in mind. I’m always happy to give you a little (friendly!) nudge during your ceremony to let you know if you’re off centre.
Another thing to consider when rehearsing your ceremony is to have an even amount of space between you, the couple, and both wedding parties. I often photograph ceremonies where one party is closer to the couple, and again, it can throw the pics a little off balance. Honestly, it’s not the end of the world if this happens but if it can be avoided then the photos will be better off for it.
Managing Family and VIPs
I love to capture close family members’ reactions during the ceremony, especially the grandparents and parents. However, sometimes the grandparents or other family members are in hard to photograph spots during the ceremony. This is especially the case if they are not on the edge of the aisle but in the middle of the row behind other guests. So if you can, try and organise the seating so your VIPs can be seated in the first row or on the centre edge of the aisle.
A great idea is to delegate a family member or friend to greet your VIPs when they arrive and seat them where you would like, or have reserved seating with their name placed in their specific spot. Truth be told, I’ve been known to stalk the wrong nana during the ceremony, purely because I wasn’t 100% clear on who they were. So if possible, on the wedding day, try and have the VIPs introduced to me so I know who to concentrate on capturing throughout the day.
Involving Loved Ones as Witnesses
Speaking of grandparents, if you want a way to get your grandparents involved in your wedding, have them be your witnesses. They will likely be stoked to be able to play this important role on your wedding day. Equally as lovely is having your parents do the honors!
Aesthetics and High-Energy Moments
This is one I see all the time: Brides (or grooms with long locks!) who get the most amazing hair styling that covers the whole side of their face. If this is the side of your face that the guests see, then not only is it extremely difficult for me to capture you when standing from the aisle view, but a lot of your guests can’t see you clearly. It may be something you want to consider when deciding on your hair look for your special day.
When it comes to the confetti or flower toss – GO BIG OR GO HOME! These pics are often some of the most impactful photos of the day as this is when the energy is at its highest. When planning for confetti or flower petals, make sure to get plenty. Ditch those cones and small bags that get handed out to wedding guests. Think bigger! My best tip: Get a bucket, fill it to the top and let your guests take a handful. More is definitely more when it comes to the amount of confetti and flower petals you buy. Look up during the confetti throwing! Don’t look down but soak every last bit of it up! The photos will be much more impactful for it!
Summary of Ceremony Photography Tips
| Feature | Photographer's Observation | Actionable Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Arbor | Arbors are very symmetrical. | Stay centered to avoid unbalanced photos. |
| Wedding Party | Uneven spacing throws pics off balance. | Rehearse even space between parties and the couple. |
| VIP Seating | VIPs in the middle of rows are hard to photograph. | Seat VIPs on the aisle edge or first row. |
| Confetti | Small bags lack visual impact. | Use buckets and encourage guests to take a handful. |
| Hair Styling | Styles can cover the face from the aisle view. | Consider visibility for both guests and the camera. |
Destination Wedding Photography Tips
Getting married in an exotic locale sounds like paradise, but there is actually a lot more planning that goes on behind the scenes versus your local nuptials. In today’s blog, you get the photographer’s perspective. Since you have probably visited the location already and know the venue staff, I need to know any information you can provide that will make our trip go smoothly: special locations where you would like to shoot portraits, local things you want photographed, and the helpfulness of the venue staff. Google earth maps are incredibly helpful, but I will still be guessing about the portrait locations up until I arrive onsite.
Since I’m going to hit the ground running when I get to your venue, I need to have a game plan in place. That means that I need to know the time of the ceremony, the schedule for the reception, and what time you have allotted for portraits. To avoid any awkwardness, set the schedule for the entire length of my stay so that I know when I’m on the clock and when I’m not.
Jet leg is real. If you are going to be traveling to any place where the time difference is extreme, then consider your first day at the venue to be complete downtime. You will be exhausted from your travels, and no one needs to have bags under their eyes for a portrait session. I need that first day to check out the venue for portrait locations anyway.
As far as I’m concerned, a destination wedding is not a vacation. It may be a beautiful location, but I want to get you the best wedding photos possible. If you take me with you across the pond, expect me to work hard for the privilege of photographing you. If you are awake and want to be photographed, then I will be there…camera in hand.
Try to face each other during the ceremony...