Category Archives: Photography

Planning an Elopement?

17 Jun 2015
Posted in: Ceremony Tips, Legal Requirements, Photography 0

For some couples, spending a day (or weekend or even a week) with their family and friends is their idea of the perfect way to celebrate their wedding.  Others prefer a low-key approach.

There are many reasons why couples choose to elope.  It could be the expense, not being comfortable being the centre of attention, hating the thought of the planning and organising for a big wedding, or dealing with difficult family relationships.  Some couples prefer to elope so that they have a wedding that is more personal and just about them.

While some couples may head off overseas on a fabulous holiday to get married, others may want a ceremony at home – be it at a registry office or in a setting of their choosing.

If you are thinking about eloping, then you need to consider a few points:

If you are eloping in Australia, there are legal requirements to be met.  You still need an authorised celebrant and to complete the Notice of Intended Marriage Form at least one month before your ceremony.  Your celebrant will talk you through the legal requirements and advise what is possible.

How will you deal with family and friends who are upset that they missed out – this is particularly important to think about if you have a close knit family.

What aspects of a ‘traditional’ wedding do you want to keep?  You may want a photographer to record your special day and use these photos to share the day with family and friends.

Do you include family or friends as your two witnesses, or will you ask your celebrant to provide witnesses?

Will you hold a ‘party’ afterwards and tell family and friends they are now at your wedding reception?

Ultimately, whether you have a wedding ceremony with a large guest list, a small intimate ceremony, or you elope, your ceremony should be about two people declaring their love for each and committing to a future together in a way that is meaningful to them.

Photos of Your Special Day

28 Feb 2015
Posted in: Ceremony Tips, Photography 0

 

A wonderful way to remember your special day is through photographs, and whether you love photos or not, there are many ways for you to include or exclude this aspect of your celebrations.

One aspect to think about in relation to photos at your ceremony is whether you want people to use their phones to take photos.  If you are OK with this, are you happy to have photos or video uploaded to social media sites?  You may want to ask guests not to post to social media sites until you’ve had a chance to do this yourself, or this may not concern you at all.

When thinking about what memories you want captured, consider whether you want:

  • photos of you getting ready for the ceremony
  • informal photos of your invited guests mingling before the ceremony
  • key parts of the ceremony captured – such as walking down the aisle, looking into each other’s eyes as you exchange vows, or the kiss
  • your photos to be candid or structured
  • the photos to tell a story
  • group photos after the ceremony – who will be in these photos
  • photos of your reception – including key aspects such as cutting the cake or the first dance

Once you know what is important to you in relation to photos you do or don’t want, you can think about who will be taking these photos.  Are you relying on your guests to take photos and give you a copy, a friend who is good with a camera, are you having a photo booth as part of your reception, are you having an official photographer?

An official photographer is a great way to achieve a high quality result with your photos.  As with anyone involved in your celebration, you should meet with the photographer to make sure there is a connection there.  Look at their previous work to see if you like their style.  Be specific about what you do and don’t want – both in relation to the length of time you need them available and what types of photos you are looking for.  But also be guided by your photographer as they have experience that will result in great photos.

There are no right or wrong ways to approach photos of your special day – photos may be very important to you, or they may not be important at all.  As with everything you plan for your celebrations, do what is right for you as a couple and enjoy every moment!

Testimonials

  • Our written ceremony was perfect – it was clear that Rosemary understood what we wanted and delivered. On the day, the ceremony was above and beyond what we expected. We would definitely recommend Rosemary’s services to other couples planning their wedding.

    K and B

  • Rosemary was a friendly, helpful, thoughtful and professional celebrant who helped us create a ceremony that was perfectly suited to us. She was helpful throughout the whole process of planning and went over and above at the rehearsal and ceremony to make sure everything went smoothly.

    Anisa

  • Rosemary is a very calm, personable and professional celebrant. She helped us continuously in the lead-up to our outdoor wedding, ensuring our ceremony was wonderfully smooth. Of the many highlights of our wedding day, the ceremony was definitely one of them!

    Jaime and Nigel

  • For us, the ceremony was the most important aspect of our day and Rosemary helped us to find the right words to express our love and commitment to each other. Many people commented on how moving they found the ceremony and how well it reflected us as both individuals and as a couple. We would highly recommend Rosemary to anyone seeking a celebrant sensitive to and able to respond to the clients requirements.

    Karen and Grant

  • We’ve had great feedback about how lovely our ceremony was. Thank you for making this memorable not only for us but for our families and friends as well.

    Ruby and Mike

  • We really appreciated the work that you put into making the service just right for us – a great way to start our life together as husband and wife.

    Mark and Anna

  • Thanks for making our day so special for us. The ceremony was absolutely what we wanted and meant so much to us.

    Sandra and Terry

  • Rosemary was always very friendly and most helpful in providing suggestions. We were very happy and everyone commented on how wonderful the ceremony was.

    Laura and Tim

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