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!