Hello Hello
It’s time to plan your special day, and you have all the freedom to live your moment exactly how you wish. I am here for it. Here are a few takeaways from previous weddings to help you plan the little details.
Your Wedding Day
I love that every wedding is entirely different and unique. My goal is to capture events as they naturally unfold: real moments and emotions. I try to blend in and document what is naturally occurring on your day without too much direction or posing. Your wedding is a personal story about you and your relationships with the people you love most.
Here Are My
Top Tips
It’s time to plan your special day, and you have all the freedom to live your moment exactly how you wish. I am here for it. Here are a few takeaways from previous weddings to help you plan the little details.
Getting Ready
Glam Up
This is the big one, so a little prep goes a long way. The morning always starts slow… until it suddenly isn’t. Staying organised keeps everything calm.
The night before, remove all tags and covers from dresses, shoes and your veil. Lay everything out ready. Try your underwear with your dress and have it set aside. Comfort matters.
Keep perfume, jewellery, something borrowed and something blue together in one spot so nothing goes missing.
Have your hair and makeup done first. You can top up later. A relaxed bride always wins.
Ask bridesmaids and mums to be dressed about 20 minutes before you. Plan to get into your dress at least 30 minutes before you leave or the registrars arrive. Dresses take time, buttons are fiddly, and a small crochet hook is a lifesaver.
Once you’re dressed, it’s final touch ups, bubbles, deep breaths and a few giggles. If you’re ready with time to spare, we’ll capture some beautifully calm moments too.
Helpful extras. A fan. Scissors. A small sewing kit. And keep bags and bits tidy. Rooms get messy fast.
Prepared always beats rushed. It makes the whole morning smoother and far more enjoyable.
Button Holes & Flower Bouquet
Flower Power
Hold your flowers low, around your belly button. Bush to bush girls!!! They have a habit of creeping up. We want to see your dress and your face when you walk down the aisle.
Have one designated person in charge of buttonholes. Someone who knows how to put them on and can do it in the morning. I love helping, truly… but if I’m pinning flowers, I’m not taking photos.
From experience, buttonholes wander off, people panic, or someone ends up without one. Ask the florist to deliver them to one place, at a set time. Your chosen person keeps hold of them until everyone is together, then they all go on at once.
And remember… buttonholes go on the left. Because the woman is always right. Hehe
Grooms
Man Stuff
Please practice tying ties in advance. It always takes longer on the day and the pressure is real. I’ve added a few helpful videos below for cravats, bow ties, pocket squares and buttonholes.
If you’ve booked a second photographer, they’ll arrive at the agreed time to quietly document the morning. They’ll also grab a few relaxed shots of the guys once dressed, so please allow around 10 minutes before you head off.
If there’s no second photographer, I’ll catch the guys at the church or venue and steal the groom for a couple of quick portraits. Nothing staged. Very relaxed. Over before you know it.
Ceremony
Saying I Do
For church weddings, it’s worth having a clear chat with your vicar about photography. Most are lovely, some can change the rules on the day. Let them know how important your images are to you. I’m quiet, discreet, use silent shutters and never move during vows or legal moments. Setting expectations early really helps.
If the vicar walks down the aisle ahead of you, be mindful it can block the view of your bridesmaids, flower girls and you.
Walk slowly. Honestly. So many brides sprint without realising.
Flowers stay low. Belly button height. Look up, not at the floor.
Try to relax and look at each other. Those little glances make the best images.
Tears are welcome. Emotion photographs beautifully.
Hold hands. Stand close. It helps the nerves and looks far more natural.
If you muddle a vow, don’t panic. It usually leads to a laugh and those moments are gold.
Most of all, enjoy it. This is what it’s all about.
Confetti
More Is More
This is one moment where less is absolutely not more.
The more confetti you have, the better the photos. Big handfuls. Lots of it. Oversized petals or paper discs photograph beautifully and create real impact. If you’re choosing paper, make sure it’s biodegradable. Mixing paper discs with real petals works brilliantly.
A large basket guests can grab from is far better than tiny individual packets. Small confetti cannons are hit and miss and usually disappointing. Larger cannons work better if your venue allows them.
We’ll use the spot approved by the church or venue. If confetti isn’t allowed, think bubbles, bubble machines, pompoms, or even a ribbon tunnel with bold colours.
When it happens, look at each other, not at me. Walk through it, or stand still and let guests crowd in, or go full chaos. All of it works.
Flowers low… or all the way up above your head.
Some trusted confetti suppliers
@yourconfetti
@shropshirepetals
@flutterdarlings
@realflowerpetalconfetti
@proper.confetti
Or better yet… ask me for my confetti hack. It’s a good one.
Reception
AKA Hug Fest
Around two hours is the sweet spot for your drinks reception. It gives you time to hug everyone, do group photos and sneak off for your first portraits without it feeling rushed. It also lets me capture more natural, documentary moments.
Entertainment is always a win. Garden games get guests involved and photograph brilliantly. Think sack races, welly throwing or anything slightly competitive. Acoustic music works beautifully too. A singer, quartet, sax player… or go big with a funky brass band if you want real atmosphere.
Canapés are a must. They keep energy levels up and balance the booze. Cocktails are a great first drink and always get people talking. Champagne, G and T, Aperol… even a champagne tower if you want to go all in.
If you don’t have a master of ceremonies, appoint someone confident and loud. You deserve to be announced into your wedding breakfast with proper gusto.
Portraits
Let the Magic Happen
I won’t disappear you from your guests for hours. Two short pockets of 10 to 15 minutes is all we need to create something beautiful.
Light matters. One of those pockets should be during golden hour, the hour before sunset. When planning your timings, try to allow space for this around speeches or your first dance.
Portraits aren’t stiff or awkward. The best images live in the in between moments. Laughs, glances, quiet pauses. It’s relaxed, unforced and a chance for you both to breathe.
If you want to see just how easy it feels, a couples session is a great confidence boost. If it’s not already included, just shout and we’ll sort it.
Group Images
Family and Friends
I recommend no more than 8 to 10 group photos. They take longer than expected, around 2 to 3 minutes each.
Group shots can test patience. People drift off, head to the bar or check their phones. A simple note in your guest information helps. Let guests know group photos will happen straight after the ceremony, or once you’re back at the venue if it’s a church wedding, and ask them to stay put. Reassure them it won’t take long and the party will follow.
To speed things up, appoint one confident person who knows everyone to help gather people for each photo.
And a small but important one… ask bridesmaids to keep hold of bouquets, including yours, until group photos are done. They have a habit of disappearing at the worst moment.
Speeches & Cake
Cake and Tears
Speeches are nerve wracking for most people, so if you’re anxious, get them done first. Either at the start or the end of the wedding breakfast works best. One between every course never really flows.
Think about your backdrop. Speech photos look incredible with character behind you. Plain white walls, exit signs and fire extinguishers… not the vibe. If there’s a beautiful feature in the room, use it.
The best speeches come from the heart. They don’t need to be long to be good.
The same goes for the cake. Venues love to tuck it into a corner. Ask for it to be placed somewhere special with a nice backdrop. A good venue will happily move it and your photos will thank you.
The Evening & A Little Sparkle
Let’s Get This Party Started
I love a dance floor and I’ll be right in the middle of it, capturing the chaos.
If a first dance isn’t your thing, start the party together. Get the wedding party dancing first, then have the DJ or band bring everyone in after a verse or two. A packed dance floor starts with you. Guests always follow the couple.
For evening food, avoid anything that stops the party. Walkaround food works best. Think wood fired pizza, bacon butties, fish and chips in cones, or a street food van. If your venue insists on a buffet, ask the DJ not to stop the music.
If you’re doing sparklers, go for the long, good quality ones and have plenty of lighters. Venues usually have a preferred spot and should provide a safety bucket once they’re done.
Keep sparkler groups small. Close family and the wedding party works best and is far easier to manage.
What If It Rains
Embrace It
A simple rain plan makes all the difference with British weather.
Ask your venue if they provide umbrellas. If not, invest in a few good sized white wedding brollies and a couple of clear ones for portraits.
Check where the drinks reception will move to if it’s wet, so you’re not worrying on the day. Also ask if there’s a nice indoor space for group photos. A good venue will move furniture and help create room. I’ll always work with what we’ve got and rearrange if needed.
If it’s heavy rain, flexibility is key. We might tweak timings or sneak group shots in between courses. Often the rain breaks and we head out quickly. If not, brollies work beautifully.
Please don’t feel disappointed if it rains. Some of the most atmospheric images happen in bad weather. How you embrace it shows in your photos, so lean into it and have fun.
If you’re planning a festival or tipi wedding, rain ponchos are a great shout. Guests love them and they photograph brilliantly.
Rain won’t ruin your day. The photos will still be fabulous.
Image Delivery
Here’s How Your Images Will Land
A few days after the wedding, you’ll receive a little sneak peek. Just enough to keep that post wedding glow alive. Your full gallery will then follow within the timeframe in your contract. I always aim to deliver sooner where possible, but during busy periods it may take the full turnaround time. Thank you for your patience.
Your images will arrive via a beautiful online gallery. Easy to use, simple to share, and a joy to revisit. You’ll get clear instructions when it lands. The gallery stays live for a full year from delivery, giving you plenty of time to enjoy and share your photos.
If you’d like to keep it live beyond that, you can. It’s £20 per year to keep your gallery active. No pressure, just an option.
If your collection includes an album or print credit, these need to be used within one year of gallery delivery. I’ll give you a gentle nudge so nothing gets forgotten.
And
ONE LAST THING……..
Have the best day ever. It is one big party with all your amazing loved ones to celebrate with you…You will ultimately set the vibe, which is transferable to your guests and images, so let it rip!!!
Ps….if you need any advice on anything, I’m always here to help, so please give me a tinkle.