Hello, it’s Evernew again…
Thank you once more for choosing us to capture your special day! We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with you to create something magical.
Our aim is to develop a set of comprehensive guides that can assist our couples (you!) throughout every step of their wedding planning process and on the day itself. These guides are designed to ensure that you not only get some stunning wedding photos but also have a stress-free and enjoyable experience. After all, your wedding day should be a joyous occasion that you and your loved ones can celebrate wholeheartedly!
Our photographers have captured countless weddings, and have learned a thing or two about weddings in the process. These recommendations are not strict rules that you must follow, but rather helpful tips to aid you in your planning process. We understand how much time and effort goes into planning your special day, and we want to share our knowledge with you to help you make the most of it.
Our only request for all couples is to prioritise each other above all else. By immersing yourselves in each other’s presence, it becomes effortless for us to capture the wedding photos of your dreams.
Embrace your love with unbridled passion and pure abandon! Let yourselves go and revel in the euphoria of your affection!
So, let’s talk weddings.
Tip 1 – Have a Vision
We encourage all of our couples to create a vision for their ideal wedding day. Make sure that you take a moment to sit down with your significant other and delve into your visions. What are the styles and themes that appeal to both of you? How do you envision the atmosphere on your big day? Will you exchange vows indoors or outdoors? Will it be an elegant and polished event or a more laid-back and breezy affair?
While thinking about how you envision the wedding for yourselves, don’t forget to think about what kind of experience you want your guests to have. Other than a little tipsy, how do you want your guests to feel when they leave your reception?
You may or may not be clear on this yet – and that’s okay, it’s early days! But having this vision throughout your wedding planning process will give you a clearer picture of what you really need as you shop around the seemingly endless list of wedding vendors. A clear vision will help you to avoid unnecessary stress and second guessing.
Tip 2 – On the day – Getting ready (Bride)
Incorporating the bridal suite or on-site accommodations into your ceremony location can create a stunningly cohesive aesthetic for your photographs. That being said, when contemplating your preparation location, there are a few key factors to keep in mind…
When booking your accommodation for the morning of your wedding, make sure to choose a house, apartment or suite with plenty of space – you’ll always need more than you think!
It’s likely that there will be at least ten people in your space on the wedding morning. Bridesmaids, family members, photographers, videographers, hair and makeup artists and random drop-ins. You can see how quickly the room will fill up and your average hotel room often won’t suffice.
When selecting accommodation, prioritise spaces that are well-lit with plenty of natural light, and take into account the colours utilised in the interior design. Vibrant hues can reflect onto you in your photographs, so consider opting for more subdued tones.
In the event that you’re preparing for your big day in a family home, it’s advisable to identify the room with the most optimal lighting and remove any bulky items that you don’t want captured in your photos.
Lastly, when preparing for your makeup application, it’s crucial to locate a spot with soft, natural lighting. Typically, the initial photographs that we capture on the morning of the wedding are of you getting your makeup done. The gentle, natural light can produce stunning images of this process and showcase the makeup artist’s efforts.
Additionally, it’s essential to provide your makeup artist with a set start and end time. We typically suggest having your makeup completed within 10-20 minutes of the photographer’s arrival, as this leads to a smoother morning and maximises your photographer’s time.
Tip 3 – On the day – The Ceremony
While planning the time and location of your ceremony, it’s important to factor in the position of the sun and the resulting quality of light. Ideally, you don’t want anyone, particularly the groom, to be staring directly into the sun during the ceremony or when you walk down the aisle.
Consistent lighting is crucial for capturing stunning photographs, which is why evenly lit locations are ideal. Inconsistent lighting can create challenges, such as having to choose which subject to expose correctly when one is in the shade and the other is in the light. Additionally, dappled lighting can cause harsh highlights from the sun and create very dark shadows from the leaves, affecting the overall quality of the photograph
It’s essential to consider the comfort of your guests when planning your wedding ceremony. For instance, if your ceremony is scheduled for 2 pm, think about whether your guests will be comfortable sitting in the sun at 1:30 pm. If you’re having a summer wedding during the day, make sure you have shaded areas and refreshments available for the elders. Also, consider how your guests and groom will feel if you’re running late.
One great way to create a beautiful ceremony space is by using arbours. They provide an elegant structure for your ceremony and can be adorned with stunning florals or other structural elements. If your wedding venue boasts a fantastic view, consider using a low-lying arbour that doesn’t distract from the vista.
While this advice may not apply to religious ceremonies, if you’re choosing a celebrant, it’s a good idea to hire someone who excites you. Instead of going for someone in a grey pantsuit (unless that’s your flavour), consider hiring a young celebrant who you think is cool and shares your values. Someone who aligns with your vision of the perfect ceremony can make your wedding day even more special!
Final note, always opt for an unplugged ceremony, no one claps when their hands are busy taking photos. It also gives your photographer the chance to capture your ceremony without phone screens in the way and with people looking up and engaging in your ceremony. This is a moment for celebration, not iPhone photography!
Tip 4 – On the day – The location Shoot
Imagining and planning the perfect wedding day can be an exciting journey, and choosing the right location for your photo shoot is a crucial part of this process. Consider what speaks to your heart and what you’re most drawn to when deciding on the ideal location for your photo shoot. Are you enchanted by natural backgrounds and green landscapes, or does the allure of an urban aesthetic inspire you? Social media platforms like Pinterest and Instagram can also provide a wealth of inspiration, giving you a glimpse of what’s possible and allowing you to curate your own unique style. Take note of the photos that truly speak to you, as well as those that don’t quite catch your eye, to help you determine the perfect look and feel for your dream wedding day.
After deciding on the ideal style and aesthetic for your location shoot, it’s time to start thinking about the specific places you want to go. However, it’s important to keep in mind that less is often more when it comes to the number of locations you choose. We typically recommend no more than two different locations to ensure that you don’t feel rushed or stressed during the shoot. Additionally, keep in mind that the further away your chosen locations are from each other, the more time will be eaten up by travel. So, it’s a good idea to choose locations that are relatively close by to make the most of your time.
To ensure that you have ample time for your location shoot, we recommend setting aside at least two hours between leaving the ceremony location and the start of your reception. This will give you plenty of time to capture beautiful moments and create stunning memories that you’ll cherish for a lifetime.
Tip 5 – Planning your reception
The lighting at your reception can make all the difference when it comes to creating the perfect ambiance and capturing stunning photographs. To achieve a magical and enchanting atmosphere, consider incorporating various lighting elements such as installations, lanterns, chandeliers, and fairy lights. Don’t be afraid to go all out with the lighting, as you can never have too much when it comes to creating a fairy tale-inspired setting.
One key thing to keep in mind is that if you’re planning to use fairy lights as a backdrop, it’s best to double the amount you think you’ll need. And then double it again. We’ve all seen those amazing reception photos with the beautifully blurry balls of light in the background, and trust us, a s**t tonne of fairy lights is the best way to achieve this!
While lighting can make your reception look absolutely stunning, there are a few things to keep in mind to avoid some common pitfalls. One of the most important things to avoid is the dreaded “purple lights of death.” These lights can make you and your guests look unhealthy and give off an unflattering purple hue that can’t be corrected in post-production.
If you want to avoid the risk of looking like you have fluorescent purple skin in your wedding photos, it’s best to steer clear of purple lighting altogether. Instead, opt for warm, natural lighting that complements your skin tone and creates a flattering and beautiful atmosphere that you and your guests will love.
Timing is key when it comes to the formalities at your wedding reception, including speeches, the first dance, meal, and cake cutting. One tip we recommend is to serve your guests their meals early and schedule an event to happen every half hour throughout the evening.
This approach has several advantages. First, it allows you to open up the dance floor sooner rather than later, giving your guests more time to party and enjoy the celebration. Second, it helps to keep the momentum of the evening going and prevents any lulls or awkward pauses. By spacing out the formalities and events, you can create a more engaging and enjoyable experience for your guests. Plus, it gives everyone the opportunity to participate in the festivities, whether they’re dancing, socialising, or simply enjoying the atmosphere.
Tip 6 – Your First Dance
When it comes to your first dance, lighting can make all the difference in creating the perfect atmosphere. However, it’s important to ensure that the lighting is flattering and doesn’t have any unintended effects on your photos and videos. If your DJ has laser lights, it’s best to ask them to turn them off during your first dance. Otherwise, the laser lights can create a rainbow effect that can make you and your partner look like a spotted dalmatian in your photos and films. While it might be an interesting aesthetic, it’s not exactly ideal for your wedding day! By ensuring that the lighting is properly adjusted, you can create a beautiful and romantic setting for your first dance that will look absolutely stunning in your photos and videos!
While a choreographed dance may seem like a fun and memorable way to celebrate your first dance as a couple, it’s important to consider whether it’s right for you. In our experience, we don’t usually recommend choreographed dances, unless you’re both supremely confident and skilled dancers.
We’ve seen many couples struggle with choreographed dances, arguing over the timing of dips and turns, or worrying about whether they’ve missed a step. Instead of focusing on the moment and enjoying each other’s company, they become preoccupied with remembering their dance moves.
That being said, it’s important to remember that your first dance is a celebration of your love and commitment to each other, and there’s no right or wrong way to do it. Whether you choose to dance spontaneously or plan a choreographed routine, what matters most is that you’re both comfortable and having fun together.
Tip 7 – Styling – The Dress
To make your wedding day truly unforgettable, the outfit you wear is of utmost importance. It is an expression of your personal style and reflects the unique essence of your special day. In order to look and feel their best, a lot of couples go to the lengths of enlisting the help of a designer or stylist who can assist in creating a cohesive and polished vision for their wedding look.
It’s essential that every element of your outfit complements your gown, rather than competing with it. For instance, if you’re wearing a modern gown with clean lines, consider pairing it with simple and elegant jewellery, and a sophisticated bouquet. On the other hand, if you’re going for a more bohemian look, wildflowers and loose hair would create a perfect harmony with the dress. Remember that even the smallest details matter and they can make all the difference in creating a cohesive and stunning wedding day look!
While there are no incorrect choices, committing to a single aesthetic for your wedding day can really make your styling stand out!
Tip 8 – Styling – Flowers + Bridesmaids
A beautifully crafted bouquet can be the perfect accessory to complete your wedding day look, but be mindful not to go overboard with its size and weight – after all, you’ll be carrying it with you for most of the day, so make sure to discuss this with your florist to ensure you can comfortably hold it without any strain.
We’ve also got a few age-old tips when it comes to bouquets and their proportions. Be sure that it doesn’t conceal your waist as it may make you look larger than you are as the curves of your body are concealed. Another thing to keep in mind is that the widest part of the bouquet is smaller than your waist to show off your figure. On the other hand, bouquets that are too small can make you look like a flower girl, so aim for something proportionate and fitting for your wedding day!
We advise against choosing heavy jewel tones for bridesmaids dresses and suggest opting for something more neutral and light in tone instead. Deeper colours may fall out of fashion quickly and can throw off the balance of the entire bridal party when photographed together. We believe that simple elegance is timeless and recommend choosing dresses that reflect this.
One trend that we adore is bridesmaids wearing slightly different dresses in the same colour. This adds personality to the bridal party while still keeping the focus on the couple – as it should be on their special day. We’ve recently been loving shades of sage, light rust, and baby blue for bridesmaid dresses, as these colours are both timeless and elegant.
Tip 9 – Inspiring your photographer
We want to ensure that you receive incredible photography on your special day. To achieve this, we kindly request that you limit providing us with an exhaustive inspiration or shot list. Our goal is to capture your day authentically, as it unfolds, to produce new, unique images that are true to you! When we have a long list of shots to recreate, it can be challenging to capture the candid moments that truly capture your day’s essence.
We value your input and would love to know your preferences. Whether you prefer powerfully posed images or a more natural look with movement, we’re open to creating images that you’ll adore. If you share your likes and dislikes with us, we’ll do our best to create photos that capture who you are as people while still staying true to your original vision.
We understand that every couple is different, and we appreciate feedback to ensure that we are capturing your vision. We are a team of real people, and we’re always open to feedback. If you’re uncomfortable with any idea we suggest, please feel free to let us know, we’ve got dozens of ideas and poses up our sleeves!
As your photography team, we’ll be working a long day of up to 12 hours to ensure that your memories are captured for the rest of your lives. We’ll do everything we can to provide you with exceptional service and images that you’ll treasure forever!
We really hope that these tips will help you plan your dream wedding! And as always, feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions regarding your wedding day and wedding planning, we’re full of great suggestions!
Best of luck, we’ll talk to you again soon!
