I have read much of what’s online about wedding rehearsals, and even paid $17 for a highly promoted ebook on the subject. I’ve been less than impressed. Even when there’s some helpful information, the formatting is so bad that’s it’s hard to read, and hard to use.

Here I’ve tried to improve on anything else you’ll find out there, and give you more complete information than you’ll find anywhere else in a readable form – along with some helpful downloads.

This is not book-knowledge, or repeating what others have said for years, but grows out of my personal . . . → Read More: The Only Wedding Rehearsal Guide You Will Ever Need!]]>

I have read much of what’s online about wedding rehearsals, and even paid $17 for a highly promoted ebook on the subject. I’ve been less than impressed. Even when there’s some helpful information, the formatting is so bad that’s it’s hard to read, and hard to use.

Here I’ve tried to improve on anything else you’ll find out there, and give you more complete information than you’ll find anywhere else in a readable form – along with some helpful downloads.

This is not book-knowledge, or repeating what others have said for years, but grows out of my personal experience of working with hundreds of weddings.

There are three main sections to this article:

1. Typical questions people ask about rehearsals.

2. Tips for your rehearsal.

3. Six simple steps to a successful rehearsal.

I hope you find this info helpful, and if you have suggestions or questions about something not covered, please let me know. And please use the “share” buttons at the end of the post.

TYPICAL GENERAL QUESTIONS ABOUT REHEARSALS

1. Do we need to have a rehearsal?

Rehearsals are primarily for your wedding party so they know where they are coming in from, where to stand, how to turn, etc. and for a final working out of logistics (examples: where to place the Unity Candle and a speaker’s stand for readers).

So, if you don’t have any wedding attendants, or your wedding is very small and informal, then probably you don’t need a rehearsal. For all others, the answer is yes. But this leads to the next questions:

2. When and where do we have the rehearsal, and who should attend?

WHEN

Traditionally, the “when” is the Friday evening before a Saturday ceremony – and this may work best for you. But couples are getting married on different days/times now. Plus some wedding venues have a full weekend schedule of weddings that prevents the traditional route. So you may have to have a rehearsal at 3 pm on a Friday afternoon for instance.

Some popular venues even have the rehearsal, and a brief one at that, a couple of hours before the ceremony. The wedding party is there early for photos, and it’s relatively easy to grab everyone for a few minutes to do a quick walk-through. Often the bride is not present, again because rehearsals are mostly for the attendants.

If you don’t have a rehearsal, or do have a day-of rehearsal, you can still have a dinner party with family and friends the day before – without the added stress of a rehearsal.

WHERE

Of course, ideally the “where” for the rehearsal is the wedding ceremony site. Sometimes that is not possible, and a walk-through can take place at your dinner party location or even someone’s home. Just approximate the setting as much as possible.

If you don’t have the rehearsal at the wedding location, make sure that everyone in your wedding party knows how to get to the wedding site. Getting lost on the day of the wedding is not a good thing!

WHO

“Who” should be there would be everyone in the wedding party. Again, that’s not always possible. Someone can stand in the place of those absent for the rehearsal and that person(s) would get their directions later.

If your officiant has worked out the ceremony specifics beforehand with you, it might not be essential that he/she is there. Same is true with any wedding musicians you might have. And if it is not essential to have either, you can save yourself some money!

Experienced wedding officiates and musicians have done enough weddings that unless the ceremony is complex (and few are) they will do well without being at the rehearsal. However, if either have done few weddings, it could be more important for them to attend.

And leading up to the next question, if you have a good wedding planner and director, they will make sure that the ceremony and music are set to go as planned.

Note: Out of necessity there may be other people present including immediate family and family of your wedding party who are going to the rehearsal dinner. But don’t invite anyone to the rehearsal that you don’t really need. Fewer people there the better.

3. Should we have a wedding director?

In my experience, I would say in most cases yes. Even a smaller, more informal wedding at a home can benefit from having someone “in charge” and making sure everything goes smoothly.

If you want to do most of the wedding planning yourself, you could just hire someone to direct the rehearsal, ceremony, and perhaps reception. There are Day Of wedding directors, though some directors don’t like to jump in for day of only. You can sort of understand why – if the plans are in a state of chaos, it can be hard for even the best directors to fix them at the last minute.

If money is an issue, or you still just feel that your wedding is simple enough that you don’t need a hired wedding director, I still encourage all couples to have someone, if even only a family member or friend who can help you with your rehearsal and wedding day. I always say someone who is slightly bossy without being annoying!

However, a professional wedding planner will know a lot about weddings that your Aunt Susan probably doesn’t. And if you ever see a detailed wedding time-line done by a wedding pro, you would be impressed.

Note: You should not expect your wedding officiate to conduct the rehearsal. While they might be willing and capable, they have a job to do too and won’t be able to run the show the day of the wedding.

4. Do we need wedding rehearsal invitations?

You do need some kind of invitations – how fancy you get or how much you want to spend depends on you. I found online a free 61 page PDF that seems to have all anyone would ever want to know about the proper wording for wedding rehearsal invitations and other invitations for that matter. Download it here: Invite Right: Everything You Need to Know to Create Flawless Wedding Invitations, Announcements and More.

You might also want to send an email reminder, and even have someone call everyone with a reminder.

5. What is the proper attire for a wedding rehearsal?

I have no idea! So I asked a someone else to do a write up about it. Find it here.

TIPS FOR YOUR REHEARSAL

1. Urge everyone to be on time!

Rehearsals notoriously start late, and the excuses for late-arrivals are generally the same.  You might be able to head off some of these problems in what you put in your wedding rehearsal invitation.

• People get caught in rush hour traffic. So remind them to allow time for heavy traffic.
• People get lost. So give them great directions.
• Some people are just habitually late for everything! You know who you are! So tell them to arrive at the rehearsal 30 minutes before the start time. In fact, you might want to tell everyone to plan to do that.

Even if everyone is not there on time, try to start on time. Late-arrivals can catch up.

2. Have a plan for your wedding rehearsal.

That is, have a wedding rehearsal outline (see excel document example a little further below) with all the details for how you want the ceremony to go worked out before you get there. If you don’t, many dear friends and family members will have “helpful” suggestions for you.

The purpose of a rehearsal is to rehearse your wedding, not plan it. If you a have plan, then when someone suggests something you don’t like, you can politely answer that you already have the details decided.

Note: This doesn’t mean that you won’t get to the rehearsal and see something that you want to change. But if you leave the whole thing open-ended, you can find yourself in a mess. I got caught in-between a bride and her mother one day as they were disputing with each other where the attendants should stand. The mother asked me what I thought! Yikes!

Here are a few things you want to know before arriving for your rehearsal:

• Does the venue have any restrictions? Examples: not placing tape on the floor for attendants to know where to stand and not allowing lit candles.

• Where will the men enter from? (usually a side door). Where will the women enter from? (usually down the center aisle)

• Who will hold the rings? Traditionally, the best man holds the bride’s ring, and the maid/matron of honor holds the groom’s. Other times the best man holds both since the maid of honor has flowers to hold. If there is a ring bearer, the rings on the pillow are usually fake.

• Who will be responsible for making sure that the “supplies” needed for the wedding are brought? Examples: Unity Candle or Sand Ceremony supplies, ring pillow, guest book/table, boutonnieres, aisle runner, microphone/sound system, tissue for all those tears of joy!

• The whole wedding ceremony outline from processional to recessional, including the what, the who and the when, along with notes. What in the world am I talking about? See the picture to the right? That’s a snapshot of an excel document that you can download and use to plan your ceremony from beginning to end. Get it here: Master Ceremony Outline Planner – Excel Worksheet.  If you don’t know excel, then you can do this on a Word document or even with pencil and paper. It’s just easier to make changes if you do it with excel.

3. Decide whether you want someone to take photographs at your rehearsal.

This is a small detail that many couples don’t think of, but the rehearsal is part of the wedding event. You don’t have to use your professional wedding photographer, but you could have someone assigned to make sure some pictures are taken.

SIX SIMPLE STEPS TO A SUCCESSFUL REHEARSAL

When it’s time to start, call everyone together toward the front of the ceremony site, and let your wedding director introduce herself/himself, and perhaps the wedding officiant if present. If you have a wedding minister, you may want them to lead an opening prayer.

The following is a typical order that many good wedding directors take in conducting a wedding rehearsal:

  GET EVERYONE IN THEIR CEREMONY STANDING POSITIONS 

Get everyone in the wedding party in place where they will be once they walk in for the ceremony at the point of just before the “presentation of the bride”.  The idea is to begin with end in view. See the example positioning in the chart here. Alter it as needed to suit your wedding.

  STARTING PLACES AND PRACTICE PROCESSIONAL

Then take everyone out to their “starting places” and let them walk in and return to the place they were in step 1 above. This is what is called the wedding processional. I’ve put together a 5 minute video that shows a standard processional order. You may do things a bit differently, but this gives you a good overview:

And here’s a written outline of the processional order: (make any changes to suit your wedding party and preferences)

1^st   Groom’s grandparents

2^nd   Bride’s grandparents

3^rd   Groom’s parents

4^th   Bride’s mother

5^th   Officiant, groom, best man, groomsmen (in that order)

6^th   Bridesmaids

7^th   Maid/Matron of honor

8^th   Ring Bearer

9^th   Flower Girl

10^th Bride

Additional notes about the processional:

• Sometimes groomsmen escort the bridesmaids in.

• Sometimes the ring bearer and flower girl walk in together. This can make it easier for both of them since they aren’t going down that aisle alone! One smart wedding director gave the a ring bearer and flower girl a song to sing as they came down the aisle. “Step together, step together,” they sang as they marched to the altar!

• If you are using an aisle runner, please make sure the persons rolling it out practice. It’s a lot harder than it looks. Often watching the aisle runner rolled out is the most “entertaining” part of the ceremony.

• If there is a Unity Candle the moms usually light the taper candles when they are escorted in. If it is an outdoor wedding, they may come up during the ceremony at the time of the Unity Candle and light them then. If it is a Sand Ceremony, they carry in the groom and bride’s containers of sand and place them on the Sand Ceremony table.

Here are some things to take notice of at the rehearsal:

• How fast do attendants walk in? Generally, a casual stroll in the park pace is good.

• When everyone is lined up, does it look symmetrical? That is, do the groomsmen and bridesmaids look even the way they are standing?

• As the bridesmaids are pretending to hold their flowers, are their hands about waist high? (You want to bring pretend flowers to the rehearsal).

• How do you want the men to hold their hands? In front, crossed with right over left, or some other way?

• Are attendants instructed to turn their bodies toward the action (that would be you)! People get lazy and just turn their heads. The whole body needs to turn to face towards the bride before she comes in and the couple as they stand before the officiant.

• If you have ushers (often the groomsmen) for the wedding guests as they arrive, go over details with them – like what time to be at the door, how to escort, and which side to seat people on. By the way, except for parents/grandparents, many couples do not have a groom’s side and bride’s side, but guests are seated evenly on both sides.

• If you have singers or readers, find out if they feel a need to rehearse at the venue. If so, they can do it right before or after your official rehearsal, rather than during it.

 CEREMONY POSITIONING AND MOVEMENTS

Here’s the basic positioning of the wedding party after the presentation of the bride.

Once everyone is in place, the wedding officiant may go over the ceremony with the couple in a very general fashion stepping them through the basic movements of turning, getting the rings, and other gestures of the ceremony.

The one thing that is often important to go over at the rehearsal is the “presentation of the bride.” Not all weddings have this part, but if you do, then it’s a good idea to go over with the bride’s escort, the bride and groom how the presentation is done.

A common approach is for the bride escorted by her father to come in and stop in front of the officiate. At the same time, the groom pivots over to stand beside the bride’s father. The three are squared up in front of the officiant.

Once the music stops, the officiant looks at the father of the bride, and says “Who gives this woman in marriage?” The father answers, “Her mother and I.” At that point, he may kiss his daughter on the cheek and turn and shake the groom’s hand.  He turns to go to his seat as guests are instructed by the officiant to be seated.

Here’s a video I did giving you a visual demonstration of the whole wedding ceremony from presentation of the bride to presentation of the couple:

Note: Fathers of the bride are prone to step on the bride’s dress as they go to their seat. They aren’t looking down but toward their seat, so it’s an easy thing to do. Remind dad not to do that! Or as an alternate approach, if the couple is moving up further after the presentation of the bride, the father can remain where he is until the bride’s dress clears the area, and then he can turn to go to his seat.

If the officiant isn’t present at the rehearsal, if the couple likes, the director can take the officiant’s ceremony outline and go through the steps with them. (Wedding director’s tell me that the officiants are present for rehearsals about 50% of the time, and it’s usually when it’s the family minister and he/she would be there whether really needed or not).

Regardless, the officiant will have gone over these details with the couple beforehand. I often tell couples that they could go through the whole ceremony at the rehearsal and they wouldn’t remember a thing the day of!

It’s the officiant’s job to tell the couple exactly what to do and when. Things like, “turn to face each other,” “take the ring,” “place the ring on her hand,” “repeat these vows,” and “kiss the bride.”

An experienced wedding minister will also “take care” of other things that many overlook.

Here’s three examples:

1. He/she will notice if the couple has gotten “off center” and move them over so they are centered for their pictures.

2. He/she will know what to do when the unexpected happens. What if a cell phone rings? What if a squirrel falls out of a tree onto to someones head! Anything can happen! You can’t ignore those things – it looks foolish. Usually, I make a little joke about unplanned things, and move on with the ceremony.

3. He/she will help make the couple at ease. Sometimes a nervous couple doesn’t know what to do with their hands and will just drop them to their sides. I will casually ask them to rejoin hands. It looks much better, and holding onto to their partner just relaxes them.

 PRACTICE THE RECESSIONAL

After any ceremony instructions, you then practice the wedding recessional (everyone going out). The couple of course is first, followed by everyone else in the reverse order that they came in.

The couple may want to pause just a few seconds after the “presentation of the couple” so the photographer can take a photo. Then when ready, they head down the aisle. Once they are all the way out, the other attendants can begin to pair up and exit. Usually once one pair is half way up the aisle, then next pair will start to exit.

Also decide whether the parents and grandparents will walk out by themselves or ushers will come back to get them. If it is the later, make sure the ushers don’t forget! Often they do. It’s usually quicker if the parents and grandparents can walk out by themselves – or in some cases they don’t exit at all since they are staying down front for some photos.

Either way, once the last of the wedding party is out, you need to know what happens next.

Receiving lines are very rare anymore. They just take too much time. If you have 50 guests and each one takes only a minute to congratulate you, that’s close to an hour that people are standing in line.

Often, couples prefer to go “hide” somewhere and let the wedding guests move onto the reception site. Then they may come back for a few more pictures with immediate family.

Another common choice is to have a faux send-off. The couple hides as before, all the guests are invited to front of the venue, and the couple comes out to a shower of bubbles as they climb into their limo. It does make for some nice photos.

 REPEAT IF NEEDED

If you feel the need, go through the processional and recessional a second time. You may feel the need to go through the whole thing, or just parts of it. While there may be  a minor detail to take care of, usually a second time through is all that is needed for everyone to feel comfortable about what they are supposed to do.

 FINAL ANNOUNCEMENTS AND DIRECTIONS

Finally, call everyone together to make any announcements. That is, remind everyone what time to arrive at the wedding and when they should be ready for photos. It might be a good idea to have all your reminders printed out to hand out. The wedding venue may also have some “rules” to pass along to everyone at this time.

In most cases, a rehearsal can be done in well less than an hour. With detailed preparation and a plan in place, not only will your rehearsal be shorter but more fun, and you can move on to the rehearsal dinner to celebrate with family and friends.

Author: Ralph Griggs, MTh.  -  Copyright protected and All Rights Reserved

p.s. If you have found this article helpful, please use the “share and enjoy” buttons below to let others know about it.

After months of wedding planning, your big day has finally arrived.  Well. . . almost.  There is a big day before the BIG DAY and that is the rehearsal.  And of course the underlying question for any important occasion is:

What should I wear?

The “Feel” You’re Going For

In answer to the ‘What should I wear’ question, it all depends.  While the wedding dress is usually elegant, formal, and a one-timer -the outfit for a rehearsal dinner can be something quite the contrary.

In fact, if the above description fits a wedding dress, then it . . . → Read More: Wedding Rehearsal Etiquette: What Do People Wear to Wedding Rehearsals?]]>

After months of wedding planning, your big day has finally arrived.  Well. . . almost.  There is a big day before the BIG DAY and that is the rehearsal.  And of course the underlying question for any important occasion is:

What should I wear?

The “Feel” You’re Going For

In answer to the ‘What should I wear’ question, it all depends.  While the wedding dress is usually elegant, formal, and a one-timer -the outfit for a rehearsal dinner can be something quite the contrary.

In fact, if the above description fits a wedding dress, then it might be appropriate for the rehearsal attire to be more fun, trendy, and a definite ‘you will see this ensemble again.’

However, a bride may feel the rehearsal dinner dress should be in the same vein as the wedding dress—elegant, beautiful, and an once-in-a-lifetime purchase.

A rehearsal dress certainly depends on the dinner location.  A country club soiree demands a more high fashion look.  A street length dress can fill the bill, but nothing says elegance like a long evening gown.

A bride may love the look of formal wear at the rehearsal dinner and it may be the perfect fit for an evening at the country club, a sophisticated restaurant or hotel.

Many rehearsal dinners have become quite relaxed, so much more than the wedding reception.  Dinner poolside or a backyard barbecue is a great way for the group to enjoy an all-American meal (grilled hamburgers, maybe) and share a story or two about the bride and groom.

With this in mind, brides are looking for the rehearsal dinner to be an occasion where the wedding party can let loose, relax, and be comfortable before the day of.

The Sundress

A relaxed atmosphere demands an ensemble that reflects the fun of the occasion.

The ever-popular sundress works perfectly for an evening of unwinding and fun.

This outfit is also quite versatile in that it can be dressed up with a jacket, sweater, or shawl.  The bride may prefer beautiful bare shoulders for a hot summer night.

For the girl that might not like this look, straps can be bold or the barely there spaghetti straps.

Sundresses offer so much variety.  They are cool and colorful and look great on many body types.  However, if a girl prefers something in keeping with her wedding dress, she can opt for an all-white number.  Whatever she may choose, she will not only look stunning, but she will feel cool, calm, and comfortable at her rehearsal dinner.

Jeans

There are those who believe the rehearsal dinner should be in stark contrast to the wedding and reception.  It is just a good time with no demands on dress.  But a bride might consider the fact, all eyes will be on her and her groom.  So in keeping with the “do your own thing” theme, a great looking pair of jeans fits right in.

Jeans are sporty and stylish.  They can be paired with a tailored shirt for a more sophisticated look.

If a bride doesn’t want to look so perfectly put together, nothing says spontaneous and fun like a sleeveless tee or pullover knit.  The combinations are endless for a bride with a sense of style and imagination.

A bride can choose the perfect outfit for her wedding rehearsal dinner.  Resources abound to help her look and feel her best on this special day before her wedding.  She may opt for much more formal attire or make it a casual affair with a sundress or jeans.  Whatever her choice, it should be something that reflects the happiness of the occasion.

I know that there are . . . → Read More: How to Make Your Wedding Photos the Best They Can Be: 10 Tips from the Trenches]]> (I found this article on the facebook page of Krista Lee, a friend and Nashville based wedding photographer. I thought the article was so good and would be of such value to couples that I help, that I asked Krista if I could publish her article here.  You will find her straight-talk invaluable and if you follow her advice will assure accomplishing what both you and your photographer want – the best wedding photos possible! Read and enjoy some of Krista’s wedding photographs, and check out her website for more examples of her stunning photographs)

I know that there are a million articles on do’s and don’ts when it comes to your wedding photography.  But being that I am down in the trenches every weekend, with hundreds of weddings now under my belt I thought I might write a very frank article on the most common issues I see on a regular basis.

Take it or leave it, but I see these issues WAY too often and they can make or break your photos!  As your photographer, you and I have the same goal: to end the day stress free, happy, and with gorgeous photos!  We want nothing more than to capture you at your best.  Here are some situations to avoid.

Mistake #1: 

Not enough time for hair and makeup- Girls, just saying.  No matter WHAT your friend/ makeup artist/ whomever claims, it usually takes at least 45 minutes PER PERSON for hair and makeup.  If you have 6 girls and one makeup and hair person, that means bare minimum 4.5 hours.  I see SO SO SO many people underestimate this.

Just remember you are on a very tight time schedule that day!  If this runs behind, basically you’re in big trouble.  Because then you are late starting everything else and there normally is not any wiggle room the day of!  Not only does it mess up everyone’s schedules, it really can stress you out (and your photographer/minister/family/etc!)

Why not have your girls come early that morning, have lunch delivered and take it easy?  If you end up getting done a little early, all the better.  It’s not worth the risk and stress to cram it in to less time.  Trust me.

 Mistake #2:

All the bridesmaids are ready BUT the bride isn’t ready in time- Ideally, yes it would be nice if the bride was the last one to get hair and makeup done so she could be nice and fresh.  But just remember if anyone runs behind or takes longer than expected, guess who is the one getting the short end of the stick?  Yep, you… The bride.  The one who is supposed to look the most gorgeous and the least stressed on your big day!

And usually the photographer will start with the bride’s photos FIRST so this can really mess up the ENTIRE day.  Don’t you want gorgeous photos of your happy, unstressed self?  Don’t go last.  Just don’t do it.  Try being in the middle, you can always have your makeup and hair touched up before you walk out the door

Mistake #3:

LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION.  Hey, lets just face it.  Us photographers are NOT magicians.  We cannot transform an ugly room into some fantastic scene out of a fairytale.  Let’s start with the getting ready room.  So many people don’t even consider this in their plans.  Yes, the children’s room downstairs below the church is a nice and affordable way to go.  But when the background is cluttered with books, kids toys, folding tables, crappy chairs and flourescent lights overhead… I mean, there just isn’t much I can do about it.

I don’t personally know the folks on HGTV who can swoop in on a moment’s notice, move everything out, renovate and repaint in 2 hours so your room looks amazing.  No matter how awesome of a lens I use, I can’t make that stuff magically disappear.  It’s GOING to show in the background of your photo and it’s NOT gonna be pretty.

Here’s an idea.  Go look at local hotels and rent a room for the day.  It will cost you $100-200 dollars and it will make all the difference in the getting ready photos.  I prefer suites or adjoining rooms where you have plenty of room for everyone to setup and spread out.

Four things to look for before you book the room :

1) Ample room for everyone

2) A pretty room.  Not some 1970′s ugly/dated decor.

3) Big windows, at least bare minimum one very large window.  This makes the photos look oh-so much better when you have a little natural light to work with.  I have some secrets about that (that I’m not going to share here because I don’t want every other photog in the world stealing my techniques) but let’s just say it helps immensely to have some backlighting and natural light to work with.

4) No brightly colored walls.  Or at most, one brightly colored wall with the rest being neutral.  Red or green or any brightly colored walls that are not neutral can cause major color issues in your photos.  Try for nice bright rooms with neutral colors.  Bed spread and other decor is fine being colored.

Mistake #4:

LOCATION LOCATION LOCATION part II.  Again, we’re not magicians.  If you choose an auditorium styled church where everything is super generic and has horrible lighting (meaning just overhead lights), we can’t magically transform that into a beautiful, lavish wonderland of wedding day bliss.

Putting a few candleabras and flower sprigs in the sanctuary is NOT going to change that.  Most newer churches sport steel chairs with cushions and un-photogenic carpet.  The lighting works great for their services but is very bad in photos.  There are always exceptions to the rule, but in general this is the case.

If you really think your particular church is going to be an exception to the rule, be sure to search out photos of ceremonies done there in the past.  Then obviously make sure you like the way they look.

Mistake #5:

Outdoor ceremonies/receptions in August or late July.  I don’t know how many times I have been asked to photograph weddings that will be entirely outside in the middle of August.  I guess possibly if you live in Alaska or at the top of a mountain this may work, but in most places in the United States this time of the year is just pure misery.  At this point in my career I usually turn these weddings down, and I am sure I have upset a few prospective clients by now.

But in all honestly, the chances of me taking pleasing and beautiful photos in this type of environment are slim to none.  My chances of the bride loving the photos are almost non-existent.  The few weddings I have shot in these conditions… Well let’s just say everyone had grimaces on their faces, sweat soaking through their expensive gowns and tuxes, and their hair was soaking wet with sweat dripping down their faces.  Pure loveliness!  Don’t do this to your guests, especially your 80 year old grandparents.  Please.  It’s just not fun for anyone.

Mistake #6:

Outdoor ceremonies at high noon.  Another mistake I see commonly.  Yes, it is tempting when a venue offers you a time slot earlier in the day for a lesser amount of money.  But if you are at all concerned with how the photos will work, don’t do it.  High noon is when the sun is high overhead, and unless your ceremony is under a covered pavilion you are going to have awful raccoon eyes and shadows under everyone’s eyes.

No matter what angle we shoot from, the sun and lighting will be harsh and unflattering.  I just can’t do anything about it to make them more pleasing, and I want my clients to look amazing in their photos, not harsh!  Bottom line: Say NO to NOON!

Mistake #7 :

Outdoor ceremonies with sun in the wrong spot.  If you are getting married outside later in the afternoon but before sunset, I highly recommend making sure that the sun will be behind you as you stand up at the altar facing your guests.  Doesn’t have to be DIRECTLY behind you, but close to it.

Otherwise you are going to have one half of your face in bright sunlight and the other half in shadow, which again does not look all that flattering   Or if the sun is shining directly into your face, you are going to have a *lovely* grimace/squinty look on your face.  Backlit photos in my humble opinion are much prettier!

Mistake #8:

Family members and bridal party don’t know what time they need to be ready for photos.  I know that not everyone can afford a wedding planner.  Although definitely an amazing perk to have, many brides on a budget end up planning everything themselves.  One common mistake is not letting each person involved in photos know when and where they need to be.

As part of my service, I do a pre-wedding day planning session where we talk about the timeline, where people need to be, and many other details.  I then send out the timeline to the bride for her to forward to everyone involved.

Many other photographers do not do this though, and if you don’t have a planner it’s easy to overlook letting folks know the proper times to be ready.  You can either send out an email with the times, or even better, hand out colored cards the night before at the rehearsal dinner with the time and place each person needs to be ready for photos.

If you don’t prepare everyone, much valuable time can be wasted on your wedding day as we try to hunt down mom or uncle so-and-so for their photos!

Mistake #9:

Not allowing enough time for photos.  If you want amazing photos from your wedding day, you MUST let your photographer have ample time to make these happen!  If your photographer is stressed from the time crunch and doesn’t have time to be creative, your photos will not turn out nearly as well as if we have time to create masterpieces

I am not a big advocate of photos taking 5 or 6 hours obviously, or keeping your guests waiting at the reception all night while you do thousands of photos.  But that being said, I cannot make magic happen in 2 minutes flat.  Typically for an average wedding, where the bride and groom do NOT see each other before hand, this is the bare minimum amount of time I allow for photos:

Before the ceremony:
-Bridal photos (bride by herself) : 15 minutes
-Bride with bridesmaids and individuals with each bridesmaid : 15 minutes
-Bride with family members : 15 minutes
= For a total of 45 minutes with the bride

Same is true for the groom, for a total of 45 minutes with the groom (again, bare minimum… the more time the better!)

After the ceremony:
- Large group family photos and different combinations: at least 20 minutes depending on how large the family is and how many different combinations are requested
- Large group photos of bridal party, a few different combinations : 10 minutes
- Bride and groom photos: 20 minutes minimum
= total of 50 minutes after the ceremony.

Keep in mind that if your bridal party arrives late for any reason, or if people are MIA and we cannot find them, this can really mess up your schedule and you may not get all of the photos you would like.  If possible, build in a little wiggle room just in case.

Mistake #10:

Not hiring a seasoned wedding photographer (and other seasoned wedding professionals for that matter).  I am definitely not trying to devalue other photographers as we all have to start somewhere.  But please, don’t hire someone who isn’t full time and hasn’t been doing weddings successfully for at least a few years.  I don’t care if you hire them to do your kiddos photos.  Or your engagement photos.  Or ANYTHING else for that matter.

But your wedding cannot be re-done.  If they screw it up, you can’t do it over.  I studied with Joe McNally (the renowned National Geographic photographer) and the following is a quick story he told us that I won’t ever forget.  He said, “Many photographers today have great marketing and good images on their website.  But how many can actually walk the walk and talk the talk?

Let me tell you a story to demonstrate.  I am NOT a championship basketball player.  But if I hired a photographer or film crew and spent ALL day on a court attempting to do some crazy moves, I bet you I could get a few good shots in after spending all day trying.  Then I could go and buy a website and some marketing materials and put these photos and film up on the site.  Would people believe I had talent?  Of course.  Could I replicate these photos and moves every day on a regular basis?  Heck no.  If I went up against a true pro, would I have any chance?  Again, no.”

The point is, anyone with some vision can get some decent images to post on their site.  But can they capture your entire day and guarantee that every image is great?  Probably not.  I highly encourage you to view a few ENTIRE weddings that they have done (meaning ALL of the images from that wedding, from start to finish).

I can’t tell you how many people have come to me saying they wished they had hired me as their photographer because the person they hired (who had a great website and great images on said website) got 3 good images, but the rest were total junk.  Just be careful.

Just remember, proper planning can make all of the difference in the world when it comes to your wedding photography!  Obviously hiring competent professionals with a winning track record plays a big part in this.  I sincerely hope that you have an amazing and stress free wedding day, and hope that you have gathered a helpful pointer or two from this article!

Learn more about Krista Lee Photography