My top wedding day tips
My Top wedding day tips
After photographing over 350 weddings, I’ve seen just about everything, from perfect golden sunsets to groomsmen who mysteriously vanish right before group photos. So trust me when I say, I’ve got plenty of fun, stress-saving wisdom to share!
This blog is bursting with little gems to help your photos look amazing, speed up those group shots, and make the most of your venue (and whatever the weather decides to do on the day). Let’s make your wedding look incredible and keep things totally chilled.
Be yourselves
Your wedding isn’t just about the “official” stuff. It’s your chance to show off who you are as a couple! Dance all night, keep it chilled and simple, or land somewhere in between. Whatever you do, make sure your day screams you.
It’s not just about picking a pretty venue, it’s all the little details that show off your personalities. Maybe it’s a cheeky nod to your favourite sport, cake toppers featuring your pets, hints of how you met, displays of hobbies you love, or décor inspired by your favourite trips and music festivals.
And if you’re thinking, “But I’m not creative enough!”, don’t worry. It’s ok to take inspiration from other weddings, just sprinkle in your own twists, so your day tells your story in a way that’s totally unique.
Timings for a relaxed day
Giving yourself plenty of time for the important parts of your wedding day is the key to keeping everything relaxed.
During bridal preparations, aim to be completely ready 30–45 minutes before you need to leave for the ceremony, or before your registrar interview if you’re staying at the same venue all day. Getting ready often takes longer than expected, and having that buffer allows us to capture beautifully calm, natural photos. This extra time is perfect for a first look with Dad and some lovely shots with Team Bride once everyone’s hair and makeup is finished.
After the ceremony, I recommend planning a 90 minutes to 2 hour gap, before you’re announced into the wedding breakfast room. Straight after your confetti moment, spend around 30 minutes mingling with your guests, 30 minutes on group photos, and 30 minutes for your couple portraits. This timeline keeps things flowing while still feeling relaxed.
Following your meal and speeches, give yourselves at least an hour before the evening party begins. This allows your food to settle, gives evening guests time to arrive, and creates a relaxed transition into the celebrations. It’s also an ideal moment for fun photos with friends and capturing romantic sunset couple shots.
Here’s a tried and tested timings for a successful summer wedding with one venue.
2pm – Ceremony
2.30pm – Confetti photo and whole wedding party group photo (if required)
3pm – Group photos
3.30pm – I’ll photograph all the decor in the wedding breakfast room
3.45pm – Couple photos
4pm – Guests seated for meal (while your having your couple photos)
4.15pm – Couple announced into room and food served
6.15pm – Speeches
7pm – Chill out before the main party
8-8.30pm – Cake cut followed by first dance
9-9.30pm – Evening food served
If you’re getting married in winter or travelling between venues, it’s always worth planning an earlier ceremony. A start time between 12 and 1pm is ideal. During the colder months, daylight disappears quickly, and having an earlier ceremony gives you far more natural light for your photos, which makes a huge difference to the final results.
Nailing the perfect confetti shot
From my experience, the best time for confetti photos is right after your ceremony. All your guests are already gathered, making it quick and easy to organise them into a fun tunnel for you to walk through. The more confetti, the better it looks in photos, so don’t hold back when ordering! Choose biodegradable options and go for bold colours to really make the photos pop. I personally find paper confetti photographs best, but dried petals can work beautifully too. And if you have any leftover, perfect, we can use it during your couple portraits to add a bit of fun.
Make sure you take a look at Proper Connfetti on Etsy. They have an awesome range of colours to suit all wedding styles and look damn good in photos!
Confetti cannons are also a brilliant way to add some fun to your shots. Grab a few and save some for the dancefloor chaos later on. Ginger Ray’s online store has loads of great options, adding fun to your day without costing the earth.
Smoke flares + safety tips
I absolutely love using smoke bombs on a wedding day. They add a gorgeous pop of colour to your photos and are such a fun way to elevate your images. You can incorporate them during your couple portraits or gather your bridesmaids and groomsmen for some truly epic group shots.
Safety is really important, so there are a few things to keep in mind. Smoke bombs can get hot, so they should only be used away from the main wedding party and kept clear of flammable areas. It’s also essential to check with your venue in advance to make sure they allow them, so send them a quick email before buying anything.
You’ll need a metal bucket for disposing of used smoke bombs and some water to help cool them afterwards. Some venues may be able to assist with this. They’re best used outdoors in open spaces, and it’s wise to avoid dry areas that could pose a fire risk, such as long grass on hot summer days.
If I believe the situation isn’t safe, I may decline to take smoke-bomb photos. This could be due to intoxicated guests, unsuitable locations, or not having the proper equipment for safe disposal.
There is always a small risk of stains on dresses or fabrics. Keeping a distance of around four feet from the device while standing in the smoke cloud generally helps minimise this. Smoke bombs can also produce occasional sparks, so they should never be pointed at anyone or held above your head.
Although I haven’t had any issues personally, I’m aware of incidents elsewhere, so I want you to be fully informed before purchasing. Using smoke bombs is entirely at your own risk, but they can be an amazing addition to your photos when handled safely and responsibly.
My preferred choice is the Enola Gaye WP40 Wire Pull Smoke Grenade. They tend to burn cooler than many alternatives, and they’re made with non-toxic smoke and a fully biodegradable body, which is a big plus.
Check the Enola Gaye online store, which offer a great selections of colours.
Group photos made easy
Let’s be honest, no one wants to stand around posing for group photos for too long on a wedding day, especially when there are drinks to be had. But group photos are important, and getting all your favourite people together in one place is often a rare moment worth capturing.
Before your wedding, I’ll ask you to provide a list of the group photos you’d like (you’ll receive this as part of your information form). I usually recommend keeping this list to around 5–10 groups. Depending on how quickly guests can be gathered, this part of the day typically takes around 20–30 minutes. I’m more than happy to photograph additional groups if you’d like. Please keep in mind that the more time we spend organising formal photos, the less time I have to capture the candid, natural moments that you see throughout my website and that I specialise in. And of course, you and your guests can request extra group photos at any point in the day.
It’s always helpful to have a groomsman or family member available to assist with rounding everyone up. Taking the photos themselves is quick, the real challenge is finding everyone! To make things smoother, it’s worth letting anyone who’ll be in group photos know that they’ll be needed about 30 minutes after the ceremony, so they don’t disappear too far.
I also love capturing more relaxed, fun group shots, especially with bridesmaids, groomsmen, and friends. I’ve found that the time between the end of the meal and the start of the evening celebrations works brilliantly for these. By then, guests have usually had a drink or two (or more!), and the playful, silly moments tend to happen more naturally.
Here’s an example of a list group photos with a good balance between capturing the key people and not taking too long to photograph.
> Couple and brides immediate family
> Couple & brides parents
> Couple with both sets of parents
> Couple & grooms immediate family
> Couple & grooms parents
> Couple with grandparents
> Couple with bridesmaids & groomsmen
> Bride with bridesmaids
> Groom with groomsmen
It’s important to keep in mind that I will be taking many natural photos throughout the entire day. I will try my best to get photos of all your guests, but I will definitely capture multiple images of all the key people.
Wet weather plans
Plan for the worst, hope for the best, especially when it comes to the weather. It’s one of the few things you can’t control on your wedding day, so having a rainy-day backup is always a smart move. Most venues come with great indoor and outdoor options, but if you’re hosting a more DIY celebration, make sure your marquee or tipi can comfortably fit all your guests if the skies open. And for outdoor weddings, don’t forget to pack wellies or other sensible footwear, just in case.
It’s also worth investing in a few clear or white umbrellas that look good in photos. They’re one of those things you’d rather have and not need than the other way around. After the wedding, you can easily sell them on or keep them as a sweet memento.
And if it does rain (fingers crossed it doesn’t), remember it’s far from a disaster. Your wedding day is about celebrating your love with the people who matter most. Come rain or shine, your day will be unforgettable.
Alfresco speeches
This is something you might not have considered, but if your venue, time of year, and weather allow, having speeches outdoors can feel wonderfully relaxed and informal. Gather all your favourite people, champagne in hand, and use your venue’s natural scenery as a memorable backdrop for those hilarious and heartfelt words from your nearest and dearest.
The beauty of golden hour
Photographers are always talking about golden hour, and with good reason. If you’re lucky enough to have sunshine on your wedding day, this brief window of time offers the most beautiful light you’ll get all day. It would be a shame not to make the most of it.
When planning your schedule, try to keep golden hour in mind. Even if your meal is due around sunset, don’t worry. I’m more than happy to slip out with you between courses if needed. I’m always available to help couples plan their timeline, so feel free to reach out anytime.
Depending on your venue’s surroundings, the ideal moment to head out is usually between 90 and 30 minutes before the sun dips below the horizon. I won’t keep you long, 30 minutes at most, and often 20 is plenty. Once we’re finished, you can invite your bridesmaids and groomsmen to join us, and maybe bring along some smoke bombs or confetti cannons for fun, vibrant group photos.
Champagne Spray
Adding a champagne spray to your evening schedule can be a lot of fun and creates unforgettable photos. Don’t worry, you don’t need to splash out on an expensive bottle of bubbly; a cheap and cheerful one works just as well! Sunset or dusk is the perfect time for this, especially if you’re backlit with flash or by the low sunlight for that magical glow. If you’re feeling brave, grab an extra couple of bottles so your bridesmaids and groomsmen can join in, too!
Evening sparkler photos
Heading outside with a pack of sparklers once the light has faded is a lot of fun for you and your guests. While sparkler photos look best at dusk, just after sunset, they can be equally magical in complete darkness.
When choosing sparklers, size really does matter. Opt for longer ones (around 45 cm/18 in or more), as they burn for longer and make it much easier to get everyone’s lit at the same time. They’re easy to find online.
Before buying, check with your venue to make sure sparklers are allowed. Some venues provide a handheld blowtorch that makes lighting multiple sparklers quick and efficient. If not, stock up on windproof lighters. And don’t forget to have buckets of sand or water ready for safe disposal afterward.
