So, I shot a wedding a while ago. Nice people, we had fun. Maybe I’ll post pictures sometime!
But the reason I’m writing today, is some reminders of what I’ve seen at most weddings I’ve shot in the last 9 or 10 years.
Its just so easy to lose track of time!
Here’s a quick run through of the basic times we were shooting for, hopefully if you’re planning your own wedding, this will help you out.
Oh, this might help, I was the photographer for this wedding. Just so you know right?
Wedding Day, I was at the church at 07:45 am. The Bride said she would be at the church between 8:00 and 8:30, she was getting hair and make up and dressed at the church, so I was going to get some pictures of all that madness. Its so much easier on everyone if the Bride can get ready at the church, less running around, set up of gear, etc. Just a tip there!
So I’m there all early and ready to go, and while I was waiting I walked around and got some pictures of the outside of the church, accidently woke up a homeless guy who was sleeping in the bushes.
9:05 the Bride rolls in. Ok, no problem right? So I help her get her stuff in the church, I get my own gear moved inside, and we get things going. I get some initial shots of her “before”, help hang the dress up, then I go up stairs to the sanctuary to set up my light stands and test everything. Things are working great, so back down stairs.
Our plan was to start photographs at noon, and be done photos at 2 pm, with the ceremony starting at 3 pm. That’s plenty of time, really, “IF” everyone is on track and ready to go.
Every now and then I’d look at my watch and announce the time, not to rush people, but just to make them aware of what time it was so there were no surprises ok?
With everything going on, the Bride was dressed, veil, hair, make up, shoes, garter, ready at 11:45. Great! Then we had some lunch delivered, so we all grabbed a sandwich, and the bride and I went upstairs to get her shots. The plan was to do Bride and Groom first, then the rest of the wedding party, Groomsmen and Bridesmaids at 12:30 to 1pm, bring in the family and the little ones, Flower Girls, Ring Bearers last, and then we’d do some pictures after the ceremony for anyone who wasn’t there like extended family etc.
So its 12:30, we have the Bride and Groom, but the Groom doesn’t have his boutonniere on yet.
Here’s another tip, things I picked up along the way. TRY to have a designated “runner” person, preferably someone who is not in the wedding party photos, who can go get things for you! In our case we did have one of the ushers handy who actually had running shoes on, and he was awesome! While he was fetching the Groom’s boutonniere, we were able to get some other pictures, like the Bride and Groom facing the alter. Since I was shooting them from the back for this picture, no boutonniere needed right?
Ok, we have the boutonniere so we get the next few pictures done. Great. Now its about 1:00, time for the Bridesmaids and Groomsmen. Bigger wedding party this week, like 6 guys plus the 4 little guys, and a whole herd of ladies. Some of them were ready, but not all of them.
I’m looking at my shot list (bonus tip, have the Bride give you a list of what shots she wants! I’ll post a starter list here sometime, look for it!) It happened that the Groom’s parents were there and ready, so we got them done early. Cool. Look around, nope, still missing some groomsmen and bridesmaids. Now its 1:30. … 1:35. Finally we have all the ladies here, so we crank through the “Bride and All Bridesmaids” then “Bride and individual Bridesmaid” pictures.
Once we had everyone there, it goes REALLY fast.
The problem is people would wander off. Or one person would leave looking for someone else, who would then come back and then we’d lost the second person. Or was that the first person?
So, if you are a Bride or a Groom planning a wedding, please PLEASE talk to your people, weeks before the wedding, and explain this ok? Be on time. Be there, in the church or where you are getting pictures taken. Sit down. Be Quiet! Pictures can be done very quickly if everyone is ready and on task. Then we can all go take a break. Otherwise its just a train wreck!
I felt so bad for this Bride, she was just beside herself. No one was there, people were stuck in traffic, or just not ready, and she just looked like her head would explode. I’d look at her and smile, and tell her it was fine, we’d have plenty of time, no problem.
As it turned out, at 2:10 we were all done, a bit over, but not too bad. We got out of the santuary, the sound crew got their mics set up, the runner was placed. No one had to die. And the pictures look great too!
Lessons and Tips
- Make a detailed list of photos you want
- Then arrange them in order. I recommend Bride and Groom first, then Wedding Party, then kids, then parents.
- Know what time you have to be done photos. I recommend at least 1 hour before ceremony time.
- Bride and Groom pics should be 3 hours before ceremony time. This gives you enough time to deal with issues and not feel rushed. And if you get done early, you can sit down and take a break. Always a good thing!
- Have someone from the family help with the shot list, to account for people, mark shots off as they are done.
- Be very aware of the time through out the getting ready process! Bring a clock. Have someone remind you. Use a beeper timer.
- A week before the wedding, or more, do a practice run getting ready. Wedding Hair and Make up takes longer!
- The more “helpers” you have, the slower it goes. Give your self an extra hour. Then another extra hour. Trust me!
- Hire professional help! Hair and Make up. Photographers, Videographers, Wedding Coordinators. All expensive but absolutely worth it. And spend some time getting to know them if possible before hand. They’ll be in your face all day. Pick nice people
- Have a master list of all phone numbers of your people, and make copies of it. Give a copy to everyone. Home numbers, cell numbers, location numbers (church, restaraunt, catoring, limo, flowers, etc) If I had a dollar for everytime I’ve seen a Bride melt down because her phone was dead, and all the numbers were on the phone…
There, that should get you thinking
Or… elope?
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