Wedding tips for the Bride & Groom ........ and even a few for guests

As a wedding photographer I attend more weddings each year than most people, and as a result I have learned so many simple things that will help your day run smoothly. These tips are just little things that I have discovered along the way that you might find useful:

Bridal tips
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When you're having your hair styled on your wedding day, wear a shirt. Many brides wear a t-shirt, then struggle to get it over their newly coiffeured head. If you wear a shirt it can be unbuttoned and will not damage your hairdo.

If you have a dress that goes over your head, get a pillow a silk underskirt to put over your head first. This way your dress will slide on more easily with damaging hair or getting any make-up on it.

One little thing about make-up .......... ensure that your make-up artist dulls the makeup - don't leave it shiny/oily as it will reflect light from flash, windows, etc and does not make for good photographs. Ensure also before the day that make-up used does not re-act with your skin, sot try it out first.

Remove labels on the underside of shoes in advance of your wedding day.

If your dress has laces or buttons, ask a friend to come and help you dress. Often a bridesmaid or family member will be there for bridal preparations, but it is likely that they may also have false nails for the occasion. If you have a friend present who isn’t in the bridal party they will be able to help the bride to get dressed.

Dress the bride first. Lots of people dress the bride last so everyone is ready to help, but if plans start to run behind it will be the bride who is in a rush to get dressed. If you dress the bride first she can get ready at her own pace, feel relaxed and have time to make any adjustments to her dress for maximum comfort. It is not the bride’s job to dress the bridesmaids or any children – make sure you have plenty of helpers to do this so that she can enjoy her wedding day.

Guys – you need to plan ahead also!
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This may seem obvious, but remember your socks! Far too many grooms get married without socks and it can sometimes be seen on photographs.

If you usually have your head shaven don’t do it on the day of your wedding or you will look bald or shiny on photographs. Have your head shaved at least one week prior to your wedding to allow time for some of it to grow back.

As with the ladies – if you have new shoes then take the labels off the sole before your wedding day.

Your buttonhole is traditionally worn on your left lapel and do ensure that you and your best man/groomsmen all wear their buttonholes on the same side.

The most important thing for both bride and groom is to forget about everybody else on the day and enjoy your wedding day! The planning is complete and it’s time to have a great day. Whatever happens you need to take it in your stride – don’t dwell on minor mishaps, but laugh at them and enjoy yourself. Never lose sight of the reason you are there – to become husband and wife. If there are minor mishaps only you will know about them - the guests never knew the plan of the day so they will not notice if some little thing goes wrong or you forget something.

A word to the Guests;
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Remember you are there at the invitation of the Bride & Groom. They could have asked anyone of probably hundreds of people that they know and, indeed, they made a hard decission to omit many from their list that they would dearly love to have there but it was just not practical to have them because of number constraints on the reception venue. So they thought long and hard and invited you over so many more. You should be honoured that you were invited along and you should behave accordingly.

Some pointers on "good manners" and common courtsey;

Be on time as invited. Don't wander in half way through the ceremony.

Do not stand about outside the church waiting for the bride to arrive. This is the height of bad manners as every bride wants to be seen for the first time as she walks up the aisle. I have seen brides cry when they arrive at the church because they expect people to be in the church. Do not add to the stress of the day for your bride.

When you are asked to stand into the group photograph do not refuse and walk away. You were invited and its part of the day and the occasion. If you do not appear in the group shot then it will look like you could not be bothered to attend the ceremony and just went to the reception for the food and entertainment.

You were asked to attend the wedding as a guest. The photographer was hired to take the photographs. Do not mix up the two ! ! ! While most photographers do not mind you taking the odd photograph they will not tolerate anyone moving in and taking over the couple. Never get in the photographers way. The Couple are paying good money for their photography and nobody should interfere in the process. You would never disrupt the Celebrant at the ceremony or arrive at the reception and begin to cook your own food so why disrupt the photographer and start taking your own photographs. It is manners to ask and then be unobtrusive.

Be on time for the Meal Sit-Down. Its surprising to see people walk in as the second course begins and expect to be catered to as if they were on time. Proceed to the reception after the ceremony. The drink is the same there as in the many pubs you pass along the way.

Above all else, don't get drunk and become a nuicence. Thats the worst of all !
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