WEDDING DO’S & DON’Ts 101

I’ve been shooting weddings since 2006 and as a wedding photographer, I’ve witnessed some weddings that were very well planned and organized and weddings that were quite, how should I put it, ‘chaotic’. During assignments, I’m always by the couple’s side from the wee early morning till the end of the reception and I’ve learned quite a number of things that one should and should not do during their wedding day. I may not be a wedding planner or a professional event planner, but what I’m about to share here could benefit you if you’re planning to have a wedding.

GETTING READY
- VENUE ADDS TO THE MOOD
If possible, get ready at a nice venue like a hotel room or so. Hotel rooms usually have big windows (good source of light), nice decors and furniture. This may provide photographers more opportunities to take nicer photos.

- A MESSY ROOM IS A MESSY ROOM
If you’re getting ready from home, try to keep your room as neat as possible. You may not want your undergarments as background in your photos.

- LIGHT IS IMPORTANT
Choose a room with good source of light for your make up. Look out for windows and lamps. If you’re not sure, ask your photographer

- HAVE YOUR MAKE UP ARTIST OVER
It’s always better to have your make up artist over your place. It’s harder to take photos when you’re queuing up with other brides while we fight with other photographers for a perfect spot. Furthermore, if it’s during peak season, you might end up late for your wedding if other brides turn up way earlier than you did (6am was the earliest I’ve shot!)

- ALLOCATE SUFFICIENT TIME AFTER MAKE UP
Some photographers like myself need at least 20-30 mins to take photos of you, dolled up and looking all pretty in your wedding gown after your make up and hair-do. Don’t forget, we need to take photos of you and your family too!

- GET YOUR FRIENDS OVER
If you’re a nervous wreck, have some close friends or family over. Not too many though! We can’t work in a tight and crowded room.

WEDDING CEREMONY
For Traditional Chinese Weddings

- DOOR BREAKING GAMES
Choose a place to bully those pitiful groom’s men with sufficient space and good source of light. The front porch, garden or the living hall is recommended for torture.

- NO CAMEARAS DURING DOOR BREAKING GAMES
That’s why you hire photographers! Your groom’s men or bride’s maids can concentrate humiliating or being humiliated while we photographers get all the best angles capturing those moments. We don’t want to fight with your groom’s men or bride’s maids for angles, especially when you already have 10 bride’s maids and 10 groom’s men crowding in a small confined area.

- BE A SPORT
If you’re one of the unfortunate groom’s men, be a sport and just try to do whatever the bride’s maids ask for. If you’re constantly negotiating your way out, then there’s really nothing much to take photos of.

- KEEP TRACK OF TIME
Some bride’s maids may get overzealous and forget that it’s time for tea ceremony. Assign a time-keeper.

- TEA CEREMONY
Prepare a list of your relatives that you’re serving tea to. Your parents may think that they know their own family at the back of their palms but weddings can make some parents get overly excited or nervous. You don’t want to end up wasting time trying to figure out who’s next to serve tea.

For civil or Christian ceremony

- MAKE THE NECESSARY ANNOUNCEMENT
Ask your wedding officiant or emcee to inform your guests to turn off their cell phone and take photos only from where they are seated at. Otherwise, we might give your uncle or aunty the death stare if they are in our way. >:(

- MIC STANDS
Officiants love it, photographers hate it. Mic stands can be a distracting foreground/background. Who wants to see a picture of a metal rod crossing over your shoulders or head? Ask for a wireless mic or have the officiant hold the mic for you as you say your vows.

- KEEP A DISTANCE
Keep a comfortable distance say 10 feet apart from your bridal party during march-in. You don’t want the person in front to block you.

- FLAUNT THE ROCK
When you put on the wedding ring, angle it towards the guests and don’t let your fingers hide the shinny rock that you’ve spent your entire salary on.

- KISS HER LIKE YOU REALLY MEAN IT
When you are given the green light to kiss the bride, please KISS the bride. No matter how great or experienced the photographer is, a peck that lasts a few milliseconds is not an easy task to capture.

- SMILE
If the officiant gets boring during the ceremony and you’re starting to doze off, please don’t. Keep smiling to each other or I have to sneak up in front of you and remind you to do so.

- PREPARE A LIST OF GROUP PHOTOS
Make sure someone is calling out the groups so that everyone is there for their group photos and not loitering around the cocktail area

THE RECEPTION
- THE RECEPTION MARCH-IN
Same ‘Keep a distance” rule applies during the march-in. Remember to smile as you walk in and if you’re planning to have rose petals or confetti, pop/throw it only after you’ve walked past and not before. You don’t want to get the rose petals or confetti blocking your face and getting on your hair.

- WALK AROUND AND MINGLE
There isn’t much for us to take photos of when everyone is eating. A mouth stuffed with food is not a pretty picture. Walk around and mingle.

- FEED YOUR PHOTOGRAPHERS
Ask of your photographer if he/she needs food. One can get very hungry and tired after doing 6 hours of hard labor.

- HAVE A WEDDING AND NOT RUN ONE
Hire a wedding planner or assign someone to co-ordinate your wedding. I’ve seen brides running around with their cell phone stuck on her face the entire day trying to co-ordinate the entire event herself. Sigh…

If you have any tips to add or share, please comment below. If you find this tips useful, please share it with your friends. : )