Shedding some light on being an Experienced Shropshire Wedding Photographer

From the point of booking me and getting your Wedding Day date in my diary, you would be very busy planning your amazing day. So as your Shropshire Wedding Photographer I would love to catch up with you!

Around 4-6 weeks before your wedding day, we can meet up / Skype chat. I love to hear all about your Wedding Plans!

I get incredibly excited hearing about the details of the day. The suppliers chosen, things you have been making, family relationships, who you would like photos with etc.

The purpose of meeting / zoom call is obviously know the details of your day. However I want to make sure you have enough time to enjoy yourselves and relax!

We discuss family members, bridal party members, requested photos with particular people to make sure you get everything out of your Shropshire Wedding Photographer!

Timings:

Below, I want to just share with you a typical wedding day, with me as your Shropshire Wedding Photographer!

This example is of a summer wedding, church ceremony at 2pm and marquee / venue reception after. By all means this can apply to a wedding at one venue (civil ceremony and reception all in one place) The bonus to this, you can use the extra time for a church service and travel time for extra time to mingle with your fabulous friends and family!! (or more photos!)

In the morning…

Around 8 am – THE GIRLS – Hair and Make-up begin

(Time can be adapted depending on the amount of ladies are having hair and make-up done. Your professional hair and make-up artist with certainly advise timings for you too)

This is a really exciting time in the morning. The atmosphere is incredible – sheer excitement, realisation, love and laughter.

Shropshire Wedding Photographer Arrives

I will arrive with you around 12pm. Hair and Make up is starting to come to an end. This is a great opportunity to capture those finishing touches. I will photograph the buzzing atmosphere, the dress, shoes, flowers etc and even a few tears that maybe shed!

Around 12.30 – Bridesmaids and Mother of the Bride – Get their glad rags on!

If not done already, I ask politely the mother of the bride and also the bridesmaids to get their dresses on. I always ensure everyone is sorted before the bride so we can all focus on you! It prevents anyone being left out in the build up. From a photography point of view, everyone is in kept and no one is busy doing something else.

12.45 – 1pm – Second Shooter meets the Groom and the Boys at the pub/church

Meeting the Boys around an hour before the Ceremony allows the Boys some time to do bits and bobs in the morning. For instance, a round of golf, grab a drink, practice their speeches etc.

My second shooter will be capturing some portraits of the groom and boys, along with family. We make sure they have scrubbed up well and putting button holes on if need be (however we always end up doing it – you are in safe hands!) Photos will take about 15-20 minutes. Leaving  the Boys time to do their important job roles and chance for the Groom to see the Vicar. In the mean time, discreet informal photos will be captured of the guests arriving, of the church beautifully set up and making sure the Groom is OK!

(If the Groom would like coverage too, my second shooter can also arrive two hours before the ceremony time, so the coverage is replicated, the Groom and the Boys getting ready also.)

12.45 – 1pm – The Bride – YOU – gets your fabulous dress on!

So everyone is dressed and ready to help you –  get your dress on, jewellery etc. This takes the stress away for you as the excitement and possibly a few butterflies start to kick in at this point! When you are ready we will get some relaxed portraits of you. Along with your bridesmaids and Mum and then, we invite Dad in! This will be the first time that Dad will see you, so get the tissues ready! (This is one of my favourite parts of the day!) Next photos with Mum and Dad, then we are fit to go! This gives you chance to have some time to grab a glass of fizz and a breather before you get in the wedding car.

1.40 – Everyone leaves for church

The Bridesmaids and Mother of the Bride leave for church just before you. So a chance to have a catch up with Dad (and some wise words to be exchanged!) I will leave just before you to document your arrival along with my second shooter.

(NB Time depending how far you live from church)

2pm – Wedding Ceremony

And breath, just breath,… enjoy and relax!… We will be there discreetly photographing your first glances at one another, the tears, the smiles, the kiss, signing the register.

A church ceremony lasts for roughly 40 minutes.

Your guests will be super excited to see you. Please feel free to greet your guests coming out of church. These are some of the best photos we will be capturing! Lots and lots of natural candid moments, which we absolutely LOVE photographing!

Lots of confetti is to follow and off to your wedding reception!

2.30pm – Arrival at your wedding reception – marquee/wedding venue

If its OK with you, we follow you to the wedding reception and whisk you off to takes some beautiful portraits. This is a great use of time while your guests arrive. We will be with you for about 20 minutes. So it gives you a little more time together before you will be joining in with your guests for a glass or two. Everyone would have arrived by then so no one will notice that you have been gone for a little while.

We will discreetly get some photos of your guests and your wedding breakfast room and all the details!

Before you are due to eat, we will gather your families to capture your family photographs. Depending on family sizes this will be around 10-15 minutes. (We are pro’s at this!) Then we invite the rest of your fabulous guests to take a whole group photo (if you wish.) Your MC/toastmaster/ or I can announce your wedding breakfast while everyone is all together.

4.30pm – Wedding Breakfast

You will be announced in by your MC/toastmaster as the new Mr & Mrs and you can officially relax!

Your wedding breakfast will be served and we shall down tools and have a little breather letting y0u and your guests relax (we don’t photograph you all eating!) Your wedding breakfast lasts for roughly 2 hours – bon appétit!

6.30pm – Speeches

Speeches can happen before your wedding breakfast or after when everyone is a little more relaxed – (except those speaking!) Typically the order goes: Father Of The Bride, Groom and the Best Man. Speeches can last for up to 45 minutes – 1 hour (in total!). Just in time for everyone to freshen up, photograph the bridal party and get ready for the evening before evening guests arrive.

7.30pm – 8pm – Evening guests arrive and Party!

Your evening guests start to arrive and everyone is ready for the evening celebrations!

Timings generally start to go out of the window! Everyone can let their hair down as all the formalities are done!

Cake cutting, first dance and dance floor action commence and we are their to capture these fun moments!

We will mingle around capturing your evening guests, people busting some moves on the dancefloor / bouquet throw is you wish.

Around 9pm – 9.30pm – we say our goodbyes!

When the band/DJ have done most of their first set/ evening food is starting to be put out, this is usually when we are finishing up. We have got a fantastic amount of coverage of your amazing day . You can continue to enjoy the rest of the evenings celebrations as the night is young!!! We will come and say our goodbyes, check with you and your parents that we have got all the photos that you have wished for before we go.

I will then go home, back up your wedding photos up on the computer ready to start editing over the next few weeks!

The next step…

I hope sharing some of my wedding photography experiences can help you envisage how your wedding day can be.  This may look a lot to take in for your wedding day, however it is a breeze, I promise!

We have this pre-wedding meeting chat/ for this very reason, to ensure you know what is going on. Also so we have allowed enough time for the above to happen and then you can relax…..That relaxed you are almost a guest at your own wedding! We will work with you and your other amazing suppliers to help make your special day is an enjoyable and memorable experience.

If you would like to get in touch please feel free to:

Fill in the contact form

Drop me an email info@charlottegiddingsphotography.co.uk

Or give me a call 07984 033083

I really can not wait to be your Shropshire Wedding Photographer and lets get your date in my diary!