10 Important Things to Remember on Your Wedding Day

What are the 10 things you should not forget on your wedding day?

1. The Photographer: Of all the thousands of details that make up a wedding, the photographer is one of the most important. Why? Because they are responsible for documenting everything that happens: not only you and your guests, but also the decoration, the venue, the dress, the flowers and all those details you have spent so much time preparing.After months, or even years, organising your wedding, the photographs are what will remain. Memories gradually fade over time, so having a good collection of images — or a beautifully designed wedding album — becomes extremely valuable years later.A good wedding photographer will also advise and guide you throughout the day. Wedding photography is not only about knowing how to use a camera. Experience means knowing how to act at every stage of the wedding, where to be, when to step in and when to disappear into the background, always looking for the best possible images.
2. Make-up: Good make-up is far more important on your wedding day than many people realise. And by make-up, I do not mean simply applying lots of colour. Good make-up shapes and enhances your appearance, highlights your best features and helps soften the ones you may prefer not to emphasise.It should also be applied with high-quality products that will last throughout the day and withstand heat, tears and long hours without making you look heavily made-up.I have worked with hundreds of make-up artists over the years, have some training in the subject myself and have seen how much difference good make-up can make to the final photographs.
3. The Details: All the small details you prepare help give your wedding its own personality: the guest book, the decorations, the bouquet, the table settings and all the little touches created for your guests.They are important — but only until the day before the wedding.On the wedding day itself, you should not be worrying about whether something is missing, whether a decoration is in the right place or whether everything has been arranged exactly as planned. Delegate those things to people you trust.Your job that day is simply to enjoy it and enjoy each other.
4. Food: Because of nerves, it is very common — especially for the bride — to skip breakfast or barely eat on the wedding day.That is a mistake.It is a long, emotional and physically demanding day, usually followed by plenty of celebration. You need energy, so make sure you eat properly and stay hydrated throughout the day.
5. The Couple’s Photo Session: As more weddings are now held entirely at one venue, some couples prefer to stay with their guests and skip the short portrait session after the ceremony.I think that is a mistake, even if the session lasts only 15 minutes.It gives you a few minutes away from everyone, allows you to make another entrance when you return to the reception, and gives us the chance to photograph you looking your very best on the actual wedding day.Even if you are planning a post-wedding shoot, the emotions are different on the wedding day itself. You have the bouquet, the excitement is still there and you are both completely immersed in the experience.And if you do not want to spend much time away from your guests, the session can be very short and does not even have to leave the venue.
6. Photocall: It does not have to be expensive to create a simple and fun photo area for the party.A few glasses, signs, decorations, hats or themed props in one corner of the dance area can work perfectly. You can even build it around something you both like, such as Star Wars or another theme.Once the party gets going, people are usually more than happy to join in — sometimes even the guests you would least expect.
7. Candy Bar: A candy bar is not only for children. Adults tend to visit it just as enthusiastically.You can easily create one yourself using a trolley or table provided by the venue and decorate it in many different ways to fit the style of your wedding.
8. Formal Group Photos: These are the traditional photographs usually taken after the ceremony: the couple with parents, friends, cousins and different groups of guests, all looking at the camera.Some couples tell me they would rather skip them because they can feel repetitive and take a little time. But the reality is that many guests want these photographs and will ask for them.It is usually much easier to organise them properly from the beginning, in one carefully chosen location, so the lighting and background remain consistent.
9. Love: This is really the most important one.Look at each other. Take care of each other. Smile at each other. Hold hands. Enjoy being together.Try to spend as much of the day together as possible. Of course, you should greet your guests and make everyone feel welcome, but whenever possible, do it together.It is your wedding day. Make sure there is plenty of love in it.
10. Booking Early: Finally, it is very important to book your photographer well in advance.

Every year, couples contact me excited about having me photograph their wedding because they have seen me working at a friend’s wedding, found me online or simply connected with my photography — only to discover that their date is already booked.

That is disappointing for them and for me.

I never photograph more than one wedding per day. Each couple gets my full attention, and I personally take the photographs. I may occasionally bring an assistant to help with lighting or logistics, but I remain the photographer throughout the day.

June, July, September and even October can be extremely busy months, so if photography is important to you, it is worth booking early.

As a general guide, I would recommend contacting your photographer around a year in advance. For my own wedding, I booked mine two years beforehand.

I hope these ideas help you prepare for such an important day — and, above all, help you enjoy it.