Wedding Ceremony - How to get the best images for your wedding ceremony?

By Florent Vidal Photography

All the planning and all the preparations come down to this part of the wedding: the ceremony. It is the very reason both you and your partner, as well as your friends and family come together on this special day. Ironically, when you take the whole wedding day, it is the shortest part of the celebration.

For us this is the highlight and the most important event of the day – it is about two people showing their love and commitment for each other. When emotions flow during the ceremony, everyone is touched (and that includes us!).

Choose a location that represents you as a couple

We like hearing stories from couple why they’ve chosen a location for their wedding ceremony. Jen & Kirby were married in the Sydney Botanical garden, overlooking Farm Cove – a place that was very special for Kirby’s dad who passed away a few years ago. Natalie & Liam, got married in country NSW in the farm of Natalie’s grandparents under a majestic tree where she used to play as a kid and where her grandparents also got married. Couples who have holidayed together in Port Stephens often choose a beachside location that overlooks the big blue sea and where many happy memories were made.

And just like falling in love, sometimes you just stumble upon a place and you know that it’s THE ONE. Wherever it maybe, if you absolutely feel that a place is just as you envision your big day, it is bound to make your ceremony more personal, which brings strong emotions to the surface.

Where is the (good) light?

When getting married in a church there’s nothing much you can do about the lighting but when getting married outdoors, for example a beach or garden, it pays to be mindful of the time of the day you choose for your ceremony. Not only for photos, but also for the comfort of your and your guests. Having your outdoor ceremony when the sun is at its peak will not only give you unflattering shadows on your face, but it will also make your friends and families wishing for cover! On the other hand, you don’t want them looking straight in the sun behind you.

So what to do? The general rule of thumb is to go to your wedding ceremony venue at the same time as your ceremony. Stand at the same spot and observe the light. Is it soft? Look at each other’s eyes: are you squinting? Or are you comfortable? Then stand where your loved ones will be sitting: will they be covering their faces to shield from the sun?

Connection with the officiant is important.

Be it a priest, rabbi, minister or a marriage celebrant, choosing who will officiate your wedding ceremony is the biggest part of the whole day. They are very important and the way they conduct your ceremony will change everything. Find someone you truly connect with and who wants to understand you as a couple; one who can make you laugh and one who can touch your hearts. All of these will show on your wedding photos.

And if you really love a church but feel that you would rather have the priest whom you know, don’t hesitate to BYO! Yes, you can! A lot of couples do this and the churches are generally happy to welcome your own priest.

It’s smart to put the phones away

More and more couples are opting for unplugged ceremonies. The difference in emotion between the guests who are fully present and listening to the ceremony, and the guests who feel that they have to record the wedding with their phone can truly be felt on the day. When you walk down the aisle, you want to see your friend’s faces: not the back of their phones or iPad.

Again, truly beautiful wedding images are all about emotions and the feelings that they will stir in you long after the day is over. True feelings cannot be made-up, it is either there or not, and our job is to capture those tears and laughters.

Practical Tips on the wedding day!

Bride, please walk slowly. Nerves can make you walk faster! Why not practice at home and exaggerate the slowness of the walk. Once you find yourself down the aisle, it will feel more natural, as the pace will correct itself.
Bridesmaids - also walk slowly and leave a gap between each of you. We don’t want to miss you by walking too close to each other. The best way to do this is to count to 20 before each one commences their walk (or wait for the first person to reach the front of the aisle before to start walking)
Groom and groomsmen, please remove the phones from your pocket as they show through and the photos can be unflattering. If you can leave them with someone else that would be great!
Have eyes only for each other. It’s easy to keep looking at the celebrant especially when they’re talking. Remember, this day is about the two of you. So while the celebrant is talking about you, you should look at each other and enjoy the moment. It also makes for better pictures to see your face and not just the back of your heads.