YOUR
Wedding Guide
CHAPTER FIVE
Dinner & Reception
Photographing the Reception Styling
Intricate details of your reception styling can add to the beautiful story of your special day. To ensure the photos look their best and there are no unwanted distractions, I would love to capture them before your guests arrive. Please let me know what time your guests will be arriving so I can plan accordingly.
BIG TIP
With all the exciting photo opportunities and events happening on your special day, I may not be able to capture the reception styling before your guests arrive. If these photos are important to you (which I totally understand), we could consider booking a second photographer to make sure everything is covered. Let's talk about this option further if you're interested.
Reception Lighting
If you're unsure about the lighting at your reception venue, don't worry - I'm here to help. I have plenty of experience working with different lighting situations, and I can even bring my own lighting equipment if needed.
That being said, I try to avoid using flash photography during speeches, as it can be intrusive. If you can provide enough lighting for the reception and speeches, it will help me be less intrusive during this time, while also ensuring I get great photos. If you have any questions or concerns about the lighting, please don't hesitate to reach out - I'm happy to help in any way I can.
Speeches
To make sure we capture the heartfelt moments of your speeches and guests' reactions, having adequate lighting in the speech area is important. If you're unsure about how much lighting is required, I can offer suggestions.
Cutting the Cake
To make your cake cutting moment more special, I suggest planning ahead with the venue to have a knife and champagne set up on the table. This way, you won't have to worry about a thing and can just focus on enjoying the moment. An option I love is cutting your cake when entering your reception. This is a great way to make the moment special and means the catering team can have it cut and ready for dessert.
The First Dance
I recommend allocating 5-10 minutes in your photo timeline for me to set up some stationary lighting if required. It won't take long, and it'll make all the difference in creating stunning shots.
Be sure to invite your loved ones to stand around the dancefloor during your first dance, and I'll be sure to capture their reactions to this special moment.
BIG TIP
Hot tip - ask your venue to dim the lights and your guests to hold up their phones with their torches on. This will create a concert-like vibe and make for some incredible photos. Just let your band or DJ know, and they can inform your guests to head over to the dancefloor and take part in the magic.
Be sure you schedule some
d-floor time before I leave
The moment after your first dance is the perfect opportunity for everyone to hit the dance floor for a song or two. It's also an excellent chance for me to capture some early dance floor photos, especially if we're on a tight timeline. If your guests need a little nudge to get the party started, your wedding party can lead the way by joining you on the dance floor first and encouraging everyone else to follow. Let's make some memories! Let's light up the dance floor with some unforgettable moments!
Leave with a bang
Depending on the photography package you choose, photographing your final exit, such as a sparkler exit, may not be the most efficient use of our time together. However, if you would like this moment captured, please let me know in advance so we can discuss the day's timeline and potentially book additional hours if necessary.
It's important to keep in mind that sparkler exits can be unpredictable. Although they can create some beautiful and fun photos, coordinating a large group of people to hold sparklers and form two lines can be challenging, especially when alcohol is involved. I will do my best to capture this moment, but please understand that it may not always turn out exactly as planned.
