Wedding day tips, part 1: Bridal and groom prep….don’t stress!

13 Feb

This is going to be the first in a series of wedding day tips where I break down each major part of the wedding day and give you my 10 years of insights, experience, tips, hacks, expertise, thoughts and ideas to make it as easy and as fun and as simple a process as possible AND get great photos from it all.

Bridal Prep…..Groom prep….one of the most important parts of the day. It’s the part of the day where family and friends help out the bride(s) or the groom(s), get themselves spruced up, looking ship shape and sharp, put on amazing looking dresses, suits, sort the flowers, put in button holes, tie the ties, get make up on, get hair done….there is a lot to do.

And from a photographers point of view, bridal prep and groom prep is actually a great time as there is usually so much going on. Bridal or groom prep can really show the connection between friends, family and those close to you. It can show the real people, the ins and outs of how dynamics within those groups work and it’s invaluable to a photographer as it then means we can assess who is who, what we can say, who to say things to, how to read the room, get to know people, find out those who can help, those who are the ones worth looking out for (there is always one that has a glint in their eye and a mind for mischief!) and generally introduce themselves to those close so they get used to you being around.

So, I wanted to give a few tips for bridal and groom prep so you can get the best photos from it and show the fun, chaos, smiles, tears and all that is needed before you go off and do the deed!

1. Bridal and groom prep need not be something you should worry about. Relax. First and foremost! You have got this far and things should now all be falling into place. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Just chill, take it easy, take it all in.

A bride in heart covered pink pyjamas leans against a wall while she speaks to a bridesmaid who is sitting down and heavily pregnant at Stockton House Shropsire — This is a perfect example of how a chilled prep can be. Kate and her pregnant bridesmaid friend just chilling and chewing the fat at the gorgeous Stockton House in Shropshire. See how Kate and her bridesmaid are basically “done”…make up, hair etc. All that is left to do is dress on, last spruce and off you go.

2. Get those around you to help. You are, like it or not, are the star of the show. You’re gonna have to accept that. Don’t be a diva of course, but you won’t be able to do everything yourself. Use the family and friends around you so you can concentrate on yourself and enjoying your moment.

A black and white image of a bride sitting at the end of a four poster bed in her wedding dress and sitting on a sofa while a bridesmaid ties her shoes and is being watched by members of family and friends and smiling at Crondon Park Essex — This is a classic, but Claire is getting all the help, even with the little things. Shoes being put on, jewelry being sorted, others doing the small things ensuring that she can just chill and enjoy her moment, this time at the beautiful Crondon Park in Essex.

3. Let those who know what they are doing do their job. And make a good relationship with them. The photographer is likely to have done it dozens and dozens of times. The hair and make up will work with you, so are there to make you look as best as you want. If you aren’t sure by that point, then that’s on you haha! But trust them. You hired them for a reason. And the better you get on with them, the better it will all work on the day!

A bride sits in front of a skylight window and smiles at the make up artist while she applies the make up at Suffolk Barn — Here, Anya is letting the amazing Leanne of Norfolk and Suffolk Bridal Beauty at the stunning Suffolk Barn just do her thing. There would have been plenty of discussion beforehand, a trial and look agreed on and it was really evident with the banter, the stories and conversation on the day that they really got on and had previous laughs and conversations before the big day. It made for amazing photos like this.

4. From my point of view, ignore me! But don’t. But ignore me. But don’t! Basically what I am saying is just do your thing. Ignore me while I am taking the photos. I will be wandering around, getting myself in places to get the shot that might look weird, but trust me, it’s worth it. Sometimes the light just isn’t right, so I have to do my best….ignore me. But, on the other hand, I am going to be there all day, so treat me like one of your guests, like the family. That way everyone will feel comfortable and the photos will speak for themselves. I’ll be chatting, laughing, getting to know people all to help make the atmosphere easy and comfortable so I can get the best photos for you.

A groom sharpens himself up with his jacket on while standing between a groomsman and someone helping him put on his button hole at Stockton House Shropshire — I had only been with Matt and his groomsmen at Stockton House about 20mins in this photo, but I had already showed them how to put on the button holes, tied three ties, set up a photo that Matt and his Dad wanted and taken some cool portraits before I captured this last shot of Matt getting his jacket on ready to go for the ceremony. And it was relaxed, simple, funny and easy.

5. Don’t leave everything to the last minute. I know this sounds obvious, but get the hair and make up done. Then chill. Have a glass of bubbly (or a beer), let everyone else get themselves sorted. Bridesmaids, groomsmen, Mum, Dad….whoever. The last thing you need to be doing is worrying you won’t have time. Again, from my point of view, the last photo I will take is likely to be a portrait of the bride/groom in their dress/suit before I go off to the ceremony to get ready. Just get the dress/suit on last, but with plenty of time for you to chill for 10-15 mins before you’re off to do the deed. Trust me, you will thank me for it.

A bride and four bridesmaids stand in front of their dresses hanging on a bean and are waving and pulling silly faces at the camera in the bridal suite of South Farm Royston Hertfordshire — Here, Charlotte (centre) and her crew at the amazing South Farm in Hertfordshire were effectively “done” and ready….dresses ready to go, so it was time for a bit of a moment, some downtime, a time to ponder and have a giggle. These moments, either staged, or spontaneous, don’t happen if you are rushing around, panicking and worry about all the small details so close to the ceremony.

6. Get someone to take that extra pair of shoes for the dance floor, the extra make up, deodorant, hair clips, hip flask…whatever it is you want. Have it all ready so it can just be picked up and be gone.

A black and white picture of a bride walking up a flight of stairs in an old converted brick church while she looks and smiles at the camera by the window at Childerley Hall — Tess at the beautiful Childerley Hall in Cambridge really was the epitome of just looking after herself….and not in a bad way! No hair and make up person, just did everything herself, but with LOADS of time. Everyone else had already gathered the needs for her….shoes, spare make up, perfume, tissues….all the things a bride might need for her big day. So Tess could do her own thing, go for a wander, take her time with things….I think you can see she went with the flow!

7. Have a check list that someone else can look over. Just so you don’t miss anything. You’re there to get married, not sweat the small stuff. So have a friend, family member, maybe even a co-ordinator have the inventory and timetable for the day and just let it be done. It takes the pressure away from you.

A bride is surrounded by make up artists and hair stylists who are taking pictures of her on their phones at Bassmead Manor Barns St Neots Cambridgeshire — Rhian didn’t want ANY hassle at her amazing day at Bassmead Manor Barns near St. Neots in Cambridgeshire. So she hired an entire crew! Obviously, this isn’t a necessity or is necessarily affordable for everyone, but if you have the means and you want to just chill and take it all in, have the most fun (Rhian certainly did….one of the most fun and bubbly brides you could meet) and let it all happen around you, then the timetables, the schedules, the lists of things needed should be passed on. Here the amazing Nikki (right) and her fantastic crew of hair and makeup Artists of the Cambridge Makeup Artist basically did everything, even down the socials! Nikki had the timetables, the details and then the others got on with things. It made for a wonderfully fun and chilled morning with loads of laughs with everyone.

8. If you are having hair and make up done, try and get in good light. Hopefully the MUA and hairstylist would and should know this, if anything to help themselves better. But for photographs as well, get yourself near a window. Natural light is always so much better. If that’s not possible, good light on you somehow will make all the difference. I can’t move you mid eye shadow application to get the shot!!

A bride is sitting in front of a theatre mirror with lights all around the edge of the mirror while a hair stylist is fixing her hair and the bride is smiling and laughing at South Farm Royston Hertfordshire — Charlotte was another super relaxed bride and just went with the morning and let things happen around her. You can see how happy she is and ready to go! But the venue, South Farm, is just that….still a working farm. It is a truly stunning venue but they know what they are doing. And due to the fact that bridal prep usually happens in the bridal suite, it is in a part of the building that doesn’t have the best natural light. And they know this so have adapted. As you can see, they have a fantastic dressing room theatre mirror for all the light needs so the hair and make up can do their job properly, but it also makes for awesome photos like this! There is always a way, at most venues. So, good light, no matter what, makes all the difference.

9. Another photography one….are you really that bothered about the little details? That photo of your perfume bottle? Will that be one of the shots you look at in the future? Probably not. If it’s important to you or you have items you want to have photographed to commemorate the day….a photo of a loved one no longer with us, a bit of jewellery that has sentimental value etc etc, then let the photographer know. If not, don’t worry about it. The photographer will capture what they can and if it’s significant, they will sort it. If not, don’t stress. It’s about you.

A fun image of a bride holding a glass of bucks fizz while her bridesmaids have taken silly photos of themselves on their phones and held the phones around the brides head pointing at the camera — I asked Emma if she wanted various things being photographed before she was off to marry Rich at the quirky and incredible Flint Room in Norwich. I usually do. She said she wasn’t bothered but I can get creative if I wanted to. So I pitched this idea to her instead as everyone was on their phones at some point in the morning and thought it would be a fun idea with the idea that they were on their phones to send these photos to her. She loved it and this is what we got! This is definitely more of a memory than a shoe on a window sill or light shining through a perfume bottle….nice as they are. If you want that, then I am more than happy to do it. But I do think that photos like this say so much more about you and your wedding.

10. And for want of repeating myself…..relax!!! Enjoy it! Treat it like a pamper session, a gathering of the great and good ready to shout to the world you’re marrying your bestie and you’re gonna party like it’s 1999 (remember that?!)