– Tips by ProFocus Photography
- Hire a good Make-Up Artiste (MUA) – You do not get a second chance at your photos and video! Hire someone with experience and a history of good results. Bad makeup can cost you more. While retouching/editing can be done by your photographer it may cost you more depending on their retouching/editing policy for photos. This will also make the editing process longer which may lead to a longer period to deliver your images. As for video – you will be left with the evidence as video edits are harder and take even more time .
- Have reasonable expectations – This is your big day and you must have fun! While everyone wants their day to go exactly as planned, rarely everything goes 100% perfect as you hoped. Weather, traffic delays, venue/food catering complications can put a damper on your mood. Do not allow the things which you have no control over to ruin your day! Handle any disputes after your wedding day is through.
- Try to be early – You are calmer when you are not racing against the clock! Set a schedule. Make ample time for makeup, getting dressed and getting to your venues on time. This will take a lot of stress off you on your Wedding day. If this fails and you are running late just remember tip number #2 mentioned above. This is your big day and you must have fun!
- Hire a great Reception M.C. – The mood of your reception will greatly be affected by the person leading it! Make sure to hire someone fun if you do not want a boring reception. Someone with experience and can engage large groups of strangers is a good pick. Do not forget to hire a good DJ as well as this person can be equally as important.
- Avoid Midday for your Photo-Session – While a good photographer can get good results anytime, this is not the best time of day for photos especially in warmer climates. The quality and direction of light earlier in the day or later in the evening is better than at midday. Also, you and your brides maids will be sweating off the make-up too! Your guests will also thank you for not bringing them in the sun as well. It is a terrible idea to bring a large group of people for a photo-session especially in high noon. Alternately, you can consider having your couples photo-shoot (bride & groom) done on another day than your wedding day which will be less stressful, gives you more time with your photographer, gives you more time for your creative freedom (no one telling you they are hungry and need to go to the reception venue now) and it is easier to choose the time of day you want for your photos. Early morning, late afternoon and sunsets are great!
- Avoid choosing venues that are far apart – The further apart they are, the more that can go wrong! Road constructions, other forms of traffic delays and then add some rain and that makes a disastrous day in traffic. Two other disadvantages are, more travelling means you will be more tired and there is the potential to be late for the reception. Try to choose venues that are close to each other regardless of cost. The money you save on a cheaper reception venue 30 miles from the ceremony venue might give you a headache due to delays on your wedding day. There are venues that do both Ceremony and Receptions in one and have a good area such as a garden for photos. These should be high on your consideration list.
- Hire a wedding planner – It’s all about peace of mind! A wedding planner can save you time and headaches. You can get advice on things you may not have thought of but are important for your big day. You can plan your wedding without a planner but the process can be hard for you especially if you have not worked in the wedding industry – knowing good make-up artistes, good photographers, the right venues for your style of wedding, good M.Cs, etc. Some wedding planners are also present on the day of your wedding to ensure the various people and items involved in your wedding are present and in order. This gives you less to think about and you can focus on what really matters – This is your big day and you must have fun!
- Hire a good Photographer/Videographer – What’s the point of nice dresses, good makeup, limousines, beautiful décor, expensive venues if your Photos and Video will not show it the same way or better than how you saw it with your eyes? Hire a team of professionals that know how to give coverage of the small details in great quality and with creativity. It is also a great idea to tell your guests with a camera not to get in the way of the professionals you have hired.
ProFocus Photography 