Wedding Photo Ideas

That block of time just before you and your future spouse finally say “I do” is perhaps one of the most exciting (and nerve-wracking!) parts of your day, so it is definitely well worth capturing all of that excitement and happiness on camera. From the bridesmaids helping the bride zip her dress to the groom tightening his necktie, those hours are filled with moments you will want to cherish forever. To place the emphasis on the little details, have your photographer take close up shots of the bride and groom putting the finishing touches on their attire, such as the bride stepping into her heels or the groom putting on his favourite wristwatch. Don’t forget to capture the expressions on the faces of the wedding party, such as the mother of the bride closing the clasp of her heirloom pearls around her daughter’s neck or the groom’s father giving his son one final word of wisdom. Also take this opportunity to capture the different angles of the bride’s train and veil, along with the wedding rings before they are exchanged during the ceremony.

One part of your wedding that is worth immortalising is the location it takes place in. Before the seats of your wedding venue begin to fill with your friends and family, it is worth capturing a few snaps of the church, hall or outside venue before your guests begin to gather. From photos of the decorations such as wedding signs or a personalised photo collage to snaps of your loved ones chatting in their seats before the ceremony, these are details of your day that you will want to look back on, especially if you took the time to personally create personalised wedding decorations.

Whilst it is no surprise that this is one of the most important parts of your special day to capture on camera, there are many different ways to go about taking photos of the wedding ceremony. In order to keep the moment as special for you and your future spouse as possible, your photographer will most likely stay further away for these shots. Make sure they capture that special moment when the bride begins to walk down the aisle and the loving look on the groom’s face when his bride makes her appearance. If you will be saying your vows in a church, it might be hard for your photographer to get behind the altar, but they can capture snaps from behind that will showcase both the beautifully-adorned church and the spouses-to-be. From reciting vows to exchanging rings, you might also want to get photos of the look on your wedding party and guests’ faces as they witness these special moments. 

From leaving the venue as husband and wife to throwing the bridal bouquet to your bridesmaids, there are many precious moments to capture once the wedding ceremony has ended. Capture shots of you and your new spouse riding off in your car before having a post-ceremony photo shoot as husband and wife, and those first warm embraces as newlyweds with close up shots from different angles. Get snaps of the new spouses in front of the scenic background of their venue, whether that be a historic castle or a meadow blooming with wildflowers.

An outdoor photoshoot might depend on the weather. If you were lucky enough to have a wedding on a sunny day without a cloud in the sky, you might want to take advantage of ‘golden hour’ – those evanescent moments before the sun sets – to get breathtaking sunkissed photos. If it happens to rain on your special day, there is still a silver lining – overcast days have some of the best lighting for outdoor photography! These post-ceremony photos are perfect for photo wedding thank you cards, such as bookmark wedding thank you cards where you can place several of your favourite post-ceremony snaps on a photostrip-like keepsake card.

After your post-wedding photo shoot, have your photographer capture candid shots of all the fun you and your new spouse are sure to have at your wedding reception! From your first dance as newlyweds to cutting the cake, the reception is filled with moments you will want to remember forever. If your reception will be held outdoors in the evening, get snaps of you and your new spouse coming out to greet your guests by walking down an aisle of tiki torches or string lights, or have your guests hold sparklers whilst you make your first appearance together as husband and wife. (If there isn’t much natural lighting left because the sun has already set, these snaps look particularly good in black and white!) Don’t forget to have your photographer capture candid shots of you and your new spouse throughout the night whilst you dance, chat with your loved ones and share those precious first moments as newlyweds, especially with close up or zoomed-in photos. 

• Have your photographer get snaps of those around you on your wedding day – the bridesmaids and groomsmen, your parents, your guests, and anyone else who was a special part of your day. Your wedding wouldn’t be the same without them, and you will look back on photos and see moments that you couldn’t have seen in the midst of your ceremony.
• Don’t focus too much on the fact that there is a photographer around you or try to pose too much. The best photos are the candid ones that capture the pure bliss that you and your new spouse feel that day as newlyweds!