Hints and Tips
1. Book your photography early to avoid disappointment. Peak dates go very quickly.
2. Try to ensure your wedding cake has at least a metre of space all the way round. If your cake is pushed back against a wall, it is difficult − sometimes impossible − to take photographs of you cutting your cake. If there is no other option than to have your cake table against a wall, ensure that only ONE side of the table is inaccessible.
3. Allow around 3 hours between the start of your wedding ceremony and the start of your wedding breakfast. Everything takes longer than you planned − not just photographs − but ceremonies, guests who want to greet and congratulate you, getting to the reception, comfort breaks (visiting the loo in your wedding dress can be a challenge), and time for you and your guests to refresh, enjoy a drink and relax a little before eating.
4. You may be nervous on the day of your wedding. Most couples go through a range of emotions and occasionally this leads to headaches, mild panic attacks and even fainting. Help calm your nerves a little by being ready in plenty of time so you don−t feel rushed. Avoid too much alcohol before the ceremony, as this can cause dehydration and fainting. Eat breakfast and drink plenty of water. Take water in the car with you, and some wet wipes when you leave for the ceremony. Make sure dresses and ties/collars are not too tight − you do need room to breathe!
5. Take it slowly. You have spent months, even a year or two, planning your special day down to the last detail. The day will go by fast, so enjoy every second and don't be rushed. Walk slowly back down the aisle when you are married, take your time getting in and out of cars, enjoy a drink when you need it and remind yourselves every now and again to slow down.
6. Relax as much as you can. Once the day has arrived and you've done all the hard work organising the details, there's no point in worrying. Enjoy the day!
7. Allocate different tasks to different people. For example, the Best Man and Ushers can be invaluable in organising the guests, finding the right people for photographs etc and this will take the strain and worry away from you. Equally, a good Chief Bridesmaid can ensure the bride gets the help she needs in dressing, walking and standing in her dress and veil throughout the day, and organising the younger bridesmaids.
8. If you are having a church wedding, check the rules and regulations about photography during the ceremony. Most ministers do not allow flash photography during a wedding service (this should not be a problem for a competent professional photographer) and some will not allow photography at all!
9. If you feel self conscious about having your photograph taken, tell YouNique about it. Your wedding photographs are for life and it is essential to reflect the true atmosphere and emotion of your day. YouNique will talk to you about how the photography is approached and ensure you are relaxed and comfortable, no matter what your past experiences or how you feel about previous photographs taken of you. If you are relaxed with your photographer, it will show in the photographs.
10. If you have any guests who might not be happy being in the same photograph, tell YouNique about it. All information is treated in the strictest confidence and it enables YouNique to avoid any embarrassing moments at your wedding.
11. Be realistic about young children at your wedding. They look beautifully angelic dressed in their wedding outfits, but the younger they are, the more stressed they can become as they don't understand what is happening or what is expected of them. never force them to have their photographs taken.
12. If you have any special requests, tell YouNique about it before your wedding. You will have enough to think about on your wedding day and if YouNique know the things that are really important to you before the day, you can be sure YouNique will capture it.
13. If you get stuck for a supplier, it may be YouNique can help. Have a look at the links on the website or email us. We know many good, reliable suppliers and may be able to point you in the right direction. Our own wedding couples frequently recommend suppliers they have used and we will be pleased to pass on their recommendations too.
14. Read our Real Wedding Stories. There are more hints and tips from some of the couples photographed. 15. Most importantly, focus on what the day is really about - you are marrying the person you love. Our warmest congratulations to you both. Be happy!
