With a decade of weddings under my belt from the local Middelburg area and well beyond, you can believe I’ve seen my fair share of weddings from beginning to end. So here are my top tips for the best wedding photos of your special day.

Ceremony Time

Not sure when to schedule your ceremony for to get those gorgeous sunset photos? Look up the sunset time for your wedding day and schedule your ceremony to start 2.5 hours before then. That gives you enough time for a 45 minute ceremony, your grand exit and portraits with family and friends.

Footwear

If you’re wearing heels, practise wearing them before your big. A lot. Plus, if you’re getting married in the rainy season, try get your hands on a pair of heel stoppers for walking over grassy areas. They’ll save you from sinking into the grass with every step.

The Bridal Suite

The room you’re getting ready in matters. Coloured walls, especially brightly coloured ones, reflect the light in the room on to your skin, creating a colour cast. This will show in photos and make makeup application harder too.

The Wedding Party

Always remember that the bigger your wedding party of bridesmaids and groomsmen, the more time you’ll need to set aside in your schedule for getting ready and for group photos before or after your ceremony.

Lighting

If you’re using fairy lights for your reception, take whatever amount you think you need and triple it. The more lights, the more magical your reception photos will be.

Garter Toss

Use a small rugby ball for the garter to go around when it comes to the garter toss. It makes it easier to throw and a fun souvenir for whoever catches it, plus it looks great in photos.

Down the Aisle

Brides and bridesmaids, your walk down the aisle is a journey, not a race. Take short, slow steps as you walk down the aisle, and don’t forget to look up.

Congratulations

Plan for an extra 15 minutes after your ceremony as you will be swarmed by your loved ones eager to congratulate you and often, snap a quick pic.

Dancing on a Cloud

There’s a BIG difference between a smoke machine and a fog machine when it comes to your reception. A fog machine is what gives you that lovely mist along the dancefloor and makes for the best dance photos. What most DJs use is a smoke machine that just blows bursts of smoke everywhere and hides you in them for your dance photos.

Let’s Party

Your guests want to party, so it’s best to get the formalities out of the way earlier in your reception. It also ensures your photographer captures those key moments before your package time runs out.

Light it Right

When it comes to your reception lighting, you should have enough light that your guests can see their food and the decor you chose, but not so bright that it feels uninviting.

Rainy Day

If you’re getting married in summer outdoors, always have a plan B in place for any outdoor activities like your ceremony and couples photos.

The Dress

Remember that you’ll be wearing your wedding dress for well over 8 hours of walking, sitting, eating and dancing… and usually in the heat of an African summer. If that sounds uncomfortable, you can always have a more comfy alternative for your reception.

Hanging Around

Don’t forget wooden hangers for your dress and your groom’s blazer. Trust me, plastic ones don’t look great in photos.

Be Yourself

Be uniquely you. You don’t have to have a cookie-cutter Pinterest wedding. You can add elements to your wedding that reflect who you are as a couple and as individuals. You’re also free to ditch the traditions you don’t like or create your own- it’s your day after all.

Simplicity

Keep your confetti choice simple. Rose petals or similar always work best as they float through the air perfectly. Also remember that the smaller your confetti is, the more likely it will get stuck in your hair or detail work of your dress.

Lighting Matters

For an indoor ceremony, light matters. A lot. If your space is dimly lit it will affect your photos, meaning your photographer will have to use flash and/or high ISO that adds a grainy look to your photos.

Go Unplugged

Going unplugged for your ceremony ensures your guests are engaged in the special moment with you during your ceremony, and not passively viewing it through a screen. Plus you won’t have Tannie Barbara’s ipad blocking your face as you walk down the aisle.

First Look

If you’re anxious about seeing each other at the altar or having a day wedding, consider doing a first look and your couples session before the ceremony. It takes the pressure off and means you can go straight from your ceremony to canapés and your reception.

Ask for Help

Your photographer has seen way more weddings than you from start to finish. They will happily help you plan your timeline knowing how long each aspect of your wedding takes to happen.