I photograph a lot of weddings which means I get a lot of opportunities to see what things work well and what things don’t work so well for wedding ceremonies. I’ve created a small list of things I’ve observed during the ceremonies of my incredible couples which you can use to help plan your perfect ceremony! Let’s dive into “A Photographer’s Handy Ceremony Tips!” with me – Sam Wyper Photography!

The Ceremony Arbor & You

I love arbors. You can get so creative with them and they can add a beautiful, unique element to your ceremony. Whether square, circular, or rectangle, arbors tend to be very symmetrical. What this means is that if you and your partner aren’t centred under the arbor, it will throw the photos off. You can imagine if you were a step or two on either side of an arbor, it would look unbalanced.  So when you’re rehearsing your ceremony definitely keep this in mind. I’m always happy to give you a little (friendly!) nudge during your ceremony to let you know if you’re off centre.

Wedding Party Positioning

Another thing to consider when rehearsing your ceremony is to have an even amount of space between you, the couple, and both wedding parties. I often photograph ceremonies where one party is closer to the couple, and again, it can throw the pics a little off balance. Honestly, it’s not the end of the world if this happens but if it can be avoided then the photos will be better off for it.

Have Close Family Near the Aisle

I love to capture close family members’ reactions during the ceremony, especially the grandparents and parents. However, sometimes the grandparents or other family members are in hard to photograph spots during the ceremony. This is especially the case if they are not on the edge of the aisle but in the middle of the row behind other guests. So if you can, try and organise the seating so your VIPs can be seated in the first row or on the centre edge of the aisle. A great idea is to delegate a family member or friend to greet your VIPs when they arrive and seat them where you would like, or have reserved seating with their name placed in their specific spot.

Introduce Me!

Truth be told, I’ve been known to stalk the wrong nana during the ceremony, purely because I wasn’t 100% clear on who they were. So if possible, on the wedding day, try and have the VIPs introduced to me so I know who to concentrate on capturing throughout the day. Again, this can be delegated to a family member or close friend! Better yet, if you’re getting ready on site have them come and visit before you leave for your ceremony, or even just seek me out before the ceremony starts.

Grandparents  Or Parents As Witnesses

Speaking of grandparents, if you want a way to get your grandparents involved in your wedding, have them be your witnesses. They will likely be stoked to be able to play this important role on your wedding day. Equally as lovely is having your parents do the honors!

Hair In The Couple’s Faces

This is one I see all the time. Brides (or grooms with long locks!) who get the most amazing hair styling that covers the whole side of their face. If this is the side of your face that the guests see, then not only is it extremely difficult for me to capture you when standing from the aisle view, but a lot of your guests can’t see you clearly. I might add, I’m no expert when it comes to hairstyling. But it may be something you want to consider when deciding on your hair look for your special day.

Confetti Or Flower Toss – GO BIG OR GO HOME!

With many things in life, less is more. However, this isn’t necessarily the case with confetti and flower throwing. These pics are often some of the most impactful photos of the day as this is when the energy is at its highest. I always notice when there is no confetti or flowers tossed when the newlyweds proceed up the aisle after signing their papers. Something just seems like it’s missing.

When planning for confetti or flower petals, make sure to get plenty. Ditch those cones and small bags that get handed out to wedding guests. Think bigger! My best tip: Get a bucket, fill it to the top and let your guests take a handful. Often when there are not enough flowers or confetti, the photo lacks the impact that you might hope for. So again, more is definitely more when it comes to the amount of confetti and flower petals you buy. You can order some amazing biodegradable confetti!

Look up during the confetti throwing! Yes, you are likely going to get pelted in the face with confetti or flower petals. But seriously, OWN IT! Don’t look down but soak every last bit of it up! The photos will be much more impactful for it!

Face To Face 

Try to face each other during the ceremony. This one might sound a bit obvious, but hear me out. I have photographed a small few weddings where the couple was turned toward the celebrant with their backs to their guests for most of the ceremony. The couples were completely unaware they were doing this. After all, the celebrant was talking and the couples were likely instinctively being polite by facing who was talking! So make sure during your ceremony rehearsal to face each other (with your bodies) and not the celebrant. Again, I’m happy to give another friendly nudge!

End of The Ceremony – Pick a spot and Stay Together!

This one applies if you’ve booked a full day or short & sweet package. One of my favourite, but most hectic parts of the day to capture is the hugs and high fives that happen post-ceremony. It’s a beautiful part of the day where you can connect with your guests and it’s a great time for me to be snapping beautiful candid moments of you with your guests.

However, if you and your newlywed split apart and both your grandmothers hug you at exactly the same time, it becomes impossible for me to capture these precious moments. I, therefore, recommend trying to stay within arms reach of each other while you take your hugs and high fives, and like the ninja that I am, I can quickly capture these moments between you both.

Pre-record Your Ceremony Music

I’ve photographed a stunning wedding at one of my favourite venues: Gold Coast Farm House. And here’s why. We all know technology cannot be the most reliable at times, especially those times that we need it to be. My lovely couple were hoping to use their Spotify playlist for their ceremony entrance but they couldn’t get enough reception to get Spotify to play. Not only did this affect their ceremony entrance (no music), but it pushed the ceremony behind time, which ultimately halved the amount of time we had for portraits. So make sure to pre-record your best tunes for your special moments before your wedding day!

Consider An Unplugged Ceremony

Just to clarify, by unplugged I mean a wedding where during the ceremony guests refrain from using their phones. I can’t recommend doing one highly enough! I think it’s fair to say most couples would appreciate having their guests be 100% in the present moment for their ceremony, rather than trying to do the job, well, of your wedding photographer! The truth is, I’ve photographed a fair amount of weddings where one or more of the parents have spent 90% of the time viewing the ceremony from behind the screen of their iPhone. For this reason alone I think unplugged ceremonies are totally the way to go.

Thanks for taking the time to read through this! I hope it helps you on your wedding planning journey!

About Sam Wyper Photography: I’m a nature loving, wedding cake eating, adventure seeking, husband to my beautiful wife + skateboarding dad. And I’m here to help rock your wedding day! If your wedding is a beautiful mountain top elopement or an epic gathering of love and laughter with your friends and family, I’ll be there to help plan your special day, facilitate beautiful moments and calm your nerves when things get a little too real. Specialising in wedding photography, engagement photography, and family documentary photography throughout the east coast of Australia and beyond.