There are so many things to think about when planning a wedding. Colour schemes, timings, guest lists, rehearsals, gifts, seating plans, food, drink, rings… the list goes on.
But all of that planning happens before your wedding day. You put the work in before so that when the day finally arrives, you can let go, be present and enjoy every minute.
As a Kent wedding photographer, I’ve photographed weddings in scorching sunshine, pouring rain, behind schedule and perfectly on time. And if there’s one thing I’ve learnt, it’s that the couples who have the best day aren’t the ones whose wedding goes exactly to plan – they’re the ones who stop worrying about the things they can’t control.
Here are my top three things you really don’t need to worry about on your wedding day.
The good old British weather
It’s the one thing none of us can control, and it will only affect your day if you let it.
Every experienced wedding supplier will have worked through every type of British weather imaginable. Give yourself peace of mind by asking about their wet weather plans before the day. Find out where your drinks reception will move to if needed, how many umbrellas the venue has available and what your photographer’s backup plan is for portraits.
I always carry a matching pair of umbrellas for my couples and love making use of doorways, arches, trees and beautiful window light to create relaxed portraits, whatever the weather.
If your wedding day comes with a few showers or even storm conditions (yes, I have photographed a beach wedding during Storm Benjamin!) it simply becomes part of your story. Some of my favourite images have been taken in the rain, and it never takes away from the joy, emotion and excitement of the day.
Hot weather can cause worry too. But again, most suppliers and venues will be well versed in dealing with it. I recently photographed a wedding in 37.7 degrees and I can hand on heart say that there was no less love or joy all day.
The logistics on the day
On your wedding day, it shouldn’t be your job to make sure everything is running smoothly.
This is your chance to switch off and enjoy the result of all the planning you’ve already done.
Trust the professionals you’ve carefully chosen and invested in. If you have any worries, speak to them BEFORE the wedding day and give them the chance to reassure you.
It’s also worth giving a few trusted friends or family members small jobs to help everything run seamlessly. For example:
- Ask someone to keep a copy of the timeline.
- Give another person your group photo list so they can help gather guests.
- Ask someone to carry your touch-up make-up or anything else you might need during the day.
People genuinely like to help, and delegating a few little jobs means you can stay focused on what really matters — marrying your favourite person.
Everybody else
Of course you want your guests to have an amazing time.
But remember why they’re there.
They didn’t accept your invitation to critique the wine, score the meal like they’re on MasterChef or write a review of the venue the next morning.
They came because they love YOU. They came to celebrate your marriage and witness you marry your best friend.
Most of the things you think your guests might notice won’t even cross their minds.
The easiest way to make sure everyone has a brilliant time is simply to relax and enjoy yourself. Your guests will almost always follow your lead.
Put simply, no one else will know if something doesn’t go exactly to plan… because they didn’t know what the plan was in the first place.
Relax and Enjoy Your Wedding Day
Your wedding day isn’t a performance and it doesn’t have to be perfect to be amazing.
The things you’ll remember most won’t be whether everything ran exactly on time or whether it rained for twenty minutes. They’ll be the moments; the hugs, the laughter, the happy tears and the feeling of finally being married.
That’s exactly what I love documenting: the real moments that tell the story of your day.
If you’d like to see how I photograph weddings in a relaxed, natural way, you can take a look at my approach to photographing an entire wedding day here.
Worried about rain? You can read my blog all about that here too.
