Striking fear into your wedding photographer

When discussing their wedding day, there is one phrase that bridal couples, very occasionally, come up with, that reduces me to goldfish status ie: mouth open, blowing silent bubbles and totally unable to communicate!

         “We only want a couple of pictures”.
 I might understand if the words came from an older couple who consider themselves un-photogenic and dread ploughing through 500 plus images of themselves, looking less attractive than they were in their youth, but the older age group are much more positive. 

         Older couples seem to know exactly what they want "Two hours flat " and then please disappear photographer. Or the full works. 

Bridal bliss looks wonderful at Coity Castle

When they order an album this age group know how to make a big effort and look wonderful.
Looking wonderful is not the only issue here. For those 'plighting their troth' who do not marry 
in church, how should such a momentous day be recorded, if not by photographs and an album, preserving the photographs for posterity? Even more importantly these albums are charming records to be enjoyed by their children (and the children from previous marriages) and their children
ie: the grandchildren of the bridal pair. All of which is right and proper and exactly how it should be.
 (And what's more the kids love them).

 I would like to explain to those who who utter these words, as a prelude to trying to book a photographer for an hour or two, my first thought which is:

          "But I might not get anything!"

The one thing that strikes terror into the heart of any photographer, let alone a wedding
photographer, is the chance that he/she might not have the opportunity to do justice to
 the subject (in his/her own judgement).
          During the event the best photographs may not come from from any of the set pieces.
          The arrival of the bride
          The ceremony
          The kiss
          The walk down the aisle
          The cutting of the cake
          The first dance
          Or even from the photographs of the couple immediately after the ceremony in
the twenty or so minutes allotted to the photographer (although often this time does
produce lovely shots which form the anchor stone of the album).

Wedding day magic, they do it with mirrors

 Reluctant subjects are not unusual, some men consider their wedding day as a chance for a binge with their mates.........
          On one occasion the bride and groom were not speaking by the time it came to cutting the cake, let alone sharing the first dance.  So there simply were no pictures of these moments. However having got some delightful shots earlier, with a bit ofcreativity, the album was a great success. (With the bride at least).
         Did they live happily ever after.......... so far history does not relate!

Moved to tears by the beauty of his bride

    For more touching moments on my website just click here      

        

Cherubim and Seraphim

Wedding day chores for the bridesmaids.
Did I mention that it is the matron of honour's job to look after the little ones?
Good thing the matron of honour is her Mummy!

Wedding day nerves

Wedding day doubts

"I don't think I've had the training for this!"

That's quite enough of that nonsense

Wedding cherubs at play

Wedding day putti:
No need to create a list of chores for  these little darlings. Their function as pages and flower girls at our weddings, is to make everybody smile! 

Maybe some of them can strew a few flower petals or try and carry a train? 

However the less able they are with their designated tasks, the more enchanting they become.

For more beautiful cherubs on my website just click here

Hot hats for the brides' mum

Amanda Redman’s mother wears a great hat and is so happy for her glamorous daughter 

Wedding day hats for Mums 

 (in my day we called her Mummy but this is only acceptable nowadays for the under tens). A gorgeous  looking hat and one that ensures only air kissing for the starry cast on Amanda's wedding day.

Wedding day kiss for bride's best friend, her mum

       Married at King Arthur's hotel in Reynoldston on the Gower peninsula Lindsay and her mother manage a loving kiss despite the stylish outfit and hat. Those tiny feathers won't be poking anyone's eye out.

The wedding of Carlos and Raquel

      Helped by a very discreet hat, Carlos’ mother gives him a reassuring hug as his new bride goes forward to sign the register.

For more Mums in wedding photographs on my website just click here

Wedding day hot shoes

 Bridal pumps, peep toed with a touch of glass

White wedding sandals, 

Wedding stilettos for Rachel, white again

         Wedding day photographers are not renowned for their stylish footwear, like many artists the aim is to be, not even comfortable, simply unaware of their own feet.

        Looking at really hot shoes for the bride on her wedding day, I come to the conclusion that there is only one colour and that, of course is white.
       Exploring the designer shoes on line it is easy to go snow blind there is so much white.          Investigating designer shoes with an eye to the budget so many brides are on nowadays I found that £700 is an entry level price (not sure you can get white Jimmy Choo's at that price) although in sales prices can start at around £400, unless you want a hand printed designer flip flop which will cost a mere £195.

            I would have thought that wedding guests might stay away from flip flops however........

Silver shoes and designer flip flops wow!

For more bridal wear see my website patsyfaganphotography.co.uk

Tasks for Bridesmaids

What do I need bridesmaids for you may ask yourself ..... and some of the answers may surprise you.

Chief Bridesmaid singing for her supper ?

•Chief bridesmaid is leader of the pack, which means she will round up all the others and any flower girls and pages for, rehearsals and on the day itself. She is not usually a child



•As chief bridesmaid she should help you to choose your dress


•She should attend your dress fittings with you (this may be for several days or even weeks)

•The chief bridesmaid should carry the crucial ‘bride kit’ on the day itself, which might include make-up and (specifically lipstick, powder and blotting sheets), tissues, safety pins, paracetamol (in case the bubbly begins to take its toll) and glue for any nail or eyelash extensions
 and the bride's mobile (switched off of course).

•She should walk down the aisle behind you and hold your bouquet when you reach the altar and be ready to catch it when you throw it

•She's the special someone to share a crafty smoke with after the ceremony

Bride sharing a drink and a cigarette

•She should be up for arranging your  hen night and any other planning you need help with
, and talking you out of going to the outer Hebrides, Croatia or Mykonos on the grounds that air travel isn't good for your complexion.

•She may be required to make a speech or even sing an aria

On your knees girl

•As chief bridesmaid she should help you get dressed, find your shoes, fasten your zip and help arrange your veil or tiara

Bridesmaids, helpmeets on the day

•As chief bridesmaid she'll carry a fan and a stole, in case you are too hot or too cold,  and she will pop the cork on the champagne to get you through the rigors of the ceremony


For more of my pictures of beautiful brides and their bridesmaids click here for my website

Traditional task for bridesmaids

•However for this last task she will be only one of many, it's called keeping the bridegroom happy!

Back to Front Address the Dress

  The wedding photographer never sees the moment  the bride sets out to choose her dress.

       Do brides buy wedding magazines for months in advance and keep pages of the styles they like? Do they rush to the high street and try on everything in sight? And what about the net? We don't know if anybody ever decides in advance to buy a wedding dress on-line or only in desperation after weeks of failing to shop until they drop and only succeeding in trying-on until they drop. 
       Somehow it doesn't seem very romantic buying a wedding dress on the net. So is girlie enthusiasm and anticipation of the shopping spree ahead of them a necessary part of the build up to the special day?
       Or do some families decide to keep costs down and look on Ebay perhaps? Maybe they should. I’m amazed by what I’ve seen. Gorgeous creations with amazing descriptions: 
       One shoulder, with mermaid and trumpet (oh how I want a mermaid with a trumpet), champagne flower, organza flower, and dozens of sweetheart necklines, lace ups, and bright satin waterfalls. 

The arrival of the bride.

      There are dresses puffed up like parachutes, dresses squeezed like tubes of toothpaste, headless silhouettes, and models wrapped and strapped like Egyptian mummies.
        I’m surprised at how snow blind you can get just checking through a few pages of these fabulous angel cake creations.

For more wedding photographs on my website just click here

The wedding over, the bridal couple leave the church

          From Disney to da Vinci, via Watteau and St Patrick. 

         What are these names, railway stations, racehorses? Probably. But on-line they are wedding dress designers and there are thousands of them. The models are elegant, pouty, sultry, gorgeous,  cute, haughty, sexy, glamorous or downright ordinary but none of them look remotely like a bride.

            Why is that?
             What is the difference between models in wedding dresses and a bride?

              It's the excitement, the glow, an aura surrounds the bride. The models may be graceful, beautiful, and have wonderful figures, but not one of them has an atom of the pride and joy of a real, live bride in her dress, on her day.

For more wedding photography and brides in beautiful dresses visit my website