Top 6 Suggestions for Your Wedding Day
Congratulations — you’re engaged!
Getting engaged is the exciting part… then suddenly everyone around you becomes a wedding expert with endless opinions, tips, and recommendations.
Thankfully, we’ve attended hundreds more weddings than your outspoken aunty, so we’ve narrowed it down to the things that actually matter most. Here are our top 6 suggestions to help make your wedding day feel relaxed, meaningful, and unforgettable.
If You Only Read One Thing, Make It This
- It’s okay to say no
- Everything will take about 20% longer than you expect
- Surround yourselves with good people
1. Make the Day Feel Like You
Your wedding doesn’t need to follow every tradition to be meaningful.
Write your own vows if that feels right. Wear what makes you feel amazing. Skip traditions that don’t fit you and keep the ones that do.
Whether your wedding is elegant, laid-back, unconventional, emotional, or wildly fun — the best weddings are the ones that genuinely reflect the couple at the centre of it all.
2. Choose Vendors You Trust
The people you hire can have a huge impact on how your wedding day feels.
Choose vendors who genuinely care about your experience, communicate well, and make you feel comfortable. Having a team you trust allows you to relax and actually enjoy your day instead of worrying about everything behind the scenes.
Good vendors don’t just provide a service — they help create the atmosphere and experience of your wedding day.
3. Don’t Stress Over the Little Things
Something will probably not go exactly according to plan — and that’s completely okay.
A little dirt on the dress, a timeline running behind, or an unexpected change usually won’t matter in the long run. In fact, those imperfect moments often become the memories you laugh about and love the most later on.
The most important thing is how the day felt, not whether every tiny detail went perfectly.
4. Consider an Unplugged Ceremony
These days almost everyone has a phone or camera in their hands. An unplugged ceremony simply means asking guests to put their devices away and be fully present during your ceremony.
There’s something really special about looking out and seeing your family and friends genuinely engaged in the moment instead of watching through a screen.
You’ve already hired professional photographers to capture everything beautifully, so your guests can relax and simply enjoy the experience with you.
Here’s an example announcement your officiant could make before the ceremony:
“The couple has invited you here today to celebrate this special moment with them. They have hired professional photographers to capture their ceremony and kindly ask that all phones and cameras remain put away during the ceremony so everyone can be fully present and enjoy this moment together.”
5. Slow Down During Portraits
Don’t focus on how you look, focus on how you feel and how much you love each other. Try not to focus too much on looking perfect — the best photos come from feeling relaxed, connected, and present with each other.
Give yourselves at least 30 minutes to slow down, breathe, and actually enjoy being together during portraits. Those quiet moments often become some of the most meaningful parts of the day.
You can also choose to do a Pre/Post Wedding Session before or after the wedding day if you’d prefer more flexibility and less time pressure.
6. Lighting & Location Matter More Than You Think
Photography is all about light, so the lighting and locations you choose throughout the day can make a huge difference in how your photos turn out.
Getting Ready
When possible, choose a space with lots of natural light and large windows. Natural light creates soft, flattering photos and helps capture the excitement and emotion of the morning beautifully.
Try to avoid rooms with mixed lighting (like fluorescent lights mixed with daylight), as this can create harsh or uneven skin tones in photos. If the room has enough natural light, turning off artificial lights usually gives the best results.
A quick tidy-up of the room also goes a long way. Water bottles, bags, and clutter can easily end up in the background of important moments.
Portraits
The best light for portraits is usually during “golden hour” — about an hour before sunset when the light is soft, warm, and glowy. Setting aside even 30 minutes during this time can make a huge difference in your portraits.
During summer afternoons, direct sunlight can be harsh and create squinty eyes and strong shadows. Shaded areas often provide the most flattering light while also keeping everyone cooler and more comfortable.
If possible, having most of your wedding events in one general location can also make the day feel far more relaxed and allow more time for meaningful moments instead of spending your day travelling from one location to the next.
Bonus Suggestion: Consider a First Look
A first look is a private moment where the couple sees each other before the ceremony. We absolutely love them.
It often helps calm nerves, slows the day down for a moment, and gives couples a chance to genuinely react to seeing each other without the pressure of a crowd watching.
It also creates more flexibility in your timeline since many portraits and family photos can be done before the ceremony, allowing you to spend more time enjoying your cocktail hour and reception afterward.
And remember — we’re here for you throughout the entire process. Whether you need recommendations, guidance, or even just a little reassurance along the way, don’t hesitate to reach out anytime. We can’t wait to celebrate and capture your wedding day with you.