Wedding Day : The Complete Guide

Wedding Day Preparation Guide: What to Expect During Bridal & Groom Getting Ready

Expert Wedding Preparation Tips from a Professional Wedding Photographer

Your wedding day preparation is more than just getting dressed—it’s the beginning of your story. A calm, well-organised morning allows you to enjoy every moment while your wedding photographer and videographer capture timeless, emotional images you’ll cherish forever.

This complete wedding preparation guide covers both bridal and groom getting ready photos, timelines, and expert tips to help create a relaxed, stress-free wedding morning.

Before the Photographer Arrives: Prepare Your Wedding Details

One of the first things a professional wedding photographer captures is your wedding details. Preparing these items in advance ensures clean, cohesive, and elegant images.

Bride Details to Prepare

• Wedding gown

• Bridal shoes

• Wedding rings

• Earrings and jewellery

• Veil

• Perfume

• Invitation suite

• Sentimental items

Groom Details to Prepare

• Suit or tuxedo

• Dress shoes

• Belt or suspenders

• Watch

• Cufflinks

• Tie or bow tie

• Cologne

• Vows or personal items

Place these items neatly on the bed or a clean surface near natural light. Styled detail photos are a key part of wedding storytelling photography.

Bridal Preparation Timeline: How Much Time Do You Need?

We want you to enjoy your wedding day—not feel rushed. For most brides, 2 hours of bridal preparation time is ideal for natural, unhurried photography.

Ideal Bridal Timeline (2 Hours)

• Hair is completed

• Makeup is still in progress

  
  

This allows your wedding photographer to capture real makeup moments, candid interactions, and emotional bridal prep photos.

If the Bride Has Only 1 Hour with the Photographer

• Hair and makeup should be completed beforehand

• A mock makeup touch-up can be photographed

This ensures beautiful bridal getting ready photos even with a shorter timeline.

Groom Preparation Timeline: Calm, Stylish & Natural

Groom preparation is just as meaningful and deserves thoughtful coverage. While it’s usually more straightforward than bridal prep, allowing enough time ensures polished, relaxed images.

Ideal Groom Timeline (45–60 Minutes)

• Hair is already styled

• Groom is relaxed and unhurried

This timeframe allows the photographer to capture:

• Groom getting dressed

• Adjusting tie or bow tie

• Buttoning jacket or cufflinks

• Groom portraits

• Natural interactions with groomsmen

Create Meaningful Moments During Preparation

Bridal Moments

Once makeup is complete, enjoy natural moments such as:

• Champagne or wine toast

• Laughing with bridesmaids

• Robe or pyjama photos

These candid interactions create emotional wedding morning photography.

Groom Moments

For grooms, relaxed interactions photograph beautifully:

• Sharing a drink with groomsmen

• Laughing and chatting

• Putting on jackets together

• A quiet moment adjusting details

These scenes add depth and balance to your wedding day storytelling.

Getting Dressed: Emotional Transitions

Bride Getting Into the Gown

For meaningful images:

• Leave the zipper or buttons open if possible

• Have your mother or maid of honour assist

This creates emotional, timeless bride getting dressed photos.

Groom Getting Into the Suit

Groom dressing moments are clean and classic:

• Buttoning the jacket

• Adjusting tie or cufflinks

• Straightening lapels

These moments result in refined groom getting dressed photos.

Bridal & Groom Solo Portraits

Bridal Portraits

Once dressed, bridal solo portraits highlight:

• Wedding gown elegance

• Jewellery and accessories

• Grace and confidence

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Groom Portraits

Groom portraits focus on:

• Suit details

• Confident posture

• Timeless, masculine styling

Both sets of portraits create a balanced, cohesive wedding gallery.

Guide to the Wedding Ceremony: Capturing the Most Anticipated Moment of Your Day

Wedding Ceremony Tips from a Professional Wedding Photographer & Videographer

The wedding ceremony is the most awaited and emotional part of your wedding day. It’s the moment you officially become married—filled with anticipation, love, and meaningful connection. Whether you choose to see each other during a first look or wait until the ceremony, this is where emotions peak and memories are made.

This wedding ceremony guide shares expert tips to help your ceremony flow smoothly while allowing your wedding photographer and videographer to capture every unforgettable moment.

First Look vs Ceremony Reveal: Choosing What Feels Right

Some couples choose to do a first look during preparation, while others prefer to see each other for the very first time during the ceremony.

Seeing each other during the ceremony is often the most powerful option. The emotion is shared not only between the couple, but also with family and loved ones witnessing the moment. The collective energy, anticipation, and reaction create an unforgettable experience—and incredibly emotional wedding photos.

Arrival at the Ceremony: Timing Matters

We recommend the bride arrives at the ceremony location around 10 minutes before the ceremony begins.

This allows the photo and video team to:

• Capture the bride in the car

• Photograph the moment she steps out

• Document final adjustments and emotions

These moments are quiet, intimate, and filled with anticipation—perfect for storytelling wedding ceremony photography.

Bridal Party Processional: Spacing Is Key

When the bridal party begins walking down the aisle, spacing plays a huge role in both photos and video.

Pro tip: Ensure each person walks approximately 3-4 metres apart. This prevents overlapping, allows clean compositions, and ensures no one blocks the person behind them.

This simple adjustment dramatically improves the quality of your ceremony aisle photos.

The Bride’s Walk Down the Aisle: Slow & Intentional

The bride should begin walking down the aisle only once everyone is settled at the altar or stage. Often, a different song or musical cue signals that it’s the bride’s moment.

Important Tips for the Bride:

• Walk slowly—do not rush

• Take deep breaths

• Enjoy the moment

Walking at a relaxed pace allows the photo and video team to capture emotional expressions, reactions, and fine details—especially the groom’s first look.

Where to Look: This Moment Is Yours

As you walk down the aisle, the most powerful advice is simple:

Look only at each other.

• Bride: focus on the groom

• Groom: keep your eyes on the bride

  
  

Avoid looking at guests or cameras. This is your moment—and that connection creates the most emotional, timeless wedding imagery.

Ask Your Celebrant to Stand to the Side

To keep your ceremony photos clean and visually balanced, we highly recommend requesting your celebrant to position themselves slightly to the side, near the bridesmaids, rather than standing directly between you during this moment and the FIRST KISS ( We recommend avoiding a quick “smack” kiss ).

Wedding @Rex Hotel Canberra

This allows:

• Clear, uninterrupted views of the couple

• Beautiful face-to-face ceremony photos

• Stronger emotional storytelling in both photography and videography

Most celebrants are very happy to accommodate this simple request.

During the Ceremony: Embrace the Emotion

There is no “perfect” reaction during your ceremony. Laugh, smile, hold hands, or cry—every emotion is valid and beautiful.

Crying is not something to hold back. These genuine reactions are what transform ceremony photos and films into memories you’ll cherish forever.

Final Thoughts: Be Present, Feel Everything

The most meaningful ceremonies are not perfectly choreographed—they are deeply felt. When you slow down, stay present, and focus on each other, your ceremony becomes powerful, emotional, and unforgettable.

Trust the moment, connect with your partner, and let your love lead the way—we’ll be there to capture it all.

Walking Back Down the Aisle: Celebrate Together First

After signing the register, this is your first walk as a married couple—a joyful, celebratory moment that deserves to be fully yours.

As you walk back down the aisle, we recommend not hugging guests just yet. This short walk is your time to celebrate together as newlyweds. Staying connected allows your photographer and videographer to capture powerful, uninterrupted moments of joy, laughter, and emotion between the two of you.

Once you’ve exited the aisle, that’s the perfect time to greet, hug, and celebrate with everyone.

Make It Fun & Personal

You can also add a creative touch to your walk back:

• Confetti toss

• Bubbles

• A playful dip halfway down the aisle

• A second, slow kiss

These moments create dynamic, joyful images and beautifully mark the transition from ceremony to celebration.

After the Ceremony Tips: How to Keep the Celebration Smooth & Stress-Free

Wedding Day Advice from a Professional Wedding Photographer & Videographer

The ceremony may be over, but some of the most important moments of your wedding day happen immediately after. A well-planned post-ceremony timeline helps everything flow seamlessly—especially your group photos—while ensuring you and your guests can fully enjoy the celebration.

Here are our expert tips to make the transition from ceremony to celebration effortless.

Delay Canapés Until After Group Photos

We recommend that canapés, drinks, and alcohol are served only after family and group photos are completed.

Why this matters:

• Guests naturally gravitate toward food and drinks once they’re available

• Family members can become difficult to locate

• Group photos may be delayed or rushed

Completing group photos first ensures everyone is present, attentive, and relaxed—allowing you to move into cocktail hour stress-free.

Plan Family Photos in Advance

Family photos are most successful when they are organised ahead of time. We highly recommend preparing a family photo list and sending it to your photographer before the wedding day.

Best Practice for Family Photo Lists:

• Arrange groups clearly

• Include names (not just “Aunt” or “Uncle”)

• Keep it concise and realistic

This preparation allows your wedding photographer to move efficiently, keep energy high, and ensure no important group is missed.

Trust Your Photographer’s Expertise

One of the most important things to remember on your wedding day is this:

You hired your photographer for their experience, vision, and expertise.

Your photographer is not simply there to follow instructions—they are there to guide you. Trusting their recommendations allows them to do their best work and deliver the highest-quality results.

Why Professional Guidance Matters:

Wedding photography is not just about a beautiful background. It’s about:

• Proper lighting

• Composition

• Framing

• Angles

• Timing

• Emotional storytelling

A location may look stunning to the eye but may not photograph well due to harsh light, shadows, or distractions. Your photographer’s experience allows them to make decisions that elevate your final gallery.

Bride & Groom Portraits: Time Recommendation

For beautiful, relaxed portraits—especially if videography is included—allow 45 minutes to 1 hour.

This gives enough time for natural movement, variety in locations, and capturing genuine emotion without feeling rushed.

Wedding Reception Tips: How to End the Day Beautifully

The reception is where celebration truly begins. The most important thing is simple: enjoy yourself. Whatever you feel on the day is exactly what your photographer captures. When you stay happy, laugh freely, and show love to your partner, your photos naturally become joyful and full of life.

Quick Reception Tips

1. No dinner during speeches. Avoid serving dinner while speeches are happening. Guests react more naturally without food, resulting in better smiles, laughter, and emotional photos.

2. Speakers stay in one position. Ask speakers to remain in one spot during speeches. This helps your photographer position themselves without distracting guests and ensures clean, consistent, and well-composed images throughout the speech.

3. Finish your first dance song. Either dance the full song or skip it. Completing the song gives your photographer time to move creatively and capture stronger, more varied images.

4. Get everyone dancing. Ask your MC or DJ to bring guests onto the dance floor. These moments are some of the most fun and meaningful photos—showing how your day truly ended. Glow sticks add extra energy and visual interest.

5. Plan your exit properly. For mock or traditional exits, avoid tight pyramid formations. Instead, ask guests to form two straight lines about 2 metres apart, turn on their phone lights, and wave as you walk through. This creates clean, magical photos—especially without sparklers.

Final Thought

Laugh loudly, dance freely, and stay present. When you let go and enjoy the moment, your reception unfolds with pure magic—and that’s exactly what gets captured.