The first of the best wedding tips relates to the weather. Many couples forget to have a plan B in case of tricky weather, not just rain. Sometimes this is not taken into account, how hot and sunny it will be, severe cold fronts, or even rain. They often get so wrapped up in the beauty of their venue they just forget to have a contingency plan. Couples should find out the average temperature and weather to have realistic expectations of what to expect, and make arrangements for what will happen if the weather is less than ideal. As a wedding photographer in Aylesbury I personally try to have a back-up myself but it really does help if the couple and photographer are on the same page before the wedding day in order to have a plan for photos.

Sunset is a golden hour for photographs and it might be a time your wedding photographer would like to pull you outside for some magically lit photos. If you know what time the sun will be setting, you can make sure you’ll be available rather than say, cutting the cake.

A first point of contact for your wedding vendors is essential. Couples sometimes forget this because they assume they will just answer their mobile phone. It’s already going to be a busy morning for them and you want it to be stress free. You’ve been planning this day forever! There’s no need to add more responsibilities to their list. Instead, select a close friend, family member, or someone from the wedding party to be the first point of contact. Yes, you may have to be pulled into some decisions but let someone else be the one to take the call. I normally suggest the Maid of Honour or the Best Man.

You’ll want to be mindful of thank-you’s for wedding professionals. While it is certainly NOT required, it is appreciated if someone has gone above and beyond. In this instance, prepare in advance a card just to say thank you. Wedding venues and professionals in most cases over deliver and is sometimes nice to recognise good service.

Number 5 of the best wedding tips is ‘Lighting’ really helps to set the mood and vibe at a wedding. After all the decisions are made and hard work put into every little detail, lighting is the most important component to really ensure those elements look their very best, it also looks amazing in your wedding photos. Your wedding photographer will appreciate it, too.

READ MORE: HAND MADE BEAUTIFUL JEWELLERY FOR YOUR WEDDING

Take into consideration the fact that people do not naturally sit next to each other, so you may need roughly 20 more chairs than there are people. Your wedding venue should be fine with this request.

This is one of my favourite best wedding tips Along with a shot list, designate the best man to assist the photographer on your day (I do this anyway, in case you forget). Your chosen wedding photographer in Milton Keynes is not going to know who your important family members are, so when he gets to the ‘photo of the bride with aunts and uncles,’ the best man will have an easier job of grabbing these family members for you and you can stay on track with timing.

The site does not need to be fully finished, but you should have a URL that you can put on the cards, as well as a few basic pieces of information on the site, such as the the location and nearby hotels. People are often so excited to get the save the dates out that they don’t think about the fact that six to eight weeks before the wedding is pretty late for those friends and family who have to make travel plans.

Transportation is a must-have for the wedding day if you are; getting ready off site, having a church wedding, then the reception also in a different location, but often times, couples forget that they also need to organise transport from the reception to their next destination if you are not staying at the reception location, be it their home, a hotel, or even the airport. It’s rare that the couple are driving themselves on the wedding day.

Not only does the weight matter, but the size as well when it comes to your invitations.  This can fall through the cracks simply because people forget to ask, or don’t know all these funny rules from the post office. The last thing you want is your invitation to be sent back to you!

Pretty essential to make note of all the guests who have food allergies or are vegetarian or vegan, Provide a list for your caterer noting where each of these guests are sitting, your wedding venue will then sort this out for. Also, don’t just ask the caterers to just use mushrooms!  There is so many good vegan recipes which are obviously suitable for vegetarians you can reference what you feel is appropriate to your caterers. Check out one of my favourites, BOSH, all plant based and delicious.

You might want to check in with your vendors ahead of time to see if they might be willing to stay later. Even if you don’t think you’ll want to take advantage of this option, you never know how you’ll feel that night. It’s better to find out what those fees would be like from vendors, such as your DJ and extra bar staff, ahead of time, as well as giving them the heads-up that overtime might be a possibility. As a wedding photographer in Aylesbury, I don’t leave until I feel your wedding story has been completed. The fee I charge is inclusive.

Some couples forget to add themselves to the final guest count. Make sure you’ve included yourselves as well as any dietary restrictions when giving the final count to the caterer. Also, make sure you have a food menu tasting at the reception, this is crucial to provide peace of mind that the food on the day is what you are expecting. The cost of wedding food tasting session should be a part of your final invoice from either your caterers of the venue reception.

Supplier meals can be easily forgotten if there isn’t a wedding planner to coordinate it. Lots of hard working wedding professionals will really appreciate a small meal and drink in a separate room while you enjoy your wedding breakfast, even just a sandwich can save the day. Coordinate this with your venue and caterer early to make sure you have it covered.  It’s not essential but is VERY welcome.

Lots of couples forget to make arrangements for the wedding dress and the grooms suit. If you are leaving for your honeymoon the morning after the wedding, make sure you have a friend or family member to pick up your dress or return a hired suit. Such an easy thing to forget.

If you are having guests traveling in from different locations, it’s always good to have some recommended hotels available to share. Most hotels offer room blocks of five or more rooms.

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Many couples spend a lot of time and energy picking out the wedding invitations and completely forget signage for the big day. Whether it’s a seating chart, a wedding favour note, or even just a ‘Welcome to Our Wedding,’ signage can easily be overlooked. We’ve found some nice ones here.

Ask somebody to take on the role of removing personal items at the end of the night. It’s important to assign a helper to make sure these items don’t get left. It’s surprising the amount of bridal parties that make no plans for personal belongings at the end of the night and things are lost forever as many wedding venues have weddings the following day and items can’t be stored.

Read More: Summer Wedding Trends for 2021

When you find your wedding dress, you may think the hard part is over…but when the dress arrives, you are likely to have something altered. Even if the dress fits you perfectly, you may still have to pay for ties to be added so you can bustle it for the reception. Be mindful of this with your budget and ask your gown shop in advance for pricing.

Accessories are another often forgotten detail until the very last minute. A classic veil is lovely but these days, you have a wealth of options. You also want to think about your jewellery, hair pins, and a cover-up should you expect cooler temperatures.

Last but not least among the things brides forget is to eat. Your wedding day is whirlwind of emotions and can be a little overwhelming. Get a good breakfast and plenty of water. And as you schedule out your wedding day prep, make sure to have snack breaks.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the best wedding tips that I’ve collated together over the years as a professional wedding photographer in Aylesbury. To check availability for 2020/2021 please get in touch.