Should We Take Wedding Photos Before or After the Ceremony?
Windblown bride at the Huntington Harbor Club © Dan Wagner 2023
Welcome to the Dear Danny, Wedding Photography Advice Column!
After years of giving wedding photography advice to Long Island couples on everything from taking photos before or after the wedding ceremony, to how to pin a boutonniere, I’ve decided to share the answers to your questions in my brand new Dear Danny, Wedding Photography Advice Column!
And why not? There’s no reason why wedding photography advice has to be boring. Weddings are fun! I think calling myself Dear Danny for the purpose of this blog is funny—in part because I haven’t been called Danny since I was a child. So let’s get this party started!
Our first question if from a Floral Park, Long Island bride planning a summer wedding at the Huntington Harbor Club at Prime.
DEAR DANNY,
Should we take our wedding bridal party, family, and romantic photos before or after the ceremony? I’m having my ceremony, cocktail hour, and reception at the Huntington Harbor Club this August. My fiancé says he’d rather see me for the first time when I walk down the aisle—but he’d consider taking photos before the ceremony if it made our wedding day easier. We have ten people in our bridal party, plus a flower girl, and a ring bearer. Would it help if we shoot the bridesmaids and groomsmen separately before the ceremony, and then together during the cocktail hour? Also, our reception starts right after the cocktail hour. Thank you!
—FLUMMOXED IN FLORAL PARK
DEAR FLUMMOXED IN FLORAL PARK,
As a wedding photographer, I totally get where you’re coming from! Yes, when it comes to not seeing each other until your ceremony, you can have your wedding cake and eat it too! However, there are tradeoffs.
By the way, the Huntington Harbor Club at Prime is a great wedding venue. Living less than a mile away, I’ve shot many weddings there. The harbor views are great. Getting married in August means that weather-permitting, you can have an outdoor ceremony. It also means, that if you wait until after the ceremony to shoot photos, it might be hotter—which is something worth considering.
You ask, “Would it help if we shoot the bridesmaids and groomsmen separately before the ceremony, and then together during the cocktail hour?” It’s a nice idea. Unfortunately, it doesn’t save any time because you still have to get everyone together for the full bridal party shot, and the combined family shots, such as both sets of parents with couple, with siblings, and with cousins, and such. Organized photographers will assemble the full bridal party, and then ask the ladies to step to one side for some shots, and the same with the men. After shooting hundreds of weddings, I’ve gotten really good at this.
So, let’s look closer at option one—shooting after the ceremony. The moment your ceremony ends, there will be a “stampede” by thirsty guests toward the cocktail area. For this reason it’s imperative that you have a “battle” plan. Remember, every photography battle is won through careful planning before the first photo is shot.
Long Island wedding couple with their bridal party. © Dan Wagner 2023
The After Ceremony Wedding Photography Plan
Understand everyone’s goals. The couple’s goal is to take photos after the ceremony. Everyone else’s goal is to party with a cold drink. We’ve all been there. Therefore, you must get the bridal party and family members to agree that the plan is to immediately follow the bride and groom from the ceremony to the agreed upon photography area.
Have the venue instruct their waitstaff, and bridal attendant to avoid taking drink orders until after the photo session. They should however provide cold bottled water, and chairs for older family members. The goal is to prevent interruptions, so everyone can enjoy the cocktail party ASAP.
On the topic of older family members—especially those who have difficulty walking—please assign a niece, nephew or other younger family member to look after them. Shielding them from the sun with a white umbrella is a nice touch.
Give a shot list for the bride’s side to a few family members whose job will be gathering people for each shot, and checking the shot off the list. Create a similar list for the groom’s side. The benefit of this approach is that family members know who to get, and are able to get their cooperation quickly. All this means the bride and groom won’t have to yell for people to come. You may ask, “shouldn’t I give this list to the photographer?” No, because he or she need to concentrate on taking beautiful photos.
Remember to ask a friend or family member to help with arranging the bottom of your gown, and to also bring you a bottle of water with a straw so you don’t mess your lipstick—same for your bridesmaids.
Shoot the largest group shots first so you can let the people you don’t need join the cocktail hour. Sometimes there may be family members you don’t need photos of. Perhaps their members who remarried. Dear Danny recommends quickly taking their photos to avoid hurt feelings. Naturally, you’re under no obligation to include them in your albums or elsewhere.
Deciding to shoot photos during the cocktail hour means that you need to get them done in twenty minutes or so. As a result, your photographer will shoot less photos, and the process may feel hurried. That’s the trade-off. Also due to bathroom and other needs, you may miss some of the shots on your lists.
Any bridal party, family, friends, or other group shots that you miss can be shot during the reception. Simply ask your maître d when to shoot these shots, such as between courses. Then ask your DJ to call the people you need to the dance floor or other area. You will be pleasantly surprised at how well this works.
Shooting during the cocktail hour means you will have less time for romantic couples photos. Therefore, you will want to create opportunities for these shots during the reception. Your maître d can help here as well. Good photographers are diplomatic photographers—they know how to enlist help, and express gratitude.
When shooting romantic couples shots during the reception, you should consider using the touch-up kit provided by your makeup artist. And bring a bridesmaid to help arrange your gown, and to hand you your bouquet as needed.
The Before Ceremony Wedding Photography Plan
Now, let’s have a look at option two—shooting before the ceremony. This option, providing you have the time, means you may consider traveling to second location. As you’re doing everything at the Harbor Club at Prime—you can take advantage of all their shooting areas, and perhaps add a quick trip to nearby Gold Star Battalion Beach on West Shore Road in Huntington. Brides getting married elsewhere with hours of free time between the end of the ceremony and the cocktail hour have other options.
VERY IMPORTANT: If you want shots with your limo—then take these when you arrive, or arrange a time for the limo driver to be available. The same goes for photos with pets. You may need someone to bring the pet to the photo shoot, and return the pet home afterward.
Why not bring you pet to your Long Island Wedding? © Dan Wagner 2023
If you’re shooting before the ceremony, you may have two or more shoots—one with the bridal party, another with immediate family members, and perhaps a third with everyone including extended family members.
Once again, give shot lists to family members on the bride and groom’s sides whose job will be gathering people for each shot, and checking the shot off the list. The benefit of this approach is that family members know who to get, and are able to get their cooperation quickly. All this means the bride and groom won’t have to yell for people to come. You may ask, “shouldn’t I give this list to the photographer?” No, because he or she need to concentrate on taking beautiful photos.
As always, please assign a niece, nephew or other younger family member to look after older family members who may have difficulty walking. Please provide a foldable chair, bottle of water, and a shady place to relax until they’re needed for photos. I mention this because I’ve witnessed what can happen.
Remember to ask a friend or family member to help with arranging the bottom of your gown, and to also bring you a bottle of water with a straw so you don’t mess your lipstick—same for your bridesmaids.
Shoot the largest group shots first so you can release the people you no longer need.
Any bridal party, family, friends, or other group shots that you miss can be shot during the reception. Simply ask your maître d when to shoot these shots, such as between courses. Then ask your DJ to call the people you need to the dance floor or other area. You will be pleasantly surprised at how well this works.
When shooting romantic couples shots during the reception and at other times, you should consider using the touch-up kit provided by your makeup artist. And bring a bridesmaid to help arrange your gown, and to hand you your bouquet as needed. For a bride, there’s nothing better than having a helpful bridesmaid.
Every Bride and Groom Deserve Beautiful Wedding Photos!
I hope this Dear Danny blog article has been helpful. My goal is to help make every Long Island bride and groom’s wedding photography better and more enjoyable. Whether you’re from Long Island or elsewhere, and whether you hire me or someone else—Every bride and groom deserve beautiful wedding photography.
Please feel free to ask Dear Danny for free Long Island wedding photography advice in the comment box below.