The morning of the wedding is finally here! All these months of preparations, going to wedding fayres, visiting venues, etc, all for this very special day!

But suddenly, the florist comes with a buttonhole or you forgot how to put a cravatte on…and how do you actually pose for all this wedding photography business?! Hopefully, this short “guide” will help calm a few nerves so you can concentrate on having the best day of your life!

First, enjoy getting ready. Sounds like a strange comment, but essentially, what I mean is dont get drunk and don’t get overly stressed. One way of doing this is by reducing the amount of people around you in the morning. Have your best man on hand of course, and maybe your father or one or two ushers, but generally having a smaller group around you will make it easier for you to get ready on time, prepare you for the coming day as well as help you really take the day in. Because believe me, once you arrive at church or at the room where the ceremony will be held, the day will fly by, literally.

Second, buttonhole flowers. This one is actually quite simple. First, put it on your left lapel. Notice I said ON? DON’T try and stick it in the lapel’s hole as it will look weird and they are usually stitched up anyways. Simply rest it on the lapel and then use the supplied pin by pinning through from under the lapel, into the stem of the buttonhole flower and back into the lapel. Don’t simply put the pin through in front of the stem as if often breaks the stem and the flower ends up drooping or falling and it’s just not a great look..

Enjoy yourself with your friends. As your photographer, I’ll be there for most of the day, so don’t always focus on me, make sure you take time to enjoy conversations without worrying about always looking my way.

Not all pictures with friends and family have to be “staged”. Here we have John and Phil with their friends before the wedding, simply enjoying themselves and this is the main kind of memory you’ll want to have from your day.

Organised group pictures doesn’t mean “stiff”. Here we have a clearly more structured picture with Amir in the front of family and friends during his wedding at the Chester Grosvenor. But allowing yourself to relax is key. If your happy and relaxed, you’ll look good, simple.

Here are two pictures from Alun and Mel’s wedding in Portmeirion. Always try and show a bit of cuff. Notice Alun’s right hand? That little stripe of white makes a really subtle difference when it comes to style and the picture. Just try and imagine this picture without it and you will find the picture less interesting i’m sure..Secondly,  ENJOY YOUR SPEECH! I mean it. And the best way to enjoy your speech is to be yourself. Now Alun here is an amazing public speaker so people expect him to talk at length, etc, but if you’re not used to it, all you need to do is:

• Thank everyone for coming
• Congratulate the bridesmaids for looking fantastic
• Thank both sets of parents
• Compliment and thank your bride
• And stay off internet jokes!!

And I really mean it when it comes to internet jokes because the fact is that if your getting married, chances are some of your friends are too and some of the guests will have been to a few weddings in the past couple of months or years and they will have heard the same jokes! Don’t be a comedian, unless you naturally are of course, just be yourself. Believe me, it will take lots of the edge off it.

Remember what got you here in the first place? You’re getting married to someone you want to spend your life with. So don’t always look at me or for me. Make sure you spend time enjoying each others company! If you have any other questions or if your looking for a wedding photographer in Wrexham, North Wales, Chester or anywhere else in the UK, just contact Celynnen Photography via our contact page.