Wedding Photography Trend: Taking Photos Together Before the Ceremony

It’s now one of the top wedding trends of 2012 to have the bride and groom see each other before the wedding ceremony so that they may take their wedding photos.

Taking Photos

If you choose this timing for your pre-wedding photos, there are several advantages:

• You look your very best, having just had your hair and makeup done, and everyone else looks their best as well…you’re not taking photos five hours after your wedding beauty services, so you look fresher and prettier, as does your wedding gown.
• Your pre-wedding photos will not be rushed. Set at least an hour and a half for this relaxed photo session, so that you can get wonderful couple portraits and group photos.
• With your wedding portraits taken before the ceremony, you’ll be able to join your cocktail party almost immediately after the ceremony. You won’t miss a thing.
• When your groom first sees you, your photographers will be able to capture the look on his face from several angles.
• If it’s a hot day, your group will not be fatigued from sun exposure, and will be fresher and happier to pose photos.
• The child members of your bridal party will be fresher and happier to pose for photos as well.
• The weather prior to your ceremony may be clearer than after the ceremony, which makes it perfect conditions for photos in your garden wedding setting. If the weather is not perfect, you can pose your photos indoors, without any wedding guests present to see you.
• You get to see your ceremony site décor in real life, and can request certain photos taken to include it.
• You’re not rushed out of your ceremony location, so you can spend time taking photos in it.
• You always have the option of taking additional photos after your ceremony, if you’d like.

Here’s how to plan your pre-wedding photo session:

• Give yourselves at least an hour and a half to take these pre-wedding photos. Our top New Jersey wedding photographers say that’s the minimum, and that it may be more advantageous to plan for two hours.
• Arrange for your wedding venue manager and your floral designer, cake baker and other vendors to be ready for this pre-ceremony photo session, so that the site is prepared for you well in advance. Don’t just show up two hours early.
• Decide if you’d like champagne served at this pre-wedding photo session, or if you prefer a single champagne toast and then hydrating water or iced tea for all, so that no one drinks too much before the wedding ceremony.
• Tell your bridal party members and family to arrive a half hour before the planned start of your photo session.
• If you will dress in our bridal suite, your photographer can capture photos of you getting ready, then lead you to where your groom and guests await your arrival.

Be prepared to take some photos after your wedding ceremony. These include shots with you wearing your wedding rings, so plan for your ring hand not to be featured in pre-wedding photos.