12 Things We've Learned After Filming 500+ Weddings ⭐

After photographing and filming more than 500 weddings, we've seen just about everything.
Rain in July. Heatwaves in April. Veils blowing into lakes. Flower girls refusing to walk down the aisle. Grooms forgetting their shoes. Brides arriving ridiculously early... and brides arriving fashionably late. The funny thing is, none of those things ever ruin a wedding.
The best weddings are nearly always the ones where everyone just goes with the flow.
But there are a few little things we see happen time and time again that can make a real difference to your photos, your film and, most importantly, how much you actually get to enjoy your day.
None of these are disasters. They're just little tweaks we'd make if we could quietly whisper in every couple's ear before the wedding started.
So, here's what we've learned...

1. Give Yourself More Time in the Morning Than You Think You'll Need
​This is probably the biggest one.
No matter how organised you are, morning prep almost always takes longer than expected.
Hair runs over. Someone can't find an earring. Mum disappears to steam a dress. One bridesmaid suddenly remembers she left her shoes at home.
Before you know it, you've lost half an hour.
If your schedule has a bit of breathing room built in, nobody notices. Everyone stays relaxed, there's time for a glass of fizz, and we get loads of lovely natural moments before anyone starts looking at the clock.
If it doesn't...
Well, that's when everyone suddenly starts saying, "We're running late!"
Give yourself that extra half an hour if you can. You'll almost certainly end up using it.

2. Your Prep Room Doesn't Need to Be Big... It Just Needs to Be Tidy
Honestly, we'd choose a tidy Premier Inn room over a messy five-star hotel suite. The biggest thing that affects your morning photos isn't the room itself—it's everything that's lying around in it.
Suitcases.
Coats.
Make-up bags.
Shopping bags.
Half-finished coffees.
About 47 phone chargers.
It all somehow ends up in the background.
If you're getting ready in a smaller room, don't feel like all eight bridesmaids need to be in there at the same time. Let everyone get ready elsewhere once hair and make-up is finished, then call them back in when it's time to get into the dress. The room instantly feels calmer, the photos look cleaner, and nobody's standing on each other's toes.

3. Give Your Bridesmaids Their Own Red Carpet Moment
This is such an easy one to fix.
When bridesmaids walk down the aisle, they naturally bunch together or dont leave a big enough gap between them. We completely get it—walking into a room full of people is nerve-racking. But if everyone's only a step behind the person in front, the camera can only really see the first bridesmaid properly.
Leave a few extra steps between each person.
Everyone gets their own entrance.
Everyone gets their own photos.
And everyone gets their moment.

4. Slow Down! (Seriously...)
If we had a pound for every time we've said, "Just slow down a little," we'd probably have retired by now.
Adrenaline does funny things. Couples practically speed-walk down the aisle.
They power through the confetti.
They race through the gardens during portraits.
And afterwards they all say exactly the same thing...
"It all went so fast."
So here's your permission to slow everything down.
Walking down the aisle?
Slow down.
Walking back out together?
Slow down.
Walking through confetti?
Definitely slow down (then slow down some more!).
Not because it helps us (ok it absolutely does), but because these are some of the biggest moments of your day.
Take them in.
Look at each other.
Smile.
You only get to do it once.

5. Nobody Has Ever Said, "I Wish We'd Done More Family Photos"
Family photos are important.
Grandparents.
Parents.
Siblings.
Absolutely.
But once you start adding cousins, second cousins, work friends, old neighbours and every possible combination imaginable...
Suddenly you've spent the best part of an hour standing in one spot smiling.
As a rough guide, each group takes around two minutes.
That doesn't sound like much until someone says:
"Has anyone seen Auntie Sue?"
Our advice?
Keep your formal group list to around ten key groups if you can.
You'll still have all the important photos, and you'll actually get to enjoy your drinks reception instead of wondering where it disappeared to.

6. Save Your Couple Photos Until Later in the Day
We know why couples want portraits straight after the ceremony. You've just got married, everyone's excited, and it feels like the obvious time to disappear for photos.
But if it's a bright summer day, the light is usually at its harshest.
That's when everyone starts squinting, shiny foreheads appear out of nowhere, and the sun decides to create some very dramatic shadows under your eyes.
Later in the afternoon, everything softens. The light is warmer, more flattering and, frankly, makes everyone look their best.
We'll usually steal you away for ten or fifteen minutes later on just before the wedding breakfast (and maybe for another 5 minutes later during golden hour), and those often end up being our favourite images of the day.

7. Keep the Speeches Moving
We love speeches.
They're funny, emotional, sometimes slightly embarrassing, and they're one of the highlights of every wedding film.
But if you've got six speakers and they're spread between every course, dinner can suddenly turn into a three-hour marathon.
Guests get hungry.
The catering team keeps stopping and starting.
The evening reception gets pushed back.
If you've got a few people speaking, give them a rough time limit.
Here's a little trick...
Tell them they have five minutes less than they actually do.
It sounds cruel, but it works!
People always leave wanting one more story rather than wondering when dessert is arriving.

8. Pack One Spare Shirt... and One Pair of Comfy Shoes
These two things sound boring. Until about 8pm. 
Grooms—bring a fresh white shirt for the evening.
After hugs, dancing, warm weather and possibly a few enthusiastic celebrations, it feels amazing putting on a clean shirt before the first dance.
Brides—bring a pair of comfortable shoes.
Trust us.
Nobody's looking at your feet while you're tearing up the dance floor, but you'll definitely notice the difference.

9. Think About an Unplugged Ceremony
We've all seen it. The bride walks down the aisle...
...and half the guests are watching through their phones.
We're not saying people shouldn't take photos at all, but there's something really lovely about asking everyone to simply be present during the ceremony.
It also means we can capture clean, uninterrupted photos and video without Uncle Bob accidentally leaning into the aisle with his iPad.
Your guests can put their cameras away for half an hour. You've paid for an amazing wedding video, We've got this.

10. Make Time for Golden Hour
If your venue has beautiful grounds, try to leave a little gap (and a little energy) around sunset.
Not an hour.
Not half an hour.
Sometimes five minutes is all we need. e're not suggesting to do all your photos again, just a more relaxed informal moment in that setting sun.
It's also one of the few chances you've had all day to step away from everyone else, catch your breath and just be together, (ok whilst be stalked a little by us)
The photos are just a bonus though. Most couples come back saying, "We actually needed that."

11. Don't Sweat About a Perfect First Dance
We've had couples spend months learning a routine.
We've had couples literally sway from side to side for three minutes.
Honestly? Nobody cares.
Your guests aren't judging your footwork.
They're watching two people who've just got married.
If practising gives you confidence, brilliant.
If you'd rather just cuddle and have a little laugh halfway through because you've forgotten what you were doing...
Even better.
Those are usually the moments people remember. Just let us know how soon you want guests to come join you on the dance floor (1st chorus or after the whole song?) As this lets us know how much time we've got to get the shot.

12. Don't Spend Your Whole Day Looking at Us
This might sound like a strange thing for photographers and videographers to say...
...but your wedding isn't a photoshoot.
The best wedding photos happen when you forget we're even there.
Talk to your guests. 
Hug your grandparents.
Have another canapé.
Laugh with your friends.
Dance like nobody's filming.
We'll quietly follow along and capture it all.
After more than 500 weddings, we've learned that the couples with the best galleries and films aren't the ones who spend the day posing.
They're the ones who spend the day enjoying themselves. And that's exactly how it should be.