Capturing all the special moments on your big day might be an easy task for a professional wedding photographer, however many couples often feel that something is missing when they have a look at the photos a few weeks later. This is why it’s always a good idea to go through a check list with your photographer well in advance, as there is nothing worse than looking back and realising that your favourite Aunt Rose has not appeared in a single wedding photo, or that you don’t have a photo of a certain detail on your wedding dress or a special moment you and your new partner shared.

Make a list of specific personal shots you want to be featured in, but keep in mind that you also need to let your wedding photographer be creative and do what he or she knows best. The photos where your photographer has captured unposed moments where you and your new partner are completely unaware of his or her presence, are more likely than not the photos that will be most special to you at the end of the day. Nevertheless, here are a few things to keep in mind in order to make sure you cover all the traditional must-have wedding photographs on your big day.

Getting Ready

• Hair, make-up, dress, veil

• Groom with groomsmen and father

• Bride with bridesmaids and mother

• Bride looking into a mirror or out through a window

• Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue

Ceremony

• Bride getting out of limo/car

• Groom getting out of limo/car

• Guests arriving

• Church – outside and inside

• Groom waiting at the altar

• Flower girls/ring bearer

• Bride walking down the aisle

• Father giving away bride

• Altar and priest

• Saying vows, holding hands, kissing the bride, close-up of hands with rings

• Signing the registry

• Guests throwing confetti/rose petals

• Leaving the church

Reception – details

• Food

• Table settings; place cards etc

• Flower decorations

• Musicians

• All guests at each table (with bride and groom, or without)

Reception – other

• Bride and groom with and without family members

• Speeches

• Cutting the cake

• First dance, father-daughter dance, groom-mother dance

• Bouquet toss, garter belt toss

• Guests dancing

Newlyweds leaving

• Last dance

• Bride and groom exiting

• Decorating the car

• Driving away - ‘just married’

As long as you know that your wedding photographer will be covering these essential must-have wedding photos, you should be able to relax and rest assured that his or her creativity will capture the special and more personal moments in between.