Happy Birthday Eric + Wedding Etiquette!!!

Hey everyone!  I hope you’ve had a great week!  I started mine off by celebrating our anniversary with a low key stay-cation at Bakersfield local contemporary hotel, The Padre enjoying dinner at Prairie Fire, their gorgeous rooms and a breakfast/coffee at the Farmacy!  It was so much fun – and as many of you know, June is a busy month!  Not only for weddings…but my hubby is turning 30 this weekend!  So, happy birthday to one of the most amazing men I’ve met….I’m looking forward to what the next decade of our 30’s looks like, plus you’ll always be older than me and I’m still in my 20’s!

Wedding Etiquette – Wediquette

On another note, I wanted to follow up with the concept of guest etiquette at Weddings since many of you are on the summer wedding circuit 🙂  It’s always a conversation within my industry as to how we can help make it the best day possible for our clients.  A lot of that conversation always turns to guests and how much fun weddings can be but also how we watch guests often breaking some basic unspoken wedding rules 🙂  My good friend and fellow photographer, Jennifer Williams commented last week about guest needing to enjoy the moment with their friends and family at this once in a lifetime day.  We found a great blog post discussing how recently, with everyone owning a party camera that we find it can be a distraction not only to the photographers working but to the bride and groom as they look out at their ceremony and every single guest is capturing the moment on their own cameras.  Now, don’t get me wrong…I love capturing moments, but there is a new wave of couples asking guests to put down the technology and just enjoy being in the moment with them!   If you’re interested, here is the well written article:

http://offbeatbride.com/2011/06/unplugged-wedding

Other Wediquite tips that I’ve come up with over the past 3 years of weddings!

1) Please…at no time should you ever step into the aisle during the ceremony.  Especially as the bride is coming down or as the couple is leaving.  It can ruin the photographer’s shot…and makes for some late nights editing you out!  And no joke, I’ve had guests step in front of me as the bride is walking down and guests coming up in front of me at the alter that causes not only a distraction, but is not necessary 🙂

2) If the invitation says the ceremony is at 5pm, that means the bride is typically walking down the aisle no later than 5:02pm.  So, always plan to get there 10-30min early so that you are seated and not a distraction.  If you do arrive as the procession is happening, please wait in the back out of the way until the bride is at the alter before taking your seat.

3) Your family holiday photo.  One of the great things about weddings is it brings people together.  Especially families that could be spread out over different cities/states/countries.  I encourage my couples to write down any special people they want to make sure to take photos with – and I love getting family photos of the bride and groom with their relatives.  However, their wedding is not the time or place for the paid lead photographer to take your individual family photo for your next holiday card.  I know for me, at weddings, I’m constantly running around with the couple making sure to capture their wedding day, details, candid shots, etc.   It’s not typically possible to grab your family’s christmas card photo.  If that’s what you’re looking for, I would advise that either 1) You wait and ask the 2nd photographer during the reception if there is downtime if she/he can grab a quick photo or 2) contact the photographer and see if you can schedule a session while you’re in town either the day after or maybe the day before if you’re in town for the rehearsal dinner.  Be thoughtful that the bride and groom have paid their photographer to capture their wedding day 🙂

4) Dance and Eat Cake!!!  Weddings can be such a fun time to just enjoy each other and let go of any worries you have…so just dance!  I love when the dance floor is packed (thanks due also to a fabulous DJ) and everyone is enjoying themselves!  Last weekend I watched in awe as the 91 year old grandmother of the bride got out and cut loose!  It was so much fun to watch 🙂  Also, there’s ALWAYS cake left over…don’t forget to grab a slice if one is not placed at your table for you by the catering staff!   I always find time to taste the cake…as research of course to make sure I can recommend the baker 😉

Do you have any wedding etiquette thoughts to share?