Planning your Wedding

Planning your Wedding

If you are planning to get married, here's a list of the things you should start to plan at least 12 months ahead.

Decide what sort of wedding you want.

Do you want a traditional wedding in a church or a civil ceremony in a registry office or licensed wedding venue? We are quite fortunate here in Surrey that we are really spoilt for choice and the right selection of venue will really set the stage for your day make sure you keep up to the minute with your favourite venue's available date someone else might have their heart set on the same day and location.

 When do you want to get married? Have you a special date in mind or have you dates that you need to avoid because they clash with something else? Don't forget the sporting calendar, as a special event could ruin the day. I remember a wedding during the 6 nations rugby tournament. There was a distinct lack of men in a lot of the pictures, but the ladies looked fantastic.

How much do you have to spend?

Work out and stick to a budget, (add a good 10% for contingency for that thing you "just must have"). Allocate a cost to each individual item, eg. dress, reception, music, flowers - you will find some items for less than budget and some over - so be flexible and shop around. Remember each of your wedding suppliers will know other reliable specialists working in the wedding industry and should be able to put you in touch with anyone that you could possible need.

Book the reception

It is always a good idea to visit your venue on a wet and miserable day. Because it can really help to focus the mind and ask yourself what is our bad weather plan.. Your photographer should visit the venue with you at some point during the planning stage as they will always see the location in terms of photo opportunities and they will always be looking for that plan B option.

Wedding Dress/Bridesmaids dress

Start looking at wedding dresses and bridal gowns, also for your bridesmaids. Some dresses need to be ordered at least 6 months in advance so they can be made, and then fitted personally to you.

 

 

 

Photographer

You should book early if you want a particular photographer. The best get booked up early. They should be able to present you with a gallery of their work, and you need to decided if you want contemporary style photos or traditional poses. A mix of the both usually works well - traditional satisfying the parents so they can display photo on mantlepiece, and something more modern and creative to hang on your wall.

Music

Do you want live music,  for the ceremony. Disco for later in the evening. Or perhaps a magician to keep the children amused through the wedding breakfast. If you are getting married on a Saturday, you will need to arrange this fairly early on in your wedding preparations so avoid disappointment.

Visit Weddings in Surrey for some ideas in your area.

How many wedding photographers are there in Surrey?

According to a recent survey it has been estimated that Surrey County has close to 2000 photographers who specialise in weddings. This quite a great number and as a result of this it is quite difficult to find the right person for your wedding. This may actually be one of the difficult steps in the wedding preparation process but it is possible to deal with this obstacle without necessarily going through so much stress. Since there are numerous people providing photography services in the Woking area, then why is it a hassle to find the right guy?
In this case it is not just a matter of choosing a photographer but picking a person who has the passion to bring out the real mood of the ceremony. Wedding planners may not necessary hire the right person for the job but instead just go with someone who they always work with. Getting the right candidate for the job is crucial because if the pictures taken are substandard it is not possible to rewind the ceremony again. The work should be done right the first time and there are some steps that you can take to ensure the vetting process runs smoothly.
see more of my work onlineFirstly you have to ensure that you are dealing with a professional so you need to check out portfolios as well as references. Anyone could operate a camera and claim to be a wedding photographer but by taking a look at a portfolio and speaking to a person, you can tell the difference between a professional and a masquerader.
Once you have made a shortlist of those you think are the best you can look at each of their styles and choose the one that would suit your theme. Taking some time to look for the right Woking wedding photographer may seem like a farce but it is definitely bound to pay off in the long run.
To help you find a Woking wedding photographer, visit the Surrey Weddings directory.
For more wedding tips and advice, as well as a full directory of wedding suppliers in Surrey, visit Surrey Weddings 


I found this interesting article on www.surrey-weddings.com I thought it made some interesting points. One thing that you should be aware of is that it is quite easy to show an impressive portfolio but it is well worth asking to see one wedding from start to finish rather than the highlights of a career. Better still ask for an engagement shoot to get a real feel for your photographer, the cost for this may well be deducted from your wedding photography and gives you some great pictures for your invitations.

Call me for a trial portrait sitting. 01483223823 no charge, I consider it part of the interview process.*
limited time offer.