What is there to say about the ceremony? It’s the reason for the whole wedding and however you look at it, whether it’s a religious ceremony or not, is to most people the most important part of the day. I love taking pictures at weddings, and wouldn’t change it for the world, but undoubtedly the ceremony is the part of the day where the pressure is highest.
It happens once. There’s no way it can be repeated.
There are a number of factors that come into play when we’re photographing this part of the day. First and foremost are those that are conducting the marriage. Sometimes we’re allowed to stand near the front, sometimes we’re not. It’s entirely down to the vicar or registrar. Religious ceremonies can vary but often we’re asked to be as discreet as possible, and on occasion some vicars have explained that they really don’t want to know that we’re even there. Fortunately, the way we photograph goes hand in hand with this and we work as quietly and unobtrusively as possible.
Once we’ve established where we can and can’t stand, it’s all down to capturing the real moments unfolding before us. The bride walking down the aisle, the exchanging of the rings, the kiss; these are all the key moments that we’re after, but we’re also looking out for the emotional guest in the congregation, the knowing glance from the father of the bride to his daughter, the nervous groom pensively holding his hands behind his back as he awaits his bride to be.
