Wedding Photo Ideas ~

Getting Ready

• Bride's clothes hanging on the wardrobe, on the bedpost, or over a chair

• Bridesmaids doing bride's hair and makeup

• Bride and bridesmaids getting dressed, applying makeup

• Mom helping bride with one last detail, such as veil

• Full-length shot of bride in gown checking herself out in mirror

• Detail of clothing, shoes, garter, something borrowed, something blue

• Touching shot of bride with parent/s and/or stepparent/s

• Touching shot of bride with sibling/s 

• Bride hugging honor attendant

• Bride with bridesmaids

• Bride with all the women

• Groom getting ready with Dad and pals (tying the tie is a classic)

• Touching shot of groom with parent/s and/or stepparent/s

• Touching shot of groom with sibling/s

• Groom with his arm affectionately around best man

• Groom with all the groomsmen

• Groomsmen putting on boutonnieres or bowties

• Intimate shots of bride and groom chatting with/crying with/hugging parents and siblings pre-ceremony

• Dad whispering last-minute advice to groom

• Groom ready to go

• Bride ready to go

• Bride and groom separately making their way to the ceremony (in a limo backseat, hailing a cab, walking down the street/hall/stairs)

The Ceremony

• Guests streaming into the site

• Ushers escorting guests to their seats 

• Ushers escorting moms to their seats (Christian wedding)

• Close-up of groom's adorably nervous mug waiting for his other half

• Bridesmaids and groomsmen walking down the aisle

• Flower girl and/or ring bearer entering

• Honor attendant walking down the aisle

• Grandparents walking down the aisle (Jewish wedding)

• Wedding party waiting at the altar

• Groom walking down the aisle

• Bride and Dad/escort/parents (Jewish wedding) walking down the aisle

• Close-up of bride just before she makes her entrance

• Bride and groom at the altar

• Altar or canopy from the back during ceremony

• Wide shot of audience during ceremony, from bride and groom's point of view

• Faces of bride and groom as they exchange vows

• Close-up of bride's and groom's hands as they exchange rings

• The kiss

• Bride and groom proceeding up the aisle, guests' smiling faces at their sides

• Bride and groom outside ceremony site

• Congrats shots: bride and groom hugging, laughing, and crying with good friends and family

• Bride and groom leaving ceremony site

• Bride and groom in limo backseat

Before the Reception (During the Cocktail Hour)

Note: You can also take these before the ceremony.

• Bride and groom together

• Bride with her happy, proud parents and/or stepparents

• Bride with her entire immediate family 

• Groom with his happy, proud parents and/or stepparents

• Groom with his entire immediate family

• Bride and groom with all parents

• Bride and groom with immediate family members from both sides

• Bride and groom with groomsmen

• Bride and groom with bridesmaids

• Bride and groom with whole wedding party
   

The Reception

• Shot from outside reception site (to set the tone)

• Reception details such as place cards, guest book, centerpieces, decorations, table settings, favors table, and champagne glasses

• Bride and groom arriving (make it dramatic -- their faces through the dark limo windows, the two lovebirds atop a staircase or pushing through a curtain)

• Receiving line moments

• Bride and groom at head table

• Parents' table

• Guests' tables

• Close-up of friends and family making toasts

• Bride and groom sipping champagne

• Bride's and groom's parents whispering to each other during dinner

• Bride and groom chatting up the guests

• Bride and groom's first dance (maybe with a slow shutter speed so the movement blurs the image a little)

• Parents dancing

• Bride and Dad dancing

• Groom and Mom dancing

• Wedding party dancing

• Grandparents dancing

• Kids playing or dancing

• Musicians or DJ doing their thing

• Guests going nuts on the dance floor (again, slow shutter speed could be effective)

• Bride laughing with bridesmaids

• Cake table

• Bride and groom cutting the cake

• Bride and groom feeding each other cake 

• Dessert table

• Bouquet toss (perhaps a vertical shot from in front of the bride)

• Tossing and catching of the garter

• Bride and groom leaving, waving from getaway car's backseat

• Rear of car departing