The Ultimate Wedding Photo Checklist

Image: weddingsbeautiful.com

In any woman’s life, that beautiful fairy tale moment where the doors open and we are finally the princess of the story, is one most of us have dreamed about since we were young: As we walk down the aisle to join the one we love.

Any wedding is a chance to glam up and find a new sophisticated style, but for our own wedding, it’s more important than ever. With the day evolving around you and your partner, there’s so much to prep in the weeks prior to the big day. Which is why we’ve created a prepping checklist to make it easier to get those perfect wedding photos: From prepping to posing!

Pre-wedding Pampering

Unlike any other occasion, your wedding is a day completely focused on you and your fiancé. Having a pampering regime in place will help keep you looking beautiful and fresh for any sneaky, raw emotion pictures the photographer takes.

Skin
For a fresh, ivory dress, elegant flower arrangements and adoring onlookers, it’d be a shame to have stressed and tired skin to co-ordinate.

The inevitable stress of wedding planning actually stops our pores from absorbing as much water – leaving it feeling dry, and ultimately stressing us out more! Using a hypoallergenic or fragrance-free moisturizer – like Burt’s Bees Sensitive Daily Moisturizer Cream - will correct this, and stop pores being built up with any unwanted grease, skin and perfumes.

With that in mind, be sure to keep topped up with water too; keeping those fluids up will also help energise your body - leaving you feeling a lot less tired, stressed and under eyes bag-free. Speaking of those bags, treat yourself to breather between seating plans and cake tasting and relax with mini cucumber ice packs! Acting as a way to stop red blood vessels from bringing blood to the area, you’ll be left with smooth and brighter skin all round. And whilst there’s a tonne of celebrating and catching up with family from out of town, be sure to keep a strict sleeping schedule. This is the easiest, and cheapest way to assure picture-perfect skin.

As for foods: Vitamin E and C are your pre-wedding cravings. Grains, vegetable oils and nuts offer the wonder-woman Vitamin E, whilst C can be found in citrus fruits and veg. Basically, a structured, healthy balanced diet will do the world of good. Another tip: Use a daily cream with an SPF factor to help prevent sun marks and dark spots when out and about.

Hair

Image: Bridalpulse

Depending on your choice of hairstyle, you’ll want to plan accordingly: Some up-dos will need dirtier hair in order to keep their shape throughout the day, or a little BB Surf Spray (salt spray) rinsed through.

For anything where most of your hair is down, a deep cleanse on the day or night before is crucial for that natural shine.

Teeth 

Teeth whitening is an absolute must to ensure that perfect white smile in your wedding photographs, and this goes for both you and your beloved. An at home whitening kit is just the thing to get that bright smile, and don’t forget some pearl drops to whip out of your bag before any photo opportunity and so that your breath is kissing sweet for that all important ‘I do’ moment.

Feet and Nails

There’s very few of us who’ll be sensible enough to opt for a flat footed shoe for our wedding day. So keeping skin soft, smooth and pain-free is the key to success. Massages, exfoliators and a pedicure are in store for the pre-wedding week of pampering, along with a mad dash to the shops for heel grips and Compeed blister plasters! Don’t let those sores take you down!

Image: Letsgetweddy.com

As for your nails, remember everyone will be getting a close up look at your hands and wedding during the ceremony and after, so go for a manicure to ensure the perfect, glossy look. You can opt for the classic French manicure, or go for some more personalised nail art for your big day.

Make-Up

There’s nothing more cringe-worthy than looking at old photos from your angsty teenage years to see the wonderful fashion and makeup choices you made. Don’t let the same happen when looking back at your wedding photos…

Your wedding makeup should be as natural as can be: A few products to lighten your complexion, and lippy to suit your coloring. Other than that, it’s all about highlighting the brows, eyes and cheeks to brighten the whole face; offering beautiful shading for any prime photo opps. In your huge box of concealers – ranging from Tango to Paper shades, scout for the perfect coverage, two shades lighter than your skin tone. Smudging across the cheek bones will highlight the areas, and offers additional structure your face.

Image: Collection Illuminating Touch

Add a little highlighter or rose gold bronzer to the cheeks, browns and inner eyes to add a dewy look that stays fresh all day long. NARS The Multiple – Copacabana uses gold and pink shades adds a blush to the colour, whilst a terracotta bronzer will look a little too harsh contrasted with the bride’s dress. Lastly, make those eyes a little larger with a nude, eyeliner pencil to add definition.

Photography Planning

With all the prepping involved, it’s time to discuss the perfect scrapbook style wedding photos you’ll want to have taken, so that you can cherish the day forever.

Just Married

Whether it’s riding away in a convertible, roof down, tin cans traipsing behind like all the films, or an adorable ‘first kiss’ bride and groom photo, the Just Married pic is the first of many to come for you and your new partner.

Confetti Throw

Image: Guidesforbrides.com

The cheerful confetti photo is a perfect choice for remembering the joyful day. Whether it’s a complete disaster, or a captured-in-one moment, the confetti pic shows a wonderful amount of emotion and fun.

Bridesmaids and Ushers

Image: Topweddingquestions.com

Both the bride and groom will need individual – or together – photos with their bridesmaids and ushers. The best buds and family members of the party that have kept everything flowing nicely: The ones who offer those #squadgoals for the Instagram fans.

Parents

Image: Apentertainment.com

The hopefully not so awkward parent photos are always a blissful memory to look back on. When both families combine together for the monumental day, it might be the only time the two are together. So it’s important to remember the unity!

Backdrops

But whilst there’s a few group photos that need taking, the photographer will have a keen eye out for romantic moments between the new couple, so with that in mind, take a look for picturesque backdrops around the wedding venue that you want to escape to for some Newly Wed photos!

Backdrops are easy to find, especially in any wedding venue – whether it’s a country field gate, a Church door, or somewhere that means a lot to you both, there’s a tonne of places to pose with your new bride or groom. Finding those little, secret places will offer you the best photos.

Poses

Anyone who’s been to a wedding knows full well how awkward posing can feel. Being directed to ‘act natural’ or cheer, smile, look away from the camera, can get a little uncomfortable after the 45^th shot… but prep yourself for some awkward poses by practising beforehand a few you definitely want to incorporate into the photoshoot.

Double Look

Image: insideweddings.com

Whether you opt for a photo where you’re both looking lovingly into each other’s eyes, or choose to have one of you smiling to the camera, this simple pose is perfect for showing your adoration on your ceremonious day.

Up in the air

Image: BridalGuide

This is an adorable photo showing you as a couple who can trust and depend on one another to stay strong when you need a little help.

The Wrap Around

Image: Whimsiephoto.com

The wrap around is a classical pose, which can be brought into any group photo or romantic and caring moment. It shows a connection and unity between the two of you.

I Do

Image: Pinterest

Capturing the first kiss is the ultimate goal for any good wedding photographer, so think about how you want to approach it!

And with all that to think about – and hopefully not adding too much stress – it’s time to slip away into a calming sleep, dreaming of the big day under a cucumber ice mask whilst wait for your nails to dry.

To ensure you and your bridal party are camera-ready for the big day, start planning your beauty regimen with a beauty bootcamp for the bridal party.

Congratulations on your wedding day!