My first visit to Thornbridge Hall was most certainly not a disappointment, the venue is absolutely stunning inside and out, and the grounds are breath-taking.
I also had the pleasure of a second visit to the St Thomas Church (STC) Sheffield for Leanne and Matthew’s ceremony.
In all, a beautiful day in the company of some genuinely kind and friendly people. It really doesn’t feel like a job on days like this!
Your wedding day only happens once, and with so much going on having a second wedding photographer to provide additional coverage seems like a no-brainer.
But, having multiple photographers at your wedding can have some downsides.
So let’s explore the ups and downs of second photographers.
As always, the images featured in this article were taken by JLM Wedding Photography unless otherwise stated.
In the wedding photography world, more often than not you’ll have a ‘primary’ wedding photographer.
The primary photographer is the person who takes responsibility for capturing your day.
They represent their brand, they have a style and a vision and that is what you will have looked at and admired when you considered booking them as your wedding photographer.
The second photographer will have been hired by the primary photographer, to capture additional angles and cover secondary locations.
Typically when you choose your wedding photographer you will come across one of three scenarios.
There is an alternative to the ‘primary’ model wherein both photographers are equally primary.
They may be equal partners in the business and come as a duo.
In that case as well as in scenario no. 3 above, you’ll need to make the decision about whether you want a second photographer before you book them.
Some photographers may also bring along an assistant to help them on the wedding day.
Whether or not they shoot photos depends on the arrangement with the main photographer.
Their main role will be to assist the primary photographer with things like light stands, tripods, and possibly helping to arrange people into group photos.
I would regard assistants as something entirely different for the purposes of this article, although it may still be worth you asking your photographer whether they use an assistant because you may end up having to feed them.
There is a pretty obvious benefit to a second photographer.
Instead of just one person at the front taking photos you have another at the back capturing a different perspective of the same thing.
For example, the primary photographer can be up front during the ceremony capturing the details, whilst the second photographer can be at the back capturing guest reactions.
They can also be capturing candid moments of your guests whilst you are out with your primary photographer taking portraits, so you’ll know what you missed during that time.
For me though, the main advantage to having a second photographer is….
Whilst the primary photographer is with one party getting ready, the secondary photographer can be with the other party.
The only time one person can reasonably get photos of the two parties getting ready in the morning is if they are both getting ready in the same location.
Even then, there will be moments that are missing down to simply logistics.
I would regard this as especially important for same sex marriages where there are two bridal parties, who both deserve equal coverage.
Any wedding photographer worth their salt would have backup gear, but there are some things a spare camera and extra batteries won’t help with.
What if, for example whilst travelling between venues, the primary photographer is involved in a road traffic accident?
In that instance, you may have temporarily lost your primary photographer, at least you have the secondary photographer who should already be waiting at the location and can stand in as the primary until they arrive.
Yep, there are downsides too. The most obvious being…
You are now paying for two people rather than just one.
If the second photographer is an optional extra then that’s another thing you have to find money for.
If the second photographer is included in the price, does that mean the primary photographer is valued at less than an equivalent single photographer?
Either way, more people means more money.
You may also need to consider paying for a second meal if that is included in the photographer’s contract.
I can’t speak for everyone, but I know the couples who tend to book me as their wedding photographer are usually the kind of people who don’t want to turn their wedding into a production.
They want to get on with having a beautiful wedding day without they and their guests feeling uncomfortable or inundated with photographers.
From a photographer, they want discretion.
They want someone who will blend in a capture the day without disrupting it.
Adding a second photographer can risk causing the very disruption they are trying to avoid.
Don’t get me wrong, we’re only talking about two people.
The right team of photographers they should be able to work tactfully enough for this not to be a big deal.
When you’ve got a small or medium sized wedding party, two photographers can potentially feel a lot more intimidating that just one.
An experienced photography team should be able to mitigate this for the most part, there are still times where getting into each other’s photos in unavoidable.
This may not bother you, after-all the photographers were as much a part of your day as anything else.
For the most part this will be nothing more than amusing, though there can be times when both photographers have the same idea and can get in each other’s way.
In the below image you’ll see me unavoidably becoming a feature in my second photographer’s image.
I don’t feel like this is a particularly egregious example of what I’m talking about. I actually don’t have any of those.
For me the main point is to consider that having multiple photographers covering the same thing is not always guaranteed to be better than just one photographer.
I’m going to be unusually decisive here and say no, you don’t NEED a second wedding photographer.
The only time I would strongly recommend a second photographer is when you really want comprehensive photo coverage of both parties getting ready prior to the ceremony.
Other than that it comes down to whether you WANT a second photographer.
In writing this article I wanted to make sure to convey the idea that two is not automatically better than one.
As we have seen above there are pros and cons to having an additional photographer. It’s up to you to decide which option is right for you.
And as always, if you have any question or comments, please feel free to ask.
If you’re looking for wedding photo ideas on glamourous websites, or even Pinterest and Instagram, then you have to keep in mind that those photos were taken by different people at different times, in different conditions and possible in a different location.
Shit, the word ‘different’ just lost all meaning for me. Dammit I liked that word.
Wedding photography these days revolves around capturing natural moments.
Once you start giving your photographer lists of photos you want taken then they stop capturing natural moments, because they have to try to contrive unnatural moments that look natural, because it happened naturally at someone else’s wedding once.
BTW the only list of photos I’d want you to give me is of the group photos, that’s actually really helpful. Check out my 4 Tips For Getting Your Wedding Group Photos Done Quickly Without Missing Anyone.
If you’re going to give your photographer any lists other than the group photo list, here is one I recommend.
What’s that, you haven’t got a photographer yet? Well, there’s a handy link to my packages down at the bottom of this very page ;-).
All the photos in this article were taken by JLM Wedding Photography.
Not everyone bursts into tears, that moment when you both clap eyes on each other as one of you walks down the aisle is a moment to behold.
Straight off the bat this is one of my favourite shots, and one that I make sure I’m in position for every time.
It actually takes quite a lot of ushering on my part to get people into the right position.
Once I give everyone the go-ahead, it’s all natural.
Sometimes guests throw the confetti into the couples faces, sometimes they swallow a little and choke, sometimes they look down, look up, get separated in the confusion….
Whilst there is nothing natural about the situation, the moment is genuine, loads of fun and makes for amazing natural photos.
These are the headline shots. Your new profile pic. The ones you’ll get printed onto canvas.
The couples portrait is another must have for me when I’m photographing a wedding day.
Be warned, this is where Pinterest and Insta-fueled dreams can be dashed.
As a seasoned wedding photographer, I know the best time of day to get portraits. I also know how to find for the best locations at any venue.
What I cannot do is stop the rain, remove the clouds or create rolling hills in a town centre.
This is where you need to trust your photographer.
You will get amazing photos of the two of you, just be open-minded about the look and feel.
It’s Your Wedding!
It is full of people you care about, meaning some of the best photos are people just doing stuff at your wedding.
You might not get the same feelings when you look at other people’s natural moments, but when the antics are all you and your friends on your special day, every moment will be a treasure.
The last of the formalities.
Clench up for one last routine and then you can relax and finally say hello to Uncle Melv who flew all the way from Australia just to come to your wedding.
Girls, kick off the high-heels and slide on the flats.
Guys, undo your top button and wrap your tie around your head.
The formalities are done. The wedding was a success, you’re married!
IT’S PARTY TIME!
You will (hopefully) only get married once.
Why not push the boat out? Just for one day, be decadent, lavish, carefree.
Thing is, with over 200,000 weddings happening in England and Wales alone every year, that decadence can take a pretty heavy toll on the environment.
Don’t worry though, we’re not going to ask your guests to do their own dishes.
In this series of articles around planning an Environmentally Friendly Wedding, we will look at simple and cost effective ways to reduce the impact of your wedding.
To make sure you don’t miss the next article make sure you pop your name and email address into the box below.
A lot of miles will be driven to make your wedding day happen.
Driving to planning meetings, venue visits and deliveries, not to mention suppliers and guests attending on the day.
You can easily cut down on the environmental impact (and cost) of all this travelling by making a few little changes, such as…
Find suppliers who are based locally to your wedding venue so that they don’t have to travel far to attend meetings and the day itself.
Bonus points if the actual wedding venue is local to you and most of your guests too.
You can use Facebook groups to find local venues and suppliers, plus Google tends to do a good job of finding businesses who are based near you if you search for them.
You can use video calls over Skype, Facetime or Facebook Messenger so that you don’t lose the personal touch.
If you do still want to meet your suppliers face to face, see if you can combine the visits.
For example, arrange to meet your photographer at your venue on the same day you are due to meet with the venue’s coordinator. That way you are not making an extra trip to meet your photographer, and they can do their location scouting whilst you meet with your coordinator which will save them another trip out.
For bonus points, you could incorporate your make-up trial and engagement shoot into this planning meeting, which has the added advantage of giving you engagement photos taken at your actual wedding venue in full bridal make-up!
If you’re getting married in the same venue as your reception then this is less of an issue. Your guests arrive in the morning and leave at the end. Perhaps you could improve things further by encouraging car pooling with a note on your invitations.
If you’re getting married at a church or registry office then your guests will need to travel to both locations, meaning potentially 10+ cars making the same journey at the same time.
Why not organise a bus for them all?
Plan for your guests to arrive at your reception venue at a certain time and arrange a bus to take them all to the ceremony together. Then the same bus can take them all back afterwards. That way your guests can relax and not worry about where they need to go next, and you’ve taken a bunch of cars off the road.
For bonus points, you can take the same bus back to the reception with your guests, saving you from hiring a wedding car. You can still make it special by booking a vintage wedding party bus.
I’m a pretty low-waste photographer in general. Mostly because I’m a techie and believe in finding the most modern and efficient way of doing things.
When I deliver photos I do so via an online gallery. The images can be downloaded by the couple, plus any guests who are given access.
This means no shipping of memory sticks or tacky wooden boxes from China, and no additional mileage incurred passing memory sticks and prints around.
I also use a UK-based printing house for all my print and album orders, meaning there is no needless long distance shipping going on.
Outside of the photography world, other suppliers can help reduce pollution too.
Being eco-friendly shouldn’t get in the way of living out your dream wedding. If you’ve always dreamt of arriving in a vintage car, you still can.
See the car in the photo above? That’s a modern car. In fact it is a modified Hackney Carriage, aka a London Taxi. The body has been replaced so that it looks vintage, but it has all the eco-friendliness of a modern car. Ok, I’ll admit, this is still not the most environmentally friendly way to get to your wedding, but any small change can make a big difference.
Before you hire a supplier, find out where they source their raw materials.
This could apply to caterers, venue decorators, even make-up artists.
Are they environmentally responsible when it comes to sourcing materials. Buying local can cost a little more, but often means a higher quality product, so it’s worth asking the question.
When we’re planning a wedding we often don’t give too much thought about how many miles we, our guests and suppliers are driving in order to make it happen.
Whilst some driving is inevitable, there are a few quick, easy and cheap ways to make a significant difference to how many cars are on the road and how much fuel is guzzled just to make our one day happen.
Think about some of the biggest brands out there. They use consistent imagery, colours and styles so that all their materials fit together harmoniously.
In marketing speak this is known as a brand identity.
You need a wedding identity.
I know you’re not trying to sell your wedding, and hopefully you won’t need to do too much advertising to get people to turn up. So how will this identity help?
It’s all about cohesion. Everything should look like it belongs together.
The girls’ dresses shouldn’t clash with the boys’ ties. The napkins should look good tucked into the groom’s suit. Your ‘save the date’ should look like it came from the same wedding as the formal invitation. That kind of thing.
Not to mention how much it will help you narrow down some of the huge array of choices you have out there.
This is really something you should be thinking about early on, before you start picking flowers and ornaments.
If you’re like me, you will probably think you can do it all yourself. You’ll fire up Microsoft Publisher, think of your favourite colour and then get cracking on your designs.
Let me give you the benefit of all the lessons I learned the hard way.
When I started my wedding photography business I knew I needed a brand identity. I needed all my business cards, flyers, posters, watermarks and everything else to follow that identity to build up a brand of my own.
So, I fired up Publisher, or maybe Photoshop, and started hunting for a nice font. Then I picked a colour I quite liked and used an online colour wheel to pick out colours to match it.
The results were… questionable.
Eventually I realised that my designs just didn’t reflect the image I wanted my business to have. I wanted to come across as professional and my amateur logos just weren’t cutting it.
And here is where this is relevant to you planning your wedding, I did what I should have done at the very beginning and started looking for a graphic designer.
I think now is a good time for me to take some of my own advice and hand over to a professional.
As you may already have noticed, I’m a wedding photographer, not a graphic designer. And whilst I know many believe that we photographers are also expects at image manipulation, I can assure you this is not always the case.
To continue this complete guide to wedding stationery, we need an expert on wedding stationery.
Meet Chris Green of Chris Green Design.
Chris is an extremely talented freelance Graphic Designer who also happens to be the mastermind behind all the branding for JLM Wedding Photography.
As well as helping small businesses like me build up brand identities he also specialises in Wedding Identities. Also known as Wedding Stationery.
Chris has been kind enough to give up some of his precious time to answer a few questions about wedding stationery and wedding identities.
JLM: Chris thanks for taking the time to help people plan their wedding stationery. Can you give us an introduction to Wedding Stationery and what you would typically provide?
CG: Well, it all depends on what the client wants. I can offer a full stationery package which includes save the date cards, invitations, RSVP’s, order of service cards, table plans, name cards, menu’s and for after the big day, thank you cards. However, the beauty of going bespoke allows you to pick and choose from this list too. If a client just wanted invites and save the date cards, that’s no problem.
JLM: How soon into planning a wedding should couples start considering wedding stationery?
CG: As early as possible, the more time we have to work with the better. This allows plenty of time for amendments, printing and delivery.
JLM: What are the current trends for wedding stationery?
CG: Trends in design are always changing, but with wedding stationery it totally depends on the client’s personality and wedding theme. For example, if they decided to have a “Harry Potter” themed wedding day, I would research the style of Harry Potter and create something that looked like it would fit into the wizarding world of Harry Potter, such as the typography, layout, colour and supporting graphics.
JLM: What should couples think about before meeting up to discuss their Wedding Stationery?
CG: Come with as many ideas as you can, whether it be the theme, the print finish or the amount you need. However, if you haven’t got a theme and wanted to leave it my hands, that’s also fine.
JLM: What do you do to set Chris Green Design apart from other Wedding Stationers?
CG: The personal approach. With each of my clients I like it to be a friendly, laid-back relationship. Meeting up over a cup of tea, discussing ideas and creating something together, that works best in my experience. Being able to speak to someone in person and explain what style you’re going for and ask questions along the way ensures you will get the prefect stationery, exactly how you imagined it. Planning a wedding is one of the most stressful things you will probably ever do, I like to take the pressure off when It comes to the stationery so they can focus on the venue, the food and the dress among other things, the list is endless right?
JLM: What are the benefits of going bespoke?
CG: With absolutely no limitations when choosing to get bespoke wedding stationery, clients can literally have ANYTHING they want, the typography, the print finish and layout to name a few, they aren’t tied down to templates which you find on online.
JLM: Thank you for your time and insights today Chris. Can you drop your links below so that people can get in touch if they have more questions?
CG: Sure! If you are thinking of going down the route of bespoke wedding stationery, just head over to my website www.chrisgreen.design or email me at hello@chrisgreen.design. You can also contact me on social media, all my social profiles are displayed in the footer of my website.
Your wedding stationery will define the look and feel of your wedding. Even if you are planning a laid back wedding, as most of my couples are, you still want your flowers to match your napkins.
Believe me when I say that choosing a colour is not as easy as you think. A professional graphic designer can bring together elements of your personality, your ideas along with the time of year and type of venue to find the perfect ‘look’ for your wedding.
If you get the look and feel of your wedding right, your guests probably won’t even notice.
Get it wrong though, and you could be the talk of the town.
Blimey that was a pretty dark tone to end on eh? How about some photos of people smiling at weddings to cheer things up a little…. ????
100+ Photos Of People Having A Great Time At Weddings
See ya next time,
James
Aimee, aka Marvellous Mrs T, married Craig in September 2018 and I was fortunate enough to have been their photographer.
I have always seen the value of an engagement shoot for anyone unsure about having their photos taken at their wedding.
For ages I have been thinking about writing an article about the value of having an engagement shoot, then I discovered that Aimee had already written one on her blog. For couples considering an engagement shoot, hearing this advice from a couple who have been through the process recently is infinity more valuable (and believable) than coming from me.
Aimee has very kindly given me permission to reproduce this from her own blog. All the photos were taken by me at either their engagement shoot or wedding.
Before we start, if you’re anything like me, an engagement photo shoot sounds like another unnecessary expense for an already pricey occasion. How wrong I was.
When me and my now husband got engaged, we decided I would plan everything and he would watch on from a safe distance. A DIY wedding sure saves money, but it’s still up there with one of the largest spends of my life… but that’s for another post. My point is, we were trying to save, and to pay for someone to take pictures of us a few weeks before we had paid for them to take pictures of us was a laughable notion.
We met our photographer, James, at a local hotel for a coffee and a chat, as you do. Although first meets are usually a little awkward, I quickly realized; for someone who is often behind the camera, or face only in selfie mode, I was nervous about the idea of having my photo taken. I knew I would look FABULOUS! Who doesn’t on their wedding day? But I wanted natural, fun photos, not posed and staged ones, and so he suggested the engagement shoot.
We met just a few weeks before the wedding, at the estate where we would be holding our reception. We walked around a field, stood too far apart from each other, and I was either looking at the floor or donning a fantastic double chin.
Needless to say, the photos weren’t the best. No matter how hard we tried, we just felt so awkward. However, we did spend an hour getting to know James a little more, and seeing the photos we knew exactly what we needed to do next time we were in front of the camera. Being stalked around a field by a man whose laughing with you one minute and hiding behind some leaves the next will do wonders for you.
It was a great practice run, and although some could see it as a waste (by the time I’d edited out my extra chins I actually had some good shots anyway), but when you’re spending just over 1k on a wedding photographer surely you don’t want that ‘practice run’ to be during the real thing?
I mean…. the difference is phenomenal!
Not forgetting, this person will be quietly stood in the corner of your hotel room while you and a bunch of your favourite females get ready together…. it might be worth breaking the ice before that. Just saying.
If you haven’t found a photographer yet, or you fancy having a candid family shoot with someone amazing, you can check James out on the link below.
This article was originally published here.
You can follow Aimee on Instagram @themarvellousmrst
As a wedding photographer based in the Sheffield area I naturally find myself photographing weddings at Wortley Hall quite often.
If you’re thinking about getting married at Wortley Hall then you are probably excited about the grounds, or the prestige of the Foundry Dining Room.
All the websites, brochures, photos and visits can only tell you so much. I figured I have a pretty unique perspective on how wedding days go at Wortley Hall, so I thought I would share it to give you a little extra insight.
There are a few bridal suites at Wortley Hall. Those I have seen have been spacious and very nice to be in.
If you are getting ready here before your wedding then you will find yourself well looked after. One of the rooms is particularly large, as I discovered when Lisa brought along her 9 bridesmaids and 9 flower girls.
Ok, I’ll be honest, I made that name up. I call this room the library because there is a wall of books at the back.
Basically this is the ceremony room, so if you are having your wedding service at Wortley Hall then this is the room where all the serious things will happen.
After the ceremony you and your guests will be invited to go out into the grounds via the patio doors, unless the weather isn’t ideal, in which case you’ll be heading into the main hallway.
Once all your guests are clear the staff will quickly whip away all the chairs and this room becomes an open reception area, complete with a table of drinks towards the back, plus a piano if any of your guests fancy tinkling the ivories.
I don’t think I need to say much about the grounds because I have no doubt that they are amongst the main reasons you are looking at Wortley Hall as a wedding venue.
So instead of talking about them, I’ll show you some photos instead.
I have already written about what to do on a wedding day. Check that out in my recent post What If It Rains On Your Wedding Day?.
I know at Wortley Hall you’ll likely have your heart set on some epic outdoor photos, and time outside in general. I’m here to tell you that it isn’t the end of the world if you can’t go outside. There are plenty of nice spots to get indoor photos.
Look it’s not my job to learn the names of every room in every venue. Basically Wortley Hall has another hall and that is most likely where your evening reception will take place.
Be warned it is a bit of a trek to get to, and I guarantee your guests will need to be escorted the first time they try to find it. I often spend a good few minutes helping people find their way.
The Other Hall is a grand yet somehow cosy room with a stage and a nice spot at the back for a buffet, gift table etc. There is also a smaller room off to the side which should be available to you for a photo booth or kids room perhaps.
Absolutely, yes I would.
This is a beautiful venue, steeped in history yet run like a modern wedding venue. The staff are extremely friendly and very accommodating and I always leave Wortley Hall weddings feeling like my couples had a great day.
Oh and I happen to know a wedding photographer too, if you’re looking :-).
The last time I checked there were over 17,237 wedding photographers living on my street.
You have a heck of a lot of choice when it comes to finding a wedding photographer.
Does that make it a buyer’s market? Maybe. You can easily find someone willing to photograph your wedding whatever your budget.
I can tell you that I wouldn’t want to be looking for a photographer right now though, because literally anyone can pick up a camera and call themselves a wedding photographer. How are you possibly going to narrow down your options and rule out all the cowboys?
Well, I’m here to help you cross one off your list. Me.
Here are 4 reasons why I’m probably not the right wedding photographer for you.
Like any other art form, wedding photography follows trends.
A few years ago all the trendy photographers were emulating the popular Instagram style filters of the time by giving their photos a sort of washed out look.
Before that the trend was heavy white vignetting and the dreaded black and white with a pop of colour.
Nowadays many popular photographers are following the trend of muting the colours, leaving images looking rather brown.
I’ll be honest, I think it looks good if done well, but it just isn’t me.
I always favour emphasising natural colours, so things look like they really did at the time.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not ripping on those who follow trends. I do like the look, it’s just not me.
So, if you’re after instant Instagram-able wedding photos, maybe I’m not for you.
Professional models know how to strike a pose and look amazing every time the camera takes a shot. Good for them.
If you’re not a professional model then you’ll probably be expecting a photographer to put you into special poses, arrange your limbs in such a way as to make you look like you really know what you are doing.
Well, not if I’m your photographer.
I don’t tell people what to do or how to stand.
I work with real people who are happy, in love, and really just want a break from the chaos that is their wedding day.
I just leave couples to enjoy each others company and quietly watch for the right moments to capture.
If you like to be contorted and manipulated into magazine style poses then I am definitely not the right photographer for you.
Speaking of magazine style poses…
You know those hyper-stylised, ultra glamorous celebrity wedding photos?
They probably took hours of planning, an entire team to pull together and a tonne of time that the couple didn’t get to spend with their friends and families at their wedding.
Sorry, you ain’t getting photos like that at your wedding if you choose me.
If you end up stuck with me all you’ll get are hundreds of photos of you, your family and friends enjoying themselves.
For portraits, you’re just going to have to make do with a good old fashioned sunset.
Like I said at the start, there are thousands of wedding photographers around. Enough that you can easily find someone to fit your budget.
Even though my prices are actually pretty closely aligned to industry average in the UK, I’m definitely not the cheapest. I don’t compete on price. In fact I don’t think of myself as a competitor at all. If you love my photos and my approach to taking photos then you will find my prices perfectly reasonable.
If you don’t think I’m worth it then I’m probably not the right photographer for you.
I have just given you four really good reasons to not choose me as your wedding photographer. In reality there are probably loads more factors that should effect your decision..
There only needs to be one thing that makes someone the right photographer for you, and that is something you can’t put in a list.
You are looking for someone with the right attitude, the right personality and who gives you the right feeling when you talk to them and look at their past work.
This article is all about making you think about what is important when choosing your photographer.
If you came up with other reasons why I’m no good for you I would love to hear them, genuinely.
Alanis Morissette once posited that rain on your wedding day was ironic.
I would argue that, unless you are getting married in the Sahara desert, there is nothing ironic about it.
In reality, certainly if you are getting married in Britain, rain on a wedding day is a disappointingly likely scenario.
So, how can you keep your wedding day from being ruined by precipitation?
All the photos in this article were taken by JLM Wedding Photography
I know that you don’t want to imagine that it might rain on your big day
Denying the possibility entirely will only set you up for huge disappointment if it does.
It is likely that your wedding venue will have a wet weather plan already. They probably deal with rain all the time.
To properly plan for the worst, we first need to understand what could go wrong.
We all know rain on your wedding day is a bad thing, but why exactly?
What problems does rain actually cause?
If you are planning your wedding in Britain it is a safe bet that your ceremony will be indoors.
At the very least you will have a backup covered ceremony room in case of rain.
So the ceremony itself should be unaffected.
Getting to and from each venue if where you may find it a problem.
You don’t want the rain spoiling your hair, makeup or dresses.
Depending on your reception venue, indoor and sheltered space may be limited. Whether this is actually a problem depends on the specific venue and how many guests you have invited.
The rain will also limit the photos that you will be able to get.
All that lovely outdoor space may seem out of reach.
What you need to remember us that this is your wedding day, whether it rains or not.
You owe it to yourself to not let it ruin the day you have been planning all this time.
So, what can you do?
Well, bring an umbrella is the easy answer to the hair and makeup issue.
As a photographer, I’m probably best placed to give you advice on how to get the best photos possible in the rain.
Some days it just rains and rains. Others you’ll get some breaks.
If you spot a break in the rain and you have a few minutes to break away from the wedding then do it. Grab those few minutes, get outside and get your snaps.
You’ll get the added bonus of shiny glittering grass too. Especially if the sun is making an appearance.
Every wedding venue has something interesting inside. Some kind of feature whether it be a grand piano, a cool brick wall or a spectacular staircase.
Find those spots and make use of them.
If you can’t find anywhere you can always get creative and block out the background completely.
I could sum this article up in five words.
Don’t let rain defeat you.
It is so important that, no matter what goes wrong on your wedding day, you make the most of it.
The tips I have given you will hopefully have prepared you for the worst the weather has to offer.
If you get a sunny day then great. Still, it never hurts to be prepared.
If you would like to talk to me about photographing your wedding, feel free to get in touch.
See ya next time,
James
For many, planning a Sheffield Town Hall wedding is a great option.
For one, it saves you the cost of having to bring a registrar out to your wedding venue.
Not to mention the fact that the Sheffield Town Hall is a particularly grand setting for any occasion.
If you have never attended a wedding at the Town Hall in Sheffield before then you might not know what to expect.
That is, until you spend a few minutes reading through this article.
All the photos in this article were taken by JLM Wedding Photography.
You need to remember that you are in the middle of Sheffield City Centre, so parking is limited.
Well, to be fair, it isn’t limited so much as expensive.
Fortunately that shouldn’t be a problem for the bride since official wedding cars are permitted to park outside the front of the Town Hall for the duration of the wedding ceremony.
One option is to arrange for a bus to bring your guests from the reception venue into town, thus saving them the trouble of finding parking.
That’s exactly what Susan and Kevin did to get their guests to and from the Ibis Style in Barnsley.
Many brides-to-be worry about being seen by guests at their arrival.
After-all, their arrival in front of the Sheffield Town Hall is unlikely to be discrete.
Fortunately, the attendants at the Town Hall are particularly good at this.
They will make sure all the guests are safely tucked away in the ceremony room before the bride’s arrival.
The wedding car has the added advantage of being able to park outside the Town Hall for the duration of the ceremony.
Having said that, I’m not sure they would usually be allowed to park on the pavement like they did at Kay & Lynval’s wedding.
Sorry fellas, the arrival of the Groom at a wedding at the Town Hall is much less grand.
Basically you’ll just arrive at some point, probably about half an hour before your appointed ceremony time, to greet your guests.
Shortly before the bride is due to arrive the Groom will be taken into the ceremony room to be interviewed.
Once the interview is complete the guests will be invited to take their seats in the ceremony room.
Most Grooms opt for the discrete arrival, often with a stop at a local city centre pub for a pint of Dutch courage.
Some prefer to savour the moment by arriving in style, much like Steve’s arrival in a Mustang.
Before we carry on to the ceremony I have a quick photography related tip:
If you want photos on the main staircase get them before the ceremony. You are not likely to be allowed back afterwards because another wedding party will be arriving after you.
After the ceremony you will be ushered out of the building via a different exit, i.e. not the main entrance with the staircase.
This makes it tricky to get photos of both of you together since you won’t actually see each other before the ceremony.
In my experience, some have used the time for a ‘first look’ photo.
Most of the time it is a great chance for photos of the Groom and his Groomsmen to get some snaps together.
It is also a good place for photos of the Bridal party, not to mention that special moment where the Father of the Bride sees his little girl in her wedding dress for the first time.
This can depend on whether you invite guest to perform readings.
Typically the ceremony lasts about 20 minutes from the arrival of the Bride to leaving the room.
The Sheffield Town Hall has several rooms typically used for wedding ceremonies.
Downstairs are three smaller rooms connected by a large anti-room which is used as a waiting area for guests prior to the ceremony.
This waiting area is the first room you enter as you turn right through the main entrance.
These smaller rooms host several wedding ceremonies a day and are best suited for parties of up to 50 guests.
Upstairs is a much more private affair, better suited to larger wedding parties.
The main room is partitioned to form a ceremony room and a drinks reception room.
The Mirror room is where you will have the ceremony, so named because of the huge mirror at one end.
The main dividing wall lifts away at the conclusion of the ceremony allowing guests to wander freely across to the Mandela room for drinks and canapes.
This is more a tip for the photographer than anyone else.
The huge mirror in the Mirror Room is right in front of the couple as they get married.
It then stands behind them as they sign their contracts.
My advice, stay low and always check for your own reflection before you take a photo!
For ‘downstairs’ weddings where you are lead out of the side exit, that staircase is the place for confetti.
You might want to ask your guests to line the walkway and throw their confetti as you pass them.
You can also wait until you get to the main path and do the same there.
However you do it, keep it outside!
After the ceremony you may be thinking the Peace Gardens would be an ideal spot for photos.
Whilst that is true in principle, keep in mind that on a sunny Saturday afternoon it will be packed!
Not to mention that in August it will be overtaken by Sheffield By The Seaside, so you will have no chance.
My advice is to either make use of the nearby Winter Gardens, or look for interesting locations between buildings for your group photos.
If you have never been to a wedding at the Sheffield Town Hall before it may seem a little intimidating.
Hopefully this guide has helped you to understand what you can expect, where you should go and how to make the most of your wedding ceremony.
As you can probably tell, I have attended more than my fair share of weddings at the Town Hall. If you have any questions that I haven’t covered in this article please feel free to ask.
If you would like to talk to me about photographing your wedding why not Get In Touch?
See ya next time,
James
