The Bride's Guide to Better Wedding Photos

Choosing your Colors

Most of the best photos have bold, bright, or dark colors. Pastels don't make your pictures "pop." The best looking boquets have similar colors in them - not light and dark colors. Try a dress with black or red trim.

Planning
Limit the number of people in the wedding party. Bigger groups are not as flexible, they take more time, and the pictures aren't as interesting. Try to keep the total number at 16 or less.

Have everyone try dresses on with all undergarments after they are altered.

Make your hair appointment for early in the morning.

Photo List
Make sure you have completed your list. Consider taking all of your photos before the ceremony.

At the Ceremony
Keep the lighting as bright as possible.
Have the people in the wedding party walk slowly down the isle and look straight ahead, not down - maybe even smile!
Light the candles from behind the candle and facing the audience. If this isn't possible, stand apart so that the candles can be seen by the audience (and the camera). Don't blow out the candles that the mothers lit. Don't use lighters to light the family candles - use other candles or those wick-type things. Pre-light the candles before the ceremony and they will light easier.

At the Reception
Make sure that there is some ambient light such at candles, DJ lights, lights on the walls, etc. A beautiful and economical touch is Christmas lights wrapped in tulle (veil material). This can be hung on the wall or laid out on a table. Put some time into the area behind the cake table.

Dances
Dance with both faces turned in the same direction. At some point during the dance, dance a little bit apart with one arm out (a la ballroom dancing). Have a little fun - dip her once or twice, and twirl her.

Better yet, take a class and impress your friends with a fabulous first dance!