YOUR WEDDING DAY

It's a big day...YOUR big day!

Your wedding will be so much more enjoyable, and your photos so much better, if you've planned for anything that could happen and have nothing to stress about.

To help you out, we've put together this list of some things to think about and suggestions for getting the most out of your wedding photography.

- Always budget more time than you think you'll need. The only thing worse than sitting around nervously waiting is being in a big hectic rush. A good rule of thumb is to allow yourself an extra 5-10 minutes for everything that will happen on the day - hair, makeup, dressing, even breakfast. If anyone in your family or wedding party has a habit of being late, don't be afraid to tell them to be there 30 minutes before you actually need them.

- We recommend allowing 30 minutes for family and group shots, and 60-90 minutes for your bridal party shoot. As well as travel time to your ceremony, make sure you consider travel time between venue and photo shoot location - the last thing you want is to spend more time travelling than posing. We've found that there's often a three-hour time window from the start of the ceremony until you're due to make your entrance at the reception. That sounds like a long time, but it will fly.

- Think about the room you'll be dressing in. The best room is the one that has plenty of space to work in and good natural light, as this will help your getting-ready shots run quickly and smoothly.

- Know your venue. We always like to visit the venue with our brides and grooms before the wedding day, so we can scope out possible locations and get some ideas ahead of time. That way, we don't waste time on the day running around deciding where a particular shot would look the best.

- If you have the option, discuss the timing of your photos with your photographer. Light is better at some times of the day than others, and photographers will be able to give you advice on when that will be, depending on when and where your wedding is.

- Don't worry too much about your guests while you're planning your photo shoots. This is unlikely to be the first wedding they've attended, so they'll expect you to disappear for photos, and are more than happy to mix and mingle while they wait for the reception. Worrying about your guests while your photos are being taken will stress you out and make you want to rush your photos, and that will show.

- It's a good idea to carry an emergency kit with you when you take your photos. This could include things such as bobby pins, band aids, double-sided tape and a bottle of water - just so the little things don't distract you from having fun!