Your Herts and Beds Wedding - Page number 72 - August/September 2021 (Issue 87)

PRETTY AS A PICTURE We’re clueless when it comes to photography. Is there a list of shots we should ask our photographer to capture? You can ask to see a full wedding gallery from your photographer to view images they typically photograph. If there’s anything in particular that’s important to you, just let them know. Maybe there’s a special piece of jewellery or the perfume/aftershave you’re wearing – we love to know the significance of these personal items too! Or maybe you want a specific person’s reaction to the song played as you walk down the aisle or enter the wedding breakfast. I like to have a catch-up call with my couples to run through the group combinations they’d like when it comes to group shots. The most popular ones include parents, immediate family, and the wedding party shots and then we discuss other options such as close friends or other relatives. Being open with your photographer about what you want will mean you’ll fall in love with your final photos. Ami Johnson | Ami Louisa Photography | www.amilouisaphotography.com CAPTURE THE MOMENT How can we add seasonal touches to our wedding video? It will be represented in the film if you thoughtfully reflect the current season or your wedding theme in your decorations, venue, attire and more. These details help tell the story of the wedding, set the tone for the day and evoke the atmosphere. During a beach wedding, we’ll capture the breeze, the sun and the joy of being outside. At a Christmas wedding, we’ll highlight the crisp sparkle of the air and the cosiness and warmth of the venue. You don’t have to worry about putting seasonal touches into the video as we, the creatives, will take care of it. Justina Rudé | Just Happy Together https://justhappytogether.com https://vict oriamitchellphotography.com SETTING THE TONE How can a celebrant help us make the ceremony extra special? Often, the main reason for using a celebrant is because couples want to add special touches to their ceremony and would rather have someone telling the story of who they are and the journey they’ve taken together. The experience is far from a traditional wedding ceremony that you might expect or have experienced before. That said, couples often still want the usual highlights of a traditional wedding such as an entrance, exchanging vows, rings and the “I dos” – all of which a celebrant can include if desired. As well as the personal story, a celebrant can add so much more. Add symbolic elements such as hand-tying, candle lighting or planting a tree. Or why not include guests? Maybe your parents will be involved by placing the ribbons across your wrists for the hand tying section or as part of a wine sharing ritual (one of my favourites) where they might offer you wine to drink as an acceptance into the family, which you in turn share with your partner for life. Your guests should be listening to your ceremony while thinking ‘this is so them’ throughout. Kelly Hawes | Kelly Hawes Celebrant | www.kellyhcelebrant.co.uk www.inst agram.com/viktoria_salikova 72