I’ve been to more weddings than I can count at this point, and you start to notice a bit of a pattern. There are things that happen at almost every single one… not because couples love them, but because they feel like they’re part of the deal. And look, if you do  love them, crack on. It’s your day. No judgement here. But if you’re on the fence about any of this, consider this your permission slip to quietly stick a few of these in the bin. 1. Endless group photo lists We lis

Feels like one of those weeks where you blink and suddenly it’s Easter. I don’t know about you, but this time of year always seems to creep up out of nowhere, one minute it’s freezing and you’re questioning all your life choices, and the next everyone’s talking about chocolate and long weekends like we’ve not just come out of winter. Behind the scenes it’s been pretty full on here, lots of enquiries coming in, consultations, planning chats, and a good chunk of time spent gett

I see it all the time. You get engaged, you start planning, you’ve got about twelve tabs open, and suddenly you’re comparing photographers like you’re buying something off Amazon. They all look pretty similar at first glance, nice photos, similar sounding packages, wildly different prices, and before long you’re thinking, “do we really need to spend that much?” That’s usually where things start to go a bit wrong, because no one really says this out loud, but most couples end

Most people think they’re booking someone to take photos. Nice and simple. Turn up, take a few pictures, go home. That’s the expectation anyway. The reality is very different. Because somewhere between the morning prep and the first dance, I quietly stop being just the photographer… and end up becoming a bit of everything. A calming presence, an extra pair of hands, someone who keeps things ticking over, and yeah… more often than not, your unofficial groomsman too. It usually

With Mother’s Day this weekend, it got me thinking about something I see at almost every wedding I photograph. Weddings are full of big moments. The confetti, the speeches, the dance floor when everyone’s had a few drinks and suddenly thinks they’re starring in their own music video. But if you watch closely, there’s another version of the wedding day happening at the same time. A quieter one. The version mum experiences. Because while everyone else is caught up in the excite

Let’s have an honest chat about unplugged ceremonies, because right now what most couples are actually having isn’t fully unplugged at all. It’s more of a “we mentioned it briefly but people did what they wanted anyway” situation. And that’s where the chaos creeps in. If you’re going to do unplugged, commit to it. Don’t half unplug. Don’t whisper it into the void and hope for the best. Because when it’s vague, what happens is predictable. You walk down the aisle, the music’s

A week or so ago, I put a post up on social media. I asked my followers and people on my personal facebook to ask me anything. It was a bold move, and because I like to live dangerously, and honestly, I think I'm a gluten for punishment, I also gave everyone the option to make it anonymous too. The links still live, so if theres a burning question you've got for me no matter what it is, you can still submit your questions for me to answer... Do your worse. Yes. the question

Every family has one. You know the one. The relative who turns up to weddings with a camera bag the size of hand luggage, a couple of impressive looking lenses, and the quiet confidence of someone who “used to do a bit of photography back in the day”. We’ll call him Uncle Terry. Uncle Terry has photographed everything over the years. Landscapes. Cars. Holidays. Birds. The moon. Probably the neighbour’s cat at some point. He shot film in the 90s, still talks about it fondly, a

One of the first things couples ask when they start planning is usually some version of this. “How much does a wedding actually cost now?” And honestly, I get why. You Google it and you’ll see everything from ten grand to forty grand, and none of it really explains why . So let’s talk about it properly. Not in a scary way. Not in a “you must spend this much” way. Just the reality of what couples across the UK are actually spending in 2026. If you’re planning what most people

When it comes to wedding hair, it needs to be right. If makeup is a little off, there’s some wiggle room. I can soften things in editing, tweak tones, and rescue minor mishaps. Hair, though? That’s a completely different game. I can’t go through every single photo and give you a brand new hairstyle, so getting it right on the day actually matters. That doesn’t mean you need to spend months doom scrolling Pinterest or stressing over TikTok trends. You don’t need to overthink i

Kelly at Twinkles and Tiaras is one of those people who makes you realise just how much impact the right supplier can have on a wedding day. You know when couples say someone “went above and beyond” and you assume it’s just polite wedding review language? With Kelly, it genuinely isn’t. She’s not just good at dressing venues. She’s exceptional at it. I’ve seen her work across loads of weddings now, and what always stands out isn’t just how good everything looks. It’s the reac

After photographing weddings for years, you start to notice patterns. Not just in how days run, but in who makes them easier, calmer, and actually enjoyable to be part of. Bethany is absolutely one of those people. I’ve worked alongside Bethany at loads of weddings now, and every single time, the morning just works better. Yes, the makeup looks unreal, but more than that, she gets the reality of a wedding morning. The nerves. The family politics. The time pressure. The occasi

This is the part of wedding planning no one really warns you about. You get plenty of advice on budgets, timings, and colour schemes. What doesn’t come with instructions is what happens when you bring a lot of history, opinions, and complicated relationships into one room and politely ask everyone to celebrate together. That’s the politics of a wedding day. And if you’ve already found yourself lying awake thinking about seating plans, awkward conversations, or who might feel

Planning a wedding has a funny way of creeping up on you. You start with excitement, ideas, big smiles and a vague sense that you’ve got time. Then one day you’re deep into planning and suddenly everything has a price attached to it. Some expected. Some… not so much. If you’re planning a wedding in 2026, you’ve probably already realised that budgets don’t stretch quite as far as you hoped. That doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It just means you’re planning a wedding in the

A couple of years ago, I tried something a little different. Instead of doing things the usual way, I opened the door to skill swaps. Photography in exchange for a service or product another business offered. No awkward haggling, no favours owed, just two business owners backing each other. It turned out to be one of the most rewarding things I’ve done since starting Jonathan David Photography. Not just from a business point of view, but on a human level too. The connections,

Grateful, knackered, inspired and ready for what’s next. As the year winds down and the inbox finally quietens a bit, it feels like the right time to stop, breathe, and look back on what’s just flown past. Because honestly, this one went fast. One minute it was the first wedding of the season, the next I’m realising I’ve eaten far too many mince pies and I’m somehow writing the final blog of the year. This year has been full of everything I love about weddings. Proper belly l

Because forced smiles are banned and joy is the whole point. There's something magical about this time of year. Half the country is fuelled by mince pies. Fairy lights are everywhere. And suddenly you can't walk past a Christmas tree without wondering if someone is about to drop to one knee. If you've just said yes to your favourite person over the holidays, massive congratulations. The excitement officially begins. Now the planning starts. The Pinterest boards. The venue tou

Why your aisle moment deserves real connection not a screen grab. Picture this. You take that first step down the aisle. Your heart’s thumping. Your partner’s trying not to ugly cry. It’s the moment you’ve waited for. You want to remember exactly how they looked right then. The nerves. The smile. The love. The everything. But what you actually see is… 📱 A sea of glowing rectangles 📱 Someone waving an iPad like it’s a shield 📱 Uncle Barry filming vertically for Facebook 📱

(An honest guide for anyone about to pop the question) Right then. We need to talk about proposals. December and New Year are basically engagement season. Mariah Carey defrosts, the fairy lights come out, and suddenly half the country is dropping to one knee like it is some kind of national sport. And look, it is beautiful. Cold noses. Warm hearts. Cosy vibes. The perfect time to ask your best mate to marry you. But it can also feel like the most terrifying thing you have eve

I’ve got no idea who first decided that shouting “cheese” was the magic trick for a good photo, but they owe all of us an apology. The second someone says it, everyone tenses up. Shoulders rise. Eyes go wide. Smiles freeze into that weird, slightly panicked grin you used to do in primary school photos. And honestly, nothing kills a real moment faster than that. Your wedding day isn’t a staged photoshoot. It isn’t a corporate headshot session. And it definitely isn’t the time