The second you get engaged, it suddenly feels like the entire world has an opinion on your wedding. Family members get involved, TikTok starts showing you things you apparently now “need”, Pinterest convinces you everyone else is living inside a bridal magazine, and before long, you’re three hours deep into comparing napkin colours, wondering how your life ended up here.

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 judgment 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 by breaking wedding traditions.

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?”

Most people think they’re booking a Wedding Photographer, someone to take photos of their special day. Nice and simple. Turn up, take a few pictures, go home. That’s the expectation anyway... The reality is very different.

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”.

now absolutely nothing about hair. If you asked me the difference between a blow dry, a bun, or whatever’s trending this week, I’d be guessing at best. So rest assured, the hairspray is firmly in the hands of someone who actually knows what they’re doing. That person is Faye from Faye Elizabeth Hair.

Let’s talk about group photos! They’re one of those parts of the day that everyone knows are coming. Everyone knows they matter. Yet, somehow, they still have the potential to descend into mild chaos if they’re not handled right.

Here is the thing. No one has planned a wedding before they start planning a wedding. There is no secret handbook, no cheat code, and definitely no magic download button that suddenly makes you an expert. So how on earth are you meant to know what actually helps you get stunning wedding photos and what quietly works against you?

Let’s be honest. Most couples aren’t models. You probably don’t spend your weekends practising poses in front of the mirror (and if you do, no judgement). So when the thought of a camera being pointed at you all day comes up, it’s totally normal to think: “We’re going to look awkward.”

Picking your wedding photographer is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make. Bigger than flowers, bigger than table favours, bigger than whether Uncle Dave gets to sing on the mic after three pints. Your photos are what you’ll still have long after the last bit of cake has been eaten, so choosing the right person matters.

Find out what happened at Vanessa's and Simon's Wedding.