We listen and we don't judge...Wedding Edition.

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 listen, we don’t judge… but if your group photo list needs a spreadsheet, something’s gone slightly off track.

There’s always that moment after the ceremony where it turns into a bit of a roll call. People disappearing, others heading straight for the bar, someone’s nan’s gone missing… and before you know it, you’ve spent a big chunk of your drinks reception stood in one spot.

As a rule of thumb, stick to a maximum of 10 essential group shots. Any more than that and it starts to drag on… and trust me, your guests will thank you for it later.

A handful of key groups? Perfect. Quick, easy, done. The rest of the time is better spent actually enjoying it.

2. The “stand there and smile” pose

We listen, we don’t judge… but the second someone feels like they’ve got to perform for the camera, it shows.

You don’t need to be told where to put your hands or when to smile. Half the time, that’s what makes people feel awkward in the first place. The best photos always come from just letting things happen naturally and giving you a bit of space to be yourselves.

It’s a wedding, not a school photo.

3. Speeches that go on forever

We listen, we don’t judge… but there’s always one that turns into a full set. Short, genuine, maybe a few laughs, and you’re golden. No one’s ever wished a speech lasted longer.

And while we’re at it… we don’t need a full roast of the groom either. A couple of stories, fair enough, but once it turns into ten minutes of digging him out, you can feel the room start to shift a bit.

I once heard a best man say, “I had prepared a few lines, but the groom made light work of them last night…”The silence afterwards was something else. Half the room didn’t know where to look, and the older generation definitely weren’t impressed.

Same goes for the drinks beforehand. A bit of Dutch courage, fine… but there’s a very clear line where it stops being funny and starts being a bit uncomfortable for everyone involved.

Keep it simple, and you’ll land it every time.

4. Obsessing over the weather

We listen, we don’t judge… but the weather panic is real at every single wedding.

If it’s not blazing sunshine, people start worrying like it’s all about to fall apart. But honestly, some of the best moments I’ve ever captured have been in less-than-perfect conditions. Rain, wind, whatever it is… it changes the energy in a way you just can’t plan.

It becomes part of the story, and usually a pretty good one.

A good photographer rolls with the weather no matter what happens.

5. Trying to stick to a perfect timeline

We listen, we don’t judge… but weddings don’t run like clockwork, no matter how hard you try.

The more rigid the schedule, the more pressure it puts on everything. Something always runs a bit late, something takes longer than expected, and suddenly people are stressing over minutes that don’t really matter.

A bit of structure is great, but a bit of breathing room is even better.

Relax, you've spent alot on your big day, enjoy it.

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At the end of the day, none of this is about saying what you should or shouldn’t do.

If you love the traditions, keep them. If you don’t, don’t feel like you have to include them just because they’ve always been part of weddings.

The best days I’ve been part of are always the ones where couples relaxed a bit, did things their way, and didn’t worry too much about ticking every box.

That’s when everything just feels natural. Less forced, less staged… more like something you’ll actually want to look back on.

And honestly, those are always the weddings that stand out.