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Ask a wedding photographer: Which Group Shots Do I Need?

I’ve been a wedding photographer in Cheshire and North Wales for about 20 years now, and in that time I’ve become something of an expert not just on wedding photography, but on weddings in general! I find that couples often end up asking me for advice, on everything from wedding photography, to general wedding trends, and hints and tips!

I’ve often tried to offer advice in this blog; for example, you can find out here about wedding makeup that photographs perfectly, wedding photography trends for 2024, or how to create a dream wedding day on a budget.

I’ve now decided to start a series of blogs called “Ask a wedding photographer…”, which aim to answer some of the questions I get asked most frequently. A lot of them relate to wedding photography, but some are just about weddings in general. Hopefully you find it helpful 🙂 And remember, I’m always happy to chat if you have any questions about your big day.

 

So… which group shots do you need on your wedding day?

As a wedding photographer, one of the most rewarding aspects of my job is capturing the beautiful moments that unfold on a couple’s special day. I would describe my wedding photography style as a mixture of ‘documentary style’ wedding photography and creative wedding photography. ‘Documentary style wedding photography’ means that I capture the genuine events and emotions of your wedding day as they play out. However, I am always very happy to help create group shots and posed photos too. The couples who hire me for their weddings tend to like a mixture of relaxed, natural photos, plus some posed shots where I work with the couple to create beautiful photographs for them to treasure. This really suits my style as I love to spend time with the couples I work with and create unique posed photographs just as much as I like to capture documentary-style photographs. I recently won Creative Wedding Photographer of the Year The Welsh Wedding Awards 2022 thanks to some of the unique posed shots I’ve created of brides and grooms and their wedding guests, including some gorgeous group shots.

While candid shots and intimate portraits hold immense value, group shots play a crucial role in documenting the entire wedding party. So, which are the essential group shots that should find a place in every wedding album?


The Bridal Party and Groomsmen

Gather the entire bridal party and groomsmen for a group shot that showcases the full ensemble. This shot captures the collective energy and excitement, setting the tone for the celebration.

It’s also nice to get shots of the bridal party and the groomsmen separately. Some of my favourite shots are of the bride and her bridesmaids getting ready before the ceremony. I also enjoy spending time with the groom and his groomsmen before the big event too: it’s great to see the couple with their best friends in those exciting moments before the wedding begins. 

These people are usually the couple’s closest confidants – those friends who have been there through thick and thin, so these group shots always radiate support and love.


Immediate Families of the Couple

It’s nice to dedicate time to photographing the immediate families of the couple. This includes parents, siblings, and grandparents. These shots are not only cherished by the couple but become treasures for generations to come.

Generations in One Frame: Extended Family

Extend the family focus to include a shot with the extended family. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins all in one shot can make a lovely visual family history.

 

Friends and schoolmates 

It’s nice to capture the camaraderie and laughter by photographing the couple with their friends and schoolmates. These shots often embody the shared history and adventures that have shaped the couple’s journey.


Flower girls and page boys

Don’t forget the little ones!Gathering the flower girls and page boys together can make an adorable group shot.

Colleagues and Work Friends

If you have good friendships at work, consider including a photograph with your colleagues and work friends. It’s a great way to commemorate the different facets of your lives.

 

 

Entire Wedding Party

For a grand finale, gather all the wedding guests for a large group shot. It’s the perfect way to encapsulate the joy and collective celebration of the day, and you can get creative with different angles, poses, or even drone photography!

 

Abbeywood Estate wedding photography Cheshire

Great group shots portray the love, connections, and shared experiences that make each wedding unique. They allow you to look back on your day and have fond memories of the people who were there with you. As a wedding photographer, understanding the significance of these group shots ensures that you not only document the couple’s day, but also tell the complete story of their relationship surrounded by the people who matter most.

If you’d like to discuss your wedding plans, I would love to chat. I’m a wedding photographer in Cheshire, Chester and North Wales, but I work further afield as well. Drop me a line for more information. 

 

A day of love, Autumn colours, and custard slices!

October was an insanely busy month for me. Weddings, pre wedding shoots, family shoots… and in a blink of an eye it came and went. One of the highlights of this super-busy month was Tesni and Gwydion’s beautiful wedding at the incredible Iscoyd Park, one of my favourite venues near North Wales and Chester. What a fabulous day it was: full of love, laughter, and some stunning Autumn colours. I can’t wait to share a sneak peek of the images with you…

Tesni and Gwydion’s wedding at Iscoyd Park, Cheshire

Iscoyd Park is a private country house wedding venue on the borders of North Wales, Shropshire and Cheshire. I’m a wedding photographer in North Wales and Chester so Iscoyd is ideally located for me. It’s also an absolute dream wedding venue: it’s the perfect combination of historic elegance and contemporary style.

The day began at the picturesque Iscoyd Cottage, where Tesni and her bridal party were getting ready. I joined the girls for bridal prep, where Kimberley from Bridal Hair Design and Make Up was working her magic, alongside Holl’s Dolls Make Up. Tesni’s gorgeous dress was from WED2B, and I took the opportunity to capture some lovely images of the dress in the beautiful surroundings of the bridal suite.

 


I was then privileged to capture the first photos of Tesni in her dress- doesn’t she look fabulous? It was clear that Tesni’s friends and family clearly thought she looked fabulous too: I always love capturing the photos of when the bride’s dad sees his daughter in her dress for the first time.


I then joined Gywdion and his groomsmen in suits by Peter Posh. They were waiting for the ceremony to begin (and enjoying a quick beer or two!)


Wedding Photography at Iscoyd Park

Iscoyd Park really does have the feel of a family home. Iscoyd prides itself on not being too stuffy or formal but relaxed and welcoming: a classical Georgian house with a modern attitude. The interior spaces really show off the Georgian splendour – I loved capturing the shots of Tesni walking down the grand oak staircase.


The Garden Room where the ceremony took place is also equally elegant. It’s also a really lovely light, bright room, which is ideal for me as a wedding photographer!







After the ceremony, I joined the guests outside for some group shots. Like so many wedding venues in the Chester and North Wales area, Iscoyd Park benefits from stunning grounds: manicured lawns and wild flower beds all with a backdrop of an exquisite Georgian manor house- a wedding photographer’s dream!

Then the fun began with a tower of champagne flutes: the corks popped to celebrate this lovely couple officially becoming Mr and Mrs!

 

It was then time to take a stroll in the stunning Autumn sunshine to capture some photography of Tesni and Gwydion together for the first time as a married couple. Iscoyd Park really leant itself perfectly to the Autumn light, and I love the photos from this part of the day: the colours really shine.






Laughter, tears, and custard slices

The wedding breakfast was in Iscoyd’s marquee, which was beautifully dressed with trees and flowers by Gallery Flowers.


The speeches were full of emotion, with laughter and tears in equal measure! You might also spot some photos of guests eating custard slices. This is because Tesni’s Nain worked at Gerrards bakery, so in her memory all the guests had a custard slice after the wedding breakfast. Tesni messaged me afterwards about these photos: “We just wanted to include my Nain in our day and remember her in a happy way! We love these ones, because Dylan and Stifyn loved my Nain, and they also embraced this and totally indulged. It’s great that you captured this fun moment!”








As nighttime fell, I managed to grab a little more time with the bride and groom to capture some romantic shots in the evening light.



Then it was time to enjoy the evening reception, with entertainment by The Function Hub. As you can tell from the photos, it’s clear that everyone had a brilliant time!







Wedding Photography in Chester and North Wales

I’m so pleased that I got to shoot Tesni and Gwydion’s special day at Iscoyd Park. It’s always a privilege to be asked to be someone’s wedding photographer, and it was also such a treat to shoot at Iscoyd- it’s got to be one of my favourite venues in the Chester/North Wales region. If you’re getting married in the Chester, North Wales, or Cheshire area (or further afield) and are looking for a wedding photographer, I would be delighted to chat. Please get in touch today to discuss your plans.

DIY wedding tips for couples on a budget

Your wedding day is a celebration of your love for each other, and sharing a very special day with your closest friends and family. However, planning the perfect wedding can often come with a hefty price tag. But if you’re getting married and you’re on a budget, fear not! With a touch of creativity and some DIY magic, you can create a memorable and meaningful wedding day without breaking the bank.

In this blog, I’ve suggested some DIY wedding tips to help you plan a dream wedding celebration that reflects your unique tastes and style while keeping costs in check…

Personalised Invitations

Designing and crafting your own wedding invitations not only adds a personal touch but also helps you save on printing costs. Explore various online tools and platforms that allow you to create customised invitations, or unleash your artistic side with handmade designs.


Get creative with Venue Dressing

You can transform your wedding venue into a magical space without splurging on expensive decorations. Consider creating your own DIY centrepieces using budget-friendly materials like mason jars, candles, and fresh flowers. Embrace the charm of vintage and second-hand to find unique items that can add character to your decor: Facebook Marketplace and Etsy can be great for sourcing decorative pieces that really add a bit of vintage flair. Instagram and Pinterest and ideal places to look for venue dressing inspo.


Handmade Wedding Favours

Express your gratitude to guests with thoughtful and handmade wedding favours. When it comes to favours, consider creating personalised treats such as homemade jams, cookies, or even small potted plants. You could even create little pouches of wildflower seeds: not only are they bee-friendly, but your guests will think of you every time they look at their freshly-grown wild flowers. As well as saving you money, homemade favours are a thoughtful touch that will leave a lasting impression on your guests and show how much you care.

DIY Bridal Bouquet and Buttonholes

Unleash your inner florist by creating your bridal bouquet and groom’s buttonhole. Purchase fresh flowers from a local market and follow online tutorials to arrange them into beautiful bouquets. This is an activity that you and your bridal party might enjoy doing together: a great way for the bridesmaids to help out! This not only adds a personal touch, but also ensures that your flowers are exactly as you envision them.


DIY Photo Booth

Wedding guests always love a photo booth- they’re great fun and get everyone talking, as well as creating lasting memories. This may not be something you’ve budgeted for, but that doesn’t mean you need to miss out. Instead, set up a backdrop, provide some props, and utilise a simple camera on a tripod or even a smartphone with a timer to keep it budget-friendly. Your friends can take turns acting as the ‘photographer’.


Homemade Wedding Cake

Skip the expensive bakery and opt for a homemade wedding cake. If you or a friend has baking skills, this can be a great way to save money on the wedding cake whilst also adding a personal touch that really means something. If you’re not a baker, consider creating a cheese cake instead: you can purchase large wheels of cheese and stack them up, before dressing with grapes and surrounding with delicious biscuits and chutneys.


DIY Entertainment

Compile a playlist of your favourite songs, or enlist the help of musically-talented friends to provide entertainment. You can also create DIY games or activities to keep guests engaged and entertained throughout the celebration.

 

Why wedding photography is worth budgeting for

I’m a wedding photographer, so of course I believe that professional wedding photography is something that you should try to budget for. But really and truly- if there’s something you shouldn’t cut costs on, wedding photography is it. When it comes to capturing your wedding day, there are some very good reasons why wedding photography isn’t the place to skimp. Whilst a friend or relative might have offered to take some photos to save you money, there are numerous reasons why hiring a professional wedding photographer is really important. And in the end, might save you time and a lot of disappointment. I’ve previously written a blog on why wedding photography is worth spending some of your budget on – you can take a look at that here.

Planning a budget-friendly wedding doesn’t mean sacrificing the beauty or significance of your special day. With a bit of creativity, resourcefulness, and the willingness to put in some DIY effort, you can create a wedding that is not only affordable but also uniquely yours.

I’m a wedding photographer in Cheshire, Chester, and North Wales. I also work throughout the UK. If you’d like to discuss your wedding photography requirements, I would love to hear from you.