Ceremony Planning | Wedding Planning Tips | Pittsburgh Wedding Photographer

I know it sounds silly but I can nt stress enough how important lighting is. As I am sure you know by now, I am a bit OCD. Not quite over the top, yet, but I like things to be perfect. Lighting is one of those things I take it super seriously.

For the Indoor Wedding:
It is always best to have even lighting at the alter. If there are spotlights on the bride & groom, I will not be able to properly expose for the rest of the bridal party. A lot of modern churches have spotlights that will cause this problem.

A lot of older cathedrals will have a different problem. Most are poorly lit with their main lighting coming from lights about two stories above the floor. Cathedrals also tend to have a lot of stained glass. This can effect the photos and cause colorful light spots. This is something you have to be alright with when choosing a lovely old church.

Lastly, and a sort of funny one, the carpet. Make sure you are ok with the carpet in the church you choose. If it’s a dark red color, the red will cast a red reflection onto your photos. If you recall holding a buttercup under your chin as a child, it would cast a yellow glow. That same things happens with bright and dark colors in a room.

For the Outdoor Wedding:
If you are getting married outdoors at 12:00PM, the lighting will be very harsh and squinting will be involved. I suggest planning an outdoor ceremony 3 hours before sunset to ensure you will have plenty of time for portraits after. If you are planning on a first look, you can plan your ceremony 2 hours before sunset and be able to enjoy the soft and romantic look of the sunset.

Another thing to consider with an outdoor wedding is the heat. If you are planning a summer outdoor wedding, be sure to consider how warm it might be and your guests. Having water handy and/or paper fans would be a thoughtful idea. Though your ceremony might be short most guest are seated long before you and your hubby make your entrance.

I hope these few tips better help you ceremony plan. Wedding planning can be tricky but oh so fun! Become a Jackson Signature Photography bride and groom and have access to our Weekly Wedding tips and complementary wedding planning or check out Joy Filled Occasions wedding planning services.