Are you looking to make your wedding reception feel like it is “magazine worthy?”  Well, it needs to look good in photographs.

Here are five tips you can use to make your wedding reception look good when it is photographed.

1. Hire a professional photographer. First and foremost, a good photographer makes a huge difference in the quality of your wedding photos. More than likely, they have invested in their education, their staffing and their equipment. So, the chances of them capturing better photos of your wedding increase immensely. As a planner, I’ve seen some inexperienced photographers take really crappy photos of beautiful weddings and I have seen some experienced photographers capture the most gorgeous photos of weddings with very little design.

Trust me — Your photographer is not the vendor you want to skimp on.  Before you book them, ask the photographer about his or her professional experience with weddings, his or her equipment (and their backup equipment), and his or her professional education.

2. Pay attention to the little details. When I look at a reception table shot, I notice when a table is set properly.  I can’t be the only one here.  Also, make sure that everything placed on the table actually fits on the table comfortably.  While we are at it, make sure that the cushion ties on the chiavari chairs are tied into nice bows.

3. Highlight wedding design that sets your wedding apart. If your wedding design includes a wall feature, a custom dance floor, or gorgeous centerpiece, make sure it is in a well-lit section of the room. Or better yet, make sure it is well lit with a spotlight.

4. Check the table linen beforehand. Every now and then, table linen arrives with large creases on them. These creases can be a bit of an eyesore in wedding photos, so have the creases steamed out of the table linen before you place them on the tables.

5. Remove the clutter. Call me crazy, but I find overflowing waste paper baskets, food clutter and clothes stacked in the corner of hotel rooms distracting when I look at “getting ready shots.”  If you want a reception room shot similar to the gorgeous table shots you see on-line, consider forgoing the the bread plate, the salt and pepper shakers and the pre-set salads. They make the dinner table look a little “junky.”

Bonus!! Enjoy yourself! More than likely, you will be the subject of 99% of your wedding pictures.  If you are exhausted, annoyed or distracted, it will be showcased in your pictures.  So, take some time for yourself on your wedding morning, enjoy a glass of good wine and kiss your new spouse often!  Relax.  It’s your wedding day!

Love & Soul Always, Kay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjXF4nkPkUE