Confetti, first dances and drone shots: the moments that need a plan

Most of a wedding day takes care of itself, and we are very happy to go with the flow. But three moments are worth a quick plan: the confetti, the first dance and the drone shots. A five minute chat beforehand makes all of them look better.

Confetti

A confetti line is one of the happiest photographs of the day, and it only gets one go. Guests need to know where to stand, when to throw and that they should throw it up and over you, not at your face.

• Ask your venue first. Some venues only allow biodegradable confetti, some only allow it outside and some prefer petals. Their coordinator will tell you in a minute.
• Give someone the job of handing it out. A basket by the door with a friend in charge works well.
• Keep the line short and wide. Two rows of guests with a gap between them, and you walking through slowly. Slow is the secret: it gives us a few frames, and you a moment to enjoy it.
• Do not rush it. Please do not do it twice if the first go is a bit thin. We can work with what is thrown.

If it rains, a covered doorway or porch can work just as well. Tell us and we will find the best spot.

The first dance

The first dance is usually the last thing in our full-day coverage, and it is often in the darkest room of the day. A few things help.

• Tell us when it is happening. If the DJ or band has a plan, we would love to hear it. If the timing moves, we will go with it.
• Clear a little space. Guests tend to creep in to get their own photographs. A gentle word from your DJ or host about leaving the floor open for the first minute helps us enormously.
• Pick a song you actually like. You will look happier, and it shows.
• Do not worry about choreography. A slow sway and a laugh makes a far better photograph than a perfect routine. We have photographed over 800 weddings, and the best first dances are the ones where the couple forgot we were there.

Our full-day collections run from three hours before your ceremony until after the first dance, so you can plan the evening around it. You can see what each one includes on our pricing page.

Drone shots

Drone photography is included in our full-day collections, and it is a lovely way to show the whole venue, the grounds and the guests gathered in one frame. A few things are worth knowing.

• Weather decides. Wind and rain can keep a drone on the ground, so we treat it as a bonus rather than a promise.
• Tell the venue. Some places like to know in advance, so it helps if you mention it when you talk about your timings.
• Gather everyone together. A group on a lawn or a terrace looks fantastic from above, and it only takes a couple of minutes. Pick a moment when the guests are already outside, such as after the ceremony or before the meal.
• Use the space. A wide lawn, a lake or a long driveway makes a drone shot special. If your venue has one, we will find it.

Why a plan helps

None of this needs a spreadsheet. A quick note to us a couple of weeks before the day, saying when you expect the confetti, the first dance and a good moment for the group on the lawn, is plenty. We will do the rest, and you can get on with enjoying yourselves.

You can see how we cover the whole day on our weddings page.

Thinking about your own day?

If you are planning a wedding and would like to talk through how these moments might work at your venue, we would love to hear from you. Pop your date and venue into our check your date page and we will come back to you, with no pressure at all.

Big love

Nick & Nic