Want some insider tips from a real, no BS wedding professional? Read below.

Let’s get into the secrets to making your wedding day freaking awesome!

Wedding schedules.

First of all, forget what you know about weddings, the day and the formalities. Wedding days are meant to be unique, and yes, to some degree you somewhat need to keep a schedule, but be wild with it! Who says you need to do speeches after dinner, who says you need to cut the cake then go into a dance. Do whatever the heck you want! Just be creative with it!

I once asked a two amazing grooms after they made their wedding reception entrance at the always beautiful Q station, Manly, to come up on the dance floor as some beautiful sunlight was shining through the windows (Along with my colored smoke!), they started having a little dance and within 5 minutes, 100 guests were up and dancing just after 10 minutes of everyone entering reception, it was just perfection and i’d never seen anything like it, This is what I mean by plan things differently. Shock your guests! (Above is a quick picture from that moment!)

My first big tip is sit on the couch with your partner, close your eyes and both picture what your wedding day looks like. Have a note pad and each write 5 things that you would each love to have on your wedding. For me, i’d jot down things like photographs of me and the boys going down the beach for a few beers before getting ready (I just love being around the ocean), a live band (They need to play some mean covers of Nirvana and some 70 - 90’s rock classics, ha ha!), unique wedding photographs that aren’t the typical, my favorite bottle of whiskey and I’d want to really incorporate my guests in the wedding day. I hate the thought of them just standing around waiting for me while I get my photographs taken. What are 5 picks?

1. Choose a wedding venue that suits your PERSONALITIES.

This sounds pretty obvious, i my years from shooting the Sydney’s North and South coast beaches to photographing immaculate weddings in the Southern Highlands, Wollongong and the Hunter Valley, i’ve seen quite a few couples getting married in really unexpected places. Either their parents have pressured them into getting married in a church when both of them aren’t religious, surf-y/beachy couples getting married no where near a beach or super adventurous couples getting married in the heart of the CBD.

Do whatever the heck you like on your wedding day, but try to make it match your personality. you’ll have a ton more fun that way!

2. Dudes! Put in some bloody effort! Ladies, let your man put in some effort!

Over the years i’ve photographed quite a few weddings around Sydney and Wollongong that really show that the woman in the relationship has put in at least 90% of the effort. This shouldn’t be the case! Weddings should be freaking awesome and both parties NEED to have their input to make it The best freaking wedding ever” or so you want your guests rants for years after!

3. You won’t enjoy your wedding day if it doesn’t suit your vibe.

Don’t settle for anything but perfect. Budgets come into play and that’s totally fair, but just be aware, if you do hire that cheaper photographer (Just using this example because you legends have no idea how many times i’ve heard “We wish we booked you, Joel!” to save some money, yet you love someone else work, how will you feel on your wedding day being photographed by your 2nd option?

What if you absolutely love metal and rock music, but you go with a tacky DJ who plays Ed Sheeran all night?

All i’m saying is pick what you love and stuff what anyone else thinks. As long as you and your partner love everything that’s going on, trust me, you’ll have a blast!

4. Put in that little bit of extra effort.

I know this might sound hard, but booking photographers, make up artists, hair, bands, a venue is freaking hard work, but everyone has to do it right, so really, is it any extra effort from any other wedding? Let’s be real, no.

Do unique things that people don’t do! Be creative with your wedding day! I once attended a wedding where a couple put about 40 esky’s (Aussie for Cooler box) in a circle, filled them up with beer and champagne and everyone just went to town drinking the night away! It was so freaking cool and unique, and that’s why I still think about it years later!

5. Conclusion

First of all, I’m not a total asshole! Haha! I wrote this really bluntly because I’d rather be honest and give you real answers then tell you the lies that alot of other blogs out there do. Weddings are honestly some of the coolest things i’ve ever done in life, and what made them so awesome was seeing two people madly in love doing what they loved to do, and not the ‘expected’.

Don’t cave to all that crappy wedding peer pressure, be yourselves and do what you freaking love!

Cheers legends,
Joel