I posted this one last July, is long but hopefully some interesting tidbits?
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Not So Obvious,.....Wedding Day Solutions

I wanted to post something a little different about photographing weddings. Although I'm long retired from photographing weddings
(30 +/- years for studios and myself)
I wanted to post a few personal services I always provided at weddings which I hope some may find interesting.
It's a long read,....but an interesting approach I used that proved very rewarding.

First thing, early on at every wedding was to help out everyone involved at the house and put them at ease.
Small things like checking ALL the unopened flowers the flourist just delivered,...remove ALL water globules from the
flower stems and pat them DRY before giving them to the brides maids and bride,...thus avoiding immediate
water stains on their dresses and panic results.

I always carried certain essentials with me that many times saved the day.
Example,...sewing kit with a needle already threaded with white thread,.......lots of safety pins
(yes, safety pins,...they save more disasters than you know),....also,...elastic bands,.....extra boutineer pins,.....mints,...
spare AA batteries,...(not for me,..but..for family members if thier cameras died),...small price for good PR),....
White chalk,..yes,....chalk will quickly cover a scraped white shoe or bridal dress skuff mark),.....a hair brush, comb and
small hand mirror,.....saves the brides day when doing indoor or outdoor portraits,.....spare shoe laces,.....
Bobby Pins is a real biggy,...when a bride can't find her bobby pins,..a photographer has big problems,..and....make sure
you have black, brown and white ones) A spare hankerchief for sobbing mothers, brides or even dads,.
Ive seen that many times.
Are these things normally thought of items a photographer carries to a wedding NO,.....but take it from me,..
At the end of the day,....I was remembered and appreciated for solving some rather trivial disasters.
Just because I thought ahead and carried these items that easily fit into your camera bag or pocket.

The entire cooperation of a wedding party or family can hinge on being helpful at anytime during the wedding day,
These small trivial items if not available at the critical times and places,.....can result in upset brides, brides maids,
ushers, family members,...NOT TO MENTION the entire time frame of tightly scheduled events during the wedding day.
These small items have NOTHING to do with photography,....
but they sure have a lot to do with any unexpected happenings during the day,...ESPECIALLY
everything prior to the ceremony....and the cost is minute and immaterial,..but the recognition from people involved
who are anticipating everything, who are nervious and tense is immesurable.
Yes, the photographer deals with much more than this,....But I just wanted to mention these suggestions, ones that
are never even thought of or considered by photographers.

During weddings,....Always watch where the day gets bottlenecked,....where a family or bride needs something,...
no matter how trivial it seems. Pay attention and carry these small items with you,... and before you know it,...
you'll be circumventing many little neusances that would otherwise create and become BIG wedding day problems.
The BIG and I mean BIG reward are...a group of people who will bend over backwards to work with you all day....
and lots of happy faces,....and great bridal expressions in all your photographs.
Think about it.

Now,....here's a true Story:....a little wordy but read on,....

At one studio I worked for, I had requested to photograph a black wedding for a change of pace.
The studio complied,.....
I arrived early as usual at the brides house that day,...helped out, took the routine bride/bridesmaids/family
getting ready shots,...everything was unfolding just as it should,..that is,.......until the limo did not show up to take
everyone to the church,...15 miles away.
Amazingly the bride and her family remained quite calm.
I employed family members with cars to shuttle everyone to the church,...."whew",...disaster avoided.
Everyone got to the church on time, the ceremony went off perfectly,...
When the bride and groom exited the church,........low and behold,..the limo was waiting outside to
drive them to their reception.
[I'm quite sure the limo driver forfitted any payment in light of the embarassing mistake]

Anyway,.....I went on to the reception to prepare for the required bridal party formal photography.
I arrived well before the limo and awaited the bride and groom for formal pictures.

Here's where the unexpected happened,.....
The bride and groom arrive and the bride is crying uncontrollably.
She was calm when the limo didn't show up at the house,...when I expected her to cry.
what could she be crying for now????

Turns out when the bride exited the limo,...the toe of her shoe snagged the lining of her wedding gown,...
ripping open the front of her beautiful gown. She was devistated to say the least,....definitely not presentable for
the required formals photography.
It was now my call,...
I immediately went to the bride and assured her,..... I would take care of everything,....I led her to a comfortable chair,
sat her down, immediately went to my camera bag, took out a hand mirror, a hair brush and my needle and thread.
I gave the bride the hand mirror and brush saying,...you just pretty yourself up a bit while I do this,...
and I immediately dropped to one knee in front of the bride and started sewing and mending her gown.

Did I have everyones attention ?????....the brides family, brides maids and the ushers watched me in disbelief
I even surprised myself. Not only did this work,...but the Best Man walks over to me as I'm kneeling there sewing
...He points at me and very loudly says to everyone,....My Man,....This is My Man,..will you look at My Man
sewing the brides dress.
I got a standing ovation and the bride was now laughing and crying simultanously tears of happiness.

As a result,...I don't think I've ever had a more cooperative wedding group to work with,...we had a lot of fun doing
the formal photography and everyone that day ,...addressed me as "My Man"
The remainder of the reception went perfect and on time too.
After the last bridal dance was over,... I went to say thank you and goodbye to the wedding party,
I was surrounded by the brides maids and got big hugs and kisses from each,........it was me crying now,
pleasant tears, making new acquaintances and sharing in that little bit of extra effort that bonded us as one
for a short several hours I will never forget.
What turned that day around had nothing to do with photography.
Just wanted to share that story,..it is true, I promise.
Martys