Your guide to taking the uncertainty out of planning your wedding day by International Award Winning Photographer Ben Connolly

W E D D I N G P L A N N I N G P L A Y B O O K

2 0 N O N O N S E N S E W E D D I N G D A Y T I P S

We take the uncertainty out of your wedding planning by listening to what you truly desire from your day, then we create a plan for you that covers timing, locations and more to ensure your experience and your photographs are world class.

We even guarantee it!

1) SET YOUR BUDGET

When you first start planning, sit down together and work out your budget before you book anything, be realistic. There is no point putting yourselves under financial strain for just one day. Don’t get me wrong; it is a magical day that you will remember for the rest of your life, just be real and don’t go crazy. Got it? Now use that as a reference point and try not to go over it.

2) WHAT’S IMPORTANT

Decide what is most important to BOTH of you and what is less important and split your budget accordingly.

3) PRIORITISE STUFF

Prioritise what needs to be done, set up a monthly check-list of things to do at certain times. You might consider getting a bridal diary or app. If you plan in advance what needs to be attended to at certain times, you will not only reduce the chances of things being forgotten, but also take a lot of stress off you both as you are not trying to keep all that organisation and scheduling in your brains.

4) DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY ON SILLY STUFF In deciding what is really important to you both, just remember what those things are that will remain after your wedding day. Your flowers will die, your cake will get eaten, your booze will be drunk and the only things left over will be your love for each other, your rings and the beautiful photographs (that your photographer is going to blow you away with!), so make sure you allocate your budget to the things that really matter, as these are the things that you will pass on to your children in years to come.

5) AMATEURS AREN'T COOL

DON’T get a friend to do your photography (unless they are a professional) you will regret this forever!

6) GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK

Don’t do wedding planning every day, give yourself set days in the month to do ‘wedmin’ based jobs otherwise the planning will consume you and you will begin to hate it.

7) FORGET THE HYPE

Never lose site of what the wedding is for. At the end of the day your wedding day is just another day in your life, yes it’s a totally awesome day and one that you’ll never forget, but your marriage lasts forever, remember why you’re actually doing this and don’t get swept up in the hype of outdoing your friends.

8) DO IT YOUR WAY

Don’t get forced into doing things you don’t want to, remember it’s your day, no one else’s. Do your day for you, all the things you want and all the people you want to share it with. However, if parents are contributing to the budget me mindful that you may need to times, but lay the law down from the beginning.

9) DON’T GET CONFUSED

Don’t ask too many people for their opinions, this will lead to confusion and will blur your own vision on what you both really want.

“Do it your way, with all the stuff you want”!

10) DON’T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF

Don’t let the small stuff stress you out, so many couples get all bent out of shape over the little stuff like chair covers that are one shade out or “should we book the stretch Hummer or the stretch Chrysler?” At the end of the day those little things will become big things the more you worry about them or put energy into them. If it’s meant to happen it will easily and with no drama.

11) YOU WONT PLEASE EVERYONE

Guests will cause you stress no matter what, so try not to worry about pleasing everyone, this is impossible, no matter what you do someone will not agree with your decisions and you know what? It doesn’t matter one little bit.

12) DON’T SUGAR COAT IT

When dress shopping, try and only take a maximum of two people with you, these two people need to be people who’s opinions you value, who know you well and will tell you the truth no matter what, at their own risk of course!

13) GET IN EARLY

Send out your invitations earlier than you think you need to, people these days need plenty of notice and always give an RSVP date earlier than you need it, most of the time some of your guests will need to be chased for their reply, don’t stress about this either… they still love you, they’re just lazy.

14) JUST DO YOUR BEST

On the day of the wedding, try to accept you won’t be able to talk to everyone for a long period of time, prioritise the people who have travelled far and you don’t see as often.

15) D.I.Y. ISN’T A DIRTY WORD

But only when it’s stuff that wont make or break your wedding day. Try and make the wedding personal to you by adding in little DIY bits yourself, call in the help of friends and family, people love to be involved.

16) MAKE A LIST OF PEOPLE & JOBS

The month before your big day draw up a list of everyone involved, the wedding party and all the suppliers including full contact details and give this out to the main people in the wedding party for any last minute emergencies. Make sure that everyone you’re relying on to do stuff knows what the hell they are doing. Your mate’s iPhone with death metal on it wont cut it if the guy hitting the play button for your walk down the aisle forgets the music.

17) DO YOUR HOMEWORK

When looking for suppliers ask friends who were recently married for their recommendations and ask other suppliers you have already booked for people they have worked with and would recommend. It’s your “A”mazing day and you deserve the “A”Team.

Wedding industry professionals exist for a very good reason, while we may charge accordingly for our services we will give you the best possible result, an amazing day and a wonderful experience. In saying that we urge you to do your home work, take a photographer for example, ask to see previous wedding albums we have shot and not just some of our best images on an iPad.

If a prospective photographer can’t show you two or three complete beautiful albums in the flesh then walk away. Looking at a wedding album shows you the photographer’s skills in every aspect of the day, their creativity throughout the day and their ability to deal with any given situation that may arise.

18) PERSONALITY, PERSONALITY, PERSONALITY

Book the venue first, then the photographer, celebrant, decorator/coordinator, dress, boys suits, transport if you need it and then have fun with the entertainment and all those little DIY bits that will make your day uniquely yours. Your venue, photographer and celebrant WILL BOOK OUT UP TO 12 MONTHS IN ADVANCE and these suppliers are the key members of your “A”Team. Get these suppliers booked as soon as you can to avoid disappointment.

As one of those key contributors on your wedding day, I cant stress enough that personality is everything, yes our work must also be amazing but we share your every moment with you on your wedding day and its way more fun for everyone if those key people are wonderful and you love them! Don’t choose a drop-kick because they have the gift of the gab or a cheap deal. I personally urge you to choose a wedding professional on the following basis; PERSONALITY - QUALITY - EXPERIENCE - PRICE ! Yes in that order!

“Rachel & Jacopo”Cesena, Italy 201819) GET YOUR TIME LINE COMPLETED

As soon as you book with your photographer (hopefully me) get your timeline and wedding schedule all planned out so that you can go ahead and book other suppliers and send out your invitations with confidence. Always allow more time than you think you need for things like photographs and getting guests from one place to another. Sometimes moving a big group at a wedding (even just organising into a photo) is quite similar to herding cats. Don’t worry, your guests love you, they’re just slow when they drink.

20) HAVE THE BEST TIME EVER!

The final and biggest tip of all, on the day of the wedding take some time together away from everyone and everything to reflect on the day and enjoy those treasured moments with that one person your truly adore and have chosen to spend the rest of your life with. The day will fly past and it will all be over in the blink of an eye, so take the time to take it all in and enjoy it, you’ve planned this amazing day for so long so be present in it, don’t sweat the little stuff ,love it, live it, have fun and make it the day that totally ROCKED!

If you want to feel 100% confident in your planning choices for your wedding day , then simply click the button below to book in,  get a quote or see how I

can help you create the day of your dreams.

Ben Connolly Photographer

My name’s Ben Connolly, Im a Wedding Photographer, Industry Speaker and Educator.

In everything I do, I aim to be the person who, with passion and integrity enables and empowers the people around me to bring their unique visions to life.

The way I do this by challenging normality and thinking a little differently, by asking myself “how can I do this differently or how can I make this better”?

Since 1996 I’ve shared my creativity and experience with almost 1000 happy couples on their amazing wedding days.

I love my job because it allows me to collaborate with so many incredible people just like you! You share your life and vision with me and in return I get to share my creativity and passion in giving you priceless memories of your day that are fun, natural and creative. My success has simply been a result of always delivering beautiful photographs and a wedding experience as unique as you are.

“Don’t settle for great, you deserve world class.”

 Why I love this job and what it means for you!

If you have any questions or would like to chat with me about your unique wedding vision,I would love to connect with you!

P ~ 0417699905 E ~ ben@benconnolly.com.au W ~ www.benconnolly.com.au

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