5 Key Segments of a Wedding Day | Documentary Wedding Photography in Singapore
In this article, we would break down what we consider to be ‘key segments’ of a wedding day, in our opinion and our approach, and see if it helps you to picking out the right wedding photographer here, in Singapore.
Over the years, we have garnered a fair bit of questions from couples mulling over deciding which photographer (there are so many to choose from!) would be right for their day. And often, they do not realise much later that if a wedding gets overly staged and curated, their experience might not differ too much from the next person that is getting married.
After all, most of us (Dexter, Levin and myself) are married and have been through the experience of being ‘in’ a wedding. Believe us when we say the day will end as fast as it began. Believe us when we say not everyone are models/influencers and are able to replicate what is seen on social media (especially more so if you are browsing an influencer’s wedding).
In this, I will detail and break down the segments of a wedding day and feature some of the photographs the team has taken over the years. Beginning with the earliest part of the day, the getting ready.
Getting Ready
– A Typical Wedding Morning in Singapore
The getting ready is the earliest part of the day, in which chaos will reign as most families usually do not know what to do. We will usually arrive at the bride’s (and groom’s if two photographers are booked) towards the end of her make-up process. The make-up process can easily take up to 3 hours which includes hair styling and the photographer will arrive in the last 30-60 minutes of the process.
During this process, we will usually roam around to take in the details, and carefully telling everyone to try to ignore our prescence and go about doing what they are already doing.
Ultimately, we are also exploring the dynamics of interpersonal relationships during the getting ready segment. So it is not always entirely about the bride and groom getting their preparation done, but at the same time, everything and everyone else that is ‘playing a part’. So let us have a look at the details that also play into the story aspect of this segment.
As we conclude the make-up preparation, this is the time for the parents or guardians to be veiling up the bride. We often take a quiet moment to relect on the life that has taken the parents and the bride to this particular moment.
Occasionally, a rarity for Bottled Groove Photography’s couples, are gatecrashing games. A tradition in which the groom and the groomsmen will be put through a series of tests in order to ‘win’ in order to be able to reach his bride. This is also documented through the unique lens of Bottled Groove Photography’s photographers.
And so, let the gatecrash games begin.
The emphasis of our photographs, even during gatecrashing segments, is to tell a holistic picture of what may be happening, instead of just photographing the subject up close without gathering the energy that has been transmitted throughout the segment.
Once the chaos has settled, it is now time for the groom to fetch the bride.
Most times, Bottled Groove couples are more than happy not to even have the gatecrashing games. As mentioned, it is a rarity. They seem to have a much more practical approach, as the groom and groomsmen need not tire themselves out further in what is a long day ahead, as well as shave off hours which can be used to rest instead of getting up earlier / replanning clothes logistics etc.
2. Fetching / Transitioning
- Photographed in Documentary style
We move on now, to the next segment, the ‘fetching of the bride and transitioning’. The bride and groom will now be travelling to either a church for their ceremony, a place to have their bridal party/couple photos taken, their lunch venue or to the groom’s home for tea ceremony.
More times than not, couples often take the pragmatic approach of doing away with traditions and planning in a manner it best suits their ideal situation. Not allowing themselves to be boxed into templates, which we love.
Occasionally, this is the best period of time to have your bridal party photos or couple portraiture photos taken. The period from around 7-9am would be considered as ideal, as it is less humid and the sun, less harsh.
Do consider the time of the day as one of the most important aspects into your decision making when it comes to planning for your wedding portraitures, as the closer you are to the mid-day (10am, 11am, 12pm, 1pm, 2pm), the harsher the sun / the hotter it will be. On top of it being uncomfortable, it is almost always unflattering too. I always ask my couples to imagine shining a light directly above their heads - notice how their eyebrows will cast dark shadows on their eyes. We call this, the racoon eyes.
Sometimes, if the planning situation is tight, we will be able to work around the sun by finding sheltered areas to photograph in.
Next, we come to one of the more important (if not MOST important) segment here, the major set-pieces.
3. THE CEREMONY / SOLEMNISATION
- Capturing the Real Emotions at Weddings
The church ceremony. The solemnisation. The grand kiss. The group photos. You name it. These are what couples usually consider to be the more important bits of the wedding day. And yes, we photograph them all. However, we are quite untraditional in a sense that we do more than just photographing the segment. We try to tell a story from it.
First, here’s a look at some of the church photos that we took.
What we do here is not to force anything, a rather unscripted way of approaching ceremonies. Yes, the traditional photographs will still be taken - but we look beyond that. We are looking for stories.
The second last segment which we cover, in our unique approach, is the reception. During the reception, guests are often hanging out, interactions happen, as well as more wedding set-pieces such as march-ins, cake cutting, yam seng (champagne toast), group photos, the table games, the emotional speeches and even after-party dances. Again, the approach is the same - to not script it too much so that your wedding is the same as any other, but to let it remain uniquely yours.
4. THE LUNCH / DINNER RECEPTION
- Honest Wedding Photography Beyond the Formalities
We remain focused on capturing the essence, and not just a moment. Some will call it candids. We like to call them stories. A story within a frame. A memory for you to look back on in the future. Here is a look at some of the photographs we have captured in the past year.
And here we are, finally at the last segment. Thank you for making it through all the ramblings and photos. The last segment we consider important - is a bit of everything really. There is really no pause between key moments and set pieces for us. We continue to strive to tell stories throughout the day. No little thing is too little. No moment is not worth capturing.
5. Everything In Between
– Why Small Wedding Moments Matter
Some couples even asked if they needed to pay us if there is ‘nothing happening’ during that particular moment in time. The truth is, even if we may not be bringing up our cameras, we remain switched on. That we feel, is when the authentic, real moments appear.
It could be a ‘uncoordinated’ but perfectly coordinated choice of outfit colour, or simply telling which period the wedding took place in.
Or by telling how ‘good’ the weather is.
These are the key moments every couple wants remembered on their wedding day. One thing’s for sure - there are plenty of stories unfolding at every single point. And it is our job to go document it properly for you.
Conclusion
We really hope that you have enjoyed browsing through some of the photographs we took over the last year and have a better idea on if we are the right photographers for your celebration. Bottled Groove Photographers are more likely to represent your wedding in the truest, most authentic form. A wedding day should ultimately be made up of the little moments that transpire throughout the day, and do not let yourselves be boxed into templates of how weddings should be. Let things flow and the real documentary wedding moments will happen.
If you’re searching for a wedding photographer in Singapore who values authenticity over posey photos for your own wedding, do have a further chat with us!
Thank you so much for reading and I’ll see you at the next post!