7 Tips for planning your Auckland wedding!
What’s up guys, today I’m sharing with you some tips that I have picked up as a Wedding Photographer here in New Zealand. After 400+ Weddings you pick up a bunch of handy information and there’s more to come. But for now let’s start with the cake cutting
Cut the cake early
Libby & Brads Auckland Wedding at French Bay Yacht Club
In the past, most people would do the cake-cutting way later in the evening, maybe just before the first dance. Lately, I have been telling my clients it seems to work really well if you do it straight after your big entrance into the reception!
Get the guests all up and amped, spinning around their napkins like nut cases, strut your way into the reception and go straight to the cake-cutting table!
Dom & Loza’s Wedding at Alley Estate in Kumeu
It makes for a much nicer flow and means you don’t have to stop the whole reception and get everyone inside just to cut the cake, good right?!
2. Later ceremony times
We find a bunch of you guys are having your summer wedding ceremonies in Auckland around 2 or 2:30 pm when you can easily push it out to 4 or 4:30 pm easy!
Jared & Maddy’s epic ceremony at Bayly’s Farm in Paihia
You’ll find it much more comfortable with the heat, you’ll get better light and you won’t have to get up as early for getting ready!
It will depend slightly on the venue, you’ll want to check what time dinner needs to be served but it’s something to think about, especially if you’re doing a first look! Check out my previous blog for tips on that but we will touch on it quickly next!
Mason & Courtneys beautiful wedding ceremony on Waihi Beach
3. First look = More time with your mates!
First looks are a fantastic way to get more time with your friends and relieve some nerves before the ceremony, it won’t be for everyone but here’s why you might do it.
Milly & Addisons first look in Matakana
If you want a complete overview of what a first look is check here for my blog post about it! But basically, it's a cool moment where you guys see each other for the first time in your wedding outfits before the wedding
It can be a really nice way to get some nerves out and relax before you walk down the aisle if you're particularly worried about maybe losing it a little haha!
However, the best part is we can also do the majority of your bridal party photos before the ceremony also. This means once the ceremony is over you don’t have to go off for photos and you can just hang out with your guests.
Julie & Alex’s bridal party at Lorangerie in Tauranga
With a later ceremony time of 4:30 for example that means you will have a good hour or 2 just hanging out with your guests playing lawn games and drinking before you go into the reception!
4. Meet your main vendors!
Here’s some quick and easy advice for you guys… Meet your vendors in person. Especially the ones that will be hanging out with you for a big bunch of the day, make-up artists, celebrants, photographers etc.
You want to ensure you are on the same page and your personalities don’t clash! I’ve always said to everyone I meet that if we don’t really gel that well id rather not take your money and recommend someone else. And that’s not because I don’t want to shoot it, its because I don’t want to ruin your day. This is supposed to be one of the best days of your life you want to make sure the people you hang out with there are fun!
Ash & Sara’s wedding cake cutting at Everybody’s in Aucklands CBD
5. Get a good MC
MC’s can make or break a Wedding Reception, so having a good mate who loves to do that kinda stuff is priceless, also it’s fun to include the people you love in your wedding!
Lucy & Tim’s Wedding at Sudbury in Wellington and their good friends smashing the MC job!
It’s so important to have a cool, fun MC that can help run the day and keep things reasonably on schedule. I say reasonably cause I mean… It’s a wedding… come on haha!
Have a look around at your friends list and ask someone to do the job, chances are they are probably waiting for you to ask! But make sure they are comfortable with it, someone that can speak in front of people, have a great sense of humour and be able to work with your vendors
Laura & Orens Auckland Wedding at the Sapphire room
6. Use AirBNB’s
A great tip I tell all my couples is to get a couple of AirBNBs close to the venue, one for each of you. If one person gets an Airbnb for the one night before the wedding you first wedding party can stay there the night before and have a great time, then get up in the morning and get ready right there.
The second group can do the same but get the Airbnb for the night before and the night of the wedding, that way once your wedding has closed off for the night you guys can get in an Uber or a ride from a guest and go back to some nice accommodation for the night close by!
7. It’s your day… Do what YOU want
My last tip for the day is just remember it’s your wedding, make it how you want it. If you don’t want a traditional wedding, don’t have one. Spend money on the things you care about, don’t worry so much about the other stuff.
Relax the morning of the wedding, forget about all the planning and just let it roll. In all the weddings I have done, seriously nearly 500! I have never had anything disastrous happen. The reality is if you put the work in beforehand you just won’t have any problems!