9 Tips to Create an atmosphere for beautiful reception photos
A magical, poetic, wedding evening is one that can be achieved with a little bit of planning in advance and with an attentive eye for the little details. So often I see so much care going into the planning of wedding activities before dusk, and then when the sun sets..things get a little lost and the romantic mood begins to fade. Creating a setting for magical reception photos is more than the photos themselves - it’s about creating an atmosphere that encourages your guests to relax and stay until the last song is played.
As a wedding photographer, the reception is where I see so much magic happening. It’s where I can capture you and your new spouse holding hands while listening to speeches, the tearful expressions on your parents faces as they glance over at you, the laughter and tears and joy of the evening. My goal of photographing a reception is to capture whatever emotion, mood, and atmosphere of the eve of your wedding. How special reliving it afterwards will be for you!
It always starts with the venue. Choosing a venue that has beautifully romantic lighting will go so far in your reception planning. Look for venues that have outside options for cocktail hour and even for the dinner/dance. If this isn’t an option (hello Winter weddings!), search for spaces that have beautiful natural light and avoid dropped ceilings and fluorescent lighting. A few of my favorite venues with stunning natural light in their reception rooms are Maidenwood Lodge, Swedish House Institute, Erickson Farmstead, and Pinewood Weddings.
Work in time to capture the details in natural light. The way that natural light falls upon glassware and dainty linens is magical. Make sure that you check with whomever is setting up your reception space what time the area will be completely decorated and allow a 20 minute time slot for me or your photographer to slip in and capture the beauty before the sun has set!
Tapered Candle Sticks truly give off a romantic vibe and set the mood for a lovely evening. Not only are the stunning visually, they also cast a ethereal glow onto your guests that makes for lovely candid photos. If you are having an outdoor dinner, you run the risk of a little bit of wind making them challenging to light. They still look just as romantic unlit - and you can complement them with tiny glass candles if it looks like it will be a windy day.
Think about what means the most to you. Do you want to have a grand march, or are you doing it because every wedding reception you’ve ever been too is kicked off by a wedding march? Some other traditions to reflect on before you commit might be: Cake cutting, Speeches, First dances, traditional food (food trucks anyone? Or a brunch?!)
Get outside! Truly, stay out there for as much time as you can. Cocktail hour always happens to fall right around the same time that the entire world lights up with sparkling golden, soft, light, that flatters everyone. If possible, aiming to have your evening activities outside can be just magical! During cocktail hour, consider taking advantage of the light and having speeches or/and your first dances in this setting. Your photos will sparkle.
Casey, my husband, and I danced a Pas De Deux ballet for our first dance during cocktail hour in the golden hour! I slipped out of my wedding dress and into this white leo and ballet slippers, and we danced to La Vie En Rosé. As soon as we were done, we moved into the father/daughter and then mother/son dances. It wasn’t planned this way - but my parents surprised us with a speech right afterwards! Photos by Alli Oughtred: https://alli.studio/
Take care when planning out the seating chart. This is such a challenge, but it’s worth taking your time on. Think about who would enjoy the company of each other. Seat people that you think have stories that would delight the other - let people leave your wedding with a new friend.
The Music sets the mood. I have one recommendation and one recommendation only for wedding DJ - Lance Conrad. He is amazing and kept our dance party (with only 75 guests) alive for hours. I have never met another DJ that is as in tune to the music that both the couple love and the guests will dance to. He is a hipster and brings an amazing, laidback vibe to weddings while never missing a step (beat..haha).
Think of unique lighting opportunities that will cast a glow once the sun has completely set. A campfire nearby where people can strum a guitar and share stories or twinkle lights strung from the trees create a fairy tale feeling.
