Wedding Photography Tips From A Banquet Manager

Mirage Banquets at the Four Points Sheraton Managers Share Their Thoughts On Wedding Photography

Perhaps the title of this article was a bit confusing to you. Why would you ask banquet managers for tips about wedding photography? The reason is simple: They work with couples and wedding photographers day in and day out. They have seen what works and what does not. Our guest blog post this week was written by Beata Cuber and Violeta Bednarek, catering managers from Mirage Banquets at the Four Points Sheraton in Schiller Park.

We really love weddings and working with brides and grooms. It is so special to be present during what is the most important day in their lives. Nothing breaks our hearts more than when a couple pops in after the wedding and mentions that they were not happy with their wedding pictures. Sometimes, it is because they did not take the time to choose a quality photographer. In other cases, some simple changes could have made for a better turnout concerning the wedding photographs. Below are a few tips from our point of view.

The Venue

Here is a terribly obvious statement: the venue that you choose is going to be in your wedding photographs. The venue should be selected based on many criteria, including cost, convenient location and whether the style of the venue fits with your vision for your wedding.

A huge mistake some brides make is trying to force a certain color scheme into a venue while ignoring the color scheme that already exists in the venue. Some things can be changed or covered, others, such as the color of the rug or walls, usually cannot.

Wedding Coordinator

One thing that never ceases to amaze us is when the wedding coordinator does not come to the wedding or stay for the entire event. This is the person that you have paid to organize the various aspects of your wedding. He or she should be there, making sure everything runs smoothly, including the process of taking the wedding photos. When you contract with your wedding coordinator, make sure to get it in writing that he or she will be at the wedding and the reception

Cut Cake Early

Typically, the cake cutting will take place later in the reception. Often, the bride’s makeup will start to look a little worn and her hair may be a bit mussed up. Instead, we think it’s a great idea to cut the cake right before dinner. The pictures will look great, and the staff will be able to cut the cake during dinner and serve it more quickly when the time comes.

Special Lighting

This is our favorite tip! When decorating the venue, consider adding some special lighting. If you cannot afford to add lighting to the entire venue, just add it to the places where some of the most important reception photos will be taken, such as the head table and cake table.

Choosing a quality wedding photographer is the most important step in getting great photos, but there are also steps that you can take to ensure beautiful images.

Beata Cooper and Violeta Bednarek
Mirage Baquets at the Four Points Sheraton
www.miragefourpoints.com – 847-671-4230