It’s no secret that a wedding is (normally) a once-off event for you and your better half. It is an incredibly special, expensive, intimate day to say the least. Your wedding photographer is so much more than just someone who takes pretty pictures on the day. Most wedding venues have a day-of coordinator or planner included and will assist you on the lead up to your wedding. Your photographer however will want to make sure you are as prepared as possible so you get the most out of your photos from this monumental day!

So what is a pre-wedding questionnaire? From a photography point of view, it’s important to make sure you have a plan of action for your photographer and so that they know what to expect from you, as well as help you know how to best organise the day. 2-3 months leading up to your date is a good time to receive this then about 1-2 months before the wedding, a scheduled phone call to go over everything that is filled out in the questionnaire.

Below I’ve listed some key topics , all questions that I ask my clients

General Timeline of the Day

It sounds fairly obvious, but knowing the overall timeline of the day’s key events beforehand is crucial. This gives your photographer an opportunity to prepare based on how the day’s events are set to unfold. It also helps to know if your timeline needs to be changed or tweaked in order to accommodate photos. That being said, your photos should always be revolved around your day, and not the other way around!

Locations of Events and Venues

It’s not uncommon when the bride and groom are both getting ready at different locations and want getting ready photos. There’s the ceremony location, sometimes again to a different place for additional photos and finally the reception venue. That’s 5 locations alone just there! It’s important to know exact addresses for all of these places ahead of time so you can create a map and decide how much travel time is needed for everything. Including any special instructions for parking is an additional bonus :)

Formal Photo Shot List

The formal photographs are a wedding tradition that is one in my opinion that will never just be a trend. Although they can be a definite mood-killer to your guests, they’re a super special way to remember who was there on your wedding day. Get this list together ahead of time. Family photos are never fun, so the faster you get through them, the better. And what better way then to have an organised list ahead of time!

Which Details are Important to You

This applies to both the people at your wedding and the special details that make up your day. Maybe there are relatives that have traveled all the way from Australia. Maybe a family heirloom has been sewn into the groom’s jacket. Maybe you got engaged in Paris and they’ll be a surprise mime for the guests during the drinks reception. Have you also planned to do your couple’s photos when this happens? Most of the time your photographer will capture these photos regardless, but some of these people and special things might not always be obvious. Letting your photographer know these things ahead of time means these things that excite you and means the most won’t be missed.

Are there any family politics?

Are there any split family situations that your photographer should be aware of? Are mum and dad divorced and don’t want to be in photos together? You need to know so you don’t accidentally offend someone. Is big brother bringing a girlfriend but the bride doesn’t want her in family photos? Get these concerns out in the open before the wedding day, including them in your wedding questionnaire.

Who are some of your other Suppliers?

Your suppliers are a huge part in your planning process but each individual service plays an equally important role in creating the perfect day. It is essential that everyone involved in the wedding sees its delivery as a partnership. Letting your photographer know who your florist, MUA, band etc is can be really useful. This can be an important question if you plan on sending photos to vendors or getting your wedding published. Any photos you post need to have all the suppliers credited, and it’s common practise to have the photographer credited in return.