Getting Ready — Together or Apart
Not every couple wants getting-ready photos. But if you do, you end up with pictures of the day you’d otherwise never see: the shirt that isn’t quite buttoned yet, mum adjusting the dress, the calm right before it all starts.
Some couples get ready together, at home or in a hotel. I love that every time, because it’s relaxed and you take the edge off each other’s nerves. Others would rather see each other for the first time at the registry office. Both are completely fine.
First Look Before the Ceremony
f the groom isn’t supposed to see the dress before the ceremony, we plan a first look shortly beforehand, a little away from the guests. He stands with his back to her, she walks up behind him, taps him on the shoulder, and he turns around.
That’s all it takes. The reaction in those few seconds is almost always honest, which is exactly why these photos are often among the strongest of the day. And by the time you walk into the ceremony room, the biggest nerves are already gone.
The Ceremony in the Emmerich Pavilion
The Höchst registry office has been based in the Emmerich Pavilion since 1960, a small baroque garden pavilion belonging to the Bolongaro Palace. The ceremony room isn’t big, but it’s bright, with tall windows, an 18th-century ceiling painting and a bust of Elector Emmerich Joseph. You can tell straight away that you’re not getting married in an office.
During the ceremony I position myself so I can see both of you and the front row without getting in the way. Your focus should be on each other, not on the camera.
Congratulations and the First Tears
Right after the “I do”, the room gets loud and crowded. Everyone wants to hug you at once. This is the part I look forward to most, because nobody is thinking about the camera anymore. Grandma, who’s been holding her tissue since the speech. The best man pretending he just has something in his eye. Dad, who doesn’t say a word and just holds on tight.
Group and Family Photos Outside
Then everyone heads outside. We take proper time for group and family photos, just not too much. My tip: decide beforehand which combinations matter to you and hand the list to your best man or maid of honour. That keeps things moving, and no one ends up standing in the sun for half an hour.
At a civil wedding these photos matter more than most people expect. It’s often one of the few times your closest family is all together, dressed up and in a good mood. Many of my registry office couples throw a big party a year later. But the day you actually got married only happens once.
Couple Portraits in Höchst Old Town
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
The nice thing about Höchst is that you don’t have to drive anywhere. The old town is right around the corner, and within a few minutes' walk you have completely different backdrops.
At Höchst Castle
The castle with its old tower and the square in front of it are part of every shoot I do in Höchst. Plenty of space, old stone walls and, depending on the time of day, lovely soft light.
Among the Half-Timbered Houses
A few steps further on it gets narrow and winding: half-timbered houses, cobblestones, little lanes. This is where the quieter, closer photos happen. I simply let you walk, talk and laugh, and I photograph whatever happens. You won’t be stuck posing for hours with me.
If you’re up for it, finish with a short detour down to the river. Especially when the sun is getting lower, it’s worth it.
Blog
Getting Ready Together Before the Wedding
Wedding at Schlosshotel Kronberg near Frankfurt am Main
