Many traditional weddings are held in churches where the grandeur of high ceilings, stained glass windows, impeccable architecture, towering arches and imposing organs all help to create the most magnificent back drop for photographs. Even outside the historical buildings, the grey stone walls, and the holy doors, or beautiful gates provide a rustic aesthetic, which provides a perfect place for me and my fellow photographers to snap some amazing pictures of the bride and groom and the rest of the wedding party.
These days though, many couples are moving away from the traditional church wedding, instead opting for a hotel, beach, park or field location, with this change, the need has arisen to find the perfect backdrop to replace the alter and capture those special moments.
- Rustic Wood
Dark wood, netting and dainty daisies can provide a simple yet striking backdrop. If you are getting married locally, you may be able to construct something like this yourself quite easily. If you aren’t that handy, you can always hire one or ask a locally carpenter to construct the frame:
Simplicity
For a beach wedding, simplicity really is key. A simple white gazebo draped in organza and adorned with flowers matching the bridal party looks really spectacular. Very inexpensive and when you have that stunning beach view, you’ll want to capitalise on it.
Fairy Lights
Fairy lights have to be one of the most cost effective yet aesthetically pleasing decorations you can use. For an evening or dusk ceremony these are a perfect choice. They can be wrapped around trees, or you can opt for a curtain of lights, either way the lighting will be extremely flattering and your photo’s will be stunning.
Neon Baby!
A quirky backdrop could be a custom neon wedding sign. This could be a quote from your vows, a lyric from your first dance, a love heart or simply Mr & Mrs. Either way this will provide a personal back drop that you can have as a precious keep sake afterwards.
Glitter! Glitter! Glitter!
If you are a sparkle queen, glitter or sequin boards are just divine! Whilst in theory it may sound a little boring (nothing boring about sparkles!) the way the light and images reflect, will add an extra dimension to your photos and Hollywood glamour to your day!
Pallet Backdrops
There are so many options to choose from when it comes to pallets, just trawl through Pinterest for inspiration. They can look really effective with very little work and you can often pick them up for free. If you are a crafty Bride or Groom pallets are a great route to choose:
Whatever backdrop you choose, try to make sure that it will be practical and effective in all conditions. For example if your wedding is outside, your structure will need to be strong enough to withstand the elements. If your wedding is inside, ensure that you check the dimensions of the doors of your venue so that your backdrop will fit through.
Whilst the back drop may seem important to the day, there is no better back drop than love, so enjoy your day, smile and let your photographer capture your magic!