Late Brides

MelMcClain · August 1, 2009

I'm curious how everyone works around the late bride in the best fashion possible. Today was the worst case of a late bride that we've had. We had arrived at 10am to set up and get the getting ready shots and had asked that the bride and her ladies be ready no later than 11:30am giving ourselves an hour and a half to get all of the pre-wedding shots. The ladies, including the bride had a complete carefree attitude about how long they were taking getting ready and we even heard comments from the maids that they were waiting until the last minute to put make up on. One of the maids didn't show up to get dressed until 12:15p and of course she hadn't even had her hair and make up done. The ladies finally finished 15 minutes before the start of the ceremony at 1pm. We had only been able to take about 2/3rds to half of the normal quantity which is on them in my opinion since they weren't ready as planned upon. Any thoughts or horror stories?

TheBrokenMarine · August 1, 2009

I've never had one on time to date. My world record was two hours late. I was at the church with the guys while my assistant was with the ladies. Seems that my assistant waited out in the car because they bride and her mom got into a fist fight...cause still undetermined. When they finally arrived at the church...the limo driver told her there would be a surcharge. She refused after delivering a few expletives. Following the ceremony, I ended up transporting the bride and groom in my Suburban (it's white it's ok). It was a disastrous wedding.

MelMcClain · August 1, 2009

TheBrokenMarine wrote:

I've never had one on time to date. My world record was two hours late. I was at the church with the guys while my assistant was with the ladies. Seems that my assistant waited out in the car because they bride and her mom got into a fist fight...cause still undetermined. When they finally arrived at the church...the limo driver told her there would be a surcharge. She refused after delivering a few expletives. Following the ceremony, I ended up transporting the bride and groom in my Suburban (it's white it's ok). It was a disastrous wedding.

Wow! That's rough!

DsrtVW · August 1, 2009

Last 2 I shot had been late to show up. But you can only shoot what you have control over. Best thing is to discuss it before hand, try and set up time to shoot but stress that you can only accomplish so much if the time schedule is blown.
But there are many more here with more experience than I.
I just tried and make sure that we made time after the ceremony to get some shots in. But then again I could only make suggestions.
You only have so much control.

elizabeth_Luna · August 1, 2009

Ugh I don't look forward to this..

sweet caroline · August 2, 2009

Make sure your contract has something about this, and other things beyond your control (like venue restrictions).

Art Scott · August 2, 2009

MelMcClain wrote:

I'm curious how everyone works around the late bride in the best fashion possible. Today was the worst case of a late bride that we've had. We had arrived at 10am to set up and get the getting ready shots and had asked that the bride and her ladies be ready no later than 11:30am giving ourselves an hour and a half to get all of the pre-wedding shots. The ladies, including the bride had a complete carefree attitude about how long they were taking getting ready and we even heard comments from the maids that they were waiting until the last minute to put make up on. One of the maids didn't show up to get dressed until 12:15p and of course she hadn't even had her hair and make up done. The ladies finally finished 15 minutes before the start of the ceremony at 1pm. We had only been able to take about 2/3rds to half of the normal quantity which is on them in my opinion since they weren't ready as planned upon. Any thoughts or horror stories?

It is in my contract how the shooting day runs and if they do not show up I cannot gaurantee that part of my job.....
I have had a bride and groom not show up on time at the same time.....the organist started the march over at least 30 times the ceremony final started when the reception should have been more than 1/2 over.....Priest was really p.o. as this church runs it Saturdays a real day of business....back to back weddings from 9am to 8pm or so.....and if you are running late on formals after the ceremony they just gather your equipment set it out in the foyer.........yup there is about 5 priest that look like linebackers and they just waltz in and remove your gear....they are careful but there is no argument on the fact that your leaving right now.........
I had to shoot my pre's and formals during the reception after i shot all the reception stuff......I made cards that I shot in the first frame denoting where it should go int the album......ie....RECEPTION......CEREMONY.......PRE.....FORMALS......
the studio i was contracting this thru was amused and then we found out that both had their bachelor/bacheloreet parties raided and we in jail and neither bride nor groom called their parents to bail them out.........................

ChatKat · August 2, 2009

Yes..
The last wedding I did the bride was an hour early which made up for the one before that - Called to be starting photos at 10 with a 12 noon ceremony. Groom came 1/2 hour before ceremony and bride 40 minutes before. Refused to see each other early. Almost NO time for pre-ceremony shots except for parents who were only an hour late. After the ceremony only had 25 minutes for formals. Everyone was so laid back. The bottom line is the photos told the story of the day. Everyone was happy. Even the Church Ladies because I followed the rules and stayed behind the last row of pews.

hnjngo · August 2, 2009

Art Scott wrote:

It is in my contract how the shooting day runs and if they do not show up I cannot gaurantee that part of my job.....
I have had a bride and groom not show up on time at the same time.....the organist started the march over at least 30 times the ceremony final started when the reception should have been more than 1/2 over.....Priest was really p.o. as this church runs it Saturdays a real day of business....back to back weddings from 9am to 8pm or so.....and if you are running late on formals after the ceremony they just gather your equipment set it out in the foyer.........yup there is about 5 priest that look like linebackers and they just waltz in and remove your gear....they are careful but there is no argument on the fact that your leaving right now.........
I had to shoot my pre's and formals during the reception after i shot all the reception stuff......I made cards that I shot in the first frame denoting where it should go int the album......ie....RECEPTION......CEREMONY.......PRE.....FORMALS......
the studio i was contracting this thru was amused and then we found out that both had their bachelor/bacheloreet parties raided and we in jail and neither bride nor groom called their parents to bail them out.........................

lol so funny, it immediately reminds me of The Hangover.

pwp · August 2, 2009

ITA with previous posts.....get it in your contract! Cooperative spirit and all that. My last wedding was running very late, and we didn't get everything I wanted, but it was still OK in the end. You don't want to be pushy, but I have found it does help to be the "timekeeper". When someone asks what time it is, I usually chime right in and if we have somewhere to be shortly, I add a gentle reminder. ("Oh, it's 1:30. The limo will be here in 5 minutes!") You don't want them to remember you as a taskmaster! And, you can only do so much to motivate anyway.

ETA: I also email my couples a rough "itinerary" of the shots and how they fit into the day's events. I show them when & where to expect me to shoot formals, take 15 minutes alone with B&G, etc. This way there are no surprises the day of (for them at least.) I like the full disclosure. That way, they can't claim I didn't try.

zoomer · August 2, 2009

Somebody is always late. Usually a family member and in my experience it has usually been the brides Mom.
Yesterday it was the brides brother. Three people in the family had the flu, including the bride. One of her bridesmaids who sang a song in the ceremony ran off right after she was done and we could hear her about 40 yards away losing her lunch. Then she went up to the house and passed out from being sick and the 102 degree heat. So we did not get any full bridal party shots at all.
Then afterwords her sister left with her family right after cause it was so hot so we did not get any full family pictures either.

I always tell them to be there an hour before I actually want to start.
You can put anything you want in your contract...they will still be late...and you will still need to get the shots. It is what it is.
You need to learn to be fast when necessary...just get the shots.

Make sure you discuss it with the bride at the time so she knows that due to their not being ready there will be less shots.

It's easy anybody can do wedding photography :ivar

eL eSs Vee · August 2, 2009

From the stories I've read here, I see some future failed marriages.

I've shot one wedding, and the only reason I shot the one wedding was because I didn't want to shoot two.

Fortunately, this wedding went very smoothly: the bride and groom were both very responsible people. They were on time and courteous to everyone. That was over twenty years ago and they're still married.

cdonovan · August 2, 2009

I have a hard time, even though the couples that I've done work with have been fairly young, they have almost all been very traditional in not wanting to see each other before the ceremony. That really stinks. I have a number of them under my belt now, and have a thing with predictions, there's really only one that I shot that I can't see the couple lasting. :cry

Mishka · August 2, 2009

Maybe it's the part of the country I'm in, but I haven't had one wedding yet where the bride and groom see each other before the ceremony. Of course I've certainly had a fair share of "late" brides--but it's their wedding. If the bride wants to enjoy taking her time getting ready with her bridesmaids, I shoot that. Personally, those photos are more interesting to me than the classic line 'em up at the altar. And I do have wording in my contract regarding missed shots due to people being late, etc.

Snowgirl · August 3, 2009

I've only done one wedding - and I was 'tricked' into that one. The bride and groom were on time and the whole event was quite relaxed (thank god!) but it was in the venue from hell. One of the groom's adult daughters apparently is a photographer (or maybe thinks she is - not sure) - anyway she spent a lot of time commenting on how much better she could do. I felt like telling her to get her camera and be my guest! But - I didn't.

Truthfully I wish I hadn't been involved in that one. it's been over a YEAR and they still haven't had the 'time' to select their images and pay up.

I would do other weddings but only very small, intimate ones - and with an iron clad contract and payment up front. I never want to get involved with the big productions unless it was as a second shooter for someone else.

cdonovan · August 3, 2009

Ceci, how were you tricked into doing that wedding? I don't understand?

happysmileylady · August 9, 2009

I just had to comment because I ended up in a similar situation to some that have been posted here, just Friday.

My bride was only 30 minutes late....but was sans dress. It wasn't there until 15 minutes later...and the maid of honor, who was to help the bride dress and do her hair and makeup, didn't show up until 15 minutes after that.

Thankfully, I DID put in my contract that I was not responsible for things that were out of my control, from late people to weather, missing people etc etc.

FedererPhoto · August 10, 2009

1) Make sure your lawyer includes something about this in your contract. Normally in a "cooperation" or "house rules" type clause.

2) I talk with them a few weeks before the wedding and verify a final 'schedule of the day'. When building this, put in LOTS of buffer time. (ie: I CAN do 8 formals in like 10 minutes... but just in case people are missing, running late, etc, I would tell my clients it takes 40 minutes for 8 formals... if we are ahead of schedule, it's not bother... if you are behind, people get antsy and annoyed)
Also, mentally think through contingencies ahead of time... and if possible, discuss with the clients. (ie: if bride takes 2 hours to dress instead of 45 minutes, where are you going to do some bridal stuff... or are you just going to skip it (which is fine, too... just know and communicate ahead of time) )

Late Brides

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