Trends come and go, especially in photography. What are the top winter wedding photography trends this winter?

If you are tying the knot this winter, you will be hiring a professional wedding photographer no doubt. But what photographic results do you want? Follow the latest trends…

#1 Social media savvy

Weddings are full of photo opportunities and the winter light which is slightly bluer in tone than the golden rays of summer makes an amazing backdrop to wedding photos.

As well as your professional photographer, catch the essence of the day through the eyes of your guests by asking them to ‘snap and share’ on a dedicated social media channel. Our choice would be Instagram, a place where photos can be shared for years to come.

#2 Less formal ‘setting’

At one time, the only real option when it came to wedding photos was lining people up in family groups and snapping away.

Today, the trend is to have a less formal setting for your official wedding photos. You will, of course, want to record who is at your wedding so why have smaller group photos in the reception as well as immediately after the ceremony.

#3 Brady Brunch style photos

Take a look online at the Brady Bunch and you’ll see the type of photo style we mean. Effectively, your photographer takes individual photos of your main wedding party, with them usually relaxed and ‘giggling’, rather an awkward passport photo.

It is a way of capturing the characters and personalities of your wedding party, whilst also being able to capture the essence of your day.

#4 Stop-Motion

Stop-motion photography is a creative play on your big day that you will love. It is a combination of still photographs which are animated and set to your choice of music – and frankly, a delight to share with family and friends.

A creative photographer will see all kinds of opportunities but it may take between 10 and 20 still images laid against a moving background. Fantastically artistic, it is a really modern way of adding something different to your wedding photos.

#5 Bridal portraits

To be honest, the bride’s portrait never really went anywhere but having said that, in the midst of such a busy day, the obvious can be forgotten.

A portrait of the bride in her beautiful wedding outfit could be one of those ‘forgotten’ photos. Allow an extra half an hour at least, as you get ready to walk the aisle to your lifelong partner, to have your portrait taken.

Choose a relaxed setting where you feel at ease and the photographer can capture your personality.

And this isn’t just a portrait assigned to one partner – a portrait of your other half is also worth a thousand memories.

#6 Capture the ‘first look’

The other aspect of wedding photography in recent years is the ‘first look’. Your wedding photographer can capture the moment your other half catches sight of you in your wedding outfit. For most couples, this has tended to happen at the ceremony but with it being such an intimate and romantic moment, many people decided to capture it away from the glare of their guests.

As well as first look moment between the happy couple, many brides are also capturing the first look moment between the bride and her father, mother, step-dad, step-mum, significant figure in their lives too.

#7 Using family photos at the wedding

Wedding photography is not just about capturing the essence of your day but about how it fits with the history of the families being united together.

As well as your own amazing wedding photos, create an artistic display of family weddings from the past for guests to enjoy.

We’ve seen some great display ideas too, the best being the creation of a family tree using wedding portraits and other wedding photographs.

#8 Make the most of the winter light

It may be winter and it may be grey skies but nothing can dull the romance of outside wedding photographs. Use the beautiful watery blue light of winter, the bare branches of the tree adding drama and form, as well as your wedding venue setting for the perfect setting.

BONUS – Photograph the proposal

If you are planning on dropping down to one knee at some point in the near future, a top trend is to have the proposal photographed. Find a professional wedding photographer who will hide away in a designated spot and time to catch the ‘yes!’.

Are you interested in advancing as a photographer?

If so, have a look at some of the below resources to help you get started:-

• Photography Business Tutorial
• Wedding Photography Tutorial

Planning the perfect wedding is only a step away with this great timeline from engagement to wedding day…

12 Months before the Big Day

The question has been asked and the champagne corks have been popped – and now the real work starts. Planning your wedding doesn’t have to be a difficult task but it does mean being organised:

• Pick the wedding date and time – send out ‘save the date’ card, always a good idea for the busy ‘wedding season’ of summer
• Decide on your budget
• Start looking for a suitable venue that is both available on your chosen date and big enough for the ceremony, reception and evening party (if you are planning your wedding this way)
• Consider enrolling on a wedding planner course

10 Months Before the Big day

Wedding dress – in order for a wedding dress to fit perfectly, it will need to be altered to be a custom fit. Shop for, buy and start the alteration process for your wedding dress.

As well as the dress, consider;

• entertainment options
• start looking for a photographer, videographer, reception band or DJ and florist
• reserving accommodation for out-of-town guests
• wedding insurance to protect deposits etc.
• a gift register, if using

6 to 8 Months Before Your Big Day

With only a few short months left, you need to start nailing down some of the arrangements;

• order bridesmaids’ dresses
• book the entertainment for the reception as well as ceremony musicians

4 Months Before the Big Day

The day is now hurtling towards you at lightning speed;

• the groom, best man and ushers need to finalise their wedding attire, buying or hiring it including shirts and shoes
• buy the wedding rings
• some couples also attend pre-wedding counselling too

3 Months Before the Big Day Arrives

With 12 weeks to go, preparations are really heating up;

• design and create your wedding cake with your chosen wedding cake specialist
• book wedding day transport, planning and working out the logistics of the day with the transport company
• order invitations
• write your invitations and post out first class – always include an RSVP date
• create a ‘live’ guest list ensuring that attending and non-attending guests are made a note of as soon as their RSVP arrives.

2 Months Before the Big Day

With the hard work and majority of organising done, you can afford to relax and begin to look forward to the big day.

• Some couples write their own vows and now is the time to do this
• Purchase gifts for your parents, bridesmaids, best man and ushers
• For the bride, book a hair stylist and try out different hair styles that match the theme of the day and your dress
• Book a make-up artist and again, enjoy several trial runs to get your look just right

1 Month Before the Big Day

The final four weeks is about checking that everything you need is in place and that means;

• Getting all the paperwork in order, including the displaying of your marriage banns
• Have your final wedding dress fitting
• Check with the florist, wedding car hire company, baker, venue, ceremony hosts etc. that everything is in place and as it should be

2 Weeks Before

You should have all the RSVPs back by now, thus you can start creating the wedding table plan for the wedding breakfast. There will be changes so don’t get too stressed about this.

As well as this, you will also need to;

• Create a list of must-have photos for your wedding photographer, as well as a detailed plan for the videographer if using
• For the DJ or band, discuss the set list and any must-have songs you want including

And finally, enjoy some ‘me’ time with a pre-wedding haircut and colour.

7 Days to the Big Day

There are small arrangements that need finalising such as;

• Final head count to the venue and caterers
• Final changes to the seating plan
• Create table centrepieces (unless the venue is doing this), including favours for wedding guests, name plates etc.
• Confirm delivery details with florist, bakers and wedding dress shop etc.
• Confirm times with hair stylist and make-up artist
• Rehearse the ceremony, if needed
• Check the timings for the day and ensure that these are communicated to all concerned!

On the Day!

Relax, enjoy it and let the day flow!

Wedding planner courses are not just for budding wedding planners. Many couples find the idea of arranging such a big event daunting, which on its own can create many issues. A wedding planner course is helpful in dealing with the behind-the-scenes arrangements, as well as wedding etiquette and the legalities of tying the knot.

Due for UK wide release in late spring, the movie ‘The Wedding Plan’ is a romantic comedy that pitches the expectations of love against faith.  When her fiancé backs out a month before the wedding, Noa Kooler’s character Michal puts her faith in God to deliver her a groom in 30 days before Hanukkah.

She continues to plan the wedding with military precision but which groom, if any, will appear to marry her?

Hopefully, planning your wedding won’t be as stressful as finding a groom as well as planning table settings, booking the photographer and other essential activities – and all against the clock in 30 days.

A wedding planner sounds a fantastic idea but for most people, it is an expense too far. How can you plan your wedding and make it a day to remember (for all the right reasons)?

Precision and Preparation

There is a saying, ‘fail to prepare, prepare to fail’ and never a truer word was spoken when it comes to planning your wedding.

There is a lot to do in in planning and executing a flawless wedding day, from the big stuff – like booking the wedding photographer – to the smaller stuff that ensures the day run smoothly – such as catering for special diets.

How can you plan your wedding and make it a day to remember (for all the right reasons)?

So, folder, pen and paper at the ready, here is what you need to know to create your perfect wedding:

#1 Theme or No Theme

Some people enjoy a traditional wedding, run along formal lines. Other couples prefer something quirky and individual.

There is no right and wrong to theming a wedding, so don’t feel pressured into doing something that you don’t want.

What kind of personalities and characters are you and your partner? Use the answer to this question to the basis of how you theme your wedding.

Take a look at the themes tipped for wedding success in 2017.

#2 Set the Date/ Find the Venue

The second important task is the venue and the date. This is a ‘chicken and egg’ moment of wedding planning;

• The Must-Have Venue – if you have a venue in mind, it may be that your wedding date is decided by the availability of the venue to accommodate your big day. Do not be tempted to shoe-horn your wedding celebrations in alongside another wedding at the same venue on the same day as this can result in chaos and tears.

OR

• The Must-Have Date – some couples, however, have a firm date in mind on which they want to tie the knot. It could be the date they first met, a special birthday or other occasion. If this is the case, the hunt is on for a wedding venue that has availability on that day.

When it comes to wedding dates, there are a few things to bear in mind:

1. Peak wedding season is from May through to September in the UK, thus most popular wedding venues will have limited availability for Saturday weddings – it pays to book well in advance.
2. Some dates are more popular than others and thus, you may need to book earlier than you think. The last huge rush to book weddings were dates such as 7/7/07, as well as dates around New Year and Valentine’s Day too.

For popular dates and for wedding dates into the future, sending ‘save the date’ cards to your guests is important.

#3 Budget, Budget, Budget

Now that you have the foundations in place, you need to start thinking seriously about your budget. No matter how large or small your budget, it has a lot to cover and could be stretched very thin.

Financial management of your wedding budget needs to be detailed and on-the-money every step of the way or you may find that wedding costs spiral out of control.

There is no right and wrong to theming a wedding, so don’t feel pressured into doing something that you don’t want.

But at the same time, you need to be realistic.

Top tip for making your wedding budget stretch further – haggle.

#4 Get Skilled

Wedding planner courses are not just for people who are choosing to make a career out of wedding planning.

We have fantastic courses that upskill you in the art of wedding planning, including what you need to know about the legalities of getting married, the documentation you need, as well as a great schedule suggestion to follow when planning your Hollywood worthy wedding.

Study online, complete wedding planner courses with support from our fantastic tutors and student support staff and plan your wedding exactly how you want it.

The wedding industry is big business. A recent survey found that the average cost of a wedding in the UK is just over £20,000.

Not everyone chooses to spend a small fortune on their big day; some couples pay far less for a small, intimate wedding whilst other couples enjoy extravagant nuptials. No matter what they choose, a wedding planner can be an invaluable part of this process.

The average cost of a wedding in the UK is just over £20,000.

Being a wedding planner involves a whole host of skills, from being a diplomat in relations between the bride and groom and family members, negotiating deals on everything from flowers to cakes, as well as being there for when the stress gets too much and to deal with any crisis, small or large that may arise.

You need to be super-organised and open to being contacted at all times of night and day. You have to balance the budget, no matter how big or small it is… the list could go on but suffice to say, being a qualified wedding planner, as well as fully insured, is important in this competitive marketplace.

This doesn’t mean, however, spending hours commuting back and forth to college as wedding planner courses online are simply perfect, with the same high-quality materials and tutor support as a ‘taught’ course in the classroom.

In fact, studying at home for a new qualification is beneficial in many ways.

The benefits of study from home

• Convenient – have a spare hour or two in the afternoon? Or maybe you prefer an early morning learning session? Can’t manage during the week but can study uninterrupted for a few hours on Saturday morning? The convenience of studying for a wedding planner qualification from home is that you can study when is convenient for you. So if something comes up on Tuesday, you can make up your study time another day, and so on.

• Support – NCC Home Learning courses come complete with a 12-month tutor support package. Tutors need to be not only qualified in their field, but experienced and experts too, with a practical understanding of the wedding planning industry. Feedback is clear and concise, with clear objectives for future learning, as well as advice and suggestions.

• Your pace – remember in school, you had an hour-long lesson and learning objectives set by a teacher? You had to keep up because falling behind was not an option. This meant that maybe you grasped some concepts really quickly, but others less so. When you study for a qualification at home, you set your own pace so if you need to go over something again, you can. Or, if you do understand a concept really quickly, you can move on quicker.

• Comfortable – let’s be honest, not everyone is comfortable in a classroom. It can be an intimidating place for many students. But imagine being curled up on the sofa in front of the fire, working through a wedding planner course module? No pressure and all the creature comforts of home.

• No financial worries – a career change can be tough to do, breaking into a new industry or sector, or even being self-employed, almost impossible without a basic qualification. But giving up work is not an option either, as this can lead to financial hardship that can be draining on resources, as well as you and your family. When you enrol on an online course, you can study at home, after work or your day’s off, becoming qualified in a new field without giving up your day job.

• Cheaper too – even though online courses are of the same value and quality as those taught in classrooms, they are often cheaper. This is because overheads are minimal thus the savings are passed on to you, without compromising on tutor quality or time.

What will learn with a wedding planner qualification?
Wedding planner courses online are wide-reaching, looking at the history of marriage to how to theme a wedding, negotiate on everything from flowers to transport, as well as how to run your business so that it is profitable and successful.

Apply online today!
Even better, you don’t have to wait to start your course, no matter what time of year it is – no need to wait until September to enrol!

Choose the course you would like to complete and enrol online, either by paying a small deposit and then monthly payments, or by paying for the course in its entirety.

You can choose to complete your course online or in a paper format. Why not break into the lucrative wedding industry and be a wedding planner?

Stress-free wedding planning – is there such a thing?

As you admire your engagement ring, you may be looking forward to the big day. You may have a vision of a clear, sunny, warm day, with you and your groomed bathed in perfection.
Or there may be a hint of dread, not of the wedding day itself but the build-up to it. You have before you looming large over the coming months and weeks, the stress of organising everything from flowers to cake, to creating a menu that delights whilst remembering there are three vegetarians, one vegan, and a lactose tolerant guest to cater for, to the diplomatic nightmare of the seating
plan…

There are many things to think about too and for some brides and their groom, the stress and worry of planning their perfect day can prove too much.
Arguments, tears, unkind words and exhaustion can, unfortunately, walk hand-in-hand with planning your wedding, no matter how big or small it is.

There is a solution, and that is a wedding planner course. This does not mean a wedding planning diploma as a professional wedding planner, but a tailored, bespoke diploma for people looking to create their big day, themselves without too much worry, too much stress and too many tears.

An organisational feat
Planning and executing your wedding like the professionals take knowledge, skill and an understanding of what is known as ‘the inside track.’ This means being aware and understanding the finer nuances of organising something, and bringing all the strands together at the same time.

Wedding planning is an organisational feat and one that will see you juggle many balls and spine many plates, but it can be done.

Our wedding planning course, for example, will cover important factors such as;

• Budgeting – often the thorn in the side, over-spending can ruin the ‘after’ of your big day as you struggle to pay back loans, credit cards, and your overdraft. This diploma looks at portioning your budget, being realistic about what you will get for your money, as well as the art of contingency planning and compromise.

• Venue selection – planning your own wedding can mean try to piece together the wedding dream you have always had but, if you are having a big wedding, squeezing 200 guests into a venue that comfortably holds 50 – but it is the venue you said you would always marry in! – Just may not work. Objectively assessing what your venue needs to provide is key

• Contingency planning – there are some things you can plan and guarantee but there are others that you cannot. The weather is one of them! Understanding what could change on the day, what you can control (and what you can’t) and how to deal with it are also included in our wedding planner course.
  

  It could also be a springboard to opening up a thirst for learning.

• Legalities – at one time, you could only marry in church and never on a Sunday. Today the rules are different but understanding the legalities of where and how you can marry, and by whom is important. This is certainly true if you intend to marry outside of the UK.

• Finding the right help in the right places – as you plan your wedding, you will need the help of many different people, from professional florists to cake-makers, dressmakers and so on. This diploma looks at how to use these professional services to the bestof your advantage, and when to seek advice and help.

Study for a great wedding day!
Our Plan Your Wedding Diploma is incredibly popular. By investing in the course, you are acquiring skills that will help you plan your big day. There are helpful assignments to complete, of which you will receive feedback from an experienced wedding planner tutor. This alone is invaluable advice on getting the best for your big day.

You can complete the diploma at your own pace too; technically, you could complete it within months, giving you more than enough time to plan your wedding visit venues and so on. You can complete it at a time that suits you too, whether that is a Sunday morning or an evening during the week.

It could also be a springboard to opening up a thirst for learning. Completing the wedding planner diploma may spur you on to bigger things, especially if you enjoyed planning your wedding with this course. We have another, separate course that you could complete which could see you become a professional wedding planner.

Enrolling is simple – log on, choose your course, choose how to pay and start planning your wedding today!

The wedding industry is big business, and more couples are choosing to use the services of a wedding planner. Likewise, many people are also studying for wedding planning courses to plan their own nuptials.

Whether you are planning your own wedding or looking for an exciting new career, online wedding planning courses are proving popular.

You too may be looking for opportunities to study and expand your horizons but if returning to the classroom is not a possibility, learning online certainly is. In fact, learning online is fast becoming the most popular way of earning qualifications.

Being a wedding planner
A wedding planner is the person that couples rely on to organise their big day. The average cost of a wedding is now £25,000 and although this may seem a lot, a wedding planner can help the happy couple to save even more money.

In fact, an experienced wedding planner will have contacts in all kinds of industries and trades, helping to organise a wedding day within budget.

The wedding industry is big business, and more couples are choosing to use the services of a wedding planner.

There are many personal skills and attributes you will need:

• Calmness – weddings are highly emotional affairs and the run up to the big day can be stressful for many brides, grooms and their families. Essentially, you need to be able to think on your feet and always have solutions and plenty of ‘Plan Bs’ up your sleeve!
• Charm – in the face of adversity, conflict and tension, you need to have oodles of charm and the ability to communicate clearly in situations that can be fraught and emotional. This doesn’t mean that as a wedding planner you will constantly be battling adversity; far from it as a wedding is a joyous and happy occasion, and one that you will feel blessed to be a part of.
• Negotiator – if anything, you will be the top negotiator on behalf of your bride and groom. From ordering the flowers, to hiring the band to wedding photographers and caterers, you will be negotiating on price, as well as availability and so on.
• Budget – it is imperative that you are good with money and are able to produce the product that couples want without over-spending. You need to keep a tight hold of the budget, always keeping your couple informed of expenses and where the money is being spent etc.
• Super-organised – a wedding planner needs to be super-organised and are responsible for every aspect of the big day, from making sure the flowers arrive on time, the food is perfect, that hired items arrive on time and in the right place.
• Knowledgeable – as you grow more experienced in the role, you will create a long lists of contacts, skills and knowledge that will make you a knowledgeable and go-to wedding planner
• A sense of humour – you will meet all kinds of people and characters, from emotional, indecisive brides to controlling parents and so on. You will need a sense of humour and, as a great wedding planner, the ability to keep people’s dreams on track with a gentle, guiding hand.

Why choose NCC Home Learning courses?
If you are looking to a career in event or wedding planning, potential customers always feel that you are more trustworthy and reliable if you can show what you can do. For many people, this means having a wedding planner that is qualified.

But, taking the time to attend college can seem like too big a leap thus, many students turn to online learning and to a leading online course provider such as NCC Home Learning;

• Flexible – you can study when you want; there are very few, if any deadlines and there is, with many courses no ‘must be completed by’ dates either. This gives you the flexibility to learn around your current work and family commitments.
• Cost-effective – many online courses are cheaper not because they are of a lesser value but because online course providers have fewer overheads, an expense they do not need to pass to their students.
• Same qualification, same value – some people may tell you that online courses are ‘not as academic’ or are somehow, thought of less by employers and so on. Today, online course providers go through the same rigorous planning and accreditation process as other education providers so you can be sure to get the same level of value and qualification with us as you would at a college or other educational establishment.
• Simple, easy enrolment – you can enrol anytime, there is no need to wait until September. Many of your courses come with an online or paper option so you can study in a way that suits you. Simply choose a wedding planner course, pay the deposit, followed by instalments (or pay in one lump sum) and start on the road to a new and exciting career!