One tradition stands out for its charm: something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue. The custom traces back to the Victorian era, when superstitions were taken seriously. Something old symbolised a connection to the bride’s past and her family, something new stood for hope and good fortune ahead, and something borrowed, ideally from a happily married woman, was thought to pass on a successful marriage.

The something blue represented love, purity and fidelity. Whether or not you set much store by it, working the rhyme into your day is a lovely way to honour tradition and add a little sparkle to the occasion.

Jumping the broom has become a beautiful and meaningful ritual in modern wedding ceremonies. Its roots run deep in African and African-American history, carried through the days of slavery when enslaved couples were denied legal marriage, and it endures today as a proud symbol of union and heritage.

As the newlyweds jump over the broom together, they sweep away the past and step into a new life as a married couple. It is a joyful, symbolic moment, a lovely way to honour ancestry and mark the threshold between two chapters, and it always makes for a wonderful photograph.

The garter is one of the most playful traditions a bride can carry. Originally it was worn as a symbol of the bride’s purity, and was thought to bring the couple good luck. In some older customs, guests would even try to snatch a piece of the bride’s dress for luck, and the garter became a way to satisfy that superstition without ruining the gown.

These days it is far more lighthearted. The groom removes the garter and tosses it to the single men at the reception, the male counterpart to the bouquet toss. Whether you keep it, skip it or wear one purely as a private keepsake, it is a charming little nod to centuries of wedding folklore.

The white wedding dress feels like it has always been the default, but it is a relatively modern tradition. It took off in the 19th century, and Queen Victoria is widely credited with popularising it when she married in white in 1840. Before then, brides simply wore their best dress in whatever colour they owned.

White came to symbolise purity and innocence, and its clean, elegant look has kept it a firm favourite ever since. Today brides wear every shade under the sun, from blush to bold colour, but the white gown endures as a classic. Whatever you choose, the right dress is the one that makes you feel wonderful walking down the aisle.

For every good luck charm there is a superstition warning of the opposite. Breaking a mirror on or before the wedding is said to bring seven years of misfortune. Giving knives as a wedding gift is thought to symbolise a severed relationship, which is why some cultures include a small coin in return, so the gift is technically bought rather than given. Even colours carry old warnings: green was long considered unlucky for a bride in parts of the British Isles, and wearing red raised eyebrows in some traditions.

The weather has its say too. While rain is a blessing, strong winds were thought to blow away the couple’s happiness, and some believed the day of the week mattered, with the old rhyme cautioning against marrying in certain months. Whether you take any of it to heart is entirely up to you. Most couples enjoy these superstitions as folklore and a bit of fun rather than firm rules, and pick the ones that add a little charm to their day.

Deciding where to get married abroad is half the fun, and often the hardest part. Some couples want the warmth and drama of Bali, others the rolling light of Tuscany or the quiet romance of Paris. The right place is the one that means something to you, whether that is a country you love, a landscape you have always dreamed of, or somewhere you have never been but always wanted to go.

I have photographed real destination weddings in some breathtaking settings, and the thing they all share is a sense of place that runs through every photo. Getting married in Bali looks and feels nothing like a villa in Italy, and that is exactly the point, your location becomes part of your story.

The bridal suite is where the day’s first details live, and where a lot of the loveliest wedding detail photos are made. Before the dress goes on, there is a quiet window to capture the things you have chosen so carefully, the gown hung by the window, the shoes waiting on a stool, the rings still in their box.

It helps enormously if you gather the small pieces into one place before I arrive. A simple detail box holding the rings, any jewellery, a spare buttonhole, perfume and your invitation suite means nothing gets hunted for at the last minute, and the detail shots are richer for it. From the henna on your hands to the beadwork on the back of the dress, these are the textures that make your gallery yours.

The dress is the detail everyone remembers, and the one you will only wear once, so it deserves a proper set of photos before the day carries it away. A wedding dress detail shot is about more than the whole gown, it is the fabric, the buttons down the back, the hem, the veil, and whatever small touches you have added to make it yours.

I like to photograph the dress hanging while the light is still soft, then again once it is on and moving. The shoes, the veil and any extra pieces all belong in the same set, so the story of your outfit is complete.

Your florist works some of the hardest magic of the day, so the flowers earn a generous place in your detail photos. Beyond the bouquets, there are the buttonholes, the loose blooms along the aisle, the arrangements on the tables and the petals scattered where you least expect them.

I always photograph the bouquets while they are still fresh and untouched, then again in your hands once the day is moving. The way the flowers carry your colours through the venue is part of what ties the whole gallery together.

The groom’s details are quieter than the bride’s, but they matter just as much, and groom detail shots are some of the most overlooked on a wedding day. The cufflinks, the watch, the tie or bow tie, the shoes, the buttonhole, these are the pieces that pull a look together.

I usually catch the groom and his best men getting ready, the buttonholes going on, the last adjustment to a cuff. They are small moments, but they round out the story so the day belongs to both of you, not just the morning in the bridal suite.

The food and drink tell their own story of how well your guests were looked after. During the reception I love photographing the champagne flutes catching the light, the canapes going round and the signature cocktails you have chosen for the day.

In the evening there is a whole second wave of details, the pizza van, the grazing table, the late-night snacks. These are some of the most fun detail photos to take, and they capture the relaxed, celebratory mood of the day winding on.

Your stationery sets the tone before anyone arrives, so it deserves a place in your detail photos. The invitations, the order of the day, the table plan and the place cards all carry the colours and style you have chosen, and they photograph beautifully when captured early.

I like to shoot the invitation suite alongside a few of the other details, the rings, a sprig of foliage, a ribbon, so the flat-lay tells a little story of its own. Signage and the table plan come later, once the room is dressed and ready.

You are the stars of the day, but your guests bring their own details worth capturing. The flower girl’s dress, the pageboy’s shoes, a carefully chosen hat, the ribbon on a buttonhole, these small touches add charm and personality to the gallery.

As the day relaxes into the evening, the details shift to laughter, dancing and the people you love letting their hair down. These candid moments are some of the warmest detail photos of all, and they tell the story of a room full of people celebrating you.

If you have been comparing quotes, you will have noticed that a London photographer can charge anywhere from £1,000 to well over £5,000. Why such a wide gap? It usually comes down to a few key factors, and in a city as demanding as London, experience is the big one.

When you look at the higher end of London wedding photographer prices, you are paying for the photographer’s eye, their years behind the camera, and their ability to stay calm under pressure. Photographers just starting out often charge less, and everyone has to begin somewhere, but booking someone with less experience carries more risk in London, where the light can be difficult, from grand, dimly lit historic buildings to bright, glassy modern spaces.

I have spent over a decade photographing weddings, which means I am not simply taking pictures. I am reading moments before they happen, finding the quiet corners for portraits near a busy landmark, and managing a group shot on a crowded London street without it descending into chaos. That assurance is a real part of what you are paying for.

Having a second photographer capturing different angles can make a real difference to your final gallery. It adds a layer of security, a built-in backup, and means that while I am photographing you walking down the aisle, someone else is catching your partner’s face at that exact second. For larger London weddings or days with complex logistics, a second shooter is often worth the extra cost, which usually sits somewhere between £300 and £600.

It is also worth remembering that the work does not stop when I pack up my cameras on the night. A real part of your investment covers the days spent editing. I have a specific light and airy style, and I hand-edit every image so the gallery looks consistent and natural rather than over-processed. I want your photos to look as good in fifty years as they do today.

Then there is the equipment and the insurance behind it all. Professional gear is expensive, and I do not carry just one camera. There are backup bodies, multiple lenses, memory cards, lighting, and proper storage to back your images up safely. When you book a professional, part of what you are paying for is the peace of mind that comes with a Plan B if technology fails.

When you compare quotes, make sure you are comparing like for like. Wedding photography packages in London can look similar on the surface and differ a lot underneath, so it is worth checking what each one actually includes before you weigh up the price.

My London packages typically feature a pre-wedding consultation, either over a video call or a coffee, to plan your timeline together. From there you get full-day coverage from preparations to the first dance, hand-edited high-resolution images with full printing rights, and a private online gallery to share with friends and family. Travel across the UK is covered, and I photograph destination weddings too.

Then there is the question of a physical album. Your package might include a digital gallery, but a printed album is a different thing entirely. I use Folio albums because the quality is superb, and there is a real gap between a budget album and one built to last. If you want a high-end album included, expect the package price to reflect that craftsmanship.

The clearest way to see how the wedding photographer London packages compare is to look at them side by side, with the inclusions laid out, rather than judging on the headline figure alone.