Last week, Danny and I received a copy of the photography rules for the church where we were going to be shooting Jessica and Stephen’s wedding on Saturday. As far as churches go, these rules were fairly standard, and didn’t overly-limit us in regards to the pictures we could get during the ceremony. They were rules nonetheless — and rules that we knew we had to follow . . . not only because we have to be back at this same church to shoot another wedding next year (and therefor cannot afford to get blacklisted!), but because we are professionals who need to represent our business well and respect this place of worship, and the church’s right to regulate what happens inside its walls.

But. But. Brides and grooms — when it comes to venue rules, you need to know for yourself exactly how the rules will limit your photographs or freedom on the wedding day, and the sooner you know these rules the better. While it hasn’t happened to any of our couples, I’ve heard horror stories of brides who’ve been told the day before their wedding that the priest/minister/rabbi won’t allow any photographs whatsoever during the ceremony. Ideally, you should ask to see a list of photography rules before you sign a contract — and then have these rules written into the contract so the venue can’t change them on you — because if you don’t like the restrictions a venue places on your photographer, once you’ve signed a contract, you’re stuck with whatever the venue will allow.

While you might love a specific venue and have your heart set on it, you’re going to want to make sure that you’re able to get the photographs you want so you can remember your venue.So — what do you need to know before you book any venue, church or otherwise?

• When will you or your wedding planner be allowed into the venue to drop off or set up decorations?
• How many hours before the ceremony can you get into your venue? Can you pay an additional fee to rent the venue for extra hours before the ceremony? (This is critical if you plan to get ready at the venue or do a first look and pre-ceremony portraits.)
• Are there any parts of the property where you, your guests, or the photographer are not allowed to go?
• What are the regulations regarding professional photography during the ceremony? Will these regulations prevent the photographer from capturing specific shots that you want?
• How much time will you be allowed in your venue after the ceremony for formal portraits?
• Will there be any other weddings or events taking place at the venue at the same time that could impede you or the photographer?
• If your wedding runs late, will the venue accommodate you to make the party last a little longer?

That probably isn’t a full list of the questions you’ll want to ask a venue before you sign a contract, but it’s a good start!

Now, there are photographers who will break venue rules without a second thought in order to get the perfect shot, but Danny and I are not among them. Yes, we’ve been hired by the couple to capture their wedding to the very best of our abilities — but the couple have also signed a contract with their venue, and ultimately, we and the couple have to respect that we are on the venue’s property, which means we have to follow their rules. That’s why we feel so strongly that couples should make sure they fully understand, and are comfortable with, any venue’s rules before they book. We don’t want the couple to have any unfortunate surprises on their wedding day — but we also won’t blatantly disregard the venue’s regulations, even if we disagree with them.

We want to run our business with integrity in everything, and sometimes that means abiding by rules we don’t like.

So, couples, understand exactly what your venue will and will not allow you to do, and decide if that fits what you want for your wedding. While you’ve probably been looking for venues to fit the size, aesthetic, and budget of your wedding, a venue that gives you the freedom you want for your wedding photography is equally important. Head out to your venue visits armed with this knowledge — and choose the place that’s not only going to give you the best wedding day possible, but the best photographic memories you can have.

~ Laura