Top 10 Must-Have Photos on Your Wedding Day (and the Moments You Didn’t Know to Ask For)

When you think about your wedding photos, certain images probably come to mind first: walking down the aisle, the first kiss, your portraits together. These are classics for a reason—they hold tradition and beauty, and they absolutely matter. But in between those big moments are the quiet, in-between scenes that tell the full story of your day. And often, it’s those unscripted, blink-and-you-miss-them moments that end up meaning the most.

As a wedding photographer, I always aim to capture both—the expected and the unexpected. The must-haves and the maybes. The parts you planned and the parts you didn’t even know to look for. Below are ten essential wedding day photos you’ll want in your gallery. Some are timeless standards, and others might surprise you. But together, they create a body of work that’s honest, emotional, and completely yours.

1. The Quiet Moments Before the Ceremony

The energy in the getting-ready space is unlike anything else—part anticipation, part joy, part nerves. Whether you’re surrounded by friends or taking a few solo moments to breathe, there’s a softness to the start of the day that’s so worth preserving.

These are often some of the most emotionally honest photos: a deep breath as you look in the mirror, someone lacing up your dress or straightening your collar, shared laughter over coffee or champagne. These small rituals hold so much weight.

2. The First Look (or That First Glance at the Aisle)

Whether it’s a private first look or the moment your eyes meet down the aisle, this is one of those heart-stopping, completely unscripted exchanges. Some couples cry. Some laugh. Some just breathe in the presence of each other.

No matter how it unfolds, it’s one of the most emotionally rich parts of the day—genuine, unfiltered, and totally unique to you.

3. Exchanging Letters or Vows

If you’re writing private vows or letters, this is such a meaningful moment to document. Reading words meant only for each other—whether before the ceremony or during—is a grounding, emotional experience that adds so much depth to your gallery.

These images often capture a quiet vulnerability that gets overlooked in the bigger picture of the day.

4. The First Look with a Parent or Loved One

There’s something incredibly special about the way a parent—or grandparent, sibling, or chosen family member—looks at you on your wedding day. It’s joy and nostalgia all wrapped up together.

Whether it’s a planned reveal or a spontaneous interaction, these are moments that speak volumes without words.

5. The Details That Tell the Story

Your dress. The invitations you spent hours choosing. A handwritten note. A pressed flower from your bouquet. These aren’t just decorative—they’re deeply personal pieces of the day that hold weight and meaning. I photograph details with intention, not as standalone styled moments, but as threads that are part of a larger tapestry. The way the light falls across your veil on the bed. The texture of your rings beside a worn linen vow book. The quiet stillness of your ceremony space before anyone arrives.

These images offer breathing room within your gallery. They add mood, depth, and a sense of place—quiet pauses that hold memory in the in-between.

6. The Just-Married Glow

Right after the ceremony—when you’ve just walked back up the aisle or slipped away for a moment alone—there’s this beautiful shift in energy. You’re still riding the high of it all, and there’s often this combination of laughter, disbelief, and total joy.

It’s such a fleeting window, but it’s always one of my favourite parts of the day to photograph.

7. Reception Candids and Connection

The reception is where the energy changes—there’s more movement, more conversation, more emotion flowing freely. Instead of stiff group shots, I love focusing on the natural connections: your best friend’s speech that has everyone in tears, stolen glances across the table, a spontaneous dance-off between cousins.

These images round out the story with warmth and realness.

8. Golden Hour Portraits

If we’re lucky enough to have a golden hour, it’s worth stepping away for even 15 minutes. The light is soft and glowy, and it gives us a chance to create portraits that feel effortless and natural—not overly posed or rushed.

This also gives you a quiet pocket of time to reconnect, just the two of you, amid the whirlwind of the day.

9. The Unexpected Moments of Joy

Some of the most meaningful images are the ones no one saw coming: a flower girl lost in her own little world, a gust of wind turning a veil into laughter, a quiet embrace between two people who hadn’t seen each other in years.

These moments can’t be planned or posed—and that’s what makes them unforgettable. They thread a sense of realnessthrough your gallery, grounding the beauty of the day in feeling.

It’s in the way your dad grips your hand a little tighter than expected. The split-second glance between you and your partner across a crowded room. The offbeat, honest, fleeting things that make your wedding wholly yours.

10. The Final Frame of the Night

Whether it’s a sparkler send-off, a private last dance, or a quiet goodbye to your closest people—those last frames of the evening hold a kind of emotional exhale. They mark the closing of one chapter and the beginning of the next.

You don’t need a grand exit for a beautiful ending—just an honest one.

Bringing It All Together

Your wedding gallery shouldn’t just look beautiful—it should feel like you. It should take you back to how the day unfolded, moment by moment, with all the texture and emotion preserved in a way that feels natural, not manufactured. These ten types of images help tell that story in full. They give us space to capture both the planned and the serendipitous. The big, cinematic moments and the quiet ones you might not even remember until you see them again in a photograph.

If you’re looking for wedding photography that’s intentional, heartfelt, and quietly powerful—I’d be honoured to document your story in a way that feels real, not rehearsed.

Let’s Tell Your Story, Together

If this resonates with you, I’d love to hear more about what you're dreaming up for your wedding day. You can get in touch with me here, or simply reach out to start a conversation. No pressure, just presence.

Every couple’s story is different—let’s make sure yours is remembered in the way it deserves to be.