Wedding Shoot in Hurricane Fay...

[cory1848]

I have my first official wedding shoot with my friend Wednesday morning at the Swan Resort at Disney. Beautiful outdoor location, lots of great opportunities to take great photos, lots of locations etc....

Looking like all that will be taken away by this damn storm coming through. Anyone have any tips for getting creative in a rained out wedding? All my preplanning is basically being thrown out the window. I have a call in to the wedding coordinator but they havent called me back yet. Not sure of any alternate locations.

I am sure the B&G are freaking out. Any suggestions? Who has been rained out and what did you do to pull it off?

Thanks

[ilantis]

Ouch, that is rough...I don't shoot weddings but you are going to have your work cut out for you that day. However, kudos to you for doing everything you can to save their (now) extra special day.

Subscribing to this thread to see what other come up with...and a free bump back to the 1st page for you. :)

[cory1848]

One day later and its still just a tropical storm, in fact its barely even raining right now. We might luck out and if its through Orlando by tonight, might be ok. Even if the ceremony is inside, we still may be able to get some photos outside.... One thing I can guarantee, there wont be any harsh sunlight....

I talked with the bride and she said if its still bad, the back up plan is in one of the ballrooms. That will make it really tough because there isnt anything really creative to use...just one big square room with nothing in it and for a party of 15 (including guest) it will look really empty....

[form]

Balloons, lights, corners, tables, chairs, whatever else is available. Set up a custom background on a stand in a far corner and have formals and things over there. Crack bad jokes and make them laugh.

[Teachflute]

It's Disney! The lobbies are usually beautiful. I've never been in The Swan, but some of the other resorts have phenomenal lobbies. I think if you have to have an indoor venue anywhere in the world, Disney would be the place to do it.

I just went to the Swan's website and it looks like there's a beautiful fountain in the lobby. I would definitely get some pictures around it.

[Doug Pardee]

One thing I can guarantee, there wont be any harsh sunlight....

You might be surprised. The sky behind a tropical cyclone tends to be quite clear.

[_aravena]

It may move out by morning. You'll still see effects and you may get a break but don't count on it. Just roll with what ya got, but Disney resorts are so awesome inside you shouldn't have a problem finding something to work with. I've been there a few times and check out their site to see some inside locations you can use.

I live in Lakeland, want me to come? ;)

[inthedeck]

There's also an area in the Dolphin, by the main entrance, with a revolving door. I'm sure that can be used...plus, once you walk about 30 yards, from the front entrance, into the resort, there's another fountain. I'm sure people may move out of you way seeing as how you are taking pictures of a wedding couple.

Haven't really seen much else, indoors...I was just visiting family, for a night...and as such I didn't have lots of time to 'explore'

They do have that really cool 'ceiling' in the Dolphin's main entrance. There's also a cool looking walkway, between the Dolphin, and the Swan, that has flowers, and a fountain with multiple levels, coming out of the resort.

Good luck...I'm hoping Jax doesn't get hit too hard, either!

[cory1848]

The Swan isnt a disney resort, I have been there a couple times before and although they have a nice inside, its more corporate convention themed than anything. The fountain is nice and I will use that but inside, that is about it. The bar/restaurant is nice too but it isnt open during the day.

Aravena - thanks for the offer, if I had more notice and if it were a larger party I would consider it. I am shooting this with my business partner so we have two already.

Finally talked to the wedding coordinator and the back up rooms are the worst around. Just a meeting room and its about 500 sq ft. Little bigger than a 2 car garage....no decorations or anything...even the coordinator was like, I wouldnt want my ceremony in there....I am getting there early to scope things out and try and plan something...hopefully the storm lets up...

[_aravena]

At least you got backup. Sometimes you won't see things till you're there then something comes to mind.

[cory1848]

A day later and the storm is still here...Shot the wedding yesterday and absolutely nothing went as planned. I feel really bad for this couple. We got there early, around 8am for a 10am ceremony. On the way there I was getting excited because it wasnt raining and it was actually starting to dry up. Once there I called the coordinator and she informs me that that is stuck in traffic from accident and was running late, ok no biggie, told her we were in the lobby and would meet her when she got there. Well, she got there and didnt call us and she went up to the room. Called her 20 minutes later and she told me he was there and she would come down. 10 minutes I called her again and she told me she came down but her sister just arrived so she went back up...Was starting to get a little frustrated at that point so we went up.

The backup rooms absolutely sucked. If it was my wedding I would have postponed it. The swan has very nice grounds but doesnt not have any kind of back up plan at all if it rains. We wanted to move to another location but the staff apparently wasnt so accommodating. Very disappointing.

Its now 9am, Get a call from the bride saying the limo was bringing the groom over. 25 minutes later the limo shows up. Now I know some people drive slow but there resort where they were staying is 5 miles away. He must of been driving backwards or something... Meet the groom and start shooting as he gets out of the limo. Super nice guy but not the most photogenic person and from all the crap they have been dealing with, you could see that he was already over it. He hangs out for a bit, checks out the gift shop, etc...after about 10 minutes we go up to the rooms. I make small talk with him and tried to ease him about the weather. After seeing the room, he says, "think the weather is bad? Wait until she sees the room"....

I got back down to wait for the bride while my partner stays with the groom. Its now started to rain again. There goes any chance for anything outside. Its now about 940am. Waiting, waiting, waiting....Since the limo guy is driving backwards the whole way, bride shows up at 1015am. She gets to the room and vetos that spot...She was like, what else?

At this point she turns to me and asks me my opinion. Apparently the coordinator wasnt doing anything and had no backup plan and no suggestions. I suggested we go downstairs in the hallways leading down to the convention rooms. More open, brighter, more space, better decor...etc...So down we go.

Its now about 1040am, 40 minutes late. The officient, musician (guitarist) were VERY accommodating and very helpful. They were both scheduled past their contracted times but decided to stay because of the situation. The groom was already downstairs ahead of the bride. He hung out at the new ceremony spot while the bride was around the corner waiting for the signal. It was about 15 minutes, talked with her and shot some more photos. She then informs me to check out her shoes...White flip flops...I looked at her and she said all of her luggage was still at the airport at home...it never got put on the plane by the airlines, her clothes (besides the dress), camera, camcorder, wedding shoes, and most of all... The rings were still waiting to be delivered.

Tried to lift her spirits as best I could, said its good luck for rain on your day and in 10 years you will laugh at this. She was handling herself very well and rolling with the punches.

Ceremony starts, and from then on things go rather well for the situation they were in. If it were outside on a nice day, it would have been amazing but with the conditions, not like I had hoped for.

We managed to get some good shots and she was very happy how we handled things and helped her feel more at ease. She was pretty upset at the coordinator for not doing anything and not being prepared.

Lots of PP to do these, shot about 800 photos between the two of us. Will post once I have a few completed.

[_aravena]

Well I guess that's good news for the most part. I was wondering how everything went, thanks for the update.

If they were such a stand up couple, didn't happen to get any undercover outside shots of them bracing the storm?

[cory1848]

Well I guess that's good news for the most part. I was wondering how everything went, thanks for the update.

If they were such a stand up couple, didn't happen to get any undercover outside shots of them bracing the storm?

I asked but they didnt want to go outside... Was easy to tell they were taxed for the day so I didnt want to push it..

[inthedeck]

Wow...this storm is just not nice is it. Too bad the weather didn't hold up...has been pouring here, too.... :(

[cory1848]

Wow...this storm is just not nice is it. Too bad the weather didn't hold up...has been pouring here, too.... :(

No its not...23+ inches of rain on the east coast...and you guys are next...Stay safe...

[inthedeck]

Thanks...the winds have picked up, and the rain is MUCH heavier now, than it was at 3 a.m. I would know, since I was up watching...hehe...

Let's hope it's not too horrific. Here's some shots, from the storm coming in yesterday. Click Here. (http://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthread.php?t=556425)

[_aravena]

Tried to get shots myself but just wasn't right over here in Lakeland. Too south then just sneaked past. Bleh...I was hoping for a decent storm . I only had film back in 2004.