background for weddings

I'm looking for ideas for a background for at the reception. Set up for a few formals and also family shots. I keep running into horrible wall colors or wall paper, paintings, etc. Does anyone set up a background if there is space for it ? I have a wedding coming up at a place I have shot before and I have a large space but horrible wall paper. Ideas are much appreciated. If you could post some pics of what you have used that would help

In 50+ weddings I've never had to set up a background for formals. I would actually find using a backdrop in this context to be kind of stuffy and prefer instead to use an area at or near the ceremony / reception venue.

If there are no decent places indoor at the venue, is it possible to do it outside ?

I always find a place to shoot the majority of the formals. I keep having the bride ask for family pics mid way through the reception. Dark outside so I find an area inside. This is where I find myself trying to find a decent wall

Ah--gotcha. I've done those a few times and have just found a fairly non-busy background and set up the lighting so that that background was about a stop underexposed (ie. pull folks out from the background).

I actually loathe doing those extra group shots during the reception (it's always an auntie..) because I feel like it pulls me away from what I should be doing: getting more authentic shots of, in this case, the reception. The one time I did set up I found it created a seemingly endless cycle of people wanting more group shots. I think it really hurt the shoot overall.

I agree with you but I had a bride ask me. It's kind of double duty because the day of the wedding it's also the brides sisters 18th birthday so I'm shooting both events at the same time. I've had other brides ask. I don't know why but your right you will spend more time shooting family than what really counts

In my opinion, setting up a backdrop gives such a portrait/business feel to it. You might be able to find something different, but high powered strobes and people only a few feet away from a muslin doesn't have that wedding looking I'm going for.

My tips are... to put space between your group shots and the background. use a 50 or 85mm... take some steps back and throw the background into blur mode. Thats if I don't have a fun wall, or a good natural scene to work with.

So yes, I might consider it, but it would definitely be my last resort... You could also suggest a photo booth styled setup, making it more casual and fun.

Also, I believe this is the wrong forum for this topic.

I use a Hi-Lite as a backdrop for doing photo booth style photos at many of the weddings that I photograph, that's something for the evening reception though, its not the sort of thing that I would use for shooting formal groups or couples, its an addition to those types of photos.

Couples generally spend quite a bit of time finding the right venue for their wedding so I think when you do the formal photos you should try and capture aspects of that venue even if you don't like the style of the wallpaper. If you take a backdrop to shoot the formal photos then they could end up looking like they were taken anywhere.

More info on the photo booth we do for the evening reception > Wedding photo booth

One advantage of doing the photo booth is that if they do start adding extra group photos that they want taking during the evening reception then they tend to just come and have a photo booth style picture that group of people. Much easier than trying to hunt down a suitable place for group shots when its dark outside. Unless its lashing it down or dark I always do group photos outside, even if its snowing

I photograph family and group photos immediately after the ceremony. It's the easiest time by far to do them. Perhaps you need to change your approach, if local customs allow for that.

I have to much to drag around already. Setting up a backdrop and lights for a formal? I would not consider it. You would need an assistant for sure.

I've never setup a background at a wedding. But there have been a couple of locations that made wish I had.

Buy a nice c-stand (or two) and make a simple structure to support Christmas lights.

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