Wedding recpetion plan - Is this ok?

Hi all. Thanks for your feedback in advanced. Now I know we all recommend that amateur photographers should not attempt any wedding related stuff by themselves alone to start with but I have already discussed and agreed with the client (friend) who is happy with my line/style of work. An agreement will be signed this weekend.

Now I am not covering the wedding as this has been already arranged but just the wedding reception itself. This is my ideal plan which I will discuss with the client for any adjustments. Any feedback/recommendatio​ns on this will be most appreciated

Arrive early. Approx 2 hours before couple arrive.

- Venue detail shots
Cake (if available)
Seating place cards
Table arrangements
Decorations
Flowers
Drinks

- Couple/guest arrive (obtain times of this if possible)
Capture greetings on arrivals

- Speeches (obtain rough timings if possible)
Obtain copy of speeches from all parties if possible
Capture key moments
Capture couple/guests expressions and reactions

- Cake cutting
Be visible
Pre-cake cut and actual cake cut
Candid photos of guest’s reactions
Capture couple/guests expressions and reactions

- First Dance
Cropped shots
Full body shots
Smiles and couple reactions

- Family time
Key family members
Group table shots

- Entertainment
Party style shots
Candid shots

Many thanks

Someone started a list a while ago. I need to find that. Your list is a good start. Best thing to do is follow the wedding party and get right in there to capture as many moments as possible.

Wear black.

SuzyView wrote in post #5833812
Someone started a list a while ago. I need to find that. Your list is a good start. Best thing to do is follow the wedding party and get right in there to capture as many moments as possible.

Wear black.

Many thanks for your reply. I have looked at other topics and tips from sites and ideally what I would look for in a wedding reception shoot. I will be proposing this to the groom tomorrow and possibly add bits in which he wants and will be spending some time with the best man to cover as much as possible.

My attire is going to be a black pair of trousers, black shoes, a white or striped shirt and a smart waistcoat. Something simple but with enough pockets.

Update : Just got a potential secondary shooter to give me a hand.

Meeting the groom tomorrow and then Friday will be used to sort out equipment for the day. Kind of looking forward to it now.

Good luck, Mitesh! I always try to have a second and my husband to carry the stuff around behind me.

SuzyView wrote in post #5836529
Good luck, Mitesh! I always try to have a second and my husband to carry the stuff around behind me.

Thanks Suzy, in my moment of despair, one secondary photographer turned into two. I know have a hard choice picking between the two but I might stick with the Canon shooter, she shows potential. Awaiting reply from her still.

The other is a friend who shoots Nikon. It is not the gear that troubles me, I would rather not have immediate friends shooting alongside something I am being paid for.

I decided to shoot 35mm via an EOS650 and keep that as my backup body just in case. This will house the 24-105L and a 430EX and then the 5D will mounted with a Sigma 24-70 2.8 and a 580EX. 50mm 1.8 will be available for just in case but the above gear should allow me to capture the warm/Rembrandt style. Not really seen many weddings or receptions shot in this way unless I am looking in the wrong place Below is the style of photos the couple are actually after which was from a friends birthday.

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