Your Wedding Day

…is one of the most memorable days of your lives. The planning process can truly be a tough one to begin. You’ve never been married before, so all of this can be a little overwhelming, but never fear, this is why I’ve created this page dedicated to you. This page is designed to give you a little step by step into wedding planning such as, creative ideas, advice and how to document your special day before and after with wedding photography. If you’re just recently engaged or just started your journey of planning your wedding, the first step is to envision where your wedding will take place. There are alot of beautiful wedding venues out there in Northern Ireland, Donegal & beyond. It all comes down to personal style, so indulge yourself in some epic venue hunting and take everything in stride. The saying goes; “Once you know, you know”.

Once you’ve booked your dream wedding venue, set a date and ready to move onto the next big step… Your next stepping stone is finding that wedding photographer that will help you create that vision you’re looking for…



When should I begin?

In today’s world, wedding planning can begin whenever you’re ready-there’s no set timeline, and that’s the beauty of creating your very own unique experience. Your wedding day should be exactly what you’ve ever dreamed of, and what a better way to start to ‘get the ball rolling’ by creating your first pinterest board. It’s the perfect place to save everything your heart desires to bring your dream wedding to life. The place is endless with endless inspiration at your fingertips. 

 

While the process can feel overwhelming at times, this is where the wedding industry steps in. It’s our job to listen to your vision and help you create your dream wedding. 

As a wedding photographer, my goal isn’t just to capture beautiful photographs but as your own guide before and after your wedding day. This journey is personal to you, so trust your gut and always go with what you love.



Your Wedding 

Photographer

PHOTOGRAPHER . ICED LATTE LOVER . FATHER OF TWO

I’M JAMES, and I LOVE to DOCUMENT every HEARTFELT moment

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions, You can call me at 07706048713 or email me at james@jamesaikenphotography.com. Ready to get in touch? Simply click the ‘Let’s Chat’ button below to send your enquiry!

 

Derry Wedding Photographer, Northern Ireland

YOUR Engagement PHOTOSHOOT

If it’s about creating some beautiful moments before the big day, you can opt-in for a pre-wedding photoshoot. This is highly popular & my couples dig the much-needed alone time in stunning nature to have photographs of their unique love and laughter. It’s also great practice and if you’re camera-shy, this is perfect for you!

P.S – We’ll get to know each other better, so when it comes to your big day we will be the best of friends. You get used to being in front of the camera and we’ll capture some beautiful images so you can share, put onto your wedding website or decorate your home with your romantic moments it’s all a win-win.

Do you have a location that hits home to you both? Let’s go and create something epic!

If you are feeling shy and hate getting your picture taken, I’ve a fun warm-up to get you out of your comfort zone. I promise when you look back on your photos you will forget you were even camera shy in the first place…

PLANNING YOUR DAY

Six weeks before your wedding, I’ll send an online questionnaire for you to fill out to your heart’s content.

Four weeks before your wedding, I’ll send you another message to arrange our pre-wedding consultation over tea/coffee to discuss the finer details, timeline, about your bridal party photographs, right down to the nitty-gritty of your intimate session, locations etc.. and ofcourse any questions you may have.

Your Wedding Day

I usually arrive at your location about two and a half hours before the ceremony, but we finalize this at the wedding consultation stage. A typical day for a full-day wedding is approx 10-12 hours (Morning to a few dances after your First Dance).

On the day I bring my A-game as your wingman, banter supplier, an all-rounder to document your day in the most relaxed and fun-loving cornerstone.

Love at the City Hotel, Derry, Northern Ireland

ALBUMS + FINE ART

Our Luxurious Paisley Wedding Albums range from 10″ x 10″ (Portrait) and 14″ x 10″ (Landscape). Wrapped in a gorgeous floral design and UV engraved with a fine increment of your wedding date. Each spread is uniquely crafted with a high-quality lustre finish to make your photos pop! Parent albums are also available for your loved ones. The best way to showcase your love story is in your wedding photo album.

YOUR HEIRLOOM

“Love lets you find those hidden places in another person, even the ones they didn’t know were there, even the ones they wouldn’t have thought to call beautiful themselves.”

HILARY T. SMITH

 

Your memories are sacred, they hold the key to your future, and have the power of everlasting touch on your generations forever

Since booking James last year he has been fantastic. From having pre engagement shoots to give us a taster what was in store to the big day, to the lead up grabbing a coffee and sitting down to see exactly what we wanted and making sure he captured it all. James certainly did that and more, he was amazing to work with and made everyone feel so at ease throughout the day, we enjoyed the craic! We received our sneak peak during the wedding and they speak for themselves they turned out incredible we could not of asked for better! Thank you so much for everything James you were amazing.

– CATHERINE & KIAN –

A wedding is a day you never want to forget so we knew how important the photography was going to be. It did not take us long to decide to contact James Aiken to request his amazing service. My wife spent a considerable amount of time looking through all the amazing photos he has available on his social media and we knew that he would not disappoint. To say we were overjoyed would be an understatement! James was helpful throughout the entire process from first contact, meeting for the first time in person to discuss the plan for the day and giving us a stress free experience.

– KELLY & DAKOTA –

05.

Questions // need answers

We all get a little lost sometimes  – This process is raw, but an incredible experience, You’re getting married! This is exciting and trust me, you will love the preparations for your big day… Have questions?

Look out below

How do I secure my wedding date

Scroll to the bottom of the page and click the ‘Reserve Your Date Today’ button, this will direct you to my booking form. Fill in your details and I’ll get back to you asap with my availability.

A non-refundable retainer of £300, or 2x £150 spread over two months will secure your wedding date.

What is your pricing?

My Wedding Collections begin at £1800 for the digital-only option. This comes with an online gallery to share and download your photographs.  Contact me and I’ll send you my availability and a pricing guide.

How many images will we get?

I always plan to give my couples between 500-1000 photographs of their wedding day; this will all depend on the timeframe and which collection you choose from. 

When will my photos be ready?

I like to give my heart & soul to every wedding I photograph and edit. During your wedding day I plan to show you a handpicked sneak peek of your day thus far and send this to you within 48 hours.

Expect around 4-6 weeks for your gallery to be complete and sent.

 

Do you think I need a wedding album?

You don’t have to, and it mostly boils down to personal preference. I’m passionate about holding a hardcover book in my hands, the new smell is contagious, and the fine page spread of which the images are masonry designed for the best effect.

A wedding album isn’t only about a memoir to us, it’s the magical storybook that will be passed down to your kids and grandkids for generations.

Planning your wedding and need some help? Grab our free wedding guide by clicking right here! 

If you’re question is not here and you need answers, view the full Frequent Asked Questions page by tapping the button below.

Letterkenny Bridal Photography

LET´S CHAT

LOVING WHAT YOU´VE SEEN? LET´S WORK TOGETHER

IF YOU’RE A COUPLE WHO EMBRACES A RELAXED, ROMANTIC VIBE WITH A TOUCH OF FUN-LOVING SPIRIT, THEN WE ARE ONTO SOMETHING EPIC