What happens if your wedding photographer or videographer is ill on the day?

The short answer

Even though in over 400 weddings we have never missed a single day due to illness or other factors, we always plan ahead for every eventuality.

That plan has a few parts: a network of photographer and videographer friends who would happily step in at a moment’s notice, a hotel the night before on long journeys with a big buffer on the morning, and backups for the kit and the files. Each one is explained below.

Our network of friends

We have a great network of photographer and videographer friends who would happily step in at a moment’s notice for us. It is part of how we plan every booking. A wedding only happens once, so we treat cover as part of the plan, not an afterthought.

It is the same plan behind every booking, whether you book photography, videography or both together. You do not need to arrange any cover yourselves: planning for this is our job, not yours.

If you book photography or videography on its own

We are both fully trained and have an identical style, so one of us can happily take over for the other, and always would. A photography-only or videography-only booking is still covered by one of us, in the same style.

If neither of us could work, the network of friends above applies. A team booking has the same reassurance, so whichever package you choose, the plan behind it is the same.

Getting to your wedding

We always stay in a hotel the night before when the drive is over two hours, to make sure traffic cannot affect us. Travel across England and Wales is included in your package price, and so is the hotel when we need it.

When we do travel up on the morning of the wedding, we leave with a huge buffer zone on the expectation that we might run into traffic. It has never failed us yet.

Backups on the day

Backups start with the kit. We bring backup cameras and kit and use two memory cards. After the wedding, we keep two separate backups on hard drives.

We also hold full indemnity and public liability insurance, should your venue require it.

What you can do

Ask every supplier the same questions you would ask us: who will be there, what the backup plan is if they cannot make it, and what they do about travel. Our guides to questions to ask a wedding photographer and questions to ask a wedding videographer have longer lists.

About a month before the wedding, or whenever you have had your final venue meeting, we have a planning call to go over the firm details. Share your timeline, venue details and anything special, and we will plan around them. It also helps to give a trusted friend or family member your timeline and venue details, so someone close to you always has the plan to hand.

If you are still deciding

Booking early gives you the most time to ask questions and talk the plan through. Our guide to when to book explains how booking works, step by step.

When you are ready, send an enquiry with your date and venue and we will reply within a few hours. An enquiry does not reserve your date; the £120 deposit does, once you are happy to go ahead.

Questions couples ask