Ask the bride before giving a major gift such as wedding flowers, a wedding photographer, et al.

The matter of etiquette with which I'm concerned today is simple. It may seem like a "duh" kind of thing, but I found out the hard way that this is not always the case.

I recently attended a wedding as one of two photographers. Yes, there were two wedding photographers running around trying to get the best shots of the wedding. The bad thing was that we were not aware that we would be teaming up until we arrived. The other photographer was a surprise gift given to the bride the morning of her wedding!

Now while this won't typically happen for a larger wedding, some smaller ceremonies may run into this problem. The way to avoid a major headache like this (trust me on this one), is to ask the bride and groom if this type of gift would be appropriate. This should be done very early when planning a wedding as the bride will need to book services (florist, caterer, photographer, etc) well in advance.

This courtesy also avoids another source of conflict. Perhaps the bride's family is paying for the wedding. This is very traditional. For a family that encourages traditional values, the size of your gesture may come across as "stepping on toes." Then again, the couple may be paying for the wedding and welcome the relief. Therefore, it is necessary and quite advisable to discuss these types of wedding gifts with the bride and groom well in advance of the big day.

There are many unique wedding photography ideas that can elevate the memories of your wedding from "big day" to "best day ever." Depending on the location of your ceremony, the outdoors can be utilized for quality photos. Destination weddings offer many ideas for wedding photographers, especially those who welcome a break from the traditional church and chapel scenery. Beach wedding photography enhances the bride and groom by reflecting the natural beauty of the sand, sun and sparkling water. These are fun pictures that capture the entertaining spirits of the happy couple.

Outdoor weddings in state parks, smoky canyon chapels, or even a grand backyard give wedding photography an edge. With the backdrop of mother nature at your disposal, you'll soon find that there isn't a better background to be had! Imagine the first kiss between bride and groom set against a fall sunset. It's a beautiful portrait of the happy couple that can't be imitated or forgotten.

Unique wedding photography doesn't always have to rely on the backdrop. If a church wedding is the plan for your big day, consider asking about different poses or candid snapshots. Unique photography is as much about capturing a special side of the people in the photo as it is about a unique location. Your photographer can offer many suggestions for unique wedding pictures such as groomsmen jumping for joy in front of the church, bride and bridesmaids throwing their bouquets together, ring bearer and flower girl feeding ducks together and many other great snapshots.