It's easy for any couple to become caught up in the wedding planning and the thrill of getting married without thinking about what comes after saying 'I do'.
Some wedding photographers have a sixth sense about things like this. After doing shoots for so many couples, they know which ones are truly in love and which ones are doomed for divorce. Some of these photographers shared their thoughts with the Huffington Post and gave a few signs that couples will part ways in the end.
One of the most obvious signs of incompatibility, according to photographers, is if one of the partners is uninterested in the shoot. It's a given that not everyone likes to be photographed, but if they care enough for their partners and want to look back fondly on their wedding day, they will make an effort for it.
"I sometimes meet clients whose fiancés are interested in everything except being photographed on their wedding day. Luckily, most reluctant subjects know that photography is important to their partner and so they participate willingly. But that's not always the case," shared Rob Greer, a wedding photographer based in Los Angeles.
"Early in my career, a groom hired me by phone. When I arrived at the wedding and introduced myself to the bride, she gestured toward my camera and said, 'Don't point that [expletive] thing at me today!' That made it a pretty rough day. They divorced three months later. I think that a willingness to happily consider the needs of your partner is key to a fulfilling, long-term relationship. And that includes embracing photography even if being photographed isn't your favorite thing," he continued.
On the flip side, couples who appear to have amazing chemistry together in photographs don't always end up having happy marriages. Sure, couples might be affectionate and love to cuddle each other, and this chemistry looks great on camera. But if physicality is the only thing keeping the relationship going, then it definitely won't last long.
Sol Tamargo, one of the founders of Del Sol Photography in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, remembers shooting a really fit couple who had great photos. Unfortunately, they are now divorced. "They had a very physical relationship and it was interesting to watch their body language and how they communicated with each other," he recalled. "At the end of the wedding, they invited me to photograph them in a private room for intimate and sexy photos. By the way they asked me, I wasn't sure if they wanted me to photograph them or join them. It was an odd feeling and I politely declined, finished my evening and went home. One year after the wedding, they were separated."
Another bad sign is having a huge rejection rate on the guests' RSVPs. Photographers know that it's common for 10 to 15 percent of the total guests to bail out during the wedding, but if the number is more, something is definitely up.
"It's a telltale sign that your friends and family know that the couple is never going to work out! It's sad, but so unbelievably true," said Brian Delia, owner of Brian Delia Photography from Clifton, New Jersey. "I was photographing a wedding where the couple invited 250 guests, paid the venue minimum of 200 plates and only 60 people showed up! That same couple came up to me and asked me if I wanted to invite my wife and kids to the reception because they paid for all these dinners and no one came! I just recently found out that the couple has since been separated."
Lastly, it's a bad sign as well if couples cannot see eye to eye regarding their wedding finances. People might argue that love is the only ingredient needed in a wedding and marriage, but Miami Photo owner Carlos G. Osorio said it's also important to consider finances. "Money is an important factor in all marriages and often plays a part in why they fail," he said.
Legal expert Ann-Margaret Carrozza also told Forbes that the number one mistake couples make is spending way too much on their wedding. It's really tempting to go all-out and enjoy a dream wedding, but if it will only lead to overwhelming debt in the future, Carrozza suggested that couples be prudent.
"Most couples starting out can't afford to pay cash for that so they're going into debt to pay for this one day celebration," she said, adding that "for many young couples that's on top of student loan and credit card debt. So they're literally drowning in debt out of the gate."
