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Alice Gibbs is a Newsweek Senior Internet Trends & Culture Reporter based in the U.K. For the last two years she has specialized in viral trends and internet news, with a particular focus on animals, human interest stories, health, and lifestyle. Alice joined Newsweek in 2022 and previously wrote for The Observer, Independent, Dazed Digital and Gizmodo. Languages: English. You can get in touch with Alice by emailing al*********@******ek.com.
Senior Life and Trends Reporter
A quick-thinking bridesmaid has been cheered after stepping in during a pivotal wedding moment, ensuring the bride and groom’s special moment was picture-perfect.
The video, shared by Georgia-based wedding photographer Brittany Sterling, showed the moment when the bridesmaid moved the wedding officiants out of the shot so that the couple could have their fairy-tale kiss photo.
Footage begins as the officiants announce that it is time for the newlyweds to seal their vows with a kiss. As the moment approached, a bridesmaid sprung into action, gently but decisively moving the officiants out of the frame. Her perfectly timed intervention ensured the couple’s kiss was unobstructed, creating the ideal shot.
The wedding photographer Sterling was delighted that the bridesmaid stepped in when she did, as it meant she was able to get the perfect shot—and worry a little less about editing the moment.
“I have been a wedding photographer for 13 years. My reaction was just like, ‘thank you,’ because, most of the time, the officiants do step away,” Sterling told Newsweek. “It was discussed beforehand that, if they didn’t, someone should move them. As a photographer, I can Photoshop, but it’s much easier if they just step out of the way.”
@brittany_sterling/TikTok
Another wedding photographer recently shared all of the small edits she makes in photographs that often go unnoticed but make a big difference to the final product. She said that each image can take anywhere from six to 20 minutes to edit—quite a challenge with a collection of over 1,000 images.
Other photographers have had to step in themselves to prevent shots being ruined; one asked a guest to move out of the aisle during the ceremony so she could get the perfect shot.
The moment the bridesmaid stepped in has since gained viral attention on TikTok with more than 1.5 million views and hundreds of comments.
“I thought it was amazing and funny at the same time,” Sterling added. “I just started to get more into wedding content this year and plan to do a lot more this year. I had no idea it would go viral like it did.”
In the comments, people shared their own experiences and praised the quick-thinking bridesmaid.
“Neither my officiant or my videographer got out of the way!!” said viewer MORGAN_5454, while Crystal had the opposite experience: “As soon as we were ready to kiss, our officiant slipped out of view.”
“She bout dragged her out of the way! She understood the assignment for sure!” wrote viewer Bernadette Ann, praising the bridesmaid.
Britt.bratt3 posted: “Officiants need to just know they need to be stepping out.”