Getting Ready: Where the Story Begins...
The getting ready portion of your wedding day is one of my favorite chapters to photograph. It’s the quiet excitement, the laughter with your favorite people, the final touches that make everything feel real. This time sets the tone for the entire day, and with a little planning, it becomes a beautiful blend of calm, connection, and anticipation. Below you’ll find tips to help you create a relaxed, meaningful, and photo‑friendly start to your celebration.
Ready to make your morning as smooth and beautiful as the rest of your day? I’d love to help you plan a timeline that keeps things stress‑free and full of genuine moments. Let’s craft a getting‑ready experience you’ll love looking back on.
How do you want your morning to feel?
During our planning call, I’ll ask you how you want your morning to feel - whether that be relaxed, candid, editorial, whimsical, or anything in between. Before we chat, it’s helpful to save a few inspiration photos that match the vibe you’re drawn to.
A few tips to help create that atmosphere:
A clean room makes the morning feel calmer and keeps photos looking polished. Choose one corner to tuck bags and clutter out of sight.
Matching or complementary getting‑ready outfits aren’t required, but they photograph the best and keep the images from feeling busy.
Custom hangers, while not essential, they elevate dress photos and add a thoughtful touch - whether it’s a personalized hanger, a vintage one, or something meaningful to you!
Find inspiration on Pinterest and/or my website and create boards for each part of the wedding day so we can design a mood board for your day.
What are the 5 most important photographs you want from the morning?
It matters to me that your morning is documented in a way that feels true to you. There are so many small moments we don’t always think about, but they can be incredibly beautiful - putting on lipstick, fastening jewelry, sharing a candid moment with your mom or siblings, slipping under your veil, or catching your reflection in the mirror.
Before we have our wedding timeline meeting, take a quick scroll through Pinterest and save a few images that match the moments you want to remember most. It helps me understand your priorities so I can capture them naturally!
Emotional & Candid Moments that you can expect...
Your morning is full of little moments that unfold naturally, and many of them become the most meaningful photos of the day. Here are a few we can plan for if you’d love them captured:
- Bridesmaids seeing your dress for the first time (or even showing it to the groomsmen before the groom’s first look)
- Parent first looks
- Reading letters or exchanging gifts
- Champagne pop, celebratory toast, or a champagne tower
- Candid laughter, nerves, and quiet in‑between moments
- Putting on your dress - whether it’s a sweet surprise for your partner later or soft, intimate moments as you finish getting ready
- Bridesmaids adjusting your dress, veil, hair, makeup, or jewelry
- Giving gifts to your bridal party or parents
Fun Props!
If you love a playful, celebratory vibe, props are a great way to bring that energy into your photos. They give you something to interact with, help everyone loosen up, and make the morning feel even more fun. They’re never required, but if you plan to bring any, let me know ahead of time so I can build them into your timeline.
Here are some ideas:
- Champagne
- Sunglasses
- Short party veil
- Cowgirl hat
- Teacups
- Extra flowers
- Polaroid cameras
I recommend playing music while you're getting ready, it changes the vibe!
Morning Tips for the Ladies
Here are a few helpful things I’ve learned from documenting wedding mornings:
- To keep your necklace centered, dab a little eyelash glue on the back of your neck before putting it on.
- Avoid steaming dresses after hair and makeup - steam can undo all that work. Steaming the night before is best.
- If you’re using body tape, try to apply it before I arrive. Once photos begin, time moves quickly and taping can slow us down.
- Bridesmaids and moms should be dressed before you step into your gown.
- I don’t recommend spray tans - they can photograph orange and sometimes transfer onto dresses.
- Hold your bouquet with the stems facing you and the blooms facing out. Professional florists usually have a line of buttons on the ribbon. When holding the bouquet, make sure the buttons are facing away from you.
- Assign someone to help manage the timeline if you don’t have a planner.
- Wearing gloves? Use double‑sided tape to keep them from slipping.
- Veil weights are great for keeping your veil in place on windy days.
- Consider having a second dress on hand - spills, weather, or unexpected mishaps happen, and a backup keeps the day stress‑free and the photos flowing.
