This portion of The Wedding Experience really sets the stage for the entire wedding day.  The next few pages will share tips and tricks that will ensure a seamless morning of bridal preparation and beautiful portraits!

THE START TO YOUR DAY

It’s the morning of your wedding! Hopefully all of the little details are taken care of and you’re relaxing with your best friends while your hair is being done. If certain items haven’t been checked off of the to-do list, it’s time to hand them over to someone else. Delegation is a key part of a stress-free wedding day.  I know it’s hard to hand over the decorating duties and all of the last minute things that need to be done, but it really is important to relax the morning of your wedding. The rest of the day is going to be fast paced and filled with a lot of emotions! Take advantage of this down time. 

There are a few things to consider about the getting ready portion of the day.  Will you and your groom be exchanging gifts during this time? If so, who would you like to deliver them? Are there certain women in your life that would appreciate seeing and/or assisting you into your gown? Some brides want very few people around for this moment. Other brides love having moms and grandmas present. It’s totally up to you!  Whoever you decide will be helping you, communicate with them when they should be in their wedding attire prior to helping you get in yours.

A few other things to consider…. as you get ready to put your dress on, refrain from putting any jewelry on.  I love shooting all of those final steps when you’re in your gown.  Speaking of the gown, if your gown is on a plastic hanger, try to make a note to bring a wooden hanger along for picture sake. If you want to get fun and bring a sparkly one…go for it! If you forget, no big deal… I’m a pro at finding wooden hangers at venues. Keep reading along for more “getting ready” tips to help you prepare.

If you are getting married at a hotel or resort, I suggest getting ready in your honeymoon suite – so think about booking two nights instead of just one. There are so many advantages to this: you will be able to relax the night before your wedding and get a good night’s sleep, everything you need for your wedding night and honeymoon will already be in your room so you will not need to worry about packing, you won’t need to travel on the morning of your wedding and will feel less rushed, and of course you will have a gorgeous space for photos!

When you are thinking about which room to book, look for a large or spacious suite. Prep photos are always enhanced when the background is clean and simple. Large windows are always a huge plus as well! Also remember to factor in travel time and traffic to and from your getting ready location and your venue.

If you will not be getting ready at a hotel, a lot of the above suggestions still apply! A clean and simple space is always best, and natural window light is a must!

Try to keep the space around the largest window clean – water bottles, bags, and clutter will detract from your images. Asking your bridesmaids to keep their bags and belongings on one side of the room is super helpful!

After I photograph the details, you will hopefully be done with your hair and make up. Remember to ALWAYS – ALWAYS – ALWAYS schedule more time than you think you need for that portion of the day. Even if you have done a trial, add at least half an hour to that time. Wouldn’t you much rather be sipping on some champagne with your girls and relaxing because you were done early rather than starting to stress because your hair is still not done and you were supposed to be in your dress already?

At some point in the day, if your groom is getting ready in the same location as you, I will carve some time out to photograph him getting ready. Your groom should have his pants and shirt on when my 2nd arrives and the groomsmen should be completely dressed. The groom’s details will be photographed first (socks, shoes, cuff links, belt, watch, tie, etc.), and then he will be directed to put these on close to a window.

Next we will have your girls change into their dresses. Anyone that you want to be present while you put on your dress should also be completely ready at this time (mom, grandma, etc). Again, make sure to schedule their makeup and hair with plenty of time to spare. Once all the ladies are ready, I will instruct you to slip on your dress close to a window.

I will first get photos of your dress getting laced/ buttoned/zipped up by your mom or maid of honor. Then we will have all of your bridesmaids gather around for a optional reveal, followed by fluffing your dress and loving on you. It makes for such great photos! We will then direct you while you put on your jewelry, garter, veil, and perfume and give you a few minutes to take in the fact that you are GETTING MARRIED!

The whole day begins with the DETAILS!  This is one of my favorite parts of the wedding day because it allows me to prepare and get my creative side warmed up for the rest of the day. I photograph a bride’s details in a way that matches and accentuates the style of the entire wedding day.  So, in some ways, the details set the stage for the look of the whole wedding and I love having ample time to stylize and shoot everything from the dress to the jewelry to grandma’s handkerchief. Years from now you’ll love looking at your album and seeing all the items you wore and details that were special to you on your wedding day. To the right you’ll find a list of the most common details that I shoot.  I ask brides to gather any details they have before I arrive so that I can walk in, say hello, give you a huge hug and then begin with all the goodies!