Wedding Day Tips: How to Prepare for Beautiful Pre-Ceremony Photos
It's Wedding Wednesday!
Have you ever wondered how to be sure your photographer will capture gorgeous photos of you and your bridal party getting ready on your wedding day? Of course, we as photographers have the eye and knowledge of how to do this, but your planning comes into play here too! While we work with what we're given to provide you with beautiful candid images, we want to be sure our clients will have classic and timeless photos to cherish from this part of the day. It's for this reason that I've listed out a few things to keep in mind when choosing the location that you'll be getting ready.
1. Be sure there is a decent amount of natural light (a.k.a. window light) in the room(s) where the wedding couple will be getting ready.
Natural light is my favorite light to work with, because it is how I most effectively achieve the light, airy and romantic style in my photographs. If possible, I suggest that both sides of the bridal party get ready in rooms with lots of natural light (think big windows and a larger space), where we won’t need lamps or artificial light. Having an orange tungsten light from the lamps mixed in with the light from the window can make for less than flattering portraits. I realize not all locations allow for this, especially if you'll be getting ready in a Sunday school room at a church with only a small window. In this case, you may want to look into a different location for wedding prep, such as a nearby hotel. Getting ready can be such a beautiful time to get those genuine pre-wedding shots, but the energy can be ruined by the aesthetic. A cluttered, messy dark room takes away from the beauty of the genuine moments happening. Natural light makes a WORLD of difference in your images, I promise!
**Your makeup artist will also thank you for this!
2. Keep the area near the window free of clutter and mess.
Try to keep clutter and trash, such as extra clothing or snack bags to a minimum, so they don’t end up in the background of your wedding photographs. Instead, designate one small area of the room where everyone can place their things. The last thing you’ll want is a beautiful portrait of you and your girls as you’re getting into your dress, with water bottles scattered in the background!
3. Gather all of your details together before your photographer arrives.
I always ask my wedding couples to have all of their details together before my assistant and I arrive to the location where they'll be getting ready. Doing this will make the time allotted for detail shots more efficient, maximizing the shooting time your photographer has, instead of having to waste those precious minutes gathering everything together! Unsure of what details to bring? Here's a general list I give to my clients:
GROOM:
- Tuxedo or suit
- Bow tie or tie
- Watch
- Cufflinks
- Shoes
- Boutonniere
- Cologne
- Any personalized items
BRIDE:
- Dress, veil and/or hair pieces
- Rings (engagement and BOTH wedding bands)
- Jewelry
- Shoes
- Bouquet
- Perfume
- Garter
- Entire invitation suite (including your save the date)
- Your something old, new, borrowed and blue
- Any personalized items
I also provide them with a list of a few other items to consider:
- Personalized items (bridal robe, flask, groom’s funky socks, etc) can add to your wedding day to make it even more unique!
- A nice ring dish or box can add so much to your detail shots! Pick one that matches your wedding colors or theme. The Mrs. Box is a beautiful option, as well as the many wonderful ring dishes available on Etsy!
- Wooden hangers to hang your dresses on are a great alternative to the plastic ones you may get from a bridal salon. The wooden hangers photograph beautifully, and look much nicer in your photographs!
4. Allow for extra time than you think you'll need to get ready.
When writing your wedding day timeline, you'll always want to plan for more time than you think you'll need to get ready. Trust me, you won't want to feel rushed!
5. Relax and enjoy the day. You're getting married!!
Stress and frustration will always show through in a portrait. Let the little details of the day go, and be fully present in each and every moment of your special day. Take some time to enjoy a heart to heart moment with your mom, grandmother, father or whom ever is around you. Those are priceless, unforgettable moments that will make your wedding day memories all the more special!
If you liked this post, be sure to check out more wedding day tips here!