The getting ready portion of your wedding is one of my favorite parts! There is stillness and calm as you ease into the day, eventually culminating in butterflies, and excitement (and often tears!) as you get dressed, and your closest friends and family see you in your gown for the first time!
How l photograph the getting ready part of your wedding day:
I like to arrive forty-five minutes before everyone’s hair and makeup is complete. During this time I style your details beautifully, such as your rings, jewelry, dress, and wedding invitations. This window of time allows me to not only carefully set up your details, but also assess whether the area you have prepared for me beforehand has enough space, light, too much clutter or if items are missing.
Contrary to the name of the section, I actually don’t photograph brides or bridesmaids with their bare faces! After everyone’s hair and makeup has been done, and I have finished shooting details, I will quickly photograph make-up and hair touch-ups. These create a seamless timeline in your wedding gallery and album.
Next, I photograph you and your close friends in pretty robes. There can be gift exchanges, champagne toasts and you reading a letter from your groom. This part is a lot of fun (though the letter reading is always emotional!) and takes between fifteen to thirty minutes.
Then it comes time to photograph your mother and/or friends helping you into your gown! I won’t actually document you undressed, only the portion where you are being laced/buttoned/zipped in. As with the details, you will get the best results in a well-lit location in front of a window with no clutter. This part takes between fifteen to thirty minutes, depending on the complexity of your gown.
Finally, I take some photos of you in your dress all made up and ready to go! This is also the perfect time for another toast!
Your Getting Ready Check-List
1. The absolute most important thing: Make sure there is abundant NATURAL WINDOW LIGHT in the room where you will be getting ready. Brides have rearranged dining rooms and even prepared enclosed back porches to make sure of this. It will make all the difference to your final photos!
2. Keep all the clutter away! Particularly the area near the window where I will photograph details and where you will be putting on your dress. This means no bags, trash, plastic bottles, snacks, etc. I often recommend choosing one dark corner where these can accumulate through the morning. Have your floors swept and carpets vacuumed, especially where you will be putting on your dress.
3. Before I arrive, have ALL your details ready for me to start styling, in the chosen clutter-free well-lit spot. This will save A LOT of time, because we won’t be hunting down rings, shoes, invitations etc. Here is your list of details to have ready:
Your invitation; 2 invitation envelopes ideally with a real or mock address on each one, that can be seen online; save the dates; menu and program from the reception – make sure these are clean and all crease-free
Vow books (You can find affordable ones here)
A sentimental ring box, or a lovely one from The Mrs. Box (I also have a small selection!)
The Rings: If you want to have all your rings photographed have both yours and your partner’s ready, including your engagement ring.
The most important!! Individual flowers and floral trimmings (not just greenery!) If you ask your florist they will happily supply these, which I can use for styling your details. This is what really makes it all pop!
Leftover silk ribbon or fabric from your dress and bouquet. (I also have a small selection or you can buy pretty ribbon here)
Your veil if you have one.
Other Jewelry: such as your earrings, necklace, etc.
Your perfume if it's in a pretty bottle.
Optional but lovely, are glass jewelry boxes, silver trays. (I also have a small selection!)
Other sentimental or meaningful items such as gifts to your bridesmaids, lockets etc.
If you have alternate shoes to wait in, and your wedding ones are photogenic and clean, then those are good too!
Your Wedding Dress, unpackaged and ready to photograph on a pretty hanger.
Bridesmaid Dresses also out of any packaging, with tags removed and on pretty hangers.
Timing in a nutshell:
At MINIMUM I ask for one-and-a-half hours from the moment I arrive, to when we leave for the ceremony. Two hours are preferable. In summer (peak wedding season) the later your ceremony starts, the better - not only for gentler light, but also in order to fit in the getting ready section and some evening portraits after the sun has set, giving you a complete wedding gallery.
*If your entire wedding is at the same venue, such as a backyard and you are very organized with all your details, it is possible to fit this portion into an hour!
Give yourself and your photographer (me!) more time than you might think. Although I naturally shoot quite quickly, a calm start is better than all of us feeling rushed. And remember, you are the bride, you set the pace for your day, so relax and have fun - you are about to get married!
Be sure to read Photographing The Groom Getting Ready for more tips!
Fine Art wedding, proposal and engagement photographer located in Victoria, B.C. As seen in Today’s Bride Magazine, Tourism Victoria, The Fairmont Empress, Bilston Creek Farm, Uptown, People’s Jewellers, Barclay’s Jewellers, Ann Louise Jewellers, Anzie Jewelry, Noam Carver, Watters, Paloma Blanca Bridal, Prestige Resorts and more…