Everything You Need to Know About Getting Ready for Your Wedding Day
When you wake up on your wedding day, you might be feeling a plethora of emotions- joy, excitement, anxiety, a sense of non-reality, or you might feel really unsettled like you are getting ready to jump out of your skin. All these are perfectly normal emotions because you have arrived on a huge day of your life! Give yourself space to feel whatever you are feeling in the morning and don’t feel like you need to apologize for any anxiety or nerves. These are normal!
My biggest advice I would give to my couples on the morning of their wedding day- sit and eat. You might not feel like eating much, but you will be standing and posing for a lot of photos later so you might as well sit and eat now.
Hair and Make up
The number one cause of a wedding day running behind is during the getting ready process. It is usually hair and makeup that runs late. I am not bashing the wonderful hair and makeup artists in the industry, I’m saying that it is usually a breakdown in people being there on time or not budgeting enough time for the getting ready process, especially if there is a large bridal party. Lean on your hair and makeup artists for their recommended timeline and schedule so they know how much time is required to get everyone ready. Be sure to be upfront with them about how many people need their services- if you plan on them also getting mom’s or grandma’s ready, they will need to know that in advance. They won’t necessarily be able to just add someone in on the fly if they didn’t account for them in the plan.
My rule of thumb: whatever time you actually want to be done with hair and makeup, add a half hour prior to that and tell that time to your hair and makeup artist. That gives you a little wiggle room to sit and eat and gives flex time in case anything is running late.
Getting Ready Space
Pick a space to get ready that has enough room to accommodate the bridal party, all their stuff, hair and makeup chairs and equipment and still has a space to get ready. Usually one regular hotel room doesn’t cut it. If you have the ability to get a suite at the hotel you are staying at where there is a little extra room, I definitely recommend it! Or, another option is to rent a house on Airbnb or another home sharing app that allows you to rent out the space for the day. That way there is enough room and space for everyone. As you pick out the space, be thinking about light. Are there big windows that let in light? Both your hair and makeup artists and I, your photographer, will be needing lots of natural light. Remember, this space is where all your getting ready photos will be at: if you pick a cramped, dark space, your photos will be cramped and dark. My recommendation is always to get a room with lots of white and neutrals, plenty of space, and lots of windows and natural light.
Details
When I arrive on your wedding day, you will still be getting ready and might not have hair and makeup all the way done. That is fine! The first thing I’ll do is come up to you and check in and see how things are going. I’ll probably do a happy dance with you as well. This is your moment to tell me anything I need to know for the day- any last minute changes, people who could/couldn’t come, or any emotional dynamics that I need to be aware of (ie, unhappy momma or family member). I want to know these things because it is my job to make sure everything runs smoothly and everything is accounted for. I’ll introduce myself to the bridal party and then I’ll get started on details. I will most likely only do “finishing touches” of you getting ready, once your hair and most of your makeup is done. I find that most people don’t want photos until they are mostly ready.
My biggest piece of detail advice: have a box/container that holds all the details ready for me when I arrive on your wedding day. That way you don’t have to scramble and find everything while you are trying to get ready. Here are some examples of things that could be in the details box:
Rings (engagement, both wedding bands)
Jewelry- necklace, bracelet, rings, etc.
Headpieces
Shoes
Invitation suite (invite, envelope, RSVP card, save the date)
Wax Seals and personalized seal
Something old, new, borrow, blue
Vow books, handwritten vows
Ring boxes, ring dishes,
Anything of sentimental value (ie. a locket from grandma)
The first 5 on this list are what most people have, but don’t feel like you HAVE to have all these things. These are just some examples.
I will take the details and set up in a corner with lots of light. I will do a flatlay of all the details so they are all captured in one frame together. While I do this my second shooter will be getting candid photos of you and your loved ones getting ready. These aren’t going to be posed, they will just capture what’s happening as it’s unfolding.
If possible, please have the florals delivered to your getting ready spot. This not only allows you to see the florals in the morning and sign off on them, but it allows the flowers to be used in the flat lay. Please ask your florist if they could include a few loose florals/greenery so I can incorporate them into the details flatlay. This elevates the flatlay into a beautiful piece of art.
Please have the dress hanging on a plain surface in the room where it can be photographed. If I need to I might move the dress but I typically don’t take it out of the room. I’ll take photos of the dress, viel, and any other details I see in the room, as well as your getting ready final touches.
Getting Dressed
Once everyone is ready, hair and make up is done, and all the details are documented, it will be time to get started!!! If your bridal party all have “getting ready outfits” like robes, PJ’s etc., I will get a quick photo of all of you, maybe even with mimosas in hand! I will have the bridal party get dressed after that. Everyone except the bride will get dressed so that when the bride steps into the dress everyone else in the background will look polished and put together.
If you are the bride, think about who you would like to help get you dressed. It could be your mom, best friend, sister, or someone important to you. I’ll have you get mostly dressed so you are covered, and then I will move you into a cleared space probably near a window or light source. I’ll help guide you and your person to help you get dressed. It will be slow- I usually budget about 30 minutes to get dressed just because it is such a process and I like to make sure I get every little moment documented. You will get buttoned/zipped up, and then you will put on any jewelry, then your shoes, then your veil if you have one. I’ll grab a couple photos of you and your bridal party/mom/anyone who is in there at the time, and then you will be ready to go!!
Kristen’s Hot Tips:
Break in your shoes before the wedding day unless you want blisters. Have an extra pair of shoes ready.
If you are doing a garter, you don’t have to wear it all day. Take it off after photos and then just put it back on right before you need it at the reception.
Your planner/coordinator will help you with this- but be sure to think about how to transport your flowers/belongings to the next location if there is one. I would put all your belongings that you need for the day in one bag and entrust it with a friend or family member. After you are dressed, I will pop into where your fiance is getting ready, get a few “finishing touches” photos of them getting ready, and set up your first look!