1. Finding the best place for your getting ready
In most cases, both spouses dress up separately. This increases the excitement for the first moment of seeing each other in your wedding outfits, whether it’s during the first look before the ceremony or during the classic wedding ceremony. Of course, there is also the option of getting dressed and styled together in the same room. In this respect, you should listen to your inner feeling, as this is a very individual decision.
Regardless of whether you get ready for your wedding individually or together, there are various options when it comes to the right location:
- at your home, if you are getting married in your home region
- in two different hotel rooms (in addition to your own room, the room of a family member or bridesmaid/groomsman could be an option)
- at your wedding location
Especially for free wedding ceremonies, it is common to get ready directly at the wedding location. This not only saves time (there is no need to travel) but is probably also the most relaxed option. This is particularly recommended for the bride, whose styling and dressing usually takes much longer than the groom’s.
2. Preparation of the rooms
The getting-ready area should have sufficient light and also be spacious enough. There should be a little more space, especially for the bride, to provide enough room for the wedding dress and other important utensils. And, of course, all the participants, such as the hair & make-up artist or the photographer, also need enough space to work. The cleaner and tidier the room is, the more the focus in your photos can be on you as individuals. A bright, light-flooded room naturally looks very different in the photos than a small, rustic room with dark walls. The colours of the walls, curtains and decorations also have a big influence on the look of your wedding photos. So be aware of the atmosphere you want your photos to reflect and choose the room for your getting ready to reflect this.
3. Timeline and organisation
The key to a stress-free getting ready is to plan your time carefully. It is advisable to start the planning process early and set a timeline for your wedding day. I highly recommend having a wedding planner on board for this – this is my number one tip for your entire wedding planning and also as support on the wedding day itself. Don’t just allow enough time for styling and getting dressed for the getting ready, but also plan some time for photos that are taken in your completely finished look. And of course, it’s also a good idea to plan a buffer for unforeseen delays. Depending on where you get ready, you may also need to travel to the wedding location.
Professional tip for styling: If you and your family members and/or bridesmaids also need to have their make-up done, it is advisable to book a team of several hair & make-up artists so that multiple people can be styled at the same time.
4. Who will join you at your getting ready?
For sure you want to have your favourite people around you at the Getting Ready – then pure emotions are pre-programmed. If you want a more calm and relaxed atmosphere, you should keep the number of persons in the room smaller. If you’d rather have a party atmosphere instead, you can of course just get all your bridesmaids or groomsmen together, turn up the music and have some glasses of champagne ready.
5. Important items and accessoiries
Get important utensils and accessories ready in advance that may be needed during Getting Ready. These include emergency kits, hairspray, make-up remover, sewing kit and snacks, to name just a few. In terms of clothing, it is recommended to wear simple outfits for getting ready (e.g. a long white blouse for the bride or a white kimono with lace – this will also keep your hairstyle perfect after styling).
If you would like to have a beautiful flatlay (an aesthetic photo of all the details of the wedding day), you should have the following accessories ready for me as the photographer (if available):
Getting ready checklist for the bride:
- Dress (and veil) on a beautiful hanger
- Kimono, white blouse or similar to wear during styling
- Jewellery (wedding rings, engagement ring, earrings etc.)
- Bridal bouquet (for even more beautiful photos, you can ask the florist if you can also get a few loose flowers or twigs from the bouquet)
- Shoes
- Perfume
- Vows
- Stationery (invitation, menu card)
- Other accessories that are part of the concept (such as Amalfi lemons at an Italian wedding)
- Emergency kit (e.g. sewing kit, hairpins, tissues)
Getting ready checklist for the groom:
- Suit on a nice hanger
- Bow tie or cravat
- Shoes
- Braces
- Cufflinks
- Handkerchief
- Perfume
- Vows
- Stationery (invitation, menu card)
- Jewellery (wedding rings, if they are not with the bride; watch; sunglasses)
- Emergency kit (e.g. sewing kit, tissues)
Summary
With these 5 tips, you can create the best conditions for the perfect pictures of your getting ready. As a photographer, I can only emphasise how helpful and time-saving it is if you have a tidy, spacious and bright room for your getting ready and have all your accessories ready. Then there are no limits for creativity to create unique and unforgettable memories.
