The Getting Ready Portion of Your Wedding Day: Why It Matters as a Bride

There’s something really special about the time spent getting ready together, surrounded by the most important women in your life. Imagine sitting side by side with your best friends, your Mom, Aunt, Grandmother (those most meaningful to you) while playing music, sharing stories, getting glammed up! Although wedding days can feel jam packed with action from start to finish, this getting ready process brings a sense of familiarity and joy, along with the anticipation. It’s the calm before the celebration, made even more special because it’s shared with the women who know you best.

I have photographed weddings in Charlottesville for more than 20 years, and I have witnessed over 500 weddings. I can confidently say that these moments before the action is where the emotion of the day truly begins.

Why It Is Important

Before the music starts and the guests begin to arrive, the emotion of the day has already begun. On the surface, it may look like hair and makeup, but it feels like support, pride, and love from those who know you best. It presents that same feeling of girlhood, while stepping into a defining moment of adulthood. 

As a photographer, it’s important to capture these candid, beautiful moments. Over the years, I have come to really understand the heart behind these interactions, and I am constantly watching for them. The nerves, excitement, love, and everything in between.  When looking back one day it will be moments you truly cherish and share with future generations!

‍

How to Plan for a Stress Free Time as you get ready

As a bride, you dream about certain moments, and one of the biggest is stepping into your dress for the first time. It is the moment everything becomes real. The months of planning, the anticipation, the emotion all come together at once. Don’t rush it! Enjoy it!

To truly enjoy time with loved ones, to savor hair and makeup, and to be fully present for that pinnacle moment, it takes a thoughtfully planned pre ceremony timeline. When we plan the photography timeline for your wedding day, I intentionally build in extra time so you can breathe, soak it in, and experience it without feeling hurried.

While we will cover more about wedding day timeline in a separate planning guide, here are a few keys to answer that important question: how long does getting ready take on your wedding day?

Work closely with your Planner, Photographer and Hair & Makeup Team to see how much time each person needs. Because we most often photograph as a team of 2 photographers, we will photograph your details and the last hour of hair & makeup at the same time. For each couple we personalize the experience, but on average (for an 8 - 10 hour coverage) you can expect us to arrive 3 or more hours before the ceremony to capture your getting ready portion of the wedding day. 

Keep your details organized in one place, so it is easy to bring with you. Give yourself and your wedding party extra time to arrive, and allow 5 - 10 minutes between each person doing Hair & Makeup, so nothing feels rushed. It is especially important for that one bridesmaid or mom who needs a little extra attention, or always is late (you probably are thinking of that person right now). Small considerations like these make a difference in how your day and photos feel.

Plan for your bridesmaids and mom/aunt/grandmother to get dressed before you. They will want to be photo ready as they help you into your dress. Set aside 30 minutes of time for you to get into your own dress. Now you may think, why so long? This is where we build in buffer room in case things are running late, or your dress is being a diva and requires a little extra time to get perfect! Plus you’ll want time to take it all in, and enjoy this moment with everyone surrounding you. 

‍

The Moment it Hits: You are the Bride

As the final pieces of the look come together, the energy in the room begins to shift. There’s a newfound sense of confidence that comes once the final curls are set, the lipstick is applied, and the dress is zipped. You get to look in the mirror and see yourself, not as someone planning a wedding, but as a bride. Take a few moments to really process this moment and what it means to you!

‍

The Photographer Is Your Extra Bridesmaid

After more than 500 weddings helping brides get ready, I have learned to anticipate what you might need before you even ask.

I have helped place more veils than I can count. I teach how to slide the comb in securely and where to tuck the bobby pins so it holds. I will help you fluff your train, straighten straps, and smooth fabric so everything photographs beautifully.

The bridesmaids almost always have a good laugh when they realize I know more about false lashes, heels, and hair placement than they expected. It becomes part of the fun. 

My role is not just to document the morning. I’m here to support you, just like your bridesmaids, so you can feel and look confident. 

‍

‍The Documentary/Candids Moments Leading Up to the Big Moment

One of my personal favorite moments of the day is the first looks. The gasps, the tearful smiles, and the looks of pride and love. These can be shared with your dad, your mom, your bridesmaids, your soon-to-be husband, or anyone else meaningful who has not yet seen you in your final look.  First looks are so special because they give you a more intimate option, before the ceremony, where you can really process some of the emotions of the day with the people you love the most.

These reactions create one of a kind pictures that will become incredibly sentimental years down the line. These are the kinds of images that will bring you right back to that room, and the bonds shared between your closest friends.

‍

Bridal Portraits

After seeing yourself fully ready and taking in the reactions from your first looks, you no longer feel like someone just preparing for their wedding day. You feel like a bride.

There is a natural glow that comes from that moment, which is why I love moving straight into bridal portraits after the reveal. You step in feeling confident yet relaxed, carried by the joy of the women in your life. I guide you gently, capturing the elegance of your dress and veil, but more importantly, the radiance that only comes from being surrounded by love. These portraits are not separate from the morning. They are the natural continuation of it.

‍

Photos That Mean Something Years From Now

As your photographer, my goal is to create wedding day photography that feels meaningful, timeless, and full of life. All of the moments leading up to the ceremony deserve just as much attention and intention as the rest of your day, because they are where the celebration truly begins.

If you are planning your wedding and want a photographer who values both the timeline and the emotion behind these moments, I would love to walk into that room with you and document the calm before the celebration.

‍