Tips For Brides, Part 1: Getting Ready!

Clients ask our advice on everything from timelines, to venues, to first looks, etc. We had so much success and great feedback on our Blog with What To Wear Tips (https://awecaptures.com/what-should-i-wear/) we thought we would add a monthly Blog with tips for our clients!

Right now is engagement season which means Brides and Grooms who are newly engaged are looking to start booking Venues! Here are some tips on what to look for in a Getting Ready Room and what to think about when planning the getting ready photos!

Tip 1: Find a Room With Natural Light!

It is so important that your getting ready room has a big window that allows for gorgeous natural light rather than harsh yellow incandescent light!! A lot of hotels or Bridal Suites already have this taken care of but it is something to keep in mind when looking for your getting ready location! If the location you are getting married at only has one dingy room to get ready in, remember you aren’t stuck with that as your getting ready room! Why not rent a hotel room to get ready at with a big window that allows for more natural light!

Tip 2: Avoid Clutter!

We always remind our Brides ahead of time to straighten up the room and de-clutter everthing before we get there so you don’t lose any precious time cleaning the room after we have arrived (and trust me, I understand how hard that is, you should see my bathroom when I get all dolled up, make-up, curling irons, you name it, its out and it’s a hot mess;) But another thing to think about is not just your clutter, but try to find rooms that either don’t have a lot of JUNK in it or rooms that can be re-arranged so we can present the illusion that the room is clean and clutter free!

Tip 3: Be Prepared! Plan Ahead!

This one is ten-fold! If you are on Pinterest and you see a beautiful photograph where the Bridesmaids are all wearing matching Robes with Cherry Blossoms on it and they are all drinking out of matching champagne glasses, that did not happen on accident! Plan ahead with any outfits, poses, or props you want to use! Have your invitations, rings, shoes, dress, etc. all ready and picture worthy! We can always come up with fun creative positioning for your detail shots on the spot but if you have something specific in mind, don’t forget to plan ahead! Bring a pretty hanger so you aren’t stuck with a crappy plastic hanger for your gorgeous dress! Just think ahead and pin any ideas you might have and if you have anything in particular you absolutely don’t want to forget, include it in your shot list so we can be prepared too!

Tip 4: Set Aside Plenty Of Time!

A lot of people don’t realize this but the Getting Ready portion of the day is actually some of the most crucial time and requires the most amount of time. We recommend that you set aside around 2 hours for the Getting Ready portion of the day! During this time we not only get the Getting Ready photos of the Bride and her Bridesmaids, and the Groom and his Groomsmen, we also get the First look with the Bride and her Mom/Dad or the Groom with his Mom/Dad. We get the shoe shot, the dress shot, the ring shot, invitation pictures, detail pictures of the rooms, Groom Portraits, and Bridal Portraits. This part of the day is so fun, the anticipation, the nerves, the candid moments, the genuine reaction to seeing the Bride and Groom all ready for the first time, it is too much fun to miss a single moment!

Tip 5: Don’t forget the Bridal Portraits and the Groom Portraits!

This is an extension of the last tip but it deserves it’s own headline! We can’t emphasize enough how important it is that you set aside time for posed and candid portraits of the Bride and Groom seperately. This day will go by so fast, you blink and it is over! The only thing you will have left years down the road are the memories and the photographs! We suggest that at some point you set aside anywhere between 15-30 minutes for the Bridal Portraits and 15-30 minutes for the Groom Portraits! Sometimes it takes people a little while to settle down and calm their nerves in order to get the really great shots, so set aside time for these pictures so you don’t feel so rushed! Also, scope out locations for the Bridal and Groom Portraits! Of course, we can find some great spots to use but while booking your venue, scope out locations and take mental notes on specific spots you want your portraits taken.

Tip 5: DO A FIRST LOOK BEFORE THE WEDDING!

Now, I would never urge anyone to do a First Look if they strongly believe in the tradition of seeing each other for the first time as the Bride walks down the isle! However, if you are on the fence about a First Look…..DO IT!!! Not only does it save immense time at the crucial Cocktail hour of the night (when your guests are VERY eager for you to enter the party and join in on the fun) but it gives you two a moment alone! Our best reactions from Grooms seeing their Brides is actually at the First Look! Just imagine, you don’t have all of the eyes of the crowd on you and you two get to just have a private, well mostly private aside from the click of our silent shutter, to just see eachother and really let the moment soak in; you are getting married TODAY! You get a private moment AND we get all of the photos of you two and all of the photos of the entire Bridal Party completely out of the way so after the ceremony we can do Family Photos and then maybe snap a few of you two in a different location and then you get to go do what the whole night is all about….CELEBRATE AND PARTY THE NIGHT AWAY!!! If you are debating a first look….just do it!! I swore I would never do it for the longest time because of tradition and blah blah, now, when I get married the one thing I know for SURE is I am doing a First Look!!

Tip 6: Have Fun!

Just have fun with finding your Getting Ready location and with all of the planning that goes with it! Go on Pinterest and find inspiration, find rooms that speak to you and stick to your theme or style! We will get amazing photos no matter what, because let’s face it, we are pros, so take a deep breath and know that it will all work out and it will be the best day of your life! And if anything goes wrong, either it will be so off that you will laugh about it later, or it will be something you thought was so important and years later you completely forget that you didn’t have that exact glass you had bought just for your getting ready photos! Have fun with it! After all, it is the best party you will ever throw and all of your closest friends and family will be there to celebrate the day with you!!

Feel free to email us with any questions or any advice you might need on any aspect of your wedding! We love discussing your wedding with you, looking at your pinterest boards, hearing your creative ideas, and we love helping with any tips you might need since it not only makes your big day easier, it makes our job easier! We are passionate about what we do and we love sharing that passion with you! We can’t wait for your big day so let’s get this ball rolling! =)

Here are some images from our favorite rooms, our favorite props, and just our faves!