Dear Bride,

You know those super cute photos of your and your girls in the robes and the stunning pictures of the rings and the photograph of your dress hanging… Yeah, that’s what we call the getting ready and detail shots, and today, I am going to talk to you all about what you need to gather before your big day and the importance of where you get ready to ensure that you get all the pretty images you have been dreaming about!

On your wedding day, the first thing that I am going to do is give you the biggest hug ever, see how you are doing, and then find a good corner with light and take all of your details. The first thing I photograph on your wedding day are your details. Here are a few things you can do to prepare your details for your photographer:

• Gather The Goods. This is helpful for you and for me, so a win, win situation. This helps you make sure that you have everything you want and need detail wise for your wedding day. Gathering all of the details beforehand and placing them in one general location, like a bag or box in the corner of the room, will ensure that you have absolutely everything. This helps me because then I know where everything is, and I don’t have to bother you throughout the morning asking where certain details might be! You can just relax, drink that mimosa, and sing along to your favorite songs with your friends. (I’ll definitely be singing too, btw!)
  • What kind of goods am I talking about? Good question.
    • Rings (All three!)
    • Invitation Suite with Envelope
    • Bouquet and Boutenieres
    • Shoes
    • Dress
    • Veil
    • Bridesmaid Dresses
    • Perfume
    • All Jewelry
    • Hair Pieces
    • Any special gifts
    • Ribbon, stamps, wooden hangers, extra florals (these make photographers heart flutter)
• Time is Everything. Make sure when you are planning your day, you give your wedding photographer enough time to photograph all of those beautiful details! Details are the first thing I photograph, they get me prepared for the day. It’s like warming up before the big game! I want to make sure that I am warmed up and ready to go for your big day, and that I have every little detailed beautifully photographed!

Getting Ready. How do you get the best getting ready images? Read below to find out!

• Oodles and Oodles of Natural Light. Oh the getting ready room… I have seen the best of the best and I have seen the worst of the worst. So how do you get the best of the best? When you are looking for a place to get ready on your big day, look for spaces with a lot of natural light… Meaning windows, lots and lots of windows!
• Keep an Open Mind. Okay, so not all getting ready rooms have the beautiful windows with the beautiful natural light. I totally understand, but this is where you need to keep an open mind and trust your wedding photographer. It is YOUR day, so whatever you want goes, but I know for my brides, if they are getting ready in a dark space, I will ask them if they are okay with putting on their dress in an area that has a window, and my brides always so yes!! (I love them oh so much!)
• Bridesmaids and Mom Dressed and Ready to Go. Whether it’s your mom or one of your bridesmaids zipping you up as you put on your dress, make sure that they are dressed and ready to go! Have them get dressed a few minutes before you put on your dress, and this way in your photos they are looking their best in the photos as well!