Insights · Before the ceremony
The dress is hanging up, someone is looking for the cufflinks and the phone rings for one last check-in. Wedding preparations have a rhythm of their own. A few simple decisions made in advance leave you more room to enjoy them.
Beautiful wedding preparation photos come from good light, a practical space and a schedule that doesn't rush you until the very last minute. The tips below apply to both the bride and the groom and can be adapted to the way you like to get ready.
Contents (9)
- 1. Choose a room with light and space
- 2. Tidy one corner, not the whole house
- 3. Gather your outfits and details the day before
- 4. Build a schedule with room for small surprises
- 5. Plan the bride's and groom's preparations separately
- 6. Keep the people who calm you close
- 7. Let the moments unfold
- One last look before your day
- Frequently asked questions about wedding preparation photos
1. Choose a room with light and space
Before deciding which room you'll get ready in, look at where the natural light comes in and how much space you have to move. A window and a clear corner are often more useful than an impressive but cramped, dark room.
Send your photographer a few photos of the space, ideally taken around the time the preparations will happen. This helps you choose the right spot and coordinate with your make-up and hair artists. Don't move their setup yourselves at the last minute just for a photo.
2. Tidy one corner, not the whole house
A getting-ready room will have bags, clothes, packaging and tools. There's no need to erase every trace of life from the house. Simply keep clear the spot where you'll get dressed and stand for a few portraits.
Set aside another room or a wardrobe in advance for suitcases and things you won't need. Ask someone close to you to help with this small bit of organising, so you aren't tidying up while you're getting ready.
3. Gather your outfits and details the day before
Keep together everything you'll wear and everything you'd like photographed: dress or suit, shoes, jewellery, cufflinks, perfume, rings or invitation, depending on where they are and what matters to you.
Remove packaging and labels beforehand and check whether the shirt, veil or other fabrics need ironing, following your vendors' instructions. If there is a family heirloom or a personal item with a special story, tell your photographer. They can't know what it means to you unless you tell them.
4. Build a schedule with room for small surprises
Start from the time you need to leave for the ceremony and plan the schedule backwards. Allow for travel, getting dressed, final touch-ups, a few portraits and photos with your loved ones.
Agree on finishing times with your photographer and beauty team. If everything ends exactly at the moment of departure, there's no room for a delay, or for a moment of calm. A little buffer time helps more than a long shot list.
5. Plan the bride's and groom's preparations separately
The groom's preparations also have people, details and moments worth keeping. Discuss what you'd like captured on both sides, rather than assuming one will be covered “if there's time”.
If you're getting ready at the same time in different locations, give your team exact addresses and times. Ask whether two photographers will cover both at once or one will cover them in turn, and what that means for your schedule. The answer should depend on the actual distances.
6. Keep the people who calm you close
Think about who you want with you while you get dressed, who will help with the shoes or the jacket, and who you'd like a photo with before you leave. Let them know what time they need to be ready.
Not everyone needs to be in the same room from the start. A little space makes things easier for your vendors and lets you enjoy the company of your loved ones. If there are any family sensitivities, let your photographer know discreetly before the wedding.
7. Let the moments unfold
You don't need to keep looking at the lens or thinking about how to smile. Talk with your friends, finish getting ready and let the photographer observe what happens.
When a small step towards the light or a little direction for a portrait is needed, they will ask you. Wedding preparation photos are valuable for the things you can't plan, too: a hug, a funny remark, a glance before you leave.
One last look before your day
- Have you chosen your getting-ready spot and told your photographer?
- Are your outfits, accessories and personal items all together?
- Do your vendors know the finishing and departure times?
- Is there a clear plan for both locations, if you're getting ready separately?
- Do the people you want in the photos know when they need to be ready?
Frequently asked questions about wedding preparation photos
Do we need to book a hotel for better photos?
Not necessarily. A familiar space with good light and enough room can work beautifully. If you're considering a hotel for practical reasons, check the real size of the room, the access, and whether your team is allowed in. The photos on booking sites don't always show what the room is really like.
When should the photographer arrive for the preparations?
The time should be agreed based on getting dressed, departure and what you'd like photographed. If you also want moments from make-up or hair, the photographer needs to arrive while they're still working. Don't assume they'll be there from the start to the end of hair and make-up.
What if the room is small or doesn't get much light?
Let your photographer know in advance. They may suggest another spot in the house, a different layout, or plan their lighting accordingly. The aim is for them to know the conditions so they can plan coverage without rushed changes on the wedding day.
If you're still looking for the right photographer, see our guide on how to choose a wedding photographer and what to ask before you book.
For the bride’s morning in particular, see our guide with 9 tips for the bride getting ready.
Let's plan the coverage of your day
At our studio in Patras, we talk through the locations, the people and the getting-ready schedule with you, so the photography coverage suits your wedding. You can browse wedding stories from our work and tell us about your plans.
Ask about your datePhotographs: Dimitris Stergiou and the studio team