Getting Ready Wedding Photos: How to Plan the Perfect Morning

The morning of your wedding is full of nerves, laughter, prosecco and last-minute panics over missing hair grips. It is also one of my favourite parts of the day to photograph. Relaxed, natural getting ready wedding photos set the scene for your whole gallery, showing the people who matter most to you in the quiet hours before the celebrations begin. With a little planning, you can make sure those images are as beautiful as the rest of your day.

Choose the Right Room

Light is everything. A room with large windows and plenty of natural daylight will make a huge difference to your images, and to your make-up artist too. Avoid tiny rooms crowded with luggage if you can, and look for a space with a little character, such as a bay window, a beautiful bed or a period fireplace. When I scout a venue, I always look for the brightest room first, because good light makes getting ready wedding photos feel soft and flattering without any need for flash.

If you are getting ready at home, choose the room with the best window light and clear it of laundry baskets, chargers and clutter the night before. Your future self will thank you.

Plan Your Timings

I usually arrive around an hour and a half before you are due to leave for the ceremony. That gives me time to take getting ready wedding photos of the final touches of hair and make-up, the details, your bridesmaids or friends getting dressed, and the moment you put your outfit on. If you are working with a hair and make-up team, ask them to schedule you last but not too close to the wire, so there is a little breathing room.

Build in a buffer. Mornings almost always run late, and a relaxed schedule makes for calmer, happier getting ready wedding photos than a frantic dash for the car.

Gather Your Details

While you are in the make-up chair, I photograph the small things that tell your story. Put them together in one place before I arrive so nothing is forgotten:

• Rings, earrings and any jewellery
• Shoes, perfume and accessories
• Your invitation suite or order of service
• The veil, hair pieces or cufflinks
• Letters or gifts you are exchanging
• Anything sentimental, such as a family heirloom

Use a nice hanger for the dress or suit, too. A wooden or velvet hanger looks far better in getting ready wedding photos than the plastic one it arrived on.

Moments to Look Out For

The best images are rarely posed. I look for genuine moments: a nervous laugh with your maid of honour, a parent seeing you dressed for the first time, a friend fastening the buttons on your dress, or a quiet minute by the window. Groomsmen mornings are just as fun, from tying ties to sharing a toast. Let the morning unfold naturally and I will be there to catch the story as it happens.

Getting Ready Wedding Photos for Both Partners

If budget and timings allow, it is lovely to capture both sides of the morning. I often start with one partner and then travel to the other, or arrive at a venue where both are getting ready in different rooms. It shows the build-up from both perspectives and makes for a richer story in your album. Talk to your photographer about how to plan travel between the two locations.

Little Things That Make a Big Difference

• Keep it tidy. Pop bags and bottles in the bathroom so they stay out of your getting ready wedding photos.
• Get dressed near a window. The light is softer and more flattering.
• Eat something. It really does help with nerves and energy.
• Have a playlist on. Music relaxes everyone and makes for happier faces.
• Hand your phone to someone else. You will be far more present, and you will not spend the morning answering messages.
• Ask for a few minutes alone. Quiet moments often become the most treasured images.

You can find packages, local venue ideas and FAQs on my Hampshire wedding photography page.

Why It Matters

Years from now, the getting ready wedding photos in your album will remind you of the anticipation and the people who were there for you. They are the opening chapter of your story. If you would like your morning captured in a relaxed, natural way, have a look at my wedding photography packages or get in touch. You might also enjoy my guide to first look wedding photos.