If there’s anything I’ve learned from the 200+ weddings I’ve had the honor of capturing, it’s that the morning of your Big Day sets the tone for what’s to follow!
Stress and anxiety are the enemy here. You want to make sure every moment and detail are documented as beautifully and comprehensively as possible but you’re not sure how to make sure it all goes off without a hitch…
Don’t worry, I've got you covered! In this blog post, I will share my top five tips for the morning of your wedding day that will help you stay calm, organized, and ready to walk down the aisle with confidence knowing that your photographs are going to be stunning!
So let's dive in and make sure your wedding day morning is a success!
Ask your florist for loose blooms and greenery
When it comes to your wedding day details, my goal is to capture every carefully selected item as artfully and beautifully as possible.
One tip that makes SUCH a big difference is asking your florist for some loose blooms and/or greenery to be delivered along with your bouquets and boutonnieres. This may be a small additional charge but trust me - it’s SO worth it! These little natural touches add dimension and texture and also highlight your floral choices making your entire wedding gallery more of a cohesive work of art.
And let’s face it, nothing adds whimsy and romance like some soft blooms and lush greenery!
2. Don’t skimp on time!
Okay. So TRUST ME on this one! Your wedding day is a blur.
It moves so fast and your attention will constantly be demanded in three places at once (because everyone wants a piece of the Happy Couple on their Big Day - can you blame them?!) and chances are you won’t know what time it is for the vast majority of the day.
The absolute last thing you’re going to want to worry about is running late! After documenting countless wedding parties as they get ready, I’ve seen it all: earrings falling apart, dresses tearing, buttons popping. The list goes on. The best way to combat stress and anxiety is to schedule plenty of buffer time into the timeline. An extra fifteen minutes more than you think you’ll need here and there can make or break your whole morning.
I help all my couples create a perfect timeline based on their game plan but generally speaking you’ll want about 90 minutes of getting ready coverage.
ALSO: these are your last moments with your best friends as an unmarried person! Enjoy this very special morning celebrating with those who love you most instead of worrying about getting to the ceremony on time!
3. don’t underestimate the power of window light!
This one cannot always be controlled but if you find yourself with any choice ALWAYS opt for the getting ready space with windows!
Don’t get me wrong, in the absence of natural light we will still make magic together, I promise. But the soft ethereal nature of window light is hard to beat when it comes to flattering lighting conditions!
Hotels may offer you a conference room to get ready in which can be great for practical purposes but not-so-ideal for photographs. Conference rooms often mean no windows, overhead florescent lighting (not so flattering!) and crazy, high traffic carpets. If your wedding morning plan includes a conference room, I’d recommend planning on doing details and official getting ready photos in your actual hotel room!
A few more pointers when it comes to your getting ready space:
More is more when it comes to space and light. The bigger the room and the more windows you have to work with the more comfortable you and your pals will be as you enjoy the morning getting ready together.
Put a couple of willing participants in charge of “clutter duty”. Hungry, thirsty, excited people can generate a lot of stuff when they all get together. Bags, solo cups and Jimmy Johns wrappers may all be morning-of essentials but they definitely aren’t a cute look in photographs. Have your wedding party do a few sweeps of the room ass you guys get ready so by the time you’re photo ready the room won’t need a huge tidy and there won’t be clutter photobombing your otherwise beautiful photos!
Make sure you feed people! I TOTALLY screwed this up as a bride. I was such a nervous wreck organizing the actual wedding that I lost my own appetite the morning of and completely forgot that my bridesmaids, ya know, need to eat! Face palm. One of my best friends was five months pregnant and flew in from Ireland and I just. plain. didn’t. think. of. FOOD the morning of my wedding. Don’t be like Maura. Feed the girls who love you most, for the love of god! It can be as simple as having sandwiches delivered. And don’t forget to eat yourself! It’s going to be a looong day!
4. Consider exchanging letters and/or gifts!
Now one could argue that you’re about to give your fiancé the ultimate gift (you know, your undying love and fidelity!) but a lovely trend that doesn’t seem to be going anywhere is exchanging love letters and/or a gift with your soon-to-be-spouse.
It doesn’t have to be long or particularly profound, but it’s a beautiful way to take a moment before seeing them on your wedding day to take a few deep breaths and check-in with the why of it all.
Plus it can often be a sure fire way to get some emotional shots ;-).
5. Have a special first look with a parent or your bridesmaids.
WARNING: If you’re going to go this route I would recommend investing in a make-up artist who specializes in tear-proof make-up!
Your dress has been buttoned, curls are in place and you’re ready to do this thing! One beautiful way to cap off a perfect pre-wedding morning is to set aside five minutes for a first look with a special someone. This could be your parent(s) or your best friends - or both!
As mentioned, your wedding day zips along in the blink of an eye. You will never regret setting aside some time to intentionally be in the moment and savor this momentous day with the most important people in your life!
This can also be a beautiful opportunity to express your gratitude to those who are not only helping you throw your dream wedding but those who have had the biggest hand in helping you become the amazing person you are today. I’ve seen brides and grooms get so creative when it comes to gifting a parent or loved one with a sentimental keepsake to commemorate the day. Bonus: there’s a 99% chance we’ll capture some stunning emotional photographs!
While all of my couples receive a comprehensive magazine chalk full o’ tips to help set them up for wedding success, anyone who keeps these five getting ready tips front of mind as they plan the morning of their wedding day will most certainly reap the rewards! Prepping ahead is everything when it comes to smooth sailing on the big day.
Do what you can now so that you can be fully present and soak in every incredible moment.
This includes choosing an experienced photographer who can help guide you along and put your mind at peace knowing that they will be there to document it all so you can relive the love over and over again as the years roll by!