Wedding day Bridal Preparations
As a Yorkshire wedding photographer, I document many wedding mornings, and we all know this is the most essential glam-up a girl will ever have!! I find bridal preparation to be a happy time, surrounded by your best tribe, celebrating being female, getting pampered, and feeling special. Here are a few tips to help make this time run smoothly and create awesome bridal preparation photography.
Make it crack, pop the bubbles, and put on some tunes. Be as organised as possible. I can tell you this: The morning starts gently and slowly, and you think you have all the time. All of a sudden, you have an hour to go!!

Sarah has such a great vibe—she’s so calm, fun, and super a talented photographer. When dress mishaps happened on the morning of my wedding, Sarah jumped in and totally saved the day.
Relaxed Bridal Preparations
Your vibe attracts your tribe. As a laid-back and fun wedding photographer, I attract couples with the same mindset. Give yourself plenty of time for bridal preparation and add an extra hour on top of what you think you’ll need. Things can get a little tense if you don’t allow extra time.
Bridal Preparation Location Tips
The place to get ready for the wedding is often an obvious one. Many wedding venues have a room for this, with the option to stay overnight. This is the perfect choice. Alternatively, many brides choose to get ready at home. I love this option as it can hold sentimental value for you. Don’t worry if your home isn’t fancy. Personal items and an authentic setting will add sincerity to your bridal preparation photos. These are the images that will become more precious as time goes by. When taking pictures, I always try to make use of natural light. I’m sure the makeup artists appreciate this, too. Window light is essential, and I prefer to take photos in natural light. I recommend positioning yourself close to windows when doing your makeup and getting dressed; this is the best light and most flattering.
As a relaxed documentary wedding photographer, my focus is on capturing genuine and heartfelt connections during your special day. I steer clear of contrived moments and instead seek to capture the authentic beauty of real moments as they occur.
Gifts For Each Other And Your Besties
It is a time-honoured wedding tradition, but not necessarily, the bride and groom give gifts and cards to his and her ga g. This is a beautiful opportunity to capture gold-worthy reactions and emotions. Documenting the closeness between your loved ones is fantastic and one of my favourite parts of the morning. And, of course, remember each other. This is when brides and grooms exchange cards and gifts with each other. As seen from the images above, I can always guarantee a few tears he e. I love these moments. I often fill up behind my lens, too!
Make A Time Line Of The Bridal Morning
II know this sounds like a sergeant major, but working backwards from when you need to be ready and creating a timeline for the morning will, in the long run, help it run more smoothly.
It’s easy to lose track of time. Knowing who is scheduled for hair and makeup at any time can help you stay organised and on schedule during the wedding day. I highly recommend delegating this task to a trusted bridesmaid so that you can have some time to relax and enjoy the special day.” Remember to allow extra time. I promise you, it will be a lifesaver.
Plan to put your dress on at least 30 minutes before you leave or when the registers have given you the time to speak to them. This is all for the dress to be put on correctly. Fastening them up takes longer than you think!! People who do it daily show you in the shop, and by the time you get to your wedding, mums and bridesmaids have forgotten. Long, manicured nails are often tricky for mums/bridesmaids to fasten the wedding dress. A particular dress or crochet hook helps with small fiddley fastenings over the buttons. Once your dress is on, it’s time for the last flurries, makeup touch-ups, a glass of bubbles, a few deep breaths and giggles with your besties. And, if you are ready with plenty of time, we can get some stunning bridal and finely images. Trust me, it is better to be prepared and dress d. It is a much calmer, more relaxed experience for you.
Capturing The Details
I rarely show detailed shots on my social media or website portfolio, but this is not to say I don’t love photographing them. On the contrary, I love capturing them. A great tip is to arrange your dress, bouquet, shoes, jewellery, etc, in a place or close to each other so they are all laid out and easily accessible. I prefer to photograph them while you are wearing them throughout the day. However, taking a few shots of them before you put them on is also essential. The little things can be very sentimental. They can often be passed down from loved ones, grandparents, and parents.
And Finally, Your Grand Reveal
Capturing your loved ones’ reactions to seeing you in your dress is immeasurable. I will most likely rush straight to the church or venue after the bridal preparation. For this reason, it is essential that you are in your dress in time for this to happen. I love witnessing this part of the day; it’s always super emotional.
Bridal Portraits
If all of the above has gone to plan, we will have time for a couple of bridal portraits when the look has all come together, and you are ready to go!! If you are at the venue where you are getting ready, we would usually stay in the room so you stay safe from the groom and any last-minute guests arriving. A little bit of window light is all we need to create some stunning images. However, we could get outside and use the surroundings.
And To Recap
AND ONE LAST THING – THE MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL
Have fun. These moments are treasured and are a massively important part of the Story of your wedding day. It is such a happy time, and with a little careful planning, it can be a fabulous morning. It is also an excellent way to get used to being photographed.
Finally, remember that you ultimately set the tone and vibe, which is transferable to your party and the images. So let rip, have fun, and enjoy the moment.
Documenting Your Wedding Day Story
Although I’m based in Yorkshire, I’m cool with going wherever your wedding photography needs me. So, if you want to know more about how I shoot your wedding day, this is a good starting point: Click this link.
If you want to contact me about my availability and pricing, hit say hello below.
GET IN TOUCH