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 Bruce Photography Merchanats Hall York Bridal portrait

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

  • The night before, remove all stickers, labels, and covers from dresses, shoes, and the veil. Have everything laid out/hung out ready.
  • Create the right atmosphere that suits you and your team’s vibes. Music is life!
  • Take deep breaths and have fun; this will relax you. 
  • Has your underwear been planned and tried with your dress? Have it ready and laid out. It’s likely the first time you have tried it all together, so make sure it works and is comfortable. 
  • Sort your perfume, jewellery-borrowed items, and something blue, and have it ready to put on. (Set a designated place for all to be to get.her) Then, your photographer does not have to bother you. 
  • Have your hair and makeup done first—you can top them up later. (The worst thing for a bride is to be fraught, not ready, and to rush.) I have seen this many times!!!
  • Have BM and mums get dressed and ready 20 minutes before you put on your dress. If you want them all to be in their matching PJ sets for these images, allow them time to get ready after you are dressed. 
  • FAN- it gets so hot in the rooms. 
  • Just in case, scissors and a little sewing kit are a must. I also bring one along with me. 
  • White chalk can help if there are any mishaps with the dress. 
  • Be organised with your stuff—the rooms get messy! Please remember that you and your wedding party will likely bring bags, packaging, and other gubbins. While these are part of your day and your wedding story, consider designating one area to keep these items so the rest of the room remains clutter-free in the bridal preparation shots.
  • Eat a hearty breakfast. You may not feel like eating; however, try to have something that will give you a slow release of energy. It’s likely the last time you will eat something until your wedding meal. 
  • To simplify, I suggest ensuring all vendors are paid in advance or preparing cash in envelopes to give out once the job is done. “Dealing with this in the morning is the worst—running around trying to sort everything out is stressful.”

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.

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