I usually refer to this part of the day as getting ready, rather than bridal preparations. It’s a small language choice, but it matters. I photograph a lot of same-sex weddings, and plenty of weddings where both partners want this part of the day documented. “Bridal preparations” assumes a very specific setup that doesn’t reflect how many weddings actually look now.
“Getting ready” is simply a more accurate - and more inclusive - way of describing it.
It’s also one of the most interesting parts of the day to photograph.
A palpable energy
The atmosphere during getting ready is unlike any other part of the day. There’s often a mix of excitement, nerves and anticipation. Music might be playing. Friends are chatting. Hair and makeup are underway. Someone is usually trying to find a missing shoe or a pair of cufflinks.
It’s busy and sometimes a bit chaotic, but that’s part of what makes it such a rich part of the story.
From a photography point of view, this is where the day really begins to unfold. The dress or suit hanging up. The final touches of makeup. Someone helping with cufflinks. A quick toast with friends. These are small moments, but they help tell the story of the day.
It’s not just a preamble. It’s part of the wedding day itself.
The father of the bride first look
In more traditional setups, one moment that often happens during getting ready is the father of the bride first look.
This is when the bride is fully dressed and ready to leave, and their father (or another close family member) sees them for the first time. The reaction is often immediate and emotional - pride, surprise, sometimes tears.
These moments are unpredictable, which is exactly why they photograph so well.
Photographing both partners getting ready
If both partners want getting ready photos, I’m very happy to cover that too.
If you’re getting ready in the same venue - or nearby - I can usually move between the two spaces and photograph both sides of the morning. When locations are close together, this is very straightforward.
It also adds a nice dimension to the story of the day. Later on, when you look back through the photos, you can see what the other person was doing in the hours before the ceremony.
Don’t worry about the mess
One thing couples often apologise for in advance is the state of the room.
Whether it’s a flat, a hotel room, or an Airbnb, people worry that it’s messy. Bags on the floor, clothes everywhere, makeup kits covering every surface. The only thing I find unsightly are plastic bags (esp bright orange Sainsbury’s bags), so I’ll move those out of shot.
Honestly - I have never once walked into a perfectly tidy getting ready room. Not a single time.
Part of a documentary approach to wedding photography is working with the environment exactly as it is. I’ll naturally look for the best light and the simplest backgrounds, but a bit of chaos is completely normal and part of the reality of the morning.
A relaxed start to the day
Another advantage of photographing the getting ready stage is that it helps people settle into being photographed.
Instead of the camera appearing suddenly at the ceremony, people gradually get used to me being around. By the time the ceremony begins, most people barely notice the camera.
From a storytelling point of view, it also means the wedding photos start at the very beginning of the day - with the excitement, the nerves, and the moment when it finally sinks in that the wedding day has arrived.
Start time for getting ready photos
I don’t think your wedding photographer needs to be there first thing. While I think it’s good to cover the preparations, if a photographer arrives super early, I think it will feel like your day has become a photo shoot. Indeed, I don’t need three hours, that’s overkill. The optimum time to arrive is between 60-90 minutes before you are due to depart for the wedding. I’d say 90 minutes if there are a few of you getting ready, and 60 if it’s just you and maybe one other person with you.