Before the Veil – The Importance of Getting Ready Photos

Hair Stylist: J’Hannah

Getting ready photos have become more optional these past years. Couples looking to save money tend to opt for coverage during their Ceremony, Portraits, and some parts of the Reception, dropping the getting ready aspect of the day completely. But these moments add SO MUCH to your wedding story. Because your day doesn’t just start with your Ceremony.

So here’s why the getting ready portion of your day needs to be documented!!

1. Anticipation

While the complete joy of having your hair and makeup done already builds the significance of the day, having it documented makes it much more real. There are special moments that take place at this point (parents’ first look at the Bride in her dress, Bridesmaids spending uninterrupted time together with the Bride, the groom sharing a beer with his Dad, and/or with his groomsmen, etc.) and with that, so much emotion as well. You feel an excited anticipation about the day to come, and it only builds as the morning goes on. Like any other part of your day, this deserves to be photographed to showcase everything you do to ready yourself for your day!!

This is when you will look your absolute best (when your hair and makeup are finished), and when you get to celebrate all that anticipation with your closest loved ones!!

Makeup Artist: Trena Laine

2. Authenticity

Getting ready photos are perfect because they’re taken with a more documentary approach. This is the time when you don’t have to worry about posing a certain way or doing something particular with your face. It also gives you the perfect opportunity to get used to the photographer moving around you and your party, before the main events take place.

Because of that documentary nature, all your emotions and reactions will be 100% genuine. You’ll want to look back on your wedding and remember how it felt to hang out with the people you haven’t seen for what feels like ever, and the overall excitement that you felt that day. It’s an incredibly special bonding moment for the Bride, Groom, and your favourite people.

3. Details

Having this time set aside before the wedding gives us photographers (and videographers) the perfect opportunities to document all the little details - your dress before you slip it on, all the accessories you specifically chose to wear that day, the moments when your hair is being meticulously put into place, the finesse of the makeup artists’ brush strokes…even the ceremony and reception decor.

You’ve spent so much time curating the overall vibe of your wedding day, so to forgo photographing some of those particular details before they’re disrupted would leave out an important part of your story.

4. Strengthening Relationships

One of the most important details of your day is the people you chose to stand with you. During your getting ready time, you get to spend so much time with them, something you might not have been able to do for weeks, months, or even years. You’ll have images for the rest of your life including those people in your day, and the images that will feel the most natural and relaxed will be during your getting ready time. They are there to support you, and that’s so incredibly special to witness. And document.

5. Enhancing Your Wedding Story

Your wedding day doesn’t just start with your Ceremony. With so much prep and energy you’ve put into this day, you create a gap in the overall storytelling by choosing not to document the getting ready portion of the day. It creates a behind-the-scenes look at your process leading up to how you look and feel when you walk down the aisle, and the vibe you display when the lights go down and everyone hits the dance floor. These moments complement the ceremony and reception and showcase how cohesive every aspect truly is.

6. Tips for Capturing Memorable Getting Ready Photos

So how do you capture these moments in a way that does everything you’ve dreamed them to be?

Give yourself time - Make sure you have plenty of time to have everything done. This doesn’t just mean for photos, either. Feeling rushed at the start sets a negative tone for your whole day, so make sure you give yourself time.

And, if there’s anything in particular you’d love to have documented, make sure you include a time slot for that as well. This guarantees we’ll have the chance to photograph those moments or items.

Be prepared - Having all your details organized beforehand enables me to streamline my process. I can jump in there and get to photographing. Whereas, if they aren’t gathered ahead of time, we spend unnecessary time finding those items. The same goes for any specific robes or shirts you’d love for you and your party to wear.

Things to have ready could be:

• Wedding Dress

• Shoes

• Jewellery

• Veil or Hair Accessories

• Bouquet

• Perfume

• Invitations/Stationary

• Rings

• Personalized Items (if you have any)

• Special Getting Ready Clothes like robes or T-shirts

• Something Old, New, Borrowed, Blue

• Handwritten Notes or Gifts

• Special Heirlooms or Keepsakes

Relax and have Fun!! - Easier said than done, I know, but ultimately if you want those gorgeous shots of you and your loved ones having a blast as you get ready, this is KEY. With your photographer, make sure you meet with them beforehand to get a feel for their personality. This will help you to relax in front of the camera.

Getting ready moments hold more significance than we sometimes realize, in telling our stories. Not only do you catch moments with your loved ones that you won’t get anywhere else, but you also get the chance to showcase all the little elements of your day before it sets into motion. Having all of this documented is so vital to telling your overall story.

Do you have any other reasons you feel Getting Ready photos are so important? Share your thoughts in the comments!!

And don’t forget to really convey your overall vision with your photographer, so they can photograph every moment of your Wedding in a way that makes sense to you. 🙂