The getting ready location sometimes feels like an after thought, when in reality, it is a part of your story of the day. It should matter and match just as much as the ceremony and reception!

 

 

It’s so close you can feel it. You are just a few hours away from marrying the love of your life. Your hair and make up is just about finished, you dress is hanging, bag opened, ready to be slipped on, your closest family and friends are by your side holding back happy tears and you are a little fidgety, anxiously waiting to see your special someone. We love this time. This is a time to capture raw emotion; happiness, excitement, nervousness, and a time to create beautiful bridal portraits. Here are a few tips in choosing the perfect place for your getting ready location.

1.  Find a place with a lot of natural sunlight. This keeps your photos looking bright and airy and your skin tone looking soft and beautiful. Dark rooms can often cast harsh yellow or orange tones, but picking a location with large windows helps ensure glowing skin. This will also help your hair and make up artists out!

2. Pick a location that is cohesive with the rest of your day. If your wedding has a rustic feel, then a modern hotel room will feel out of place. Choose a location with charm and character. You worked so hard to create your dream wedding with the perfect feel to it, why not include your getting ready location into that vibe. We want to tell the story of your day and when your getting ready location matches the rest of your day, it makes your photos that much more stunning. Some venues have incredible bridal suites that are available to use. If their bridal suite is awesome but is a bit too small for your entourage, we sometimes encourage getting ready together in a hotel room and doing your finishing touches and dressing in the suite!
   
3. Pick a location that is either on-site or within a few minutes to your ceremony & reception. Less travel time means less transportation delays and more time spent enjoying your day with your favorite people.

4. Do some research for an amazing location near your venue. If you choose to book a hotel, book their larger suite so you have plenty of room. One of our favorite options is booking a house with Airbnb! Most of these rentals are the same price as a hotel room, with double the charm and uniqueness. You may also want to get ready at your house or a family members house. Pick the largest room in the house with the most windows and clear it out. This helps give you the natural light and the open feel with plenty of room to lay out your dress.

5. Finally, no matter where you choose to get ready, please keep it clean. We understand what happens when women get together and get ready together. (clothes thrown around the rooms, bags open in the middle of the room, snacks and drinks left on every surface. Trust us, we get it!) But please take the time to clean up (or designate someone to be the cleaner) the last thing you may want is a gorgeous bridal portrait with your maid of honor’s pink polka dotted PJ’s hanging over the chair in the background.We hope you found this information helpful! We are always available to help you find locations and to give you an opinion of your ideal spot, just ask!