Tips for Getting Ready at Your Wedding - Paducah Kentucky Wedding Photographer

It’s the morning of your wedding!  Hopefully all of the little details are taken care of and you’re done relaxing with your best friends while your hair is being done.  If certain items haven’t been checked off the to-do list, it’s time to hand them over to someone else.  Delegation is a key part of a stress-free wedding day.  I know it’s hard to hand over the decorating duties and all of the last minute things that need to be done but it really is important to relax the morning of your wedding day.  The rest of the day is going to be fast paced and filled with a lot of emotions.  Take advantage of this downtime!  There are a few things to consider about the “getting ready” portion of the day.  Do you want to share a “first look” with your dad or any other man that plays a huge role in your life?

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Will you and your groom be exchanging gifts during this time?  If so, who would you like to deliver them? Are there certain women in your life that would appreciate seeing you get into your gown?  Some brides want very few people around for this moment.  Other brides love having aunts and grandmas present.  It’s totally up to you.  A few other things to consider....as you get ready to put your dress on, refrain from putting any jewelry on.  I love shooting all of the final steps when you’re in your gown.  Speaking of the gown, if your gown is on a plastic hanger, try to make a note to bring a wooden hanger along for picture sake.  If you forget, no big deal.  I’m a pro at finding wooden hangers at venues. 

Keep reading for more “getting ready” tips to help you prepare.

The whole day begins with the DETAILS!!  This is one of my favorite parts of the wedding day because it allows me to prepare and get my creative side warmed up for the rest of the day.  I photograph a brides details in a way that matches and accentuates the style of the entire wedding day.  So, in some ways, the details set the stage for the look of the whole wedding and I love having ample time to stylize and shoot everything from the dress to the jewelry to grandmas handkerchief.  To the right you’ll find a list of the most common details that I shoot.  I ask brides to gather any details they have before I arrive so that I can walk in, say hello, and then begin with all the goodies.  (please ensure your mom that I will take GREAT care of the dress, I promise!)

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Detail TIPS

• Gather the goods, If possible, collect all of your details before I arrive so that I can begin quickly and have more time for some “getting ready” shots of you and your girls.
• Extra Elements, Sometimes, depending on the theme and “look” of the wedding day, there may be some extra elements that you could include when you gather your details.  For example, if you’re having a rustic themed wedding that includes some wooden elements, maybe save a small piece of wood for me to use when I’m shooting your rings and jewelry.  This REALLY makes for beautiful, consistent album spreads.
• Keep the Rings, the most common detail missing when I arrive are the rings.  Moms, officiants and planners will tell you to hand over your wedding band to the best man before the day begins..  However, it’s actually better to hand it over during the bridal party portraits so that I can shoot some great ring shots in the AM.  If you forget, no worries, I can always shoot the ring shots at the reception if there is extra time.
• Bring the Bouquet, Don’t forget the bouquet.  Have the bouquets and bouts delivered to the bride before the first look so that she can have her bouquet in her portraits.  No worries, if it’s hot, we’ll be sure to kep it in water as much as possible before the ceremony.