1. Freaking Enjoy It!

You have planned all this for such a long time, dreamed about the perfect day and all that. Now it’s the time when you stop being the wedding planner and start becoming the bride. Enjoy the day and have fun!

Let the pros do their job and don’t get upset about little things that may have not been accomplished 100% to your liking. If a button snaps, a drink spills, or your dress gets snagged, let it go. Take a deep breath and forget those little things even happened. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to go with the flow. Because you can’t get this day back.

2. Give yourself plenty of time

You’ll want to enjoy the morning of your wedding and so I would advise you to give yourself more time than you think you’ll need. I’d aim to get into your dress 45 minutes before you have to leave for the ceremony. That may sound super early but trust me there are always unexpected things that happen and that final hour flies by. If you are ready early, I will keep you busy and take stunning bridal portraits.

3. Let there be light!

When planning where to get ready, it’s really important to make sure that you book somewhere that has plenty of space and natural light. Natural light is the most flattering light ever and so when applying your make-up and styling your hair, (whether you are doing it yourself, or having it done by a professional) do it near a window.

4. Keep things tidy

A big bridal prep room can get full fast and a messy room will kill your photos. If you have invested time finding the most gorgeous space to get ready in, you’ll want to try and avoid any cluttered backgrounds. Tidying away empty food trays, extra clothes, rubbish, bags, and any other clutter will go a long way in making sure every image looks incredible.

5. What to wear

Planning what to wear doesn’t just apply to your beautiful dress. Have a think about what you want everyone to be in during bridal prep. Wear something you are happy being photographed in. It doesn’t have to be fancy or silk gown matching your bridesmaids - although many bridal parties do this and they do look amazing. It could be that you treat yourself to a set of beautiful but simple white pyjamas.

6. Avoid wet flowers

Your flowers will have been dropped off and will look stunning when sat in a vase in the corner of the room, but try to take them out of the water at least half an hour before you plan on holding them. The ends of the stems can hold an awful lot of water, and if they are waterlogged you will end up with stains on your dress.

7. The Details

Keep your wedding details easily accessible. This tip will help not only me but also you since I won’t have to ask you where things are. Having all of your key essentials in one place makes it easy for me to swoop in the room, access the items, and get to shooting! Keep all dresses on hangers and place all photoshoot details together. This includes the shoes, perfume, jewellery, a head piece, garter, spare invitations, wedding flowers, gifts … essentially anything that is important to you or that you will wear on the day. If everything is left in the same place with all wrapping & tags removed, less time can be spend photographing the details leaving more time to capture the real moments of your day.

8. Stay hydrated

I really can’t say this enough. Your wedding day morning is going to be a whirlwind - with lots of people in one room, hair dryers going and the heating on, the room will get hot quickly. You’ll be wearing a dress that you’ll be warm in, too. Therefore, drinking plenty of water is a big deal. It will keep you from feeling faint or headachy and help you to be present in the moment as you say ‘I Do’.