Choosing the BEST Getting Ready Location for Your Wedding
by Tali Joy. October 2023.
Preparing for a wedding day can be stressful and overwhelming – if we let it. It’s no doubt that every soon-to-be bride and groom want everything to go smoothly. It’s easy to get caught up in the swirling emotions of excitement planning both the big things and the small details. One aspect of wedding planning that often gets overlooked is the getting ready space. This is the place where the bride, groom, and their bridal parties get ready before the ceremony.
— The getting ready space is the start of your wedding day and sets the tone of the REST of your day! So don’t you want to start off on a good foot and find the best space?
Here are my THREE KEY ELEMENTS to think about when choosing a getting ready space for the morning of your wedding!
(from a wedding photographer who has seen this done many many different ways.)
1) Value Location
Ideally, the getting ready space should be located as close to the ceremony space as possible (I promise that you will thank yourself later for this). This will minimize travel time and reduce the risk of any unexpected delays or unnecessary added stress. I recommend choosing the bridal suite attached to your venue if your ceremony is taking place there as well. Sometimes this isn’t always a viable option due to specific rules unique to your wedding venue or if you are having your ceremony at a separate location, such as a local church. In this case, make sure you choose a location not too far away, I would recommend no further than a 15 to 20 minute drive.
2) The Physical Space – Focus on the Atmosphere & Accommodations
Atmosphere: Once you have a few locations in mind, consider what you want to get out of the space. Is it important to you to spend the evening before the big day with your bridal party hanging out, then go to bed and wake up the next morning and all get ready together? Maybe a cool Airbnb near by might be your best option!
Or, would you rather ensure a good night’s sleep the night before? Maybe choosing a nice hotel nearby is best so you can have a private room, sleep in your own bed, and meet everyone early the next morning to get ready!
Accommodation: Consider if there enough space to accommodate an area for your hair and make up crew to set up their gear. Are there enough outlets, mirrors, or places for people to hang out and feel comfortable? It would be overwhelming to get ready in a place that feels cramped!
Are you are someone who values a few quiet moments to yourself away from the chaos? If so, is there a separate room you can go to? You may also want to consider having a designated room for all of your luggage and target bags so that you aren’t feeling cluttered. From a photographer’s perspective, having a tidy getting ready area makes for great photos!
3) Neutral Colors & Natural Light
One thing I always recommend to my clients is to choose a space with plenty of natural light. Your makeup artists and your photographers will love you for it and ultimately you will love your photos! I recommend a room filled with large windows or skylights. Consider white or light colored walls as well for the natural light to bounce off. This creates a beautiful soft glow that is perfect for capturing stunning photos. The last thing you want is for the space to be dimly lit, as this can lead to grainy and unflattering photos.
The morning of your wedding day is a very sweet and special time – spending it with some of the most important people in your life excitedly anticipating the commitment you are about to make to your soon-to-be forever partner-in-crime will be a beautiful moment to remember.
You want to feel relaxed and comfortable the morning of your wedding day – keeping these things in mind will definitely help and as an added bonus, ensure absolutely gorgeous getting ready photos!
