After months (okay, let’s be honest… probably years) of planning, your wedding day is finally here. It’s time to get ready.
And if you’ve been scrolling wedding blogs or living on Pinterest, you probably think this part of the day looks like:
Matching silk robes.
Champagne popping at 10am.
Hair and makeup magically finishing early.
A spotless hotel suite with soft window light and zero chaos.
Everyone laughing. No one sweating. Not a single person asking, “Wait… what time is it?”
cute
Now let me lovingly tell you the truth.
That version? It doesn’t just happen. And half the time, it’s curated as hell.
When I first started photographing weddings, I would walk into getting-ready rooms that looked like a tornado had a personal vendetta. Curling irons plugged in everywhere. Makeup exploding across every surface. Fast food bags in the corner. Hair running 45 minutes behind (Hair and Makeup Artists please don't come after me 👀). A bride one minor inconvenience away from absolutely losing her shit. And I get it! Because I’ve been that bride.
I was completely tuned out. Running on overstimulated autopilot while chaos unfolded everywhere. My husband was doing ABSOLUTELY THE MOST handling setup. My mom was hiding in a corner afraid to piss me off. I almost didn’t eat. My energy was a mess, and that energy affected everyone.
I didn’t soften until my first look when I saw my husband and finally calmed the fuck down.
You know what I didn’t get? A quiet moment to look at myself in the mirror. A deep breath. A “holy fuck, I’m getting married” pause. And that still makes me sad. After years of watching this same chaos play out for so many couples, I decided something:
We are not doing rushed, panicked, survival-mode wedding mornings anymore.
Not on my watch.
So I built a framework. A list of secrets. A strategy that protects your energy, your timeline, and the moments that actually matter.
Because here’s the thing, gorgeous getting ready photos aren’t about posed lipstick touch-ups. They’re about you feeling present. Grounded. Alive in your own damn day. And when you feel that? The photos become effortless. The Pinterest magic becomes real. And you actually remember it.
Let’s get into how we make that happen.
Number One: Time. And then more fucking time.
Whatever amount of time you think you need to get ready? Double it. No seriously. Double it.
You may be able to throw on a sundress in 60 seconds, but a wedding dress is not a sundress. It’s structure. It’s buttons. It’s lacing. It’s someone’s hands up your back (or butt) for ten straight minutes. On average, it takes 10-15 minutes just to get into the dress. A zipper? Cool, maybe five. Buttons or lace? Babe, settle in.
And hair and makeup? They almost always run longer than you expect. Not because your artists aren’t amazing (I'm serious Hair and Makeup artists...I'M ON YOUR SIDE!!!) but because weddings have a million tiny variables. Lighting adjustments. Lash drama. One bridesmaid who wasn’t fully dry. A large bridal party with only one or two artists. I see timelines shift for this reason constantly.
So here’s the move: Add at least 30 extra minutes beyond what you’re quoted. The worst-case scenario? You’re ready early. Which means you get to sit. Sip something. Actually breathe. Maybe laugh with your people instead of side-eyeing the clock. That extra time is the difference between frantic energy and grounded presence. And trust me, your photos will reflect whichever one you choose.
And for the love of all things holy: do a hair and makeup trial.
Your wedding day is not the time to discover you hate the color coral on your lips or that your beautiful curls turn into a giant lion's mane in humidity. Redos cost time. Time costs peace.
Pro tip? Book your trial for your engagement session. You’ll feel confident, your artist gets real-time feedback, and you walk away with killer photos.
We are not winging wedding mornings.
We are protecting them. 🖤
Number Two: Let your photographer cook.
Have your photographer arrive at least 45 minutes before your makeup is finished. (Hair should already be done. I love you, but we’re not photographing half-curled chaos.) During that time? We’re not just “killing time.” We’re shooting your details. Rings, invitations, shoes, veil, dress, perfume, heirlooms. The little pieces that tell the full story of your day.
And no... it does not take five minutes.
If you want those story-telling, cohesive, cinematic detail shots? Your photographer needs time to style. To adjust. To move things around. To let the creative brain actually turn on instead of sprinting. When we build this into the timeline correctly, I’m wrapping up details right as you’re in the last 10 minutes of makeup.
Which leads to the part that surprises people: We do not take “getting ready” photos while you are actively getting ready.
Which leads to the part that surprises people: We do not take “getting ready” photos while you are actively getting ready.
I don’t need photos of you mid-eyeliner with a cape on and curlers clipped to your head. That’s not the vibe (I mean, unless you want it to be, these are your photos). If you scroll all those dreamy wedding mornings online, you’ll notice something, those brides aren’t half done. They’re basically fully glammed and just “finishing up” their last final touches. Because here’s the little secret: You wait until you look incredible… and then we snag the last 5%.
You sit by the window.
Your stylist “applies” one more swipe of blush. You clip in that earring. Your mom buttons the final button (or I do and she pretends to afterwards cause THOSE DAMN HOOKS ARE HARD!). Now you look calm, polished, radiant... instead of mid-chaos.
We’re documenting the energy. And that energy hits different when you already feel like the bride.
Number Three: Get your details together... like, actually together.
A couple weeks before the wedding, sit down and think through what you want photographed.
Not just the invitation. The full suite. Rings (all of them). Jewelry. Shoes. Perfume. Vow books. Boutonnieres. Heirlooms. That tiny sentimental thing that means everything but lives in a drawer 364 days a year. Make a checklist. Then (and this is the important part) put it all in one designated box or bag.
One.
So when your photographer walks in, you can hand it over like a boss instead of yelling, “WAIT WHERE ARE MY EARRINGS?!” while three people dig through tote bags. The more time I spend hunting for details, the less time I spend creating magic with them.
Pro tip: Ask your florist for a few extra loose blooms or greenery clippings. Most florists are happy to toss them in for free, and those little floral pieces tie everything together in a way that feels elevated and intentional instead of thrown together last minute.
We’re not scrambling on wedding mornings.
We’re curating.
Number Four: Tell me your damn colors.
Please. I’m begging you.
I don’t just show up with a camera and vibes. I mean... I do bring vibes too... BUT I also show up with a full-on styling kit. Silk ribbons. Textured fabrics. Ring boxes. Vintage stamps and scissors that are cuter than they need to be. Layers on layers of little details that elevate your details.
But here’s the thing: I can only make it cohesive if I know what we’re working with.
If your palette is soft neutrals and I pull out deep red velvet? We’re fighting each other out back. If your day is bold and modern and I bring a bunch of sad beige? Same problem.
When you tell me your wedding colors ahead of time, I can intentionally pack the right tones, textures, and pieces so your detail shots feel curated instead of random.
It’s the difference between “here are your rings on a table” and “holy shit this looks like an movie spread.”
Your wedding has a visual identity.
Let’s make sure your photos reflect it on purpose, not by accident.
Number Five: Don’t get ready alone.
Yes, a photo of you clasping your own necklace is pretty. But a photo of your grandmother’s hands fastening it for you?
That’s legacy.
Your wedding photos are not just about what you looked like. They’re about who was there. Who held you together. Who raised you. Who hyped you up. Who cried first.
So think intentionally about who you want in that room when the dress goes on. Grandma buttoning your gown. Your mom putting on your necklace. Your sister zipping you up. Your best friends kneeling to strap your shoes. Could you do all of that yourself faster? Sure. But faster is not the goal. Meaningful is.
When your mom places your veil and you both catch your reflection in the mirror? Something shifts. The energy softens. The reality hits. That’s the kind of moment you can’t fake. And you will feel it in your bones when you look back at those photos.
Those are my favorite frames of the entire day. Because they’re real as hell.
And one logistical note because I love you:
If someone’s going to be in the photos, they should be dressed.
Bridesmaid dresses on. Hair done. Ready.
Sweatpants and oversized college tees do not mix with luxury gowns.... I mean unless that's the kind of chaos gremlins we're trying to achieve in these photos, the BY ALL MEANS!!!!
Number Six: Schedule the f*cking moments.
Getting ready can be total chaos. Hair, makeup, texts blowing up, last-minute panics… if you don’t plan for the real, heart-hitting moments, they might not happen at all. Carve out time for the stuff that actually matters:
A first glance with your crew (bridesmaids, dad, siblings, grandparents) whoever makes your heart explode.
A first touch with your partner (OR AN ACTUAL FIRST LOOK!!!). Swap gifts, whisper nonsense, laugh without actually seeing each other yet.
A quiet moment or little ritual with your loved ones.
These aren’t just cute pictures that just HAPPEN. These are the shots that make you cry (in a good way) when you look back. The moments you’ll actually remember. The moments that make the chaos worth it.
Plan them and protect them! I'll football tackle a cousin who tries to walk in on your silent moment alone 😈
BONUS!: Chill the f*ck out and actually have fun..
Here’s the hard truth: your wedding day is gonna fly by faster than you can say “I do.” Months (okay, years) of planning, and suddenly it’s over in what feels like a few heartbeats. This is supposed to be the most memorable day of your life, not a stress olympics over tiny details.
I’ve seen brides literally crying because their timeline got messy and they didn’t give themselves enough breathing room. That shit breaks my heart, and it shouldn’t happen to you.
Build extra time into your day, let the chaos roll off, and actually soak in the moments. When you’re relaxed, your getting ready pics will look effortlessly gorgeous, and you’ll finally get to enjoy that “holy fuck, I’m getting married” feeling you deserve.
Meet your Adventure Wedding Photographer
Alaynna Meyer Media
If you’re planning a wedding in Dayton Ohio, Cincinnati Ohio, or beyond and want photos that feel real, artful, and a little wild - I’m your girl.
It’s never too early to hit that contact form and make some magic together.
