So you’re trying to figure out how many hours to book your photographer for, and now you’re staring at your timeline like, “Do we really need getting ready photos?” Fair question. Because when you hear wedding getting ready photos, you might picture the usual stuff. The dress hanging in a window, someone buttoning a cuff, a flat lay with rings, perfume, invitation suite, and flowers placed just-so, the bride getting zipped into her dress, or the groom tying his shoes. All beautiful. All classics.

And…that’s not the only reason I recommend making space for this part of the day. Your wedding day doesn’t start when you walk down the aisle. It starts when you wake up and have coffee on the deck before hair and makeup arrives. It starts with your family making breakfast so everyone remembers to eat something besides nerves. It starts with the friend who is still in pajamas, curlers in her hair, steaming someone’s dress in the corner. It starts with the quiet, funny, emotional, slightly chaotic little moments that happen before everyone else sees you.

What Are Wedding Getting Ready Photos?

Wedding getting ready photos are exactly what they sound like: photos taken while you’re getting ready before the ceremony.

Groundbreaking, I know.

But really, they’re less about proving that you put on shoes and more about documenting the feeling of the morning.

The anticipation.
The happy nerves.
The deep breaths.
The “wait, where are my earrings?”
The champagne toast.
The quiet mirror check.
The mom trying not to cry too early.
The wedding party laughing in the kitchen.
The tiny moments that are happening while everyone is still tucked away from the full momentum of the day.

This is the part of the wedding that often feels the most personal. It’s usually just your closest people, a little music, maybe some snacks, maybe a little chaos, and a whole lot of emotion floating around the room.

Getting Ready Photos Are Not Just “Zip Up the Dress” Photos

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE the classic getting ready moments.

• A parent helping with the final buttons.
• Jewelry going on.
• A boutonniere being pinned.
• Someone adjusting a veil.
• The final look in the mirror before everything becomes very real.

Those photos matter.

But the real reason I love getting ready coverage is because of all the moments you can’t plan.

• Your baby brother crying when he sees you in your dress for the first time.
• Your wedding party sharing a champagne toast and immediately laughing because someone almost spilled.
• Your best friend ironing her dress while still in jammies with curlers in her hair.
• Your mom adding the finishing touches to the cake she made for you.
• The bride adding a few final stitches to the gown she altered herself.
• Your grandmother checking her makeup in the mirror.
• The messy vanity after a full morning of makeup, hairspray, coffee cups, lip gloss, and people getting ready side by side.

Those are the photos that make the day feel real when you look back at it later. There not perfect, overly polished photos that have been staged, they have just been simply documented. 

This part of the day holds a lot more emotion than people expect

The morning of your wedding is such a specific feeling. There’s usually a little bit of calm, a little bit of chaos, and a lot of “oh my gosh, this is actually happening.”

People are excited. People are nervous. People are sentimental. People are making jokes because they don’t know what else to do with all that emotion. Someone is probably crying. Someone else is probably saying, “Okay, nobody cry yet,” (which never works).

And that’s exactly why this part of the day deserves to be photographed.

Because once the ceremony starts, everything moves fast. You’re walking, hugging, saying vows, taking portraits, greeting guests, eating dinner, dancing, soaking it all in. The day picks up speed.

Getting ready photos gives you a record of the slower beginning. The before: 

• Before the aisle.
• Before the vows.
• Before everyone is gathered.
• Before the day turns into a blur of hugs, music, food, and “wait, how is it already over?”

Getting ready coverage also gives us room to make something beautiful

Having your photographer arrive early also gives us time to look around and create a few photos with intention.

Maybe you booked a cute cabin or a cozy little getting ready space because you loved the view. Maybe there’s pretty window light, a deck overlooking the water, a staircase, a quiet corner, or a patch of light that only hits for ten minutes before it moves.

When I’m not rushing in right before the ceremony, I have space to notice those things.

We can take a few portraits before everything gets busy. We can use the place you chose. We can slow down for a second and make something that feels calm, beautiful, and true to the setting.

Especially here in Alaska, the place is part of the day too.

From the mountains out the window, the ocean air and birds doing their thing outside, to the wind moving through the grass and the feeling of everyone gathering in this one little pocket of the world for something that matters.

That’s worth remembering.

If you want flat lays, plan time for them

Let’s talk about detailed photos for a second. Flat lays are those styled photos of your rings, invitation suite, shoes, jewelry, vow books, perfume or cologne, flowers, and any other sentimental details you want documented.

And yes, they can be really beautiful.But they do take time to curate.

A thoughtful flat lay is not usually something your photographer can whip together in ten minutes while everyone is lining up for the ceremony. It takes a good backdrop, nice light, a little styling, and enough time to make it feel intentional instead of rushed.

I always recommend gathering your flat lay details in one box before the wedding day. That way, when I arrive, I can grab the box, find a pretty spot, and give myself around 20 minutes to create something good.

It’s also honestly a nice way for me to ease into the wedding day creatively. I get to spend a few minutes with the colors, textures, flowers, and details you chose before the day fully takes off.

If you’re curious what to include, you can check out my Flat Lay Guide here.

So, are getting ready photos worth it?

In my opinion, yes! Because I believe that the morning is part of the story.

It’s the coffee. The nerves. The laughter. The quiet. The messy counters. The people helping each other. The final touches. The deep breaths. The little pieces of the day that might feel small while they’re happening, but end up meaning a lot later.

You may not realize how much you want those photos until the day is over.

• Until you see your mom standing behind you, carefully helping with your dress.
• Until you see your friends laughing in the background.
• Until you see the way the room felt before you walked out and everything changed.

So if you’re debating whether or not to include getting ready coverage, this is my very gentle nudge. Have your photographer show up for the morning, it will be worth it. And if my words haven’t convinced you, maybe these photos will.

P.S. I’d love to hear all about your day, get in touch here!