“Getting Ready” photos capture the look and feel of the wedding day. These images are beautiful in wedding album spreads and can help you to remember the emotions and the excitement you felt ahead of your wedding ceremony. Here are some tips to keep in mind to have the best “getting ready” photos ever!

8 Tips for Successful “Getting Ready” Photos

1 | Keep Clear of Clutter

In the room where you will get ready, have the space near the window clear of clutter. Place suitcases in closets and make sure hair and makeup items are elsewhere. Keep food, cups, champagne glasses, and personal items in a different area. We want your backdrop elegant!

2 | Share the Light

Your hairstylist, makeup artist, and photographer all want to use the same spot in the “getting ready” room… right by the window! It’s the spot with the best natural light. Share with the makeup artist and hairstylist (in advance) that you want to use the window space for bridal portraits as soon as they have finished. That way, they know the timeline and can keep their belongings consolidated. For a great example of the power of light in the wedding detail photographs, please look at this recent Hilton Waikoloa Village Chapel wedding!

3 | Talk to Your Hairstylist Beforehand

If you are wearing a veil, tell your hairstylist when booking. Remind the stylist when they get there and share with them the attachment and weight of the veil. The way that the veil will integrate into your updo is so important! When putting on the veil, have your mother or bridesmaids put on the veil for some beautiful photos and memories, but have the stylist stick around! That way, after family puts it on, they can adjust it properly, and pin it down securely, and make sure it stays put. They are the expert!

4 | Stick to the Wedding Day Timeline

Always, always, ALWAYS explain to the hair and makeup artists what time you need to have hair and makeup completed. Make sure they know when you book. If this first element of the day runs late, your entire wedding day runs late. This usually leads to less time for photos. People will tell you “it’s your day, everyone will wait on you....” and while that is true.... keep in mind the dozens of people who worked on your wedding planned this to be on time, and the sun waits on no one.

5 | When should you get dressed?

Have your bridal party get dressed earlier than you think. They should all be dressed and ready long before you! That way, when they are helping you get into your wedding gown, everyone looks elegant.

The bride should be completely camera-ready (makeup, hair, dress, shoes, accessories) at least 30-45 minutes before the ceremony. This allows time for bridal portraits, bridal headshots, and bride-with-her-bridesmaids shots before having to walk to the ceremony site for line up.

6 | Know What Details will be Photographed

Get a nice hanger for your gown instead of the hanger from the bridal salon. A wooden one or a custom hanger with your married name is a fun touch. Take it out of the plastic and cardboard and find a nice place to hang it for pictures. Be careful if you’re hanging it against a window to make sure that the window is clean!

Have the bouquet delivered to the room at least 1-2 hours before so that the flowers can be used with the detail shots. Keep it in water until it’s time to be photographed.

Bring a full set of your wedding stationery to be photographed. That includes the invitation, save the dates, and any other paper items relevant to the day. These make beautiful photos to add to the wedding album.

Make sure to set aside your something old, something new, something blue garter, jewelry, shoes, and other accessories in one designated location. That way, I can be photographing wedding day details while you are getting your hair done and I don’t have to bother you for it!

Have all 3 rings (engagement and two wedding bands) all in the same place for detail shots. I like to take wedding ring photos right before the ceremony so after you are married, you never have to take them off again! Your wedding photographer will only be photographing the rings for a short time. Have a responsible person there to transport the rings to next location if necessary. Always, always keep rings in a secure location and have ONE person responsible for them.

7 | Health and Beauty Wedding Guidelines

Have your hair color, teeth whitening, and any tanning done weeks in advance so no surprises and time for adjustment if need be. If you are getting your eyebrows waxed, make sure not to do it the day before the wedding.

Hydrate! Drink lots and lots of water! Start now! Drinking tons of water weeks in advance makes skin look great, also start scrubbing knees and elbows now for nice skin. And speaking of nice skin… do NOT let the boys (or girls) get sunburned before the wedding! People always want a tan but trust me — pale skin looks way better than tan lines or sunburns. Remember the sunscreen, especially when spending time on our gorgeous beaches.

8 | Most Importantly — Have Fun on your Wedding Day!

Your wedding day is YOUR day. It is about your love for one another and nothing else. Things and people and travel and excitement can lead to not everything being perfect.... but that is okay. It’s still your wedding day, and it will still be beautiful. Shrug it off and remember this is about a lifetime of love together and everything else is secondary.

Wedding Vendors I LOVE Working With:

Look here for hairstylists and make-up artists for weddings on the West side of the Big Island.

Mara McMichale and her entire team at Beauty Lux Salon.

Makeup artist Gracia Malendres does STUNNING work.

Rachel Kordell of Big Island Hair.