Your bridesmaids gathered round. Everyone in matching robes sipping champagne. Relaxing on a beautiful couch in your crisp white bridal robe gazing out the window with what seems like all day to prepare for your ceremony. When the time comes your closest loved ones help you step into the dress of your dreams. Perfume and lipstick are applied in front of a gorgeous floor length mirror, pearls are fastened by your grandmother, your mom and mother figures gather around to dote over your dress in a perfectly lit spotlessly clean corner of the room.

 Based on images you see us and other photographers post it would seem the bridal suite on a wedding day is the most serine and picturesque atmosphere of everything feminine, classy and relaxed. However, if you have ever been to a bridal suite you know 99.9% of the time this is not the case.

 I want to reveal why we have the expectations of these glorious moments. In reality, the bridal suite is a place where it looks a Victoria’s Secret, an Ulta, and a dry cleaners has EXPLODED due to an F4 tornado that has mercilessly torn through the middle of the room (if you know, you know). It is not to say this is bad. Bridal suites are supposed to look like this! Snacks, music, makeup, basically a pre wedding party!

 So, why does it seem like “everyone else” who has had a wedding had a perfect bridal suite? That’s where we come in!

 When we say finishing touches of bridal prep on our timelines, it is referring to all these crisp, clean images with light backgrounds and clean floors.

 Personally, I love to snap a few photos of the bride when she ACTUALLY has her hair in curlers, the makeup artist is applying foundation, and the bridesmaids are snacking on pizza in the background. These are REAL moments of your wedding day that deserve to be cherished. However, these might not be the ones you want on your walls, your nightstands, and your wedding albums.

 So, on your photography timeline the finishing touches of bridal prep occur when you are already in your dress.

I won’t be in the room with you while you are actually putting your dress on (hello, privacy). But, I will ask whoever is responsible for buttoning, zipping, or lacing it to leave the last two undone. While you are getting dressed, I will be finding the best light, moving furniture, and making sure the fallout from the natural disaster that is the bridal suite tornado has been cleared from a space in the room with the best light and cleanest background.

And VOILA! You have the perfect place to finish those last few buttons on your dress. The spot where your grandmother can fasten your pearls, your bridesmaids can swoon over your dress, and you can put those earrings in. This is how photographers create those beautiful and timeless photographs that will be handed down for generations.

 These photos are all examples of finishing touches of bridal prep. We have moved things, scooted furniture, pushed bags in corners, and sometimes even ventured to a window outside of the bridal suite to create the picture of feminine charm while effortlessly preparing to walk down the aisle.

 So, remember, when your bridal suite is full of pizza, champagne, body glitter, and dresses being steamed it is all part of the process! And we love photographing every moment of it!

 -Emily:)