One of the things that always surprises me is how little focus my couples give their getting ready space. About 90% of my couples chose to record some portions of preparing for the wedding but I’d guess that fewer of 10% of them give any real thought to what their getting ready space looks like. Or at least they don’t think about it until we have our consultation. You see as part of our service we have a scheduling consultation early in the process to talk about where they are getting ready and what that space looks like.

You want a great, functional space not just because it affects the getting ready photography, but because it also helps you get the most important day of your life started on the right foot. With that in mind I’m putting together a primer on how to select a great getting ready space.

Having an open space with a clean background makes all the difference in getting ready photos.

Right at the top of the list you want to minimize the space between where both parties and their attendants getting ready, ESPECIALLY if you have a single photographer. If you are getting ready in one location and your beloved is 30 minutes away then you have to account for a photographer arriving, unpacking, shooting you, packing up, driving, unpacking, shooting your partner, packing up, and so on and so forth. You want to minimize that travel as much as you can so you get the most out of your coverage.
With that point made you want locations that are as close to your reception area as you can get. You put a lot of time and effort into centerpieces, china selection, favors, picking a cake, etc. If at all possible you want time for a photographer to shoot that space in all of it’s glory before people get in there and people it up lol.
I’m going to say this a second time because it’s a big deal. If at all possible get ready at the same place as your partner. It not only makes it easier for your photographer, it makes it easier for you. The number of little things and communications that happen preceding a wedding is astounding and being able to send someone upstairs to check with your partner on where you guys are on problem X is invaluable.
Before you chose to get ready at the venue see the space you’ll be getting ready in. You want a space with room enough for your party and whatever family members are on hand and it would be nice if that space looked cute. Often people get ready at the church and do their getting dressed in a conference room or a bathroom. We can make those spaces work but if you get a comfortably sized, beautifully appointed room then those photos turn out that much better.
How do you know if you have a big enough space for your party? Well at an absolute minimum you need a space where you and two people can stand that is uncluttered. Nothing in the background, nothing on the floor, nothing on the bed or sofas. Think of it as a five foot bubble. However what you really want is a space where you and all your attendants can get a picture together.
One more time for the people in the back: IF AT ALL POSSIBLE GET READY IN THE SAME PLACE AS YOUR PARTNER, NEAR THE VENUE(S)!!! Honestly in the age of Air B&B this is really easy to manage in a cost effective fashion.
Good natural light through a sizable window is great, look for that.

That about covers it. Did I mention you should get ready int he same location if possible? lol

Getting Ready For Getting Ready: How To Chose Your Getting Ready Space