After photographing weddings for over a decade, I’ve come to notice something…
It’s rarely the big, obvious things that shape how your day feels - or how it’s remembered.
More often, it’s the little details.
The ones you don’t necessarily plan for, but that make everything feel calmer, more considered and more like you.
Bridal Prep
The morning of your wedding is always one of my favourite parts of the day.
It’s usually a bit of a mix - excitement, nerves, people coming and going, music on in the background… and sometimes a little more chaos than expected.
Over the years, I’ve found there are a few simple things that make a real difference. Not in a big, obvious way - but in how the morning feels, and how everything comes together in photos.
Some of these are practical, some are just small habits - but they all help things feel calmer and more enjoyable.
Keeping things calm and easy
The biggest difference I see is when the morning feels relaxed.
A really simple one - have all your “bits” together the night before in a box, ready to hand to me when I arrive.
Things like:
- jewellery
- perfume
- your invitation suite
- engagement ring
- vow books
- any sentimental pieces
That way I can take everything and quietly go off to photograph your details while you relax and enjoy having your hair and makeup done - without needing to keep asking where things are.
I’d also suggest keeping your jewellery in one place, something like a neutral jewellery box. It just keeps everything together and avoids that last-minute searching. This one is beautiful: https://amzn.to/4vDuFq0
The Details That Elevate Everything
Your details don’t need to be elaborate - just considered.
When everything sits together visually, it creates a quiet sense of cohesion that carries through your entire gallery.
A few pieces I often suggest:
- A velvet ring box
Soft textures photograph beautifully and feel far more timeless than standard boxes.
These ring boxes are perfect and come in a range of colours to match your wedding day: black, peach, pink, blue, off-white
• Minimal vow books or stationery
Clean, neutral designs always age better and sit more naturally within your photographs.
These vow books are beautiful and come in different colour combinations: https://amzn.to/427uq8Q or https://amzn.to/47VPlzc
• Silk ribbons or soft fabrics
These can be used subtly within bouquets or styling flatlays for example, adding movement and texture without feeling overdone. These ribbons are stunning: https://amzn.to/4muqsk2
If you have one, a little trinket tray like this makes your morning flatlay images with all of your bits look so polished. These ones are beautiful and would really elevate the images of your jewellery: https://amzn.to/3Qqkdln , https://amzn.to/4tUO4Bc , https://amzn.to/4dQU2hC , https://amzn.to/48otBwj
Light (this makes such a huge difference)
Natural light is always your best friend on a wedding morning.
You’d hope that makeup artists would position you near the biggest window in the room - and usually they do - but I’ve found that isn’t always the case.
If they’ve set up in a darker corner using artificial light, it’s absolutely fine to gently ask if they’d prefer to be nearer the window.
You’re not telling them how to do their job - but natural light almost always gives a softer, more flattering finish, both in real life and in photos.
A few things I always recommend having
There are a handful of practical things that genuinely make a difference.
A handheld garment steamer is one of them. This one is great: https://amzn.to/4dE3KUp or https://amzn.eu/d/03XmByKg
Creases show up far more than people expect in photos, especially on dresses and shirts, and they’re very difficult to remove afterwards. A quick steam in the morning makes everything look instantly more polished.
Soft, neutral pieces also photograph much more naturally. Something like a simple satin robe just feels a bit more put together without being over the top. This one works really well: https://amzn.to/4ms7k6u or https://amzn.eu/d/0gtTrTxg
Also having your bridal party in simple, neutral pyjamas helps to maintain that calm, considered look in your prep images. These are great for your bridal party: https://amzn.eu/d/04RYjWJg
One small thing that’s easy to overlook - try not to wear socks, a hair bobble or watch on your wrist or a bra on the morning if they’re likely to leave marks on your skin. It’s always best to go without for a while before getting into your dress, just to avoid any lines or indentations showing once you’re ready.
And small details like a wooden hanger or a neutral jewellery box make a noticeable difference when everything is photographed together.
Simple wooden hangers are perfect - these are some of my favourites: https://amzn.to/421Oycv
Some brides opt for personalised hangers too which also photography beautifully: https://amzn.eu/d/00GlHZ3o
A cheap looking plastic hanger really detracts from any images of the favourite dress you'll ever wear in your life.
Timings (this is the one that matters most)
If you take one thing from this - it’s this.
You want to be in your dress 45 minutes to an hour before you need to leave for your ceremony.
This gives you time for:
• getting into your dress without rushing
• reactions with your bridesmaids or parents
• a few relaxed photos once you’re ready
• and just a few moments to take it all in before you go with the people you love most in the whole world
Registrars are often quite strict (especially if they have multiple weddings on the same day which does happen a lot), and will usually want to speak to you around 15 minutes before the ceremony - so having that buffer makes everything feel much more relaxed and calm. The last thing you want is to not be in your dress when the venue co-ordinator pops in to hurry you along as the registrars "are getting anxious" - this adds a whole other level of stress to the morning that no bride needs, leaving you hurried and flustered as you head to the most special walk of your life.
It also really helps to appoint someone (a bridesmaid or your mum) as the unofficial timekeeper - to check in with hair and MUAs that everything is on schedule, to tell you what time you need to be in your dress etc so I don’t have to step in and it doesn’t feel like your morning is being directed by your photographer - I'm there to capture what is happening and not to direct.
Let your moment be your moment
Make sure everyone helping you into your dress is already fully ready.
Bridesmaids, mums - all need to be dressed.
Not only does this mean they’re ready for photos, but it also avoids any last-minute stress or rushing once you’re dressed and already feeling those final butterflies whilst a bridesmaid can't remember how to tie on her multiway dress - the frustration you'd feel is intense at this point!
A quick note on supplier content
This has become more common recently - hair and makeup artists capturing content for their own social media.
Just make sure this is built into their time slot.
If you need to be getting into your dress an hour before you leave, any content should be finished by then.
Your morning shouldn’t feel delayed or interrupted - and your memories always come first as far as I'm concerned. Your photographs (and ultimately your wedding day) shouldn't be delayed because hair or makeup want to make a reel for their behind the scenes social media content.
Space and atmosphere
If your prep room is small, try to limit how many people are in there.
Too many people, too much noise, and it can quickly start to feel very overwhelming - especially as the time gets closer.
Keeping the space calm and fairly minimal always makes a difference.
The same goes for clutter.
Things like bags, suitcases, food, clothes… they have a habit of ending up everywhere and can really affect how the space feels (and looks in photos).
If you can, keep everything tucked into a corner, another room, or even the bathroom - just to keep your main space clear.
The Practical Things You’ll Be Glad You Had
These are the little things people don’t always think about:
- A clear umbrella each, just in case - this one is perfect, it lets the light through onto your faces, no colour casting and still makes for beautiful images: https://amzn.to/48GpfjW
- A small emergency kit Just for peace of mind - the kind of thing you hope you won’t need, but are always glad to have - think paracetamol, ibuprofen, hay fever tablets, blister plasters, tissues: https://amzn.to/4c60Ne7
- A pair of sharp embroidery scissors there are always loose threads, hanging tabs and labels that need cutting out at the last minute - these are an essential wedding morning item, and if they're beautiful like these ones I can use them in your flatlay images too https://amzn.to/4cobpUC
- A small sewing kit I've lost count of the number of times I've had to sew a button back on at the 11th hour, or sew a bridesmaid into a dress. A small basic sewing kit with a few different colours of threads will give you peace of mind should a minor clothing emergency arise! https://amzn.to/4tH9fq3
- A cute clutch bag to put your make-up top ups in, your lipstick, tissues, your phone, any medication etc. You won't be carrying it, but it's useful to have it nearby throughout the day so you can top up your lipstick before photos without having to wait 15 minutes for a bridesmaid to run back to the room to get it https://amzn.to/4ckiq8H
- Tweezers used during almost every single wedding morning for one reason or another! https://amzn.to/47Z3xaK
- Heel protectors - especially helpful at outdoor venues if there's been any rain beforehand - saves your beautiful heels from sinking and turning brown; https://amzn.to/3OkZChF
- Have a towel ready for your bouquet stems - and take them out of water about 45 minutes before the ceremony so they have time to dry.
- Use bobby pins to properly secure your veil - even if it feels secure, and your hair stylist says it is ok, always add the bobby pins. Every single time a veil hasn't been secured with bobby pins horizontally across the comb, it has either blown or been tugged out at some point during the day. These long ones work really well: https://amzn.to/4mtpdSv or https://amzn.to/4cr4tpH
- A small crochet hook is incredibly helpful for doing up button-back dresses. Pretty ones like these are an absolute bonus for your photos! https://amzn.to/3QB5Af5
- Veil weights https://amzn.to/41Gcimu
- And honestly - please don’t worry about cotton gloves. Clean hands are absolutely fine, and gloves just make things 10x harder. You'll be so frustrated when time is running out to be ready when the poor person trying to do up your buttons is struggling through cotton gloves. Your white dress is about to spend the day being dragged along the floor, trust me, clean hands are more then clean enough.
- Light a candle if you can - it sounds small, but a familiar scent and a flickering flame really helps create a calm atmosphere: https://amzn.to/3OeNwqA
- Spray your perfume lightly onto your veil - when you walk down the aisle, that scent carries with you.
A quick note
None of this is about getting everything perfect.
It’s about removing friction. It’s about making the morning feel easier, calmer, and more enjoyable. So you’re not worrying about creases, or searching for things, or feeling rushed.
Because the more relaxed you are, when you feel calm and present, everything else just falls into place - and that’s where the most meaningful photographs are made.
These are just a few things I’ve picked up over the years. If you’re planning your day and not sure where to start, these are a good place to begin.
Simple and practical things, but they really do make all the difference.
If you’re in the early stages of planning, I’ve gathered everything I recommend in one place for ease:
Affiliate note
Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you choose to purchase - at no extra cost to you. I only ever recommend things I genuinely find helpful on a wedding day.
