A person in a flowing white dress stands on a balcony with arms outstretched, facing a scenic mountain landscape, as seen through open glass doors—capturing one of those serene moments often cherished in tips for getting ready on your wedding day.

10 Photographer-Approved Tips for Getting Ready on Your Wedding Day

After you’ve said “yes” to your lifetime partner, booked your wedding venue and locked down all the other important details for your big day, you may be wondering, what’s next? I bet you haven’t given much thought to how your emotions, actions, timing, and other details on the actual wedding day can make or break it. Well, as a wedding photographer, I’ve been to A LOT of weddings (over 150 actually). I could tell you exactly how the rest of the day is going to go just by walking into the bridal suite. No really, I can! Trust me when I say that when I walk into a room full of panic or chaos, it will continue to feed into the rest of the day. On the flip side, if I walk into a ’90s dance party paired with laughter, the day is going to turn out friggin’ epic. This is just one example of what I’ve taken notice of throughout my seven years as a professional Knoxville wedding photographer.

Lucky for you, I like to share! I want to pass on Ten Photographer-Approved Tips for getting ready on your wedding day. Hopefully, these tips will lead to a happier and more “picture perfect” day for you and your partner.

A bride in a white dress is surrounded by smiling bridesmaids indoors, sharing laughter and following tips for getting ready on your wedding day; next to her, a groom in a green suit stands outside on a path, adjusting his cufflink. — Cozy Tennessee Glamping Wedding in a Soft Autumn Color Palette

1. Freaking Enjoy It!

Remember, the most important part of your wedding day is that THIS IS YOUR DAY! It’s yours. All yours. Your family and friends are all here celebrating you, your fiance, and the love you share in this world. Yes, I know that sounds really cheesy, but it’s the truth. Life is always going to be full of ups and downs. It’s never perfect, so don’t stress about every little detail on your wedding day. Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to go with the flow. Because you can’t get this day back. If you enjoy having a drink, go ahead and have a mimosa or two! Just a reminder to enjoy responsibly. We don’t need a dumpster fire.

2. Stick to a Solid Hair and Makeup Timeline

A lot of times brides underestimate the time it will take to get not only their hair and makeup done, but for all the other bridesmaids too. Depending on how many bridesmaids, this can end up taking much longer than you originally planned. In fact, from my experience, hair and makeup is the number one thing that can push a timeline back! That’s how important it is ladies. You don’t want to have to cut into your photography time because you’re waiting for Sally’s hair to curl.

Just to show how important the hair and make-up part of your day is, we reached out to our friends at Southern Belle Beauty for some tips! As professional and licensed cosmetologists, they suggested that brides estimate one full hour for their hair and one full hour for their makeup. For the bridesmaids? The Knox Babe Tribe recommends 45 minutes for each service. The recommend to the bride and to the bridesmaids a few extra tips: make sure that you don’t party too hard the night before the wedding. Showing up late to your appointment for hair and makeup is definitely a bad start to the day. But, if you and your friends get done earlier than planned you will have time to take a breather, pop some champagne, take photos, or reminisce on funny college stories.

A woman in a vibrant pink and gold traditional outfit is being adorned with jewelry in one image and poses gracefully in the other, showcasing her detailed attire and accessories—offering inspiration and tips for getting ready on your wedding day. — A Fusion Hindu-Jewish Wedding With Outfits to Die For

3. A Messy Room Will Kill Your Photos

Food trays. Red Solo cups. Dress steamers. It’s all there. A wedding day is rush of momentum and raw emotions. The wake of that excitement can be detrimental to your photos. One of the hardest things about a wedding day is physically maneuvering around a bridal room. And we usually take a few minutes to move these items out of the way. But let’s talk about the photos that happen in this room. Messy rooms can make photos feel…distracting. A clean space goes a long way in minimizing the mess, while keeping the attention on the emotion, the moments, and the people in the photos.

So, what’s the solution? Ask your family, friends, and bridal party to be conscious of their stuff! No biggie! It’s such a big help to keep your “getting ready” room in some sort of decent shape. Think of it as a friend coming over for a quick stop-by, and you shove everything into one room. I mean, we all do it. Do your best to keep your bridal suite as clean and tidy as possible. I’ll be snapping a few pictures in here as you finish your hair and makeup.

One last note on the mess room. It is also important to keep a clean space in the room where you will actually be putting on your dress clean. We will be moving around in this room as well, and we want ALL the angles of your getting into your dress. I mean, you have spent a lot of time planning for this moment, so let’s make the best of it!

4. Find the Light! Light! Light!

Oh, one more thing! Oh, one more thing! The room where you will be putting on your dress should ideally have lots of natural light to ensure superior photographs. I recognize that some venues may not offer that option, but if it’s available, we will take it! The more natural light, the better.

The best-case scenario is a room with large windows and enough natural light to evenly light the space with the overhead lights turned off. This is why I recommend taking a little time to consider your getting-ready space before the wedding day.

Your venue’s designated bridal suite isn’t your only option. Think about using your own home if it has great natural light, renting a cute Airbnb, or getting ready at a cozy bed-and-breakfast.

And, surprisingly, one of the harder places to photograph getting-ready photos is a hotel room. Hotels are great, seriously, but they can come with a few photographic pitfalls: no-smoking signs, sprinklers, questionable chairs and carpet choices, and very few places to actually hang a wedding dress. No joke!

Avoid Mixed Lighting When Possible

The type of light you want to avoid is mixed light: daylight combined with orange tungsten bulbs, fluorescent lights, or several different types of artificial lighting. It can be difficult to notice with the naked eye, but in photographs, mixed lighting can create inconsistent or odd skin tones.

Wedding venues often provide rooms specifically for getting ready, but it’s a good idea to look at the space before automatically deciding to use it. Sometimes the “getting-ready room” is essentially a classroom with brightly colored walls and fluorescent lighting (I’m looking at you Knoxville church weddings).

If you take anything away from this section, know that fluorescent lighting isn’t the most flattering light. It can also flicker, which can cause banding in photographs.

As professional photographers, we know how to work with less-than-ideal lighting situations. Your getting-ready space certainly doesn’t have to be perfect. But if you have options, giving the light and the room itself a little consideration can make a noticeable difference in your photographs.

Two women, one in a white dress and one in a floral dress, stand together and smile, reflected in a large mirror in a softly lit modern room with wall sconces and large windows showing greenery outside—a perfect scene that captures some of the best tips for getting ready on your wedding day. — The bridal suite at The Trillium Venue

5. Keep Wedding Details Easily Accessible

This tip will help not only me but also you since I won’t have to ask you where things are. Having all of your key essentials in one place makes it easy for me to swoop in the room, access the items, and get to shooting! I mean, that is what you paid me for! Keep your dress on the hanger so I can find it easily and photograph it. Place your engagement/wedding rings and any photoshoot details (flowers, heirlooms, accessories, etc.) together (usually in your shoebox). Anything you wish to have photographed in the room should be all in one place and simple to find. Once I am finished, I can easily return the items back to the places they belong to! Easy peasy!

6. Bouquet Location is Key

Let’s be real, you have spent a lot of money on your bouquet. It is definitely one of the most utilized details you will have on your wedding day. Ideally, you will want your bouquets at the place where you will be getting ready. After you and your bridesmaids are ready for pictures, we will be doing a lot of shooting involving the bouquet. This includes bridal portraits, a first look with dad and/or your partner, and the entire bridal party. It’s a must-have.

A bride sits on a chair, smiling while adjusting her shoe—one of the key tips for getting ready on your wedding day is to take a moment to relax and enjoy each detail. Next to her, a groom fastens his cufflink, dressed in a suit. Both scenes are set in bright rooms with large windows, creating an atmosphere perfect for capturing these special preparations. — Getting ready at Dancing Bear Lodge in Townsend, TN

7. Limit Time with Stressful People

Yes, we are going to talk about this. There may be certain individuals coming to your wedding that you simply could not take off the guest list. Whether it’s a childhood friend, neighbor, parent’s friend, or even your new mother-in-law, make sure to limit the time and interaction you spend with them if they cause you stress. There is no rule that says you have to interact with them for a set amount of time. And I really do say that with all of the love in the world. There are just some that will cause your stress levels to increase. It’s as simple as that. Again, it’s YOUR wedding day and you don’t have to deal with anyone you don’t particularly want to see.

8. Your Groom is Totally Fine

To the ladies who are marrying a man, this one is for you. Keep in mind that you are getting married to a fully functioning adult. He will be fine! Don’t waste a minute of your wedding day wondering if he got his tux ready, if his hair looks decent, or if his socks match. He’s capable of doing all of these things on his own and he will be okay without you for a few hours. Nuff said.

A man in a suit helps two dogs dressed in tuxedos get ready on a bed, offering charming tips for getting ready on your wedding day. The left image shows a happy brown and white dog, and the right image features a spotted dog, both looking dapper in their formal wear. — Picturesque Airbnb Wedding at the Foothills of the Smoky Mountains

9. EAT!

People. EAT! I really can’t say this enough. Your wedding day is going to be a whirlwind, and you will be surprised at how worn out you will get. Usually, the tired feeling hits right after the ceremony. And before you know it, you’re sitting down on some steps chugging a coke or a glass of alcohol. Or, you have full-fledged passed out. Yes, it has happened. Don’t let this be you! I promise you will fit into your wedding day attire if you sit down and pop that Subway sandwich in your mouth.

10. Let It Goooooooo

As I’ve mentioned earlier, life is not perfect! Let me repeat: Life. Is. Not. Perfect. Your wedding day is not going to be “perfect” as well. If a button snaps, a drink spills, or your dress gets snagged, let it go. There are bigger things to worry about in the world, like the fact that you are about to make a lifelong commitment to another human. Take a deep breath and forget those little things even happened. Unless you’re about to walk down the aisle naked, everything else is really no big deal. A lot of brides have “wedspectations,” and it may seem if one tiny detail goes haywire the whole wedding will go wrong. This is where you have to get out of your own brain. Worrying about one minor detail could have the potential to ruin your whole mindset for a day that you will never get back. Do NOT let this happen to you. Everything is going to be okay.

A bride in a white dress and lace veil stands indoors with two women helping her, putting into practice essential tips for getting ready on your wedding day. In the second image, she poses alone, looking thoughtful with her hand on her waist. — Natural light for getting-ready photos at The Press Room

Knoxville Photographer Erin Morrison

My ultimate wish for you is to have a day filled with love and incredible moments. From the makeup to the dance floor, I’ll capture all the candid and real memories that will last a lifetime. If you’re looking for a professional wedding photographer in Knoxville, please explore my portfolio and contact me for my services! I would love to be a part of your wedding day!