When you start working on your wedding timeline and your photographer asks about getting ready photos, some people might think that means undone hair and bare minimum makeup. Though that may be a part of it, there are a lot of really sweet moments that can come out of the getting ready time of the day.
When I photograph weddings, I love telling the story of the day from start to finish. The final makeup touches, the toast with your friends while still lounging in PJs, the poker game your partner wins, your parent helping with your dress, your best friend helping with your shoes, your party making sure you look perfect for the day. So many moments happen before the ceremony that you might not even think about capturing, but so many of these moments go into telling part of your story.
Or even for couples who haven't met their photographers until their wedding day, getting ready photos can be a great time to start getting comfortable with each other. It can be a little intimidating to have a stranger be a part of your private space on your wedding day, so easing into it can be helpful for many people.
Another great way a photographer can utilize the getting ready time is getting shots of details. The venue, table setups, rings, florals, jewelry, and more all are a part of your day and absolutely worth having a few shots of to remember how everything looked. The little details you bring are what is important to you and your future spouse and were carefully chosen to have with you throughout the day. It might be nice to have images of them to remember!
A really good way to think about the "getting ready" time of day is just saying its "pre-ceremony." If the timeline is built to work this way, you could even consider taking pre-ceremony wedding party photos, couples photos, family photos, and more so you have more time to mingle with your guests when the ceremony is over. There are also pre-ceremony moments such as a first look with your wedding party, parents, or future spouse!
There are so many options to think about when you start planning your day. Be sure to consider all the things you can do before you ceremony!