How to Make the Most of Your Morning Prep (and stay calm while getting the best photos)

The morning of your wedding sets the tone for the entire day; it is emotional and exciting and it moves faster than you realise, so the more prepared you are the calmer you will feel and the better your photos will look. Morning prep is one of the most overlooked parts of the day, yet it is the first chapter of your story and it deserves just as much intention as the ceremony or the reception.

Have All Your Details Ready in One Place

The biggest game changer is having your details organised ahead of time. Put everything you want photographed into a box; your rings, jewellery, perfume, invitations, shoes, vow books, anything sentimental. When your photographer arrives you will usually be getting the last touches of hair and makeup, so it helps if one of your bridesmaids knows exactly where the detail box is. This lets you relax and breathe while we start shooting, and you are not scrambling around trying to find things.

Give Yourself Enough Time

A relaxed morning relies on timing.
For the boys, 45 minutes is ideal; they should be already dressed from the waist down and ready to put jackets, ties, cufflinks and shoes on as soon as the photographer arrives. If they are still showering or ironing shirts you instantly lose 10 to 20 minutes of shooting time and everything that is left becomes rushed.

For the girls, an hour to an hour and fifteen is the minimum. Makeup should and hair is done, you’re in your cute pjs! More time means you can enjoy the moment, laugh with your people, take individual portraits, get robe photos if you want them, and not feel like you are racing the clock.

Keep the Room Tidy for Photos

Prep rooms get chaotic fast. Makeup bags, clothes, bags, water bottles, chargers and snacks end up everywhere. The best way to keep things running smoothly is to have two spaces; a room where everyone dumps their stuff and gets ready and then a space that is kept clean for photos. Ask your bridesmaids to stay on top of this because it makes a massive difference. A tidy space photographs beautifully and it saves us from spending half the morning clearing the background.

Be Thoughtful About Who Is With You

This is the most important point I cannot emphasis enough!

As much as you want everyone there with you, not everyone needs to be in the room, and that is completely okay. Only two or three people can actually help you into your dress; any more than that starts to crowd the space and the room becomes noisy, a bit chaotic, and you end up doing the emotional labour of managing everyone. You should think about who genuinely makes you feel calm and grounded and choose the people who you truly want to share that moment with; your peace comes first.

But if there are people you do want to see you before the ceremony, you can absolutely bring them in later. This is where a reveal or first look works beautifully. You can have your bridesmaids or a close parent help you get dressed and keep the room calm, then once you are ready we bring in your mum, your grandparents, siblings or anyone else who means a lot to you. It becomes a moment that is intentional and emotional rather than chaotic and overwhelming.

This works especially well for larger families or brides who have a lot of people wanting to be involved. You still get those beautiful reactions; you still get to include everyone; it just happens in a way that protects your energy. The calmest mornings are not always the smallest bridal parties, they are the ones without extra people who don’t need to be there. Instead of having mum from both sides and grandma and grandpa and aunts and siblings and toddlers in the same room, keep the core group with you while getting ready, then invite everyone else in for a reveal so they can see you looking incredible and be part of that memory without adding stress.

Weddings naturally make everyone turn to the bride for answers and reassurance, so the more people in the room the more emotional weight lands on you. Keeping the space simple and intentional means you get to breathe, relax, and actually enjoy the morning rather than managing it.

Prepare the Boys Too

Make sure the guys know how to tie their ties, fold their pocket squares and put on their boutonnieres. If they aren’t prepared and they waste fifteen minutes getting themselves sorted, that is fifteen minutes taken from their photos. A little prep the night before saves stress on the day and keeps their part of the timeline running smoothly.

The Atmosphere Matters More Than You Think

Your morning should feel like you, calm and joyful and intimate. When the space is clean, the timing is generous, the people around you are chosen with intention and everything is organised, you get to actually enjoy the morning. That is when the most beautiful, emotional, candid photos happen; when the room feels peaceful and you are not rushing or cleaning or thinking about logistics.

A well planned prep transforms the whole flow of the day and helps you step into the best version of yourself before you walk down the aisle.

Planning your wedding timeline and want it to feel effortless?

I help couples create mornings that are calm, intentional and beautifully photographed.