Pro Tips for the Best Wedding Morning
Captured by Aleksandra Filipek Photography while assisting Chloe Caldwell Photography
Sharing bubbles with your bridesmaids often becomes one of the most joyful parts of the morning. Glasses clink in the background as dresses are steamed and music fills the room. Conversations drift between memories, excitement and quiet reassurance. These moments feel so light and that is exactly what makes them so special to photograph, make sure to give yourself more time than you thin when getting ready, being relaxed and having a relaxed morning sets the tone for the day. When the schedule allows space to breath, moments unfold more naturally and nothing feels rushed, forced or tense.
Choose a getting ready space with good natural light or room to move to after you have your dress on. Soft window light, neutral surroundings and uncluttered areas help everything feel calmer and softer. A relaxed brides means timeless, soft and elegant getting ready portraits. It’s always better to have some spare time rather than running after the clock.
Have your details ready in one place. Your dress, shoes, jewellery, stationery, perfume and any sentimental items gathered together allow them to be photographed first while you continue enjoying the morning uninterrupted, so that when you are ready to accessories, everything is one place and you don’t need to rush looking for an earing or your shoes.
Let groom prep have its moment too. While it is often overlooked, it’s just as important as the bridal moments. The groom and groomsmen share a beer, an inside jokes and their joy and laughter also needs to documented. These moments add depth and balance to your love story, allowing your wedding story to feel complete rather than one-sided.
Exchanging handwritten letters is another quiet way to connect during the morning, often becoming the first deeply personal moment of the day between the two of you. It does not need to be long or carefully worded. Simple thoughts, a few honest lines or an I love you are often enough to bring everything into focus.
Reading a letter privately allows you to pause before getting ready to get to the ceremony space. It’s often a a moment of calm reassurance. When you later walk down the aisle, those words often stay with you, softening the moment and making that walk feel even more meaningful and emotionally present.
Captured by Aleksandra Filipek Photography while assisting Chloe Caldwell Photography
Captured by Aleksandra Filipek Photography while assisting Chloe Caldwell Photography
A reveal with your bridesmaids or parents is one of the most powerful moments of the wedding morning. It is the first time you are truly seen as a bride. The emotion in the room shifts, reactions are raw and unfiltered. You can see the happiness in their eyes and smiles.
What makes morning prep so important is not how it looks but how it feels. It is the only time in the day where everything slows down before the ceremony. There is space to breathe, to connect and to simply be present with the people who matter most. When photographed naturally, these moments unfold without interruption, allowing the experience to remain exactly as it is meant to be.
As a Hampshire documentary wedding photographer, I want you to have a wedding morning that feels meaningful and relaxed, allowing space for natural moments to unfold.