Getting Ready Spaces: What to Look for Beyond a Pretty Bridal Suite
When you're touring wedding venues or choosing where to get ready on your wedding morning, it's easy to focus on how the space looks. A beautiful bridal suite is certainly a bonus, but there are a few things that matter even more once the wedding day actually arrives!
Your getting ready space sets the tone for the first few hours of your day. It's where you'll spend time with some of your favorite people, get into your wedding attire, open gifts or letters, and experience that anticipation before everything officially begins.
As a NYC wedding photographer, I've photographed wedding mornings in everything from Manhattan hotel suites to private homes and sprawling estate venues. The spaces that work best aren't always the most elaborate. They're the ones that give everyone enough room, have beautiful light, and allow the morning to unfold comfortably!
Look for Plenty of Natural Light
Natural light is one of the first things I notice when I walk into a getting ready space.
Large windows can make an enormous difference, both for your photographs and for your hair and makeup team. If you're choosing between two hotel rooms or getting ready locations, a space with generous window light will almost always be my recommendation.
This is especially worth considering for New York City weddings, where hotel rooms can vary dramatically in their size and available light. When booking a room or suite, ask about the number and size of the windows and which direction the room faces.
Make Sure There's Enough Space for Everyone
A room can look spacious online and feel very different once you add your wedding party, family members, photographer, videographer, hair and makeup artists, garment bags, luggage, flowers, food, and everyone's personal belongings.
Think realistically about how many people will be in the room at one time. Having a little extra space makes it easier for your vendors to work, gives everyone room to move around, and keeps the morning from feeling crowded.
Pay Attention to the Backgrounds
When you're looking at a potential getting ready space, take a moment to look beyond the overall design.
What's directly beside the windows? Are there clean walls or interesting architectural details? Is there a beautiful chair, sofa, or area where you could put on your shoes or jewelry? Is there enough open space to get dressed? You don't need a completely neutral room, but having a few uncluttered areas gives us much more flexibility for photographs.
Consider Where You'll Actually Get Dressed
One of the most meaningful parts of the morning is often getting into your wedding attire.
Maybe your mom is helping with the final buttons, your sister is fastening your jewelry, or your closest friends are seeing you completely ready for the first time. Think about where that moment will happen.
Ideally, there is an area with enough room for you and the people helping you, along with good light and space for your photography and video teams to document it without getting in the way. This is one of those details that may not seem important while you're venue shopping, but makes a noticeable difference on the wedding day.
Don't Forget About Your Partner's Getting Ready Space
The bridal suite tends to get most of the attention, but your partner's getting ready space deserves some thought too.
I've seen beautiful bridal suites paired with tiny, windowless rooms on the other side of the venue. If photographs from both sides of the morning are important to you, take a look at both spaces before making your plans. The same principles apply such as good light, enough room for everyone, and a setting that feels intentional.
If your venue doesn't have a great second option, getting ready at a nearby hotel or another location may be worth considering.
Think About Location and Travel Time
In Nyc especially, location matters. A gorgeous Manhattan hotel suite isn't necessarily the best choice if it's going to add significant travel time before your ceremony. Traffic, elevators, loading cars, coordinating wedding party transportation, and simply getting everyone downstairs can take longer than expected.
When we're building your wedding photo timeline, every transition takes time. Choosing a getting ready location close to your ceremony or first look can give you more breathing room and less time spent moving from place to place. And on a wedding day, having a little extra breathing room is always valuable.
As your New York City wedding photographer, helping you think through details like these is part of the experience. We'll plan carefully beforehand so that when your wedding day arrives, you can spend less time worrying about logistics and more time enjoying everything you've spent so long planning!