We love walking into a clean room for a getting ready session and seeing things neatly organized so we can start taking photos right away. When there’s no mess. Everything is laid out nicely. Everyone that needs to be there, is. It sets the tone for the whole rest of the day.
But trust us… this is not always the case. Some days we have to move EVERYTHING (leftover food, water bottles, random trash, the list goes on) just to take a quick picture of the rings or of the dress.
Listen. We understand it’s your wedding day, and there’s a lot going on! Things get hectic. We’re alright with a little mess, but let’s not go overboard here. There are a few things you could help us out with before we arrive to your room to ensure that things go smoothly. And we’re not trying to be harsh. We just want to get the best photos possible!!
Prepare for your Getting Ready
- Tidy up a bit before we arrive. We get it. You’re on vacation! And we do want you to relax. But if you take just 3 minutes to tidy up before we get there, it will make a world of difference. Remove wet towels and clothing hanging from the balcony, throw away empty bottles & cans, and pick up your dirty underwear from the floor (yes, it happens). If you’re way too overwhelmed with everything else going on, designate a friend to help you out. You can thank them later.
- Write your vows down! On paper. Yes, real paper! You can choose a pretty notebook from Etsy or a plain sheet of white paper, but honestly, it looks so much better than using your phone. Even if you do have the brand new iPhone. Fifteen years from now when you’re looking back at your wedding album, you won’t like seeing that dinosaur phone in your hand, and you’ll be happy you took our advice.
- If you have anything sentimental or something you had made specifically for the wedding, set it aside and let us know. It could be a photo from a loved one who passed, a gift or letter you’ve exchanged with the groom, something traditional from your family. Even something silly like matching mugs or t-shirts. Anything you feel is important for the day. We’d be happy to photograph it!
- If you and your groom have exchanged letters, try to wait to read them until we get there. We know it’s intimate, but these types of moments make for such authentic photos. And every time you look at them, you’ll be taken back to that feeling you had right before your big day began.
Getting Ready Tips For The Bride
- You should have your hair and makeup mostly done except for a few last-minute touch-ups (think lipstick, setting powder, hairspray). This gives us less of you sitting with your eyes closed, and more time for portraits with your dress and with your girls. And who really wants to be photographed without makeup on anyway? If you’re not sure who will be doing your hair and makeup – check out our Guide to Hiring a Makeup Artist in Punta Cana.
- Speaking of the girls, they should all have their hair and makeup done by the time we get there too. If you’ve given them a gift like a necklace or a bracelet that’s meant to be worn on the wedding day, they can have it on already or set it aside to photograph. If they’re wearing matching robes or tanks, keep them on so we can get some cute photos before you all change into your dresses.
- Wait to put your jewelry, accessories, shoes, and wedding dress on until we get there. We need to photograph all of this before you’re in it. Points to the bride if you can lay everything out together. Then we can get these shots quickly and move on to the real star of the show: You.
- And don’t forget the garter!
- Keep the rings together. It doesn’t really matter which room they’re in, but we recommend the bride’s room since we’ll also be able to photograph your engagement ring, which is usually the prettiest one and which adds that extra sparkle to the photos.
- Do you plan on having champagne? At resorts, the champagne almost always arrives late for the getting ready session! So order it with plenty of time to spare and remember to ask for enough flutes for everyone.
- Are you doing a special reveal with your dad? It’s always an emotional moment when the father sees his daughter for the first time in her wedding dress. It’s a perfect moment to catch on camera. So let us know when he’s about to arrive so we can be sure to capture that heartfelt expression on his face.
Getting Ready Tips For The Groom
- He can shower & shave beforehand, but he shouldn’t be fully dressed when we arrive. Pants on. Shirt optional. Everything else, set out and have ready to put on when we tell him to.
- Have him set aside all of his accessories. Watches. Cufflinks. Ties. Belts. Shoes. Socks. Whatever it is, he shouldn’t put it on until we say so. (Bonus tip: make sure his socks don’t have holes in them.)
- If he is going to be wearing a tie or bowtie, make sure he knows how to tie it. Or invite someone to the room that does. It may sound obvious, but we can’t tell you how many times this has happened. Youtube is a great teacher, but try to learn before we get there.
- If he’s having a toast with the boys, the bottle should be out and ready to serve. If the glasses all match, that’s even better! Cold cans of Presidente work too. But maybe we’re biased on that one.
Are you forgetting something (or someone)?
- Wear sunscreen before the wedding day! We can’t stress this enough! A dark sunglass tan, or even worse – a pale forehead from your hat and a bright red face – does not look great in photos. And it’s almost impossible to fix. Ladies, bikini straps will have the same effect. Especially if your dress is strapless or low cut! Be extra careful. Avoid sunburns!
- If you have kids – especially toddlers – invite them to be a part of the getting ready! They’ll look so cute all dressed up, and we’ll be able to take some adorable portraits before they (or their outfits) get messy.
Closing thoughts
If you can’t tell by now, we honestly have so much fun in the getting ready. It’s a chance for us to get to know the bride and groom a little better before they say “I do” and a time for us to meet a few of the important people in their lives. It’s also a good way for us to predict how the rest of the day is going to go. Like we said before, if everything is tidy and laid out, and everyone is there to support the bride and groom, we know it’s going to be an AMAZING day!
We’ll leave you with this. Just two little things that we absolutely don’t want you to forget during your getting ready.
- Relax
- Smile
It’s your wedding day. Make the most of it!!!
