How to Have an Amazing Bridal Session Experience
When it comes to booking your bridal session, there are several key factors to consider in order to make sure that you have an amazing bridal session experience. Bridal sessions have grown in popularity over the years, especially in the southern part of the United States. But, what is a bridal session exactly? A bridal session is one that allows brides to get all dolled up in their wedding dress and have solo portraits made before their wedding day. There are lots of benefits of booking a bridal session, which we will discuss in length below.
So, sit back, relax, and enjoy your time scrolling through one of my recent (read: favorite) bridal sessions to date all while picking this photographer’s brain about how to ensure that you have an amazing bridal session experience.
First and foremost, booking a bridal session allows you to do a trial run of your hair and makeup before your wedding day. Not only do you get to make sure that your hair and makeup is exactly how you want it, but you also get to see what it will look like in photos well before your wedding day occurs. This is super helpful to brides who may be in between hair and makeup ideas. Brides can also use their bridal session to see how long it will take to get into their dress once their hair and makeup is finished. So many times, brides will underestimate how long it takes to get their dress on during the wedding day, which is the number one cause of timelines running behind. Get a good idea of how much time you will actually take to get ready by doing a bridal session in advance!
Second, bridal sessions are a great way to have photos made in a location other than the wedding venue. Brides who book a bridal session somewhere other than their wedding venue end up with a diverse wedding gallery! Bridal sessions also help save time on the wedding day. Of course, photographers will still get solo shots of each partner on a wedding day too, but bridal sessions allow you to have more time to get creative and get more shots of the bride (because let’s face it, she’s the star of the show)!
Next, bridal sessions allow you to have photos made in advance to display at your wedding event. Hear me out: this is something that’s super common in the south! Displaying a portrait of the bride during the reception is a great way to spice up any reception space. I’ve seen an uptick in this trend over the years, and I always enjoy seeing wedding guests react to these portraits.
We’ve talked about the benefits of having a bridal session, so now it’s time to dive into HOW to have an amazing bridal session experience!
Tip #1: plan, plan, plan! You’ll want to make sure that you give yourself enough time to get your hair/makeup done, drive to the session location, get into your dress, and most importantly, not feel overwhelmed or flustered in the process. Taking the day off work or leaving early is always best to give yourself enough time to not feel rushed, assuming that your session is on a weekday. If you’ve booked your session for a weekend, then waking up at a good hour, drinking plenty of water, and getting any and all errands finished in advance will help ensure that you make it to your appointments on time.
Tip #2: Book your vendors in advance! Wedding hair and makeup takes a little more time than a regular hair appointment, so make sure that you book your hair and makeup vendors early. Also, if you aim to get a spray tan, I recommend getting one 3-5 days in advance so the color has time to look more natural by the time your session rolls around. If you’re purchasing a bouquet to use (which I highly recommend), do so in advance so the florist has time to tweak things if needed!
Tip #3: Stay flexible! If choosing an outdoor location for your bridal session, be sure and stay flexible when it comes to weather. Your photographer should stay in constant communication with you leading up to your session date, and they should have backup locations in mind in the event of inclement weather.
Tip #4: Talk to your photographer! Show them inspo photos, tell them about any insecurities you may have, and most importantly, understand that all your photographer wants is to make you feel as beautiful as you look! Communicate with us as best you can, and let us work our magic!
There are so many benefits to having a bridal session, and I hope you’ve read through all of my tips and tricks to help ensure that you have an amazing bridal session experience. Whether you book with me or another photographer, please know that we are so excited to show you just how stunning you truly are!
Interested in booking a bridal session with me? Reach out HERE, and let’s get started!
Vendors I love
Hair/Makeup:
Florists: