But there's one thing most brides forget to think about for on their wedding day...
Where will you get ready?
The environment you get ready in has more to do with your peace of mind and how the day goes than almost any other single factor. It sets the tone for your entire wedding day.
If your day begins full of stress and clutter...that's how your entire day will feel.
Imagine this scenario (which unfortunately is NOT fictional)...
A bride decides to get ready on the morning of her wedding at her parents' house, a fitting way to say "goodbye" to her childhood home as she graduates into the role of wife. The bridesmaids join her at 7am, coffee and bagels in tow.
Of course, the only good mirror is in the parents' bedroom. The bride and her five bridesmaids are now fighting for face time. The makeup and hair stylists show up and no one knows where anything is. The girls bombard the bride with questions.
"Where do you keep your tweezers?" "I need some Vaseline." "Hey, who took the floss?"
Then Uncle Bob and Aunt Jane decide to pop in for a surprise visit. "Oh, my goodness! You look so beautiful! Let me get a quick picture..."
The photographer shows up and the bride is still in her pajamas, frowning from fending off the uninvited family. The only room available for photos is a dimly lit study crammed with knick-knacks and piles of clothes. At the last minute, the bride frantically gathers up armfuls of miscellaneous items and stuffs them into the closets.
Interruption. Distraction. STRESS. Not the way to start your wedding day.
Seeing brides in this state of chaos on their wedding day inspired photographer Vivian Lanzarone to create Space, an oasis of calm designed to allow the bride and her girls to get ready in a relaxed, peaceful setting.
Check out this video of one bride getting ready at Space. It's beautiful, welcoming, relaxing. When you step into this Space your shoulders relax and the tension drains out of your body. You feel like a bride.
A few pointers from Vivian for creating the ideal environment for getting ready on your wedding day.
- Get ready away from your home, if possible. Pick a location that is peaceful, quiet and uncluttered with lots natural light and neutral colors that will accentuate the beauty of your wedding gown.
- Clean and get rid of the clutter BEFORE your big day.
- Surround yourself with people and things that make you feel relaxed and at ease. Steer clear of those busy body relatives.
- If you aren't sure whether your environment has the right quality of light and décor for your wedding photos, ask your photographer for assistance.
Margaret, a bride who got ready in Space on the morning of her Grandview wedding told me that Vivian was a godsend. She catered breakfast and made sure everything went smoothly...and even jumped in to help the girls with their hair when the makeup artist and hair stylist fled the scene. (More on Margaret's wedding drama here.)
"Space is a serene and lovely spot to get ready for the biggest day of your life," Margaret told me. "My photos are gorgeous!"
The bottom line: no matter where you choose to get ready, think about your environment. Give yourself space, plenty of time and surround yourself with beautiful things that make you look and feel your most beautiful. A peaceful beginning will stay with you throughout your entire wedding day.
Photos in this blog post courtesy of Vivian Photography.