How to Choose the Right Getting Ready Space for Your Wedding

Elopement, Wedding

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Out of all the mornings in your lifetime, it’s likely that the morning of your wedding day will be one you remember most. Those sweet moments spent with loved ones before you officially tie the knot with your partner; moments spent clinking champagne glasses, holding back tears so as to not ruin your fresh makeup, breathing in all the emotions and anticipation of the long-awaited day. The memories you create during these precious hours are exactly the reason it’s so important to choose the right wedding getting ready space—somewhere that allows your morning to go smoothly, and fosters the kind of atmosphere you’re dreaming of for those moments before your ceremony. 

In this blog, I’ve compiled my top tips as a wedding photographer for choosing the right getting ready space for your wedding, to ensure that your morning is as smooth & stress-free as it is unforgettable!

Wedding Getting Ready FAQ’s

We’ll begin with some FAQ’s regarding the “getting ready” portion of your wedding day, and what the logistics look like.

Where can I get ready for my wedding?

You’ve got a few different options when it comes to getting ready spaces, and it all depends on what your unique day looks like. Typically, couples will get ready at one of the following types of locations:

  • At your venue
  • At a hotel/Airbnb
  • At your home

At your venue

The easiest and most logistically simple place to get ready is your wedding venue itself, if it has designated getting ready spaces. Many wedding venues will offer dedicated rooms for each partner where you can get ready in the morning, store your personal belongings, meet up with your vendors, organize your flowers, gather with your loved ones, etc.—essentially making it somewhat of a home base for the day. These may be small rooms that only fit a few people, or they may be large, spacious suites with items for you to enjoy such as a TV, bar, pool table, patio, etc. The main benefit of getting ready right at your wedding venue is that you won’t have to coordinate any transportation once you’re ready to take you to your ceremony—you’ll already be where you need to be!

Julie and Erick got ready for their gorgeous Cancún Destination Wedding at their venue, Villa La Joya, which made the transition from getting ready to ceremony seamless. Emma and Tony did the same for their Mansion Wedding in Capitol Hill, getting ready in individual rooms of the mansion where the majority of their celebration took place. They actually did drive to a separate location for their ceremony, but came back to the mansion for their evening festivities.

At a hotel/Airbnb

Your next option is to book a hotel room or Airbnb to get ready in; typically, this is best if your venue doesn’t have space for you to get ready, and/or you need to stay at a hotel nearby anyway. Perfect for destination weddings when you’ll already need to book accommodations, so your hotel room doubles as lodging and your getting ready space. Hotels are a fantastic option if you don’t necessarily need a place where you and your guests can exclusively get ready, and if you’d like to make use of hotel amenities/services such as spa treatments, room service on-site restaurants, etc. Airbnb’s, on the other hand, are a lovely option if you want somewhere private to spend time with your guests, or you and your partner want a full place to come back to for your wedding night!

To help you narrow down your search, I put together a guide to the Best Seattle Hotels for Getting Ready on Your Wedding Day that you’ll want to be sure to read through.

At your home

Finally, you can absolutely get ready in your own home/apartment/etc., or the home of a family member/friend! I’ve seen many couples choose to get ready in their own space for a more intimate feel, or even in their parents’ home if they’re having a backyard wedding on the property. This is a great option if you’d like your morning to feel super cozy and personal to the two of you & the space you’ve so lovingly created together.

How early should I start getting ready for my wedding?

This is completely up to what the timeline of your wedding looks like, when your hair/makeup/other vendors are arriving, and how many people will be getting ready at the same time. I’d recommend asking your HMUA for recommendations on how long you’ll need based on how many members are in your wedding party, how long they think your hair/makeup will take, etc. As far as photography coverage goes, I typically like to arrive with enough time to document at least an hour of the getting ready portion of your day, which gives me time to grab photos of the two of you and your details.

What should I wear while getting ready for my wedding?

You have so many fun options when it comes to what to wear while you’re getting ready for your wedding! I’ve seen brides wear all kinds of things with their bridesmaids throughout the morning, from matching robes to matching PJ’s to matching socks. I’ve seen grooms buy matching PJ’s, t-shirts, or socks to wear with his groomsmen. I’ve also seen couples just wear whatever is most comfortable for them—there doesn’t have to be anything special involved! Etsy has a huge selection of cute matching sets to get, so definitely browse through there for ideas. 

Just make sure that whatever you’re wearing while you get your hair and makeup done is loose enough to safely remove/change out of without totally messing up your beautiful new bridal look. I love what Sasha did for her Tropical Chic Kauai Wedding, opting for matching white outfits with oversized shirts & comfy shorts for her and her bridesmaids!

Who should help me get ready on my wedding day?

This is a very personal decision, and one that is entirely up to you. I’ll simply say that there is no right or wrong answer; you could get ready on your own, with 10 of your best friends by your side, with the help of your mother, father, grandparent, sibling. . . no matter who you get ready with (if anyone), what’s most important is that your wedding morning is beautiful to YOU and is just how you’d like it!

4 Tips for Choosing Your Wedding Getting Ready Space

Now, let’s chat about how to go about choosing the right space to get ready for your wedding! Below are 4 questions you’ll want to consider when looking through your options, whether you’d like to get ready in a hotel room, an Airbnb, in the suites at your venue, or at your very own home.

1. Does it have plenty of space for you & your group?

First of all, you want to make sure that wherever you get ready will have more than enough space for you and your group. You’d be surprised at just how much space you may need on the morning of your wedding for things like makeup boxes, hair products, drinks/coffee/champagne, outfits (and places to hang dresses/suits), shoes, and flowers when they’re dropped off by your florist. You’ll want to have an abundance of countertop space to place items including your flowers, rings, details, and other things you want to keep organized & make sure don’t get lost—as well as snacks and drinks to keep you hydrated & fueled throughout the morning!

Make sure as well that you have access to enough bathrooms for your group; you may only have one in the room if you’re in a hotel, so will that bathroom be big enough for everyone? Do you have enough mirror space? Is there a bathroom down the hall that folks can actually use, while you and your hairstylist/makeup artist use the in-room bathroom? 

If you can, designate a space where you put everything that doesn’t need to be pretty or organized; ideally, in a corner somewhere that won’t be photographed. Trust me—those brightly colored bags of chips will definitely stand out in photos if they’re sitting on a table behind you while you’re getting your makeup done!

2. Does it match the overall aesthetic of your wedding?

Next, consider how the aesthetic of your getting ready spaces matches that of your wedding itself. Think about your color scheme, design/style, rentals, outfits, and the overall energy you’d like your celebration to have. 

Here are a few major things to take into account when thinking about the aesthetic of your getting ready space:

Lighting

This one’s simple—the more natural light, the better!

Colors

What color are the walls, the floors, the ceilings? Yellow walls tend to give your skin a funky tint if you don’t have enough natural light to balance it out, so keep in mind the way that the colors around you may affect your skin tone in photos. 

Textures

Are there any textures around the room that might be distracting in photos, such as huge polka dots, tiny stripes/plaid, or those popcorn-textured walls? Think about how the textures in the room will affect the way your photos look, and how they’ll match the vibe of your day.

Decor

If your wedding day is going to be super minimalist & contemporary, you probably wouldn’t want to get ready in a boutique hotel where the rooms are painted in bright colors and decorated with unique paintings, quirky statues, and antique light fixtures. Instead, try to find a location that matches the vibe of your day; if your wedding is going to be fairly high-end and elegant, find a more luxurious place like the Four Seasons that offers plenty of natural light, sparkling chandeliers, opulent furnishings, and bright white walls. 

3. Does it make sense with the overall logistics of your day?

A huge thing to think about when it comes to picking a getting ready space is the logistics of it all, and how adding this location will play a role in your timeline. If you won’t be getting ready at your venue itself, then you’ll want to consider how far away your getting ready location is from the venue, how long the drive typically takes, and potential traffic/detours, as well as coordinate transportation for everybody involved. To make parking & getting everybody to the venue a bit easier, couples will often book group transportation such as a limo, van, or party bus. Make sure that the location you choose is helping to make your day seamless and practical, rather than adding more stress!

4. What does it offer in terms of scenery & portrait locations?

Finally, consider what the space has to offer in terms of scenery for a first look, group portraits, etc. It’s always great if we can grab some bonus portraits of the two of you at multiple locations throughout the day—e.g. Could you do your first look at a hotel, and couple that with bridal portraits at your venue? The more locations we can take photos, the merrier, and the more variety you’ll receive in your gallery! 

BONUS: See if it’s pet-friendly

If you’d like to get ready for your wedding with your four-legged friends, make sure to find somewhere that’s pet-friendly!

Best Seattle Hotels for Getting Ready on Your Wedding Day

I hope you’re now feeling more confident in your ability to choose the perfect getting ready space for your wedding, whether that looks like a lavish hotel suite, a cozy cabin in the woods near your venue, or your childhood bedroom at your parents’ house for your backyard wedding. If you’re looking for getting ready spaces in the Seattle area, I highly recommend checking out one of these hotels—and as your photographer, I’ll be more than happy to provide further suggestions once we start working together. Get in touch and we’ll start dreaming up your dream day 🥂

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