wedding planning tips: Getting Ready at your wedding
Anna-Marie getting her makeup done by Hannah Lail Beauty
See Anna-Marie and Ryan’s gallery here!
The getting ready portion of your wedding day is so special. It’s the moment it starts to sink in that this is really happening. You’ve spent years building a life with your favorite person, you’ve said “yes” to forever, and now you’re beginning the day you’ve been planning for months. For me as an Austin wedding photographer, this part of the day always feels magical because it’s full of anticipation, laughter, nerves, and so many emotions.
But in the excitement, it’s easy to overlook just how chaotic the getting ready process can be. You’ve carefully planned the big moments, but this part of the day often often gets less attention. The right space for your getting ready wedding photos can make all the difference, not only for your stress levels but also for how your photos turn out.
Why Your Getting Ready Space Matters
Above: Jordin in her main getting ready space at The Grand Lady with her vendors vs. her getting final details ready with her mom in her clean and clear space! See Jordin and Collin’s gallery here!
Picture this: your wedding party, family members, snacks, bags, hair and makeup artists, videographers, and your wedding photographer all crammed into one hotel room; all while you’re trying to get dressed! Things can get cluttered fast, which can add unnecessary stress. Starting your day in a clean, bright, peaceful space sets the tone for everything that follows.
As someone who specializes in documentary style wedding photography, I know that clutter-free, light-filled rooms make it easier to capture natural, candid moments that reflect the true joy of your day. A beautiful space gives you peace of mind and allows your photos to shine.
Austin Wedding Venues with Great Getting Ready Spaces
One of the best ways to ensure a beautiful start to the day is by choosing a venue that has dedicated spaces for getting ready. Many Austin wedding venues include houses or suites designed for this exact purpose.
The Grand Lady in Manor, Texas → This historic mansion offers multiple rooms with large windows, perfect for splitting up clutter and photo-ready spaces. I photographed a wedding there recently, and the couple’s wedding photos turned out beautifully because they had calm, uncluttered areas to get ready and share moments with their family and wedding party. See Collin and Jordin’s gallery here!
Allan House (Downtown Austin) → A Victorian-style mansion in the heart of downtown, with natural light and charming rooms that give your getting ready photos a timeless, elegant vibe.
Barr Mansion → Known for its gardens and farm-to-table dining, this venue also has spacious bridal suites with plenty of natural light, making it a photographer’s dream.
Woodbine Mansion (Round Rock) → Just north of Austin, this historic estate has multiple private rooms for wedding parties, so you’ll never feel crowded before the ceremony.
These kinds of venues are designed with weddings in mind, so they often give you multiple options for where to get dressed, store belongings, and take portraits. See my guest blog from Magen of ManskiHaus on even more venues with beautiful natural light!
Hotel Rooms and BNB’s
If your venue doesn’t have a dedicated getting ready space, consider renting a house nearby. Platforms like VRBO or Airbnb often have gorgeous, naturally lit spaces that are far more photogenic than hotel rooms. A home also gives you room to spread out and designate one area for belongings while keeping another room clutter-free for portraits.
For example, areas like East Austin or South Congress have stylish rentals with unique architecture, colorful design, and large windows. These spaces not only photograph beautifully but also capture the creative, laid-back vibe that Austin is known for.
If you do choose a hotel, think about booking an additional room or asking friends if you can use theirs as a “photo-ready zone.” Having a space free of bags, food, and people’s belongings makes a big difference in how your getting ready wedding photos look.
Here are a couple options for hotels in Austin!
Hotel Saint Cecilia (South Congress) → Known for its boutique, mid-century design, this hotel has suites with large windows, great outdoor spaces, and bold yet elegant interiors. It’s perfect for couples who want unique, artistic Austin wedding photos.
Hotel Van Zandt (Rainey Street District) → Modern and stylish with floor-to-ceiling windows in many rooms. Located near the heart of Austin nightlife, it offers both convenience and natural light, ideal for getting ready photos that feel vibrant and urban.
South Congress Hotel → A favorite for weddings and elopements, this boutique hotel combines minimalistic design with huge windows and airy spaces. The rooms are sleek, modern, and filled with light — perfect for a clean backdrop.
The Importance of Lighting
Lighting is one of the most crucial factors for stunning wedding photography. If you’re drawn to a bold, editorial vibe, hotel rooms with direct flash setups are great! I actually really enjoy shooting high flash photos and my clients have also loved these. But if you want your Austin wedding photographer to capture soft, natural light, choose a space with large, bright windows.
If I’m using ambient light, turning off the lights and relying on natural light is ideal. Mixed light sources can result in odd skin tones. For example, artificial light can be much warmer or greener than the soft, cool sunlight, from a window. This can result in orange and green tones in your hair and face, or any part of you that isn’t directly facing the window and blues and pure white tones in the parts of you that are facing the window. These differences are hard (but certainly not impossible) to reconcile in post. It’s much easier to bring up shadows or bring down very bright areas that are all lit by the same source in the same color.
Setting Yourself Up for a Stress-Free day and Beautiful Photos
From personal experience photographing weddings in Austin and beyond, I’ve seen how much smoother the day feels when couples think about their getting ready space in advance. Clear rooms, good light, and intentional planning all contribute to beautiful, stress-free wedding photos in Austin that you’ll love looking back on for years.
This is especially true for couples who value documentary style wedding photography. Having a calm, organized space makes it easier to capture those natural, candid moments without distraction give you the space to enjoy your wedding for all that it is.
FAQ
Why are getting ready photos important?
Getting ready photos capture the anticipation, joy, and quiet moments before the ceremony. They add depth to your wedding story and showcase details like your dress, rings, and interactions with your closest people.
Where is the best place to get ready for wedding photos?
Spaces with good natural light and minimal clutter are best. Many Austin wedding venues like The Grand Lady or Allan House offer beautiful bridal suites. Alternatively, renting a home through Airbnb or VRBO can give you stylish, light-filled rooms.
How do I make my getting ready photos look their best?
Choose a room with large windows, keep one area clutter-free, and plan for enough space for your wedding party, hair and makeup team, and photographer. Clean, bright spaces create timeless photos.
Do I need to book an extra hotel room?
It’s often a great idea. An additional room can serve as a clutter-free photo zone, ensuring your Austin wedding photographer has a beautiful, clean space to capture portraits.
What time should my photographer arrive for getting ready photos?
Most photographers recommend starting coverage 60–90 minutes before you get dressed. This allows time to capture candid moments, details, and the energy of the morning without feeling rushed.
Let’s Talk About Your Wedding
These are just a few ways to make your morning more relaxed while ensuring gorgeous photos. If you’re planning your wedding and want to talk about how to get the photos you’ve always dreamed of, I’d love to connect. Whether you’re searching for Austin wedding photographers, exploring unique Austin wedding venues, or curious about destination wedding photography, I’d be honored to help.
This blog is an excerpt from a wedding guide I wrote to help couples like you plan in such a way that you get the photos of your dreams! Download the full guide here!
About the Author
Hey Y’all! I’m Thomas, a New Jersey native turned Texas transplant. I’m a third-generation photographer and a deep extrovert. You’ll usually find me with the people I love, putting them in front of my camera so I can capture the incredible stories unfolding around me. It’s this drive that sent me down the road of bringing visual storytelling to people’s wedding days.
The best part of my job is getting to capture the unique story that unfolds during your wedding day so you can look back on it for a lifetime.