What to Bring

  • Your wedding dress, ideally pressed or steamed beforehand
  • Shoes and any accessories you'll wear on your wedding day
  • A helper — a friend or family member who can manage the dress while you move
  • A small kit: safety pins, clear tape, a lint roller, and bobby pins
  • A clean sheet or blanket to set the dress on if you'll be changing somewhere other than a proper dressing room

Having a second pair of hands for the dress makes a real difference, especially for trains, bustles, or anything with a lot of fabric to manage between locations.

Hair and Makeup

Professional hair and makeup is recommended for a bridal session. It photographs more consistently under different lighting conditions and tends to hold up better through a longer session than a quick at-home look, especially if your session includes multiple locations or a longer block of time.

Quick check: if you're doing your own makeup for this session as a trial run before the wedding, treat it as a genuine test — note what worked and what you'd change before the actual day.

Choosing a Location

Many brides choose their wedding venue, a garden setting, or a location with architectural detail — columns, staircases, soft greenery — that complements the dress rather than competing with it. An indoor studio session is also a strong option if you want full control over lighting and a clean, simple background.

Curious how bridal portraits look in a full wedding gallery?

See Real Wedding Stories →

Taking Care of Your Dress

Steam or have your dress professionally pressed before the session — wrinkles from storage or shipping show up clearly in photos, especially in close, detailed shots. Keep it covered during transport, and avoid sitting in it for long stretches before the session starts.

If you'll be changing somewhere other than a dressing room, bring a clean sheet or blanket to lay the dress on, so the hem and train stay clean throughout.

How Long It Takes

Most bridal sessions run one to two hours, which allows time for a few different looks, locations, or lighting setups without feeling rushed. If hair and makeup happen beforehand, build that time into your overall schedule separately.

When to Schedule It

Many brides schedule a bridal session a few weeks to a couple of months before the wedding, once the dress has been finalized and properly fitted. This also gives you a preview of how you'll look and feel in the dress well before the wedding day itself.