Getting Ready

As documentary Raleigh wedding photographers, we capture the fleeting, unscripted moments before you say “I do”—a hum of anticipation, the shuffle of dresses and suits, the fragrance of fresh bouquets drifting through the room, proud parents, and first looks—we capture it all with a natural, storytelling style you’ll treasure for a lifetime.

Keep reading to discover our approach to photographing the getting ready part of your wedding day.

Send us a message, and scroll down to start planning!

- Jeffery Minnish, Raleigh Wedding Photographer

A man in a black suit adjusting his shirt cuff in a bedroom with bright yellow walls, decorated with a crucifix and colorful art, a wooden nightstand, and a bed with white pillows. This is at Elodie Farms.
A black and white photo of a bride in white tulle surrounded by bridesmaids and family members inside a house with decorative wallpaper, taken from the top of a curved staircase with a wrought-iron rail.
Woman with purple eyeshadow getting false eyelashes applied, wearing decorative face jewelry, and a blue top, in a dark setting.
Black and white close up of a bride smiling as a woman places a veil on her head during her wedding day.
A man with a red beard and mustache adjusting his yellow tie, looking upward with a smile, wearing a white shirt with a yellow collar, in an indoor setting with an industrial pipe in the background above him. Photo is taken from a low angle.
A woman in a red dress applying dark pink lip gloss on a bride wearing white. The image is taken from above and looking down at the women's eyes.

“Thank you so much for being such a great person to work with. You were courteous, respectful, and 'invisible! :) I mean that in the nicest way.”

- Lisa, Bride

Black and white photo of a woman in a wedding dress laughing as someone helps her adjust the straps of her dress in a well-lit room with huge windows. Another woman is in the background.
A smiling groom with glasses adjusting his light red tie in a well-lit room.
Silhouette of a woman in a white frilly dress and pearl necklace sitting in front of a lit window with curtains, with a person touching her back.
Black and white photo of a bride with vintage hair being styled by a makeup artist in a room with a window and a lamp. Her father stands in the background in a light-colored suit.
Woman with dark hair and blue eyes having her makeup applied, looking up while a makeup artist uses a brush near her eye.
A young man in a suit with a boutonniere, with an emotional expression on his face as he leans against an open doorway with natural light coming into the room.
A bride in a white vintage wedding dress with beadwork is smiling as she stands in a bedroom, with two bridesmaids dressed in mauve dresses helping her get ready.
Black and white photo of a young man in a tuxedo, smiling as a woman pins a collar boutonniere on him before his wedding ceremony in Duke Chapel. You can see stained glass windows behind him.

Our Approach to Getting Ready

The morning of your wedding is a quiet kind of magic. These hours are a swirl of anticipation, laughter, and quiet reflection before the aisle. As photojournalists, we approach this part of your wedding day with an eye for genuine emotion, capturing the unscripted glances, the unspoken nerves, and the small details that tell the bigger story. The slow reveal of the dress as it’s lifted from its hanger, the vibrant bouquets cradled like promises, and the careful pinning of a boutonniere—these moments are fleeting but full of meaning. From the gentle clasp of a necklace to the tear-filled hug with a best friend, we document it all as it naturally unfolds—no staging, no interference. We seek out the tender interactions with parents, the quiet hand squeezes, the proud smiles, and the tears they try to blink away. Whether it’s the laughter between bridesmaids, a deep breath before seeing your father, or that first glimpse of your partner, these unscripted moments become part of your family’s history—honest, beautiful, and entirely your own.

A bride adjusts a sheer lace veil over her head. Only the top of her head is visible through the delicate fabric.
A young girl in a pink tutu dress with flower embellishments is dancing or posing while two women watch and smile in a cozy, warmly lit room. One woman has a black and white striped silk shirt. The other has a mint green dress with spaghetti straps.
Black and white photo of an elderly man in a suit with a boutonniere, standing indoors and looking to the side while holding a small book or pamphlet. Natural light is on his face.
Man adjusting tie in front of window, with two silhouetted people in the foreground, in a bedroom with red lacy curtains and wooden furniture.
A bride holding a bouquet of flowers, standing in a dark room, with sunlight coming from outside, while a woman stands near the open door. The bride's profile is silhouetted by the gorgeous light coming inside the room from the open door.
A woman in a white satin robe looks at her reflection in a large mirror, with a wedding dress hanging above her. The room has gray walls, a chandelier, a window, and a chair.
A woman in a white wedding dress standing near a staircase, smiling, as an older man in a tuxedo with a boutonniere walks up the staircase to see his daughter in her dress. The walls are painted blue and decorated with framed floral prints.

FAQs: Planning Your Getting Ready for the Best Light and Moments

Q: What time should hair and makeup be finished for the best getting ready photos?
A: Ideally, schedule hair and makeup to be complete at least one hour before you need to leave for the ceremony or first look. This ensures we can capture candid moments in natural light—without feeling rushed. It also leaves time for details like dress/suit shots, parent interactions, and relaxed group portraits if desired.

Q: How do I choose the best location for getting ready photos?
A: Look for a space with large windows, light-colored walls, and minimal clutter. In Raleigh, many venues and hotels have suites with great light—but if you’re at home, pick the brightest room and keep it as clean and open as possible. Natural light helps create timeless, flattering images that feel authentic.

Q: How can we keep the room clean without stressing on the wedding morning?
A: Designate one “messy zone” for bags, suitcases, and food trays—ideally in a corner away from windows. This keeps the main shooting area clear so we can focus on people and moments instead of distractions in the background.

Q: How much time should we allow for getting ready coverage?
A: For most Raleigh weddings, around two hours of getting ready coverage is ideal. This allows time for details, candid moments, group interactions, and those meaningful pauses before the day truly begins.

Q: Should we plan a getting ready shot list?
A: We work best with a loose plan, not a rigid list. Share any special moments you know will happen—like a gift exchange, letter reading, or a first look—and we’ll document everything else organically.

Q: What if the weather isn’t great on the wedding morning?
A: We’ll adapt. Overcast skies can actually give soft, even light indoors. If it’s very dark, we’ll find the brightest area available and work creatively to keep the images natural and beautiful.

Q: How do you work during the getting ready hours without being intrusive?
A: As documentary wedding photographers, we blend into the background, quietly moving through the space and anticipating moments. Our goal is to let you fully live in your wedding morning while we capture it truthfully.

A black and white photo of a bride in a wedding dress and veil over her face. She is surrounded by two women in front of a window with curtains and natural light coming in the room.
Close-up of someone adjusting the back of a bride's wedding dress, focusing on detailed lace and fabric, in black and white. The woman is using a crochet hook to secure the loops around each button.
Close-up of someone lacing up a wedding dress with lace and fabric detailing.
Bridesmaids helping a bride put on her vintage wedding dress in a fitting room with a large mirror behind them. The bride is smiling big.
Group of men in navy blue suits with red ties smiling and engaged in conversation. The man in the foreground is adjusting his tie.
View of a family gathered on a staircase landing before a formal wedding. A chandelier hangs overhead, and large windows let in natural light, showing greenery outside. A woman in a pink dress, a man in a suit, and a child in white tulle are in the c
A bride in a lacy long-sleeved wedding dress rests her head on her father's shoulder by a window with natural light before he walks her down the aisle. She is holding a bouquet of white flowers.

Start Planning Your Wedding Today!

Let’s document your unique story!

Bridesmaids and family help a bride with her dress in a vintage decorated room before the wedding ceremony. The bride has on a white lacy dress with lacy shoulder straps, and her hair is in a loose updo with wavy tendrils falling next to her face.
A man adjusts his multicolored striped sock while sitting on a gray armchair, wearing brown leather brogue shoes, a white dress shirt, gray plaid pants, and a wristwatch. His face is cut off at the top of the photo.
A bride with a veil over her face, smiling, holding a bouquet of flowers, as hands help adjust her veil.
A black and white photo of a man in profile, wearing a suit, looking contemplatively upward indoors with a wooden staircase in the background.
Black and white photo of a joyful bride with long dark hair, wearing a strapless dress with a floral belt and earrings, smiling and surrounded by women in a room with stained glass windows.
A man with glasses and a beard, ties his yellow tie in a well-lit room. There is an industrial pipe on the ceiling behind him and a huge wooden artwork with glasses and alcohol bottles painted on it.
A smiling man in a white dress shirt, pink tie, and glasses hanging around his neck, stands in a doorway and looks at a woman in a white wedding dress, seen from behind, inside a decorated room. The bride is looking back at her dad as he comes in the
Close-up of a man in a dark suit jacket wearing a floral-patterned bow tie, a white dress shirt, and a boutonniere with white flowers and greenery on his lapel.
A woman in a strapless wedding dress wearing a white birdcage veil and pearl necklace applies lipstick while looking in a mirror in a dimly-lit room with walls sconces.
A woman with red hair, closed eyes, and purple eyeshadow has makeup applied with a brush held by a woman in the dark blurred background.