Bride's Getting Ready Guide

How to Prepare for Your Big Day: A Bride’s Getting Ready Guide

We’ve put together a simple guide for brides who are planning their big day and might not know where to begin. While every wedding is unique and personal, this overview provides a general idea to help you feel more confident and relaxed as you prepare.

1. Capturing the Final Makeup Touches 

Since the bride typically needs around two hours for hair and makeup, we usually begin the day by photographing the groom getting ready. By the time we arrive at the bride’s location, makeup is usually about 90% complete—perfect timing to capture a few elegant makeup shots.

As the final touches are being done, we often invite the bride’s mum or sister to help with a light touch-up by the window. Including a family member in this moment adds emotional depth and makes the photos even more personal and memorable.

One bride is in the hotel doing her makeup, while the other is outside a Brisbane venue doing a touch-up.

2. Bridal Party Photos Before Getting Dressed

While the bride is finishing her hair, we take the opportunity to photograph the wedding dress and accessories—this helps save time and ensures every detail is captured beautifully.

A detailed shot of a Brisbane bride's Chanel perfume, necklace, and invitation letters.

Girls time is a must! Once hair and makeup are complete, the bride can slip into her personalised wedding pyjamas for some relaxed, fun moments with the bridal party. It’s the perfect time to pop some champagne, share a few laughs, and get those natural, candid shots that reflect your joy and excitement.

If you’d like, we can also take a few beautiful portraits in front of your wedding dress before you change.

When it’s time to get into the dress, we’ll step aside to give you some privacy. During this time, we’ll capture the room setup, bridal details, and candid moments with any guests who may have started to arrive.

The bridal party is having fun in front of the wedding dress as they get ready to celebrate a Brisbane wedding.

3. Bride Getting Ready Photos

Once you’re dressed, we’ll begin capturing the full getting-ready sequence—starting with the bride putting on her earrings, necklace, and bracelet. We often rotate bridesmaids during this process so everyone gets a chance to be part of the photos.

For the most important moment—putting on the veil—we usually invite the bride’s mum to do it. If you’re unsure how to place the veil, no worries! Here’s a helpful YouTube link to guide you through it.

Bridesmaids are helping the bride put on her necklace and bracelets at one of the best wedding hotels in Brisbane.

4. Family Photos & Bridal Portrait

Then it’s time for family photos. We’ll start with parents, followed by the bridal party, siblings, and other close family members. Since this is often the first time they see the bride in her wedding dress, it’s a deeply emotional moment filled with smiles, hugs, and happy tears.

As professional wedding photographers, we’re always ready to capture those heartfelt reactions. These images often become some of the most meaningful from the day, and we’ll make sure everyone looks their best while keeping the vibe relaxed and joyful.

The mother just helped her daughter put the veil on, and the bridal party is taking Vogue-style wedding photos in Brisbane.

If there’s still time before the ceremony, we love to take a few solo bridal portraits. The bride can hold her bouquet, be softly covered by her veil, or sit on a designer chair—simple, relaxed shots that show your natural beauty and quiet moments before the day unfolds.

A beautiful Brisbane bride poses gracefully after getting ready.

As you head off to your ceremony, take a deep breath and enjoy the moment — you’ve done everything right. And with Viva Weddings by your side, you can feel confident knowing that every detail is being taken care of. We’ll be there to support you, keep things calm, and capture the magic as your big day begins.