Why do getting ready rooms matter? 

Getting ready is the start of your wedding day story, and you will usually spend a significant amount of time in the space where you get dressed, finish hair/makeup, spend time with your wedding party people, and get ready for the ceremony. Which means that I'm probably going to take lots of photos in the getting ready space. You want a space that you're going to be comfortable in, and that is also going to look great in photographs. Plus, a getting ready room that fits with the overall vision of your wedding is going to make the photos look more coherent with the rest of the gallery. 

What to consider in a getting ready room

Both partners are going to be spending time in their respective getting ready spaces. Wherever you get ready, the place should feel comfortable, bright, and spacious. 

Space

You don't want to feel cramped in the getting ready space. Does the space have enough room for you, all of your wedding party members, parents, garments, personal items, food, hairstylists, makeup artists, and photographers? Pick a space where you will have plenty of room for everything on that list plus some extra space to move around. It is usually easier and more convenient to have a separate area of the getting ready space designated for food, personal items, and other things that you don't want in the photos. 

Natural Light

Choosing a getting ready space with lots of natural light will make a big difference for photos! The more windows, the better. Keep the window drapery to the side and let the natural light in. Natural window light is soft and diffused and will make you and the photos look softer and more natural. I am comfortable shooting with absolute no windows, but the light will be softer is it is natural light. 

Style/Wall Color

Think about the vibe of your wedding day and how the getting ready room fits into that style. For example, if you are having a natural beach wedding, getting ready in a sleek, ultra-modern hotel may not fit the vibe of the rest of the wedding.  Something like a seaside Airbnb cottage may fit your style better. You also want to consider the color of the walls in the getting ready space. Light neutral toned walls are going to look brighter and make for more even skin tones. Darker walls will add contrast, but may cast a color tone (For example, wood paneled walls are naturally going to look warmer and a little more orange than white walls). 

Location-proximity to ceremony venue and your partner's getting ready space

Location is so important for getting ready spaces! I always recommend that the getting ready space be as close as possible to the ceremony venue. The more time we spend driving between locations, the less time we have for other things. The closer the getting ready area is to the ceremony location, then the less likely it is to be stuck in traffic as well.