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Preparation Wedding Photography

Bride leaning on door

Preparation wedding Photography

One of my favourite times of day on a wedding day is the preparation time, the time of day when the bride and groom are getting ready for their big moment in front of family and friends, which allows for some incredible moments of emotion and nerves to show through, painting a story of the personalities of the couple through Preparation Wedding Photography. Capturing the individual moments of personality of the bride and groom before they become an ‘item’ so to speak is a primary goal of taking photos during this time of day. This is the last moments of their lives where they aren’t sharing a family with a significant other. I feel it’s important to make use of this time to paint a portrait with my photography of the lives and personality traits the bride and groom exhibit as an individual. The lovey dovey moments when they are together come later.

If you consider a wedding album as a photographic story, then the preparation photos are the beginning of the story, the coming together of these two individuals would be the ceremony, and the happily ever after the glamour photos and reception.

Groom preparation wedding photography

When photographing the preparation of the groom and his groomsmen, it’s important to recognise the atmosphere of the situation, by gauging the nerves, and/or playful (or lack of) nature of the party getting ready. One is able as a photographer to guide the party through a series of unposed photos while getting dressed, while also focussing on small things like wedding rings and shoes. When having as many weddings as I do under my belt, I’m able to read when would be appropriate to also transition into a more traditional, formal shoot after the more photojournalistic scenes.

Smiling groom
Groom and his groomsmen
groomsmen preparation glenelg
Ring Box
Groomsmen being monkeys
Getting ready
Smiling groom
All together
Boys walking together

Bridal preparation wedding photography

When heading over to the girls and the bridal party, the approach to preparation photos is largely similar. There are still nerves, emotions and drama occurring all around, with the difference being that there’s an additional process (usually) considering makeup and putting on much more complicated clothing (bridal dresses). Once again it’s important to capture the small things, like jewellery and shoes while also being photojournalistic leading up to the point where the ladies are putting on their dresses. Preparation wedding photography also tends to become highly traditional in parts with the bridal party, with shots of the bridal party fussing around the bride, and other scenes such as putting on the garter which are very traditional scenes.

Flower Girl in Window
Smiling Mum
Wedding Dress
Engagement ring
Looking in mirror
Lacing up
Having fun in the veil
Putting on the dress
Dress
Smiles all round

Overcoming Challenges in Preparation Wedding Photography

Here are common challenges in groom photography preparation, along with simple ways to handle them:

  • Cluttered rooms: We suggest decluttering early or using one tidy corner for key shots.
  • Poor lighting: Our team identifies naturally lit spots or uses discreet lighting tools to maintain ambience.
  • Tight schedules: We add buffer time to ensure no moments feel rushed, allowing you to enjoy every part of your day without stress.
  • Camera shyness: A calm, friendly approach helps everyone relax and act naturally.
  • Distractions and movement: We guide the couple and bridal party gently to ensure focus without interrupting real moments.

These steps help us capture genuine, stress-free memories during your preparation. They also apply to bridal photography preparation.

Must-Have Equipment for Preparation Wedding Photography

Capturing the quiet excitement before the ceremony takes both skill and the right tools. For groom preparation photography, a fast prime lens and off-camera flash help capture sharp, candid moments in low light. For bridal preparation photography, reflectors and macro lenses highlight accessories, while a silent shutter preserves the mood.

At SvenStudios, we carefully select our equipment to suit each setting—whether it’s a bustling groom’s room or a serene bridal suite. Our approach ensures every glance, laugh, and heartfelt moment is preserved beautifully, setting the tone for timeless wedding memories right from the start.

I strongly believe however, particularly with preparation wedding photography that it’s far better to be as invisible as possible when being a wedding photographer as I feel that there would be nothing worse than having someone with a huge camera taking shots of you while you’re getting dresses on the most emotionally charged day of your life. As a result, I tend to stay primarily photojournalistic in having the bridal parties get ready as usual and take photos of that,m and then once they’re used to me being there, join in a little for more constructed photos. I tend to hate turning people into mannequins 😀

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Frame your wedding photography, PLEASE!

Framed print

framed prints

Frame your wedding photos, PLEASE!

I can never stress enough how important it is for everyone to print and frame your wedding photography! It’s so sad that in modern society we place so much importance on simply having the photos in a digital medium, to perhaps share on social media, or to occasionally flip though on your computer foir no good reason! The truth of the matter is that,  if you print and frame the photos from your wedding day, it simply looks so much better! This isn’t only because I want to sell more prints, but it’s very true – let me explain!

rame your wedding photography

Warning! Boring number stuff!

(skip the next paragraph if numbers and sciency stuff bore you)

The average dpi (dots per inch) or more accurately ppi (pixels per inch) of your average monitor on a computer is somewhere between 72 and 130. This means that a wedding photo displayed on your screen is made up of 72-130 ‘dot’s of little colours so close together they create an image.

The more ‘dots’ the better as this makes an image clearer – it’s the reason why 4k TV looks so much better than full HD TV, which looks so much better than standard definition TV as they cram more ‘dots’ into the same space. When printing your photos on paper with a high resolution printer, the print resolution is usually around 300 dpi – if not higher, which makes a quality print around 3 time better quality than what you view on your screen.

Just as a side note the ppi for a 40″ 4k TV is 110, and Full HD, 55 which is the reason why you can sit close to a computer monitor, but not your TV, and also my computer monitors tend to be more expensive than a similar sized TV.

Frame your wedding photography!

As a result of the recent ending of the SvenStudios people’s choice wedding photo of the year contest for 2017, our winner was Milena and Steven from their wedding at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens! The framed print above was produced as their prize. Their framed print was worth $419, and looks absolutely incredible printed on fine art paper and framed professionally. As a wedding photographer, this is so much better than just looking at it on a screen!

MilenaSteven
MilenaSteven

I feel as though people who do not print and frame their wedding photos are put off by it’s perceived cost – and also the idea that anyone is able to print off their photos at places like Officeworks for far cheaper. The fact of the matter is that those cheaper, wholesale places just don’t compare with the quality and feel a proper print has, and the framing options they offer just aren’t great.

It’s like buying a car, but being content with a 1986 Barina, when you could have an Audi A6. I mean, yes there is a price difference, and I mean the Barina does fit the bill, it’ll get me from A to B, but the Audi makes me feel awesome doing it. It depends on what that awesome feeling is worth to you!

Displaying photos from your special day also has huge health benefits to people who live at your home. These precious photos of your big day can transport you back to the time you felt the most joyuous and can overcome any momentary dark feelings you might feel in the moment whenevr you walk by those favourite memories hanging in your living room!

Having family photos prominently displayed in your home canalso be beneficial to the development of healthy levels of self-esteem in your children. It gives them the opportunity to acknowledge the fact that they belong and that they are valuable to the group.

Psychologists are of the opinion that images might communicate to the child’s brain the message that they are an essential part of a family unit. Even when they are in their teenage years, your child will benefit tremendously from the presence of these precious photos, which provide an excellent contribution to your child’s growth and development.

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Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue

Have you ever wondered what the meaning and the origin behind this famous bridal poem  was? Well as a wedding photographer, I too was intrigued, as I am with any aspect of the wedding tradition and I did a little research. It’s a poem that’s synonymous with modern weddings, it’s a tradition that is still fiercely followed to this day, despite it’s meaning mostly being lost upon many of the brides I’ve talked to about it.

If I see a bride getting these items ready, I generally try to take a photo of the set before they are worn for posterity’s sake, so I figured it might be interesting to find out why the tradition exists in the first place.  Turns out the poem is actually simply a rhyming list of varying other traditions that were in place prior to the poem for various different ways to grant good luck to the bride and her marriage.

Something blue

The poem dates back to Victorian times, and as I wrote earlier, links a number of older traditions that brides adhere to for good luck. All 4 traditions of something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue are purely superstitious in nature with the minor exception that the ‘something blue’ part could relate to the religious colours of the Virgin Mary.

However in Victorian times, brides would choose the colour blue to symbolise faithfulness and loyalty, and was actually the preferred colour of wedding dresses at the time, but that’s another story.

‘Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue’

Something old

Incorporating something old into a bride’s attire was meant to symbolise her connection to her roots, her family and where she grew up. Carrying this with her into her future so that she may draw from her family’s strength in whatever the future has in store for her. Many brides choose to wear a piece of antique family jewelry or a piece of clothing handed down through the generations. In modern times this idea that the ‘something old’ has some connection to family is often forgotten in lieu of some old possession, often shoes or even underwear.

Something new

Just as the ‘something old’ was supposed to link her with her past, the ‘something new’ part of the poem was supposed to symbolise the new life she will have wedded to her new husband. One marketing technique bridal boutiques use when selling their customers wedding gowns is that the ‘something new’ should represent good fortune and success in the bride’s new life, and therefore should be the most expensive thing she’s wearing. Quite often though, aside from the wedding dress the ‘new’ item is the engagement ring, or her shoes.

Bridal jewellery

Something borrowed

Getting ‘something borrowed’ in modern times is often misunderstood as simply ‘borrowing’ something from anyone, be it perfume or some earrings. Often brides accidentally get it right however by borrowing something from their mother or Matron of honour as traditionally the ‘borrowed’ item should be something borrowed from an already happily wedded wife so as to bring a little bit of the good luck she has had in her life into this new marriage. The borrowed item is also there to remind the bride that friends and family are there to support her.

Something blue

Having something blue in the Victorian era symbolised faithfulness, loyalty and purity. All the things the white wedding dress these days represents. The colour blue however relates to the colour of the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus in the Christian faith, thereby being the only tradition in the list directly related to organised religion, the rest being a secular tradition. That said however, the colour blue represents these things purely by the nature of its hue, just as red represents danger and gold, wealth.

Bridal Affects

And a silver sixpence in my shoe

An often forgotten part of the poem ‘Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a silver sixpence in my shoe’ is the last of the five traditions which was to place a silver sixpence in the bride’s shoe to ensure wealth in the future. Obviously we no longer use sixpences anywhere outside of the UK, and therefore have largely forgotten this part of the rhyme, but it was there and it may be something you brides out there might like to consider if you’re following the rhyme 🙂

Creative Modern Takes on a Timeless Wedding Traditions

When it comes to wedding traditions that have stood the test of time, “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue” is one of the most beloved. Alongside this classic rhyme, another tradition is the act of tying the knot during the ceremony.

Tying the knot traditionally involved binding the couple’s hands with ribbon, fabric or cord to represent unity and commitment. Today, this gesture is being creatively reimagined in modern ceremonies, blending symbolism with personal touches.

Couples are now using this ritual to incorporate meaningful elements from the rhyme:

  • Something old – A vintage ribbon passed down through generations
  • Something new – A newly crafted cord in the couple’s wedding colours
  • Something borrowed – A fabric or sash borrowed from a close family member or friend
  • Something blue – A subtle blue thread, charm or detail woven into the knot

This modern interpretation of an age-old practice creates a deeply emotional moment during the ceremony. At SvenStudios, we specialise in capturing these moments in a way that tells your unique story. From the details of the knot to the expressions on your faces, our goal is to preserve your memories with heart and artistry.

If you are looking for inspiration on how to blend traditional elements like “Something Borrowed Something Blue” with meaningful wedding rituals, SvenStudios is here to help turn those ideas into timeless memories.

In addition to the bride carrying Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a sixpence in her shoe; nestled all over her body would be bunches of herbs to ward off bad spirits. This tradition has been almost completely replaced by the carrying of a bridal bouquet, which has it’s own sets of traditions associated with it.

FAQs

Who gives the bride something old, new, borrowed, and blue?

These special items are usually gifted by close family or friends. Grandparents, siblings, or the bride’s best friend might offer a meaningful token, like a vintage piece of jewellery for something old or a blue ribbon for something blue. Some brides also choose their own items, selecting things that are personal and symbolic.

What are the four things a bride needs?

The traditional rhyme lists the four things a bride should carry on her wedding day:

  • Something old – A symbol of continuity and family connection
  • Something new – Representing optimism for the future
  • Something borrowed – A token from someone happily married to pass on good luck
  • Something blue – Signifying purity, love, and fidelity

Sometimes, a silver sixpence in the shoe is also included to bring prosperity and joy.

Can you combine something borrowed and something blue?

Yes, absolutely. A single item can fulfil both roles. For instance, borrowing a blue bracelet, hairpin, or scarf from a loved one is a thoughtful and practical way to honour the tradition. It’s a lovely way to make your wedding day feel both personal and connected to others.

What can I use as something old at my wedding?

Something old can be anything that links you to your family, heritage, or personal past. Brides often choose:

  • Heirloom jewellery
  • A parent or grandparent’s wedding veil
  • A vintage hair accessory or locket
  • A piece of fabric from a family wedding dress
  • An old ring box or antique keepsake
  • Even a classic car or cherished family recipe can carry that beautiful sense of history.

What can a bride have for something old?

From vintage accessories to family treasures, the options are endless. A bride might wear her grandmother’s earrings, wrap her bouquet with a strip of her mother’s dress, or carry a keepsake that holds deep meaning. The best choice is something that feels heartfelt and reflective of your personal story.

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Essential Wedding preparation tips for the Groom

Grinning groom in window

Wedding preparation tips for the Groom and Groomsmen

While most blogs generally relate to the wedding preparation of the bride and her bridal party, there’s not much out there about Wedding preparation tips for Men. So when bespoke diamonds – a wedding ring designer from Dublin, Ireland – sent me this infographic to share on my site, I figured it was a fairly good idea!

As a wedding photographer based in Adelaide, I’ve been to hundreds of weddings, and at every single one, the men tend to need as much help as possible. I mean sure, some are better than others, but even at my own wedding I mistakenly forgot a few of these tips despite being a wedding professional! – pro tip men, iron your shirt BEFORE your big day 😉

groom and groomsmen on road

This list of Wedding preparation tips for the groom and the men of the wedding would be perfect reading for those of you planning a wedding together, but sometimes the groom doesn’t have much of an idea of what, or how to contribute. So if you brides out there looking for some help, send him this way to have a little read. It’s his big day too, so it can’t hurt of brush up on the basics.

I love infographics like this, that outline quite complicated concepts such as organising a wedding in such a simple way you’d think that it’s the easiest thing in the world. It really isnt though, and having as much help as you can get should be a welcome sight to anyone going through the process. Organising the men can often be even more complicated so having this list of Wedding preparation tips should help out quite a bit. Enjoy!

Wedding preparation tips for Men

Here are some helpful wedding preparation tips for the groom to ensure you feel confident and relaxed on your big day:

  • Plan your outfit early: Finalise your attire, including shoes and accessories, well in advance to avoid last-minute stress.
  • Get a haircut a week before: This gives your hairstyle time to settle and look natural in photos.
  • Practice grooming habits: Follow a simple skincare routine for a fresh, photo-ready look.
  • Prepare a checklist: From cufflinks to vows, list everything you need so nothing gets forgotten.
  • Stay well-rested: A good night’s sleep helps you look and feel your best.
  • Trust your photographer: When wondering how to prepare for the wedding, grooms, remember that capturing genuine moments is easier when you’re at ease—something SvenStudios ensures for every couple.

Common Wedding Day Mistakes Grooms Should Avoid

Here are a few key mistakes to steer clear of during wedding preparation for groom:

  • Forgetting the rings or important documents
  • Skipping meals or staying dehydrated
  • Running late for the photography session
  • Not coordinating with vendors or the wedding planner
  • Overlooking outfit checks or last-minute grooming needs

Avoiding these can ensure your special day goes smoothly and stress-free.

Morning-of Wedding Preparation Checklist for Grooms

Here’s a simple and effective wedding preparation for groom checklist to ensure a smooth start to the big day:

  • Have a hearty breakfast to fuel up and stay energised.
  • Hydrate well—it’s easy to forget water in the excitement.
  • Lay out your outfit: suit, shoes, cufflinks, tie, and watch.
  • Grooming check: shave, trim facial hair, and apply your fragrance.
  • Charge your phone and keep emergency contacts handy.
  • Confirm timings with your photographer and groomsmen.
  • Take a moment to breathe and stay calm before the celebration begins.

These steps will help you stay relaxed, focused, and photo-ready.

Men

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Wedding Shoe Game – How to play this fun reception game!

One of the most prevalent and interactive games that’s bound to put a smile on your wedding guest’s faces at your wedding reception is the Wedding Shoe Game. As a wedding photographer, I’ve come across quite a few different little fun games the bride and groom can play with their guests, or for their guest’s amusement, and the Wedding Shoe Game is one of my favourites!

Bridal shoe gBridal shoe gameame

How to play the Wedding Shoe Game

Basically, the idea of this fun game is to make your guests laugh at your antics as you answer wedding shoe game questions about your relationship together, and to see if you both have the same answer to questions that you ‘should’ have the same answers to 🙂 For example, a common wedding shoe game question might be “Who of you said ‘I love you’ first?”. Now if both the bride and the groom were paying attention to their relationship, one would assume both would answer the same – but this is where the fun comes in as sometimes answers differ.

The reason why it’s called the ‘Wedding Shoe Game’ is because in order to play, both the bride and groom sit on two chairs back to back from each other – usually in the middle of the dance floor – and take off their shoes. They then trade one of their shoes for their partner’s shoes so that each has one of the groom’s shoes and each has one of the bride’s.

The MC, or whomever, then reads out a list of questions about the couple’s relationship. In order to answer, the bride and groom holds up one of the shoes – if the answer in their mind is the groom, then they hold up the groom’s shoe, if the answer is the bride, then the bride’s shoe.  Hilarity ensues when they both hold up different shoes as neither of them know what the other’s answer is.

Shoe game from groom POV
Shoe game
Wedding shoe game at Chateau Yaldara reception

Sample Wedding Shoe Game Questions

The great thing about the Wedding Shoe Game is that you are able to customise the questions that are asked based on the bride and groom’s personality and interests. There are the usual overarching questions such as the ones below, but say for example the bride and groom used to play against each other in Table Tennis; perhaps one of the questions might be ‘who is better at table tennis?’

The idea is to keep the questions not too serious, but light and fun, also it might be an idea to narrow the list down to around 20 questions, just so the game doesn’t take all night.Whose idea was it to play this game?

  • Who said “I love you” first?
  • Who is more romantic?
  • Who is a better dancer?
  • Who is the most organized?
  • Who has the most clothes?
  • Who has the most shoes?
  • Who spends more time on Facebook?
  • Who spends more time on Instagram?
  • Who eats the most junk food?
  • Who will fall asleep first tonight?
  • Who is the better driver?
  • Who calls their parents the most?
  • Who will pay the bills?
  • Who will wake up first?
  • Who works out more?
  • Whose friends will be over more?
  • Who buys the best gifts?
  • Who is more likely to be running late?
  • Who is in better shape?
  • Who is a better dresser?
  • Who has more shoes?
  • Who spends more money?
  • Who will be doing the grocery shopping?
  • Who has the best taste in (anything)?
  • Who is more likely to get a traffic ticket?
  • Who will be doing the laundry?
  • Who has the crazier family?
  • Who is the biggest baby?
  • Who is the loudest?
  • Who has the smelliest feet?
  • Who did more of the wedding planning?
  • Who planned the honeymoon?
  • Who is the better shower singer?
  • Who has the better shower singing voice?
  • Who has a better fashion sense?
  • Who eats healthier?
  • Who has a better taste in music?
  • Who wears the pants in the relationship?
  • Who is the better kisser?
  • Who is the bigger party animal?
  • Who will be making dinner every night?
  • Who always replaces the toilet paper roll?
  • Who chooses where you eat for dinner?
  • Who is the better cook?
  • Who got better grades in school?
  • Who has a bigger butt?
  • Who usually falls asleep first?
  • Who plans the best date nights?
  • Who tells the best jokes?
  • Who has the better hair?
  • Who made the first move?
  • Who is better at keeping secrets?
  • Who is the messiest?
  • Who would drive on a road trip?
  • Who remembers family and friends’ birthdays?
  • Who will squeeze the toothpaste from the middle of the tube?
  • Who will make the bed?
  • Who loses things the most?
  • Who will make the coffee in the morning?
  • Who has had more car accidents?
  • Who is better at sports?
  • Who is more creative?
  • Who watches the most tv?
  • Who is more likely to kill a spider?
  • Who mows the lawn?
  • Who wants a baby first?
  • Who will pick your next vacation spot?
  • Who will clean the house?
  • Who will use up all the hot water?
  • Who always knows what time it is?
  • Who will determine the next car you buy?
  • Who has the craziest family?

And of course the last wedding shoe game question that should be asked is

  • Who loves the other more?

Alsways gets a bit of an ‘awwww’ from the guests!

Shoe game
Shoe game
Shoe game under the lights
Shoe game fun
Shoe game 2

It’s a great game to play to break up the evening, and there are tonnes more silly little games that people have thought up over the years, but if you’re looking for a sure winner that will make people laugh, try the Wedding Shoe Game!