Getting ready with your bridal party is arguably one of the most fun parts of your wedding day! You’re surrounded by friends and family who love and support you and they’re all there to help keep you calm while you prepare for the rest of your day (and life!!).

Now that you’ve chosen who you’ll spend your wedding morning with (which is a big decision!) it’s time to pick where you’ll be getting ready! If you chose a wedding venue that already has a kick-butt getting ready space, then you’re set. If you didn’t, here are a few features to look for:

Natural light

Natural light is one of the most beneficial features you can have in your getting ready spaces. This makes it easier on all the vendors helping you get ready for the day from your hair stylists, makeup artists, and your photographers! Fortunately, many hotels and venues will have large, open windows that let in a lot of beautiful light. When you’re looking into booking a getting ready space I recommend scouring the website of the location you’re researching. If they don’t have ample photos, call them and ask about their rooms!

Find a large space

When you’re searching for a space to get ready on your wedding day you’ll want to find a larger space that can accommodate all the people you’ll have in your getting ready area. This will likely include your bridal party, hair and makeup artists, photographers/videographers, your parents, etc. It can get crowded pretty quickly so you want to plan ahead! I’ve found that couples have luck with either booking a full airbnb or booking a large suite at a hotel!

Proximity to ceremony site

Lastly, take into consideration the proximity to your ceremony site. You want to find a space to get ready that is close enough to your venue so you don’t have to worry about traffic, you can easily coordinate first looks, and if you happen to forget something at your getting ready location it won’t take too long for someone to run there and back for you! I’ve photographed a few weddings where important items like the wedding rings or the marriage license have accidentally been left at the getting ready location and it can definitely cause panic, but it’s less of an issue when the locations are close together.