Childhood Home or B&B? How to choose your getting ready location
Decisions, decisions and more decisions!
It can feel like you have a million and a half decisions to make leading up to your wedding day. Choosing the “getting ready” location can often take a back seat to deciding on the band, decor, flowers and basically everything else that planning a wedding involves. You don’t want your getting ready location to be an afterthought though! You will be spending a large portion of you day here so you want to be comfortable : ) I encourage you to take a little bit of time and really think about your getting ready location : )
To help you decide I have put together a few key tips below that you should keep in mind when deciding on a location, whether it be your childhood home, a hotel or even a B&B that you have rented for the morning.
ENOUGH SPACE
This should be big factor when deciding where you should be getting ready, especially if your hair and makeup team is coming to your location (which I highly suggest). The morning of your wedding you may have close family members, the bridal party and additional friends with you while you are getting ready.
All of these people are going to bring their dresses, shoes, accessories and makeup with them. Having space for your friends and family to get ready as well is really important for the morning not to feel chaotic, which leads to a more relaxed experience for everyone!
A large hotel room suite or B&B close to your venue is always a great choice!
NATURAL LIGHT
For beautiful getting ready and detail shots this one is so important! Having large windows or sliding doors where you are getting ready allows us to have natural looking portraits and details shots. Can beautiful photos be made without natural light – of course, but having ample natural light gives us so many options to create amazing photographs.
ROOM DECOR
Take a look at what the room looks like as well. Light/white ceilings and walls are basically big reflectors that help spread the beautiful natural light around. So if you can have natural light plus a white ceiling that is a huge bonus for the getting ready room.
Also being aware of the decor is something to think about. Less is more when in comes to decorations, so if you have a choice opt for the room without floral wall paper.
LOCATION
The fewer locations that you have to travel between on your wedding day the better! And if you are traveling between locations try to have them close together. A beautiful getting ready location can loose it’s luster the day of your wedding if it is 45 minutes away from your ceremony site.
If your ceremony/reception venue has a suite or large getting ready room that can be a bonus, especially if it is part of the package they offer.
I hope this helps you decide on the perfect location for beautiful photographs the day of your wedding!
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Destination Ausable Club Wedding in September
Destination Ausable Club Wedding in September
The serenity, beauty, and legacy that the Ausable Club of the Adirondacks has is truly special. The landscape envelopes you and as the mountains rise from the valley floor into the clouds floating by. It is hard to imagine a more spectacular place to celebrate love, family, and true joy on a wedding day. Celia and Matt celebrated their Ausable Club wedding in late September with their closest family and friends. I was so honored to capture their weekend celebration for them years after initially meeting Celia’s family while photographing her cousin’s wedding at the club!
The weekend celebration began with friends and family gathering for cocktails and lawn games on Friday evening. I loved reconnecting with Celia’s family and meeting Matt’s family. Welcome parties allow couples to spend quality time with their guests since the wedding day can go by so quickly. Making intentional space for connections is so important to many of the couples I work with.
Wedding Professionals
Venue: Private Venue
Photography: Julia Rebecca Photography
Videography: Bear In Motion
Flowers: East Branch Organics
HMUA: Amanda Hopcraft Collective
Rentals: Taylor Rental
After a morning spent with their closest family and friends it was time for Celia and Matt to finally see one another. I love when my couples choose to spend time together before the ceremony. This may be the only alone time that they have on the wedding day and those moments can be the most beautiful and exciting for the couple. Since they are avid golfers of course we did the first look on the fairway looking back towards the Ausable Club. An Ausable Club wedding in September has the most beautiful light, and their wedding day was no exception.
A wedding at the Ausable club is never complete without going down to the Lower Ausable Lake for portraits. This is a private location so access is restricted to members. Public access to the beach and boathouse is for the club.
A New Year’s Eve Wedding at the Canfield Casino
A Romantic Canfield Casino New Year’s Eve Wedding
Canfield Casino New Year’s Wedding is such an amazing celebration for a wedding. I was thrilled when Mary Kate and Cristian reached out about photographing their wedding day. Saratoga Springs is one of my favorite upstate NY towns. The Canfield Casino is one of the most beautiful venues in Saratoga. Their wedding was classic and timeless but infused with so much fun. It truly was one of my favorite weddings to be a part of.
Canfield Casino New Year’s Wedding is already an event to remember, but it becomes a true story of romance and elegance when it’s held at such a historic building.
The Canfield Casino is a stunning venue located in the heart of Saratoga Springs, New York. The historic building was built in the 1800s and is known for its intricate architecture and beautiful gardens. The Canfield Casino has been a popular venue for weddings for many years, and it’s easy to see why. The building’s charm and elegance make it the perfect place to start your new life together as Husband and Wife.
The bride wore a classic white wedding gown paired with Manolo Blahniks and a lace cathedral-length veil. The groom was dressed in a sharp black tuxedo. Their timeless style was the perfect match for the elegant surroundings. The bride’s bouquet of white roses adds a touch of natural beauty to the already stunning venue. The wedding flowers designed by Fleurtascious Designs of Saratoga throughout the venue were stunning. Soft light and candlelight created a warm and inviting experience from the minute guests walked inside for cocktail hour. The couple had chosen a color scheme of white and gold with disco balls throughout to make sure it felt like the party it was!
A Reception with a Live Band and Fireworks
As the night went on, the couple danced to the sound of a live band, surrounded by friends and family. The wedding guests were even surprised by an amazing fireworks display from the balcony.
Despite the rainy weather outside, the bride and groom’s wedding day at the Canfield Casino was a truly unforgettable event. Their classic style and the elegance of the venue made for a stunning celebration of love and commitment. This New Year’s Eve wedding was the perfect start to a new chapter in their lives, filled with love, happiness, and timeless memories.
Wedding Professionals
Reception Venue: Canfield Casino – Congress Park Saratoga Springs, NY
Wedding Ceremony: Edward the Confessor Church – Clifton Park
Photography: Julia Rebecca Photography
Coordinator: Christine Wheat Special Events
Catering: Mazzone Hospitality
Rentals: Rain or Shine Tent Company Vermont
Flower Design: Fleurtaciuous Designs
Hair and Makeup: Make Me Fab Saragota
Invitations: Jenny C Design
Interested in starting the conversation about your wedding photography? I would love to connect with you to talk through your vision and answer any questions you may have. Please feel free to reach out using my Contact Form or by clicking this LINK.
A Saratoga National Luxury Spring Garden Wedding
A Saratoga National spring wedding that was as beautiful as it sounds. Memorial Day weekend is the start of the wedding season in upstate New York. I could not have imagined a better wedding than Adele and Luke’s at the Saratoga National Golf Course.
Their wedding day was filled with joy, love, and incredible energy, but there was also remembrance and gratitude for those now resting in honored glory. Captain Luke Miller and Adele truly found ways to honor those who had served and given the ultimate sacrifice.
Their beautiful spring wedding started with the ceremony at Saint John’s church in Schenectady, NY. Saint John’s was one of the most magnificent churches I have been fortunate to photograph ceremonies in. The architecture and domed ceiling were stunning. But what was really beautiful was the two people saying their vows. I love beautiful details and gorgeous spaces, but what I love the most are the moments that make up the wedding day. And seeing Luke and Adele be so present and excited about exchanging their vows was magical.
The Wedding Reception
After the ceremony, we made our way to the equally gorgeous Saratoga National Golf Course. The Saratoga National wedding venue truly has it all. The vision that Kelly Strong Events brought to fruition for Adele, Luke, and their families is was beyond breathtaking. Adele had envisioned a garden-inspired wedding reception that was romantic and fresh. The team at Renaissance Floral Design truly worked their magic in creating a space that took your breath away.
In the words of Adele, “Romantic, Patriotic, Partyyyyyy” was the inspiration, and I think that was exactly their wedding day.
Heartfelt speeches, a beautiful sunset, fireworks lit up the sky, and dancing into the night rounded out the night. I don’t think anything could have been added to make a more memorable day for Adele and Luke. Thank you to the amazing team below for making their Saratoga National Spring Wedding a success.
Saratoga National Spring Wedding Team
Ceremony: Saint John’s – 806 Union St, Schenectady, NY 12308
Reception Venue: Saratoga National Golf Club – Saratoga Springs, NY
Photography: Julia Rebecca Photography
Wedding Planner: Kelly Strong Events
Officiant: Father Bob Longobucco
DJ: Non Stop Music – DJ Vinny Vin
Florist: David at Renaissance Floral Design
Makeup Artist and Hair: Haven Salon, Lauren from True Beauty Company
Rental Company: Rain and Shine Tent Company
Catering & Cake: Mazzone Hospitality
Bridal Shop: Kleinfelds
Wedding Dress Designer: Martina Liana
Bridesmaids Dresses: Azaleas
Transportation: Royale Transportation
Planning your wedding day? I would love to talk with you about your vision and connect with you about your wedding photography. Use the Contact Form to check your date!
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MY LATEST POSTS
Destination Ausable Club Wedding in September
The serenity, beauty, and legacy that the Ausable Club of the Adirondacks has is truly special. The landscape envelopes you and as the mountains rise from the valley floor into the clouds floating by. It is hard to imagine a more spectacular place to celebrate love,...
A New Year’s Eve Wedding at the Canfield Casino
Canfield Casino New Year’s Wedding is such an amazing celebration for a wedding. I was thrilled when Mary Kate and Cristian reached out about photographing their wedding day. Saratoga Springs is one of my favorite upstate NY towns. The Canfield Casino is one of the most beautiful venues in Saratoga. Their wedding was classic and timeless but infused with so much fun. It truly was one of my favorite weddings to be a part of.
JULIA REBECCA
PHOTOGRAPHY
New England Photographer Based in Essex and Lake Clear, New York
Serving Lake Placid, Hudson Valley, the Adirondacks, Vermont and the New England Region
Follow along on Instagram to see more weddings and recent photos!