Should You Do a Bridal Session? Here’s the Real Talk.
Okay friend, let’s chat about something that doesn’t get talked about enough in the wedding world —bridal sessions. If you’re not sure what that even is, a bridal session is a separate photo shoot that happens before or after your wedding day, where you get all glammed up in your wedding look and take portraits in a more relaxed setting. Sounds dreamy, right? But is it worth it?
Here’s the honest breakdown — pros, cons, and all — so you can decide if it’s right for you.
The Pros of Doing a Bridal Session
1. You get to wear your dress more than once
Let’s be real — you probably spent a lot of time (and love) picking out your wedding outfit. Why only wear it once?! A bridal session gives you another reason to slip into that dress or suit and truly savor it.
2. It’s a low-stress, high-fun portrait moment
Your wedding day is full of love and magic — but also, let’s face it, timelines and to-dos. A bridal session gives us the freedom to take our time, find the best light, and capture those dreamy, editorial-style shots without rushing.
3. It doubles as a hair + makeup trial
Doing a bridal session is the perfect way to test out your hair and makeup before the big day. You’ll see how it photographs, how it holds up, and if there’s anything you’d like to tweak. Bonus: you get to feel like a total babe during the process.
4. More creative flexibility with location and timing
Want a mountaintop bridal look? Or maybe a golden field of wildflowers that’s nowhere near your venue? A bridal session gives us total freedom to go wherever your heart desires — without being tied to the timeline and logistics of your actual wedding day. And here’s the fun part: you can schedule your bridal session before the wedding or after! A lot of couples actually choose to do it post-wedding since the dress has already made its grand appearance. It’s relaxed, carefree, and honestly? Just another amazing excuse to wear your dress again (yes, please!).
5. Confidence booster alert
Sometimes couples feel a little camera shy, and that’s totally normal! A bridal session gives you a chance to feel comfortable in front of the camera before your wedding day — and seeing your photos ahead of time can seriously boost your confidence.
The Cons of Doing a Bridal Session
1. It’s an extra cost
Depending on your photographer (hi, it’s me ), a bridal session is usually an add-on. You’ll also want to budget for hair, makeup, possibly florals, and maybe even a second dry-cleaning for your outfit. So it’s definitely something to consider if you’re sticking to a tighter budget.
2. It takes time to coordinate
Between your schedule, your glam team’s availability, and potential travel to your dream location — it’s one more thing to plan in the midst of wedding prep. Not a dealbreaker, but worth noting if your calendar is already full.
3. Your dress might get a little dirty
If we’re shooting outdoors (and you know I love a natural backdrop), there’s always a chance your dress hem might pick up a little dust or grass. If we do your bridal session after the wedding, it’s no big deal — your dress has already had its moment. But if we’re planning the session before the big day, you’ll want to be extra careful to keep it clean for the aisle. Nothing tragic — just something to keep in mind if you’re wearing the same dress for both!
4. It’s not for everyone
Some people just don’t love the idea of doing photos without their partner or feel like the wedding day portraits are more than enough. And that’s totally okay! Your wedding should feel authentic to you — not like you’re checking every Pinterest box.
So… Should You Do a Bridal Session?
If you’re someone who loves the idea of extra portraits, wants a little more breathing room to get those editorial shots, or just wants another reason to wear your wedding outfit (who doesn’t?!), a bridal session might be so worth it.
But if the extra cost or effort feels like too much right now, skip it. You’ll still get stunning portraits on your wedding day — and I’ll be there to capture every sweet, teary-eyed, joy-filled moment.
Whatever you decide, I’ve got you. Always.
Have questions or want to chat more about adding a bridal session to your experience? Let’s connect HERE
