Wedding Stories: Bridal Prep Reflections

bridal preparation

I’m not sure about other entrepreneurs, but one thing I’ve learned since working for myself is that you never quite know what’s around the corner. Some weeks can suddenly get very busy, while others go quiet. Last weekend was the perfect example of that unpredictability.

In the days leading up to a wedding I had booked, I worked on a few smaller projects. But it was the church surveying trip on Thursday that truly set the tone — seeing the space where the couple would be married reminded me how special this occasion was going to be.

By Friday, everything was ready. My gear was polished, checked, charged, and packed the night before. With an early start and hardly any traffic on the road, I arrived determined not to miss a single detail. After all, wedding photography is about more than just pictures — it’s about freezing those priceless moments so that, one day, the couple can look back and say, “Oh Tom, we cannot thank him enough.”

The day itself went smoothly. The bride was calm — calmer than many might expect on such a big day. Yet, as with any wedding, I could sense an undercurrent of emotions beneath the surface. My role is never to intrude, but to quietly observe and capture the story as it unfolds.

This was a relatively large family, with many adolescents in the house. I wondered what marriage meant to them — perhaps still a mystery, something to be figured out in time. For me, they became fantastic subjects. Their candid expressions, playfulness, and occasional mischief made for some of my favourite shots of the morning.

The setting was equally inspiring. The bridal prep took place in a grand house filled with character: exposed timbers, low-rise ceilings, and striking period paintings that I happily incorporated into my photos. These details added depth and timelessness to the images — a blend of history and emotion that makes wedding photography so rewarding.

That’s enough for the bridal prep chapter — stay tuned for my next instalment: the journey to the church.