Who says your wedding day has to be your only moment in the spotlight?

For many, bridal portrait photo sessions are a chance to enjoy a day of dressing up, complete with hair, makeup, and wedding dress, months before their wedding day.

According to Dallas-based Sami Kathryn Photography, bridal portrait sessions got their start in Europe and are especially popular in the American South.

If you’re wondering whether you should have bridal portraits taken, our list of pros and cons may help with your decision. We’ve also included some tips for you to keep in mind.

Bridal Portrait Pros

For many, taking bridal portraits is a positive experience, and the benefits aren’t limited to beautiful photos. (Of course, having gorgeous photos that mark an important chapter in your life is a pretty big plus.)

Here are some of the biggest pros:

You’ll have more time on your wedding day to focus on shots with your new spouse and loved ones.

Your photo shoot gives you a “practice session,” so to speak, to help you adjust to being photographed.

Having bridal portraits made in advance allows for a more relaxed photo shoot, while day-of-wedding shots may be a bit rushed. It also is easier during your bridal portrait session to get creative or add a bit of whimsy to some of your shots if you’d like.

Bridal portraits make wonderful gifts. You can give your partner, parents, and other loved ones a framed print.

Have we mentioned that these photo sessions can be fun, especially if you enjoy getting your hair and makeup done and dressing up?

Bridal Portrait Cons

Of course, bridal portraits are not a requirement, and for some, the disadvantages outweigh the advantages.

Potential negatives include:

Bridal portraits will increase your wedding expenditures and add more to-dos to your list.

You absolutely can get solo portrait shots taken at your wedding. Just talk with your photographer and let them know it’s a priority.

You will have to select your dress, and have the alterations done, earlier than you might have otherwise.

The number of poses you can do alone, instead of with your partner, is limited.

You’ll need to take great care to keep your dress spotless during your portrait session.

Tips For You

If you do want bridal portraits, we have some strategies for preparing and making the most of them. A few ideas:

Don’t limit yourself to your wedding dress. Take some shots in another outfit that you feel flatters you.

Do a bit of multitasking. Try out the hair and makeup styles you have in mind for your portraits. After you see the portraits, you can decide if you want to make any tweaks, from a different hairdo to a different shade of eyeshadow. You also can give your wedding shoes a trial run and break them in a bit.

 Communicate with your venue and vendors. Give your seamstress a heads up about your portrait session date so they can make sure your dress is ready, and you’ll look fabulous in it. You’ll also want to finalize the session details far in advance with your venue if you want your session held there, and your photographer. Will other vendors or businesses that will be involved? Maybe you’ll want your florist to create a small bouquet for you; talk with them in advance, too.

Ask someone to join you for your session. If you enlist the help of a close relative or friend, they can help you and your dress look their best. Be sure to follow up with a note of thanks.

Give your location careful thought. The “where” for your portrait session is up to you. You can choose a scenic outdoor location (have a backup indoor location in mind), or maybe you’d prefer a place with sentimental value. You also can arrange to do the shoot at your venue.

Make sure you get enough sleep before your portrait date. Being well-rested does make a difference.

Make your portrait part of your wedding décor. Display your favorite bridal portrait during your reception.

If you decide to have bridal portraits made, we hope you embrace the experience. The months leading up to your wedding can be a blur. This is a chance to capture some of the sweetness of that time and enjoy a bit of pampering while you’re at it.