I...love...bridal sessions. I love them, so much. Why, you ask? Let me count the ways... The closer you are to the bride, and the bigger the event, the more insane wedding day can be. This is part of the reason why I take on the role of organizer and provide my brides with an hour-by-hour itinerary for her day. Even the most care-free brides often find themselves crunched for time on the day of their wedding, and the first photos to get compromised are typically those of her, alone, relaxed, in her dress. Consider that the bride is typically last for hair and makeup, and tends to get dressed only just before photos with the bridal party or first-looks. We always have time for some bridal shots, but brides are just simply never relaxed on the day of the wedding (regardless of how many mimosas she's had while the party preps). Frankly, on your wedding day, you are going to want to get on with the party and could be left regretting not getting those beautiful in-gown photos modeling your dress.
Enter, the bridal session. I usually plan bridal sessions sometime around the final dress fitting, if possible. During this 2 hour session, brides get to move in their dress a lot like they will be on wedding day. The advantage to this is that if there are slippage issues, a too-tight bodice, or something is digging into your flesh, you are able to take this feedback to your dressmaker or atelier. I had a bride once decide to remove straps from her gown because we held her bridal session after the final fitting, and the straps kept slipping. Its a dress rehearsal, and its a great idea. Bridal sessions can also be strategically planned around your hair and makeup trial as well, giving you a really good idea of how you will look on your big day. If perfection matters to you, definitely consider this session!
So Jen and I (and her MOH) spent a few hours in charming Alexandria where we had a plethora of natural historic industrial backdrops. A fancy gown and industrial masonry and ironwork, to me, are the perfect mix of femininity and strength, and there was no one better to pull it off that juxtaposition than Jen.
Note: Jen and Alan's wedding was held just a few months later, and you can check out their highlights here.
