Getting Ready Together on Your Wedding Day: Why More Couples Are Ditching Tradition (And Why We Love It)
Photography by Hannah Walkowaik
Photography by Hannah Walkowaik
More and more couples, especially those planning intimate elopements or small weddings, are choosing to get ready together on the morning of their wedding. We've seen this non-traditional trend grow significantly. Getting ready side by side creates an intimate, relaxed start to the day, and many couples tell us it was one of their favorite memories from the entire experience.
I personally love when couples tell us they want to get ready in the same room. We work a lot of elopements and some of the sweetest, most genuine mornings I've witnessed have been couples sitting right next to each other, laughing, holding hands, hyping each other up while our team does their thing. It's non-traditional, yes. But on a day that's about your love and your story, I think starting it off however YOU want to is the best choice you can make.
Why Are More Couples Getting Ready Together?
Here's the thing. The "rule" that you can't see each other before the ceremony. It's a tradition, not a requirement. We’ve seen “first looks” grow in popularity and now they seem to be the norm!
What I've noticed is that getting ready together completely changes the energy of the morning. There's less nervous anticipation and you’re sharing in the excitement and the butterflies together. It's calm, it's intimate, and it sets the tone for the rest of the day in the most beautiful way. Firm supporter of our couples doing whatever feels authentic to THEM!!
Photography: Jess Onesto
What Getting Ready Together Actually Looks Like - & Is It Trending For Our Same-Sex Couples?
With our same-sex weddings, we love the ability to have our team working with each partner! Logistics can be organized in whatever way you’d like! For some of our weddings where we are working with two brides, our team arrives on-site, we set up and typically start with one partner while the other hangs out nearby, maybe getting dressed, writing their vows, or just soaking in the morning together. Then we switch. Or we have set up in a way where both partners are getting ready with different artists simultaneously, and out-of-sight, but in one large hotel suite or getting ready area.
Some couples want to watch each other get their hair and makeup done. Some want to help each other get dressed. Some just want to be in the same space, sharing coffee and quiet conversation before the day really kicks off. There's no one "right" way to do it.
One thing I will say: the reveal moment still happens. Even when couples get ready together, there's almost always a moment when one partner sees the other fully done for the first time and that special reveal moment still happens. It doesn't have to be a "first look" in the traditional sense. It's just a real, unscripted moment of seeing the person you love looking and feeling incredible.
Is Getting Ready Together Right for You?
This approach isn't for everyone, and that's totally okay! If the idea of your partner seeing you before you walk down the aisle gives you butterflies in the wrong way, honor that - seriously!! There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting that surprise moment.
But if you're planning an elopement or a small, intimate ceremony and you're wondering "do we have to get ready separately?"... the answer is no. You don't. In our experience, couples who choose to spend the morning of together often tell us it was one of the most memorable parts of their day. It strips away the performative elements and brings everything back to what matters: the two of you.
Photography: @mashasakhno.photo
Photography: @mashasakhno.photo
FAQ
Q: Will getting ready together ruin the "first look" moment? A: Not at all! Even couples who spend the entire morning together still have a beautiful moment of seeing each other fully ready for the first time. That reaction is always genuine and always special.
Q: Do most same-sex couples get ready together or separately? A: We are seeing more and more get ready together! Or maybe it’ll be two brides we are working with and they will choose the same hotel, but separate rooms.
Q: Does getting ready together work if we have a bridal party? A: Absolutely, we've had couples get ready together even with a few bridesmaids and groomsmen in the mix. The key is open communication with your beauty team about the setup if space is a concern.
Q: Can Emily Lynn & Co. do hair and makeup for both partners? A: Yes! We offer hair, makeup, and grooming services for ALL members of the wedding party - brides, grooms, flower girls, moms, everybody! We want everyone to feel camera ready and confident on the day.
If you're planning an elopement or intimate wedding and have questions about how the getting-ready process works (together or separately!), we'd love to chat. Contact us here to start the conversation, or check out some of our favorite elopement looks for inspiration. You can also visit our FAQ page for more details about what to expect when working with our team.
Photography by Hannah Walkowaik
