Haley’s bridal session at Ritchie Hill in Concord, NC was one I’ll never forget. Not only is the historic venue stunning, but this bride-to-be was phenomenal to work with! Haley is so sweet, photogenic, and a rock star when it comes to taking pictures. Her session seemed to fly by as we had fun mixing things up.
If you’re needing some inspiration for your upcoming bridal session, don’t miss this one! Haley’s bridal session had the perfect balance of classic bridal shots, plus some striking editorial shots added in.
Ritchie Hill Wedding & Event Venue in Concord, NC
Ritchie Hill is a beloved wedding and event venue in Concord, NC. The historic mansion has been well cared for and beautifully renovated over the years. Amazingly, the original family still owns the venue. It delivers beautiful photos and an unforgettable wedding experience every time. Connect with me for more info on Ritchie Hill.
6 Things to Do Before Your Bridal Session
1. Finalize Dress Alterations
Your bridal photo session is one of the most fun parts of wedding planning. You finally get to put on the dress and strut your stuff. The only challenge is that there are still a lot of moving parts at this part in the planning process.
You want to book your bridal session a couple months before the wedding, but everything needs to be in place. Most importantly, your dress needs to be ready to go for photos! When scheduling alterations, give yourself plenty of time before your bridal portraits in case additional tweaks are needed after the first round of alterations (i.e., try not to pick up your dress the same day as photos).
2. Schedule Your Session
That being said, schedule your session in that perfect window when most everything is finalized, yet you still have a bit of time to have your photos, prints, products, or displays ready in time for the wedding.
PS—I love photographing boudoir sessions, too! Your deserve a day of pampering—plus, it makes for a super sexy newlywed gift! You can book a boudoir session when you book your bridals.
3. Schedule Hair & Makeup
Leave room before your session to have your hair and makeup done. Ideally, you want to choose the same hair and makeup artists as your wedding day so you can use this as a trial run for Wedding Day.
4. Choose a Small or Full-Sized Bouquet
Similarly, ask your wedding florist to create a mini version of your wedding day bouquet—or, go all out and bring the full-sized version.
5. Select the Location
Most brides choose to take photos at their wedding venue. Ritchie Hill is a gorgeous wedding venue in North Carolina. Bridal portraits always look beautiful against the historical mansion and rolling green hills.
However, I’m always ready for some adventure! If you envision your bridals against a mountainside backdrop, let’s do it! Or maybe you’d prefer a trendy and urban downtown scene. Just let me know what you have in mind, and I’m happy to help you choose an ideal photo location.
6. Bring Along a Friend or Family Member
I’m more than happy to help fluff your dress and guide your poses. But sometimes, it’s fun and helpful to bring a friend or family member along, too. This an exciting time in your life, and they’ll love that you want to involve them in the process. They can help with things like holding your phone, lipstick, or bouquet as needed and arranging your dress for photos. It’s always a great time when Mom or your best friend get involved!
Book Your Session at Ritchie Hill with Dawn Marie
Love these Ritchie Hill bridals? Learn more about the Dawn Marie Photography experience, and then book your session today!
