How to Have an Easy Wedding Morning (For Alternative Brides Who Hate Chaos)
1. Build a Wedding Morning Around Your Nervous System
Your wedding morning doesn’t need to be manic, over-produced, or packed with traditions you never asked for an not feel like you!
If you’re an alternative bride—tattoos, black dress, unconventional timeline, is bored of traditions and can’t Imagen yourself with a normal wedding—this is your permission slip to do things differently, do things your way and not give a crap about what ever anyone one says.…. Remember this is YOUR WEDDING, NOT YOUR NANS!
This guide is about creating a stress-free, grounded wedding morning that actually feels like you, looks like you and even smells like you and photographs beautifully without forcing moments or following age old guide lines of must do’s and must haves because someone else did 300 years ago.
3. Stop Over-Scheduling Your Wedding Morning
Nothing kills the vibe faster than a minute-by-minute timeline. Obviously you need a timeline and you need to be somewhat on time for your ceremony. I have noticed over the past ten years things have a habit of going a little sideways on a wedding morning but they always get sorted so don’t stress about 15mins here or there.
Instead, plan anchor moments:
Hair and makeup start/finish time
Photographer start time
When you’re getting dressed
When you leave for your ceremony
Then pad everything with buffer time. I recommend about 10 minutes for each this will dive you around 40mins to an hour spare for anything that goes over. If it all goes smoothly we can always fill it with piccies.
A slower morning means:
More genuine moments
Less tension
Better, more natural wedding photography
Time for a few drinks, snacks and extra piccies too.
5. Be Ruthless About Who’s in the Room
You do not owe anyone access to your wedding morning. If they are going to piss you off or bring down the vibe then bin them off.
Invite people who:
Respect your boundaries
Don’t bring drama
Make you feel safe and steady
hype you up
know and love the vibe
Can take control when something needs sorting
An intimate, low-energy getting-ready space leads to authentic, emotional images, not fake crap that’s not you.
7. Take a Few Minutes Alone Before Everything Starts
Before the dress. Before the cameras. Before the ceremony. Before everything. Do this!
Take 5–10 minutes solo.
Breathe. Stretch. Ground yourself, Do what makes you chill, even blasting some decent metal through your headphones.
This moment often becomes one of the most powerful emotional beats of the day—and it creates a moment for you to feel like you and remember why your doing this.
Why an Easy Wedding Morning Matters for Your Photos
The energy of your morning sets the tone for your entire wedding day.
A chill start that feels like you makes you wedding day:
Authentically you
Less forced
Create epic images that feel like you!
This is where alternative wedding photography thrives—creating images that feel like you, look like you and show off who you are!
2. Choose a Getting-Ready Space That Won’t Stress You Out
Your environment matters more than Pinterest would like to admit. Things you see all over social media, especially in the wedding industry are super hype. Most of it is what we call a styled shoot where everything has all the time in the world for just one shot! So do things your way with the time you have.
Look for a space that is:
Close to your ceremony (less rushing = better energy)
Filled with natural light (your photographer will love you)
Big enough that no one is tripping over bags and emotions
A space you feel comfortable in
Clear the clutter. Visual chaos creates mental chaos—and it shows in photos, videos and everyone's stress levels including your own.
Photographer tip: assign one person to be in charge of keeping the room tidy so your images stay clean, moody, and intentional. Rather than crazy and chaotic.
4. Eat Like a Human, Not a Pinterest Bride
You cannot run on caffeine and nicotine, you need food to keep you going too. Easy way is to pick your favourite snacks and maybe a glass or two of bubbles.
Choose food that:
You actually want to eat
Won’t mess with your energy
Is easy to grab between moments
Isn’t sticky
won’t spill ( In dress snacks especially)
Think comfort food, pastries, grazing boards, smoothies—whatever keeps you grounded and energised.
A fed bride is a calmer bride. A calmer bride photographs better. It’s science.
6. Wear Something That Feels Like You (Before the Dress)
What you wear while getting ready affects how relaxed you feel.
Skip the scratchy robes, bride slippers and anything else thats not your vibe. Break out the Hoodie and trackies ( AKA Sunday best)
Choose something:
Comfortable
Easy to move in
Feels like you
Band tees, pyjamas, silk sets, trackies and crocks—anything that lets you stay in your body.
8. Let Go of Control (This Is Where the Magic Is)
Something will run late. Someone will forget something. A guest won’t turn up or someone will break something.
That doesn’t ruin your day. It makes for memories.
When you stop micromanaging, you create room for real moments—and those are the moments worth Making part of your day and taking a photo or two of.
Looking for an Alternative Wedding Photographer?
If you want wedding photos that feel raw, honest, and unapologetically you—not staged, not awkward, not fake calm—I might be your person.
I photograph alternative weddings for couples who value:
Real emotion over tradition
Moody, documentary-style imagery
A relaxed, non-intrusive presence
High Speed gallery delivery
100% Satisfaction guarantee
Unlimited Hours
Unlimited images
If you’re planning a wedding that doesn’t fit the mould and want a photographer who gets it, let’s talk.
👉 Get in touch to check availability and see if we’re a good fit.
