Maine & NH Wedding Photographer | Why Getting Ready With Your People Matters More Than Where You Do It
Long gone are the days where a wedding had to happen in a shiny ballroom with a price tag that made everyone mildly nauseous. Couples aren’t chasing “expensive” anymore, they’re chasing meaning. And honestly? Thank god.
I’m seeing couples choose family homes, Airbnbs, camps, farms, backyards, and spaces that actually feel like them. Not because they’re flashy, but because they’re familiar. Comfortable. Grounding.
And that mindset doesn’t stop with the venue, it carries straight into who you choose to get ready with.
It’s Not About the Room, It’s About the Energy
You could be getting ready in a literal shoebox and still have the best morning of your life if the right people are in it with you.
More and more couples are skipping traditional wedding parties (or ditching them altogether) but still choosing to have their real A-team with them while they get ready. These aren’t people picked out of obligation. These are the people who:
keep you calm
make you laugh when your nerves kick in
hand you water when you forget to drink
know when to hype you up and when to shut up (elite skill)
They might not be wearing matching outfits. They might not stand beside you at the ceremony. But they are absolutely your people.
Getting Ready Is the Emotional Warm-Up
Hair and makeup isn’t just hair and makeup. It’s the slow start to one of the biggest days of your life.
It’s the deep breaths.
The nervous jokes.
The quiet moments where it all suddenly feels real.
Having the right people there turns getting ready into something grounding instead of chaotic. You’re not performing. You’re not entertaining. You’re just existing with people who know you and that calm carries through the entire day.
Buttoning the Dress Isn’t the Point
Sure, someone has to button the dress, zip the suit, fix the tie. But the moment isn’t about the task, it’s about who is doing it.
It’s about the feeling you get when that person is close to you.
The trust.
The safety.
The “I’ve got you” energy.
That moment hits differently when it’s someone who has walked through life with you, not just someone who was assigned a role.
Quality > Quantity (Every Time)
I see couples choosing smaller guest lists and tighter circles because they want their wedding day to feel good, not just look good.
They want people around them who add to their calm instead of draining it.
People who support the relationship, not just show up for the party.
People who make the day feel lighter.
And that starts first thing in the morning.
The Takeaway
You don’t need a luxury suite.
You don’t need chandeliers.
You don’t need a bridal party lineup that looks good on paper.
What you need is your people.
The ones who make you feel steady.
The ones who make the day feel like yours.
Because when the energy is right, everything else falls into place — and that’s what you’ll actually remember.
