The place of the bride and groom’s preparations: an obvious or thoughtful choice?
When it comes to marriage, many newlyweds take it for granted that the preparation time should take place at their parents‘ home.
This often happens by tradition, because “this is how it has always been done.”
But is it really the best choice for all couples?
In fact, stopping to think about this detail can make a big difference on the organization of the day and the quality of the photos and videos.
Choosing a different location, such as the wedding venue or an airbnb near the ceremony, may prove to be a more logical, aesthetic and functional solution.
In this article I give you some valuable suggestions for making your choice, thinking back to my own experiences over the years during my couples’ preparations.
Why avoid the parental home for wedding preparations?
1. The style of the house may not reflect the wedding
Parents’ homes, especially if they have been inhabited for years, often have a style that hardly fits the wedding aesthetic. Antique furniture, dark walls (or even worse: of totally unsuitable colors, such as apple green walls!), dated furnishings: all of these can create a strong contrast to the modern, minimalist or boho mood that many of my brides and grooms want for their big day.
2. Limited space and logistical difficulties
Family homes are not designed to accommodate a bustling team of photographers, videomakers, make-up artists and relatives. Often the rooms are small and full of furniture, making it difficult to move around and work serenely.
In addition, the risk of having disruptive elements in photos is high: knick-knacks, off-topic paintings, household items such as ironing boards or vacuum cleaners that need to be constantly moved.
3. Poor lighting and compromised photo quality
Another frequent problem in parents’ homes is the lack of adequate natural light.
Many Italian homes have rooms with small windows, bulky furniture, and heavy curtains, which drastically reduces the quality of imagesand also the work of the makeup artist, who cannot properly see the bride’s face.
Good lighting is essential for bright photographs with a cinematic effect, and unfortunately many homes do not offer this option.
4. Too many people and moments of confusion
At the parents’ home, you often end up with a flurry of unplanned people: curious uncles, neighbors, family friends who just want to “say hello” and actually constantly interrupt the bride and groom’s preparations .
All this confusion only adds to the stress of the bride and groom, who are already experiencing an emotionally charged moment. Instead of enjoying the preparation in peace, they find themselves immersed in chaos that can be tiring and overwhelming.
The advantages of conducting preparations on location or in an airbnb
1. Aesthetic and narrative coherence
Choosing to prepare in a room at the location where the ceremony will take place or at a nearby airbnb allows the bride and groom to maintain stylistic consistency with the wedding. The rooms are those chosen for the entire wedding, which are more modern, minimalist, and devoid of disruptive elements. The photographs result cleaner, harmonious and consistent with the theme of the event.
2. Spacious and functional spaces
Facilities designed to accommodate the bride and groom offer bright, spacious rooms perfect for moving around comfortably and working optimally with photographers and videographers. They have little furniture that is essential and chosen with aesthetic taste. The result? A more relaxed and enjoyable experience for everyone.
3. Perfect lighting
Hotel, airbnb, or wedding venue rooms are often designed to be bright and airy, which are key features for getting quality shots. This detail greatly affects the final result of the photos and the aesthetic rendering of the entire wedding reportage. In addition, a clear and unobstructed environment also affects the bride and groom mentally, calming them down and allowing them to better enjoy this stage.
4. A more logical management of the day
Another benefit is easier and smoother time management. By avoiding moving from one house to another (I happened to have to drive even for more than 1h from one house to another), unnecessary trips are reduced, risks of unforeseen events (let’s remember that accidents happen even on the day of the bride and groom’s wedding), and timing is optimized.
This allows more time to enjoy the preparation without stress and without having to rush from one place to another. In addition, less travel also means savings on the total service hours of the photographer and videographer.
5. A more intimate and relaxed environment
By opting for a room on location or in an airbnb, you have control over who can participate in the preparation. Only the people who are really important to that moment will be present, avoiding distractions, noise and chaotic situations. The bride and groom can experience the moment more peacefully, without unnecessary interruptions and without having to worry about unwanted guests at that moment.
Conclusion: bridal preparations need a logical and emotional choice
Therefore, the venue for the preparations is not a detail to be underestimated: it should be chosen according to the needs of the bride and groom, not to comply with an outdated tradition.
Whether it is a room on location, a hotel or a well-selected airbnb, the choice must meet the aesthetic, logistical and emotional criteria of your couple.
What about the parents?
Of course they can be invited during the preparations and participate in this special moment of the children, but without imposing a location that does not enhance the couple’s event.
The important thing is that they accompany you if you wish and that they are with you, the location does not matter. Remember that the wedding is YOUR day and every choice should be made with your happiness in mind, not to accommodate others’ expectations.
