Bridal sessions. This fine Southern tradition isn't quite as much of a thing in the Midwest, but our stunning, Texan bride Emily reminded me exactly why this is one tradition worth keeping around. If you don't know much about them, here's a rundown: bridal sessions occur 1-2 months before the wedding. The bride gets all done up in full wedding day style - the dress, the veil, the shoes, all the accoutrements, hair, make-up, and sometimes even a bouquet! The goal is to look just as you would on your wedding day, and in the South, the tradition is to display a large portrait at the reception.
Even if you aren't drawn in by the tradition, a bridal session is a wonderful time to take some gorgeous photos of your bridal look. There's no timeline to work around, no location restraints, and no unexpected wedding day surprises. It's a great way to actually use that hair and make-up trial. Plus, many brides discover something about their look that needs adjusting - whether it's a hair-do that wilted too quickly, shoes that cause blisters, or a piece of boning that stabs you right in the ribs, it's great to discover this before the actual wedding.
Emily was such an elegant and stunning bride, and I'm so glad we were able to capture these photos of her at the Central Library downtown and at Washington University.
