Bridal Boudoir

 Wedding season is upon us, and it’s the first February in two years that I’m not planning or in the midst of planning one (I had a long engagement). I thought, since we love brides at Boudoir Coterie, and suspect there might be at least a few visiting this blog, that I’d dedicate a few posts to things I learned throughout my wedding planning journey.

Let’s start with a fun little project that you can totally do AFTER your wedding when you’re no longer worried about ripping your dress before the ceremony (I did this – three times!), where to seat annoying old Aunt Patty, and whether you like dark chocolate fudge or devil’s food cake better.

I came up with the idea to make what I like to call my “behind the scenes” wedding album as I was combing through photos on my computer this Fall. I realized I had so many fun wedding-related pictures that had become lost in a sea of way too many cell phone shots of my cats, food, and random selfies (we all take them).

You’ll probably have some sort of professional photos from your wedding, and hopefully a cool boudoir photo shoot too, but what about all of those quick pictures you snapped with your camera or phone throughout the process?

I don’t mean you should be taking photos during your wedding (please don’t!), but with all of the planning that goes into a wedding, you’re bound to have tons of memories that you’ll want to hold onto besides just the day of. I know I did.

To get a little sappy for a second, after nearly 18 months of planning, I realized my wedding wasn’t just about the day, but the entire journey, so I decided to put together a photobook to document the process. Let’s face it, who really knows what will happen to those cell phone photos you’ve been saving ten years down the line. Computers crash and technology changes. I’m still a big fan of a good old photo album (I made mine on Shutterfly in case you’re wondering).

If you’re stumped for ideas on what to include, you can probably just browse through your phone to come up with a few. Here’s a list of some of the photos I included in mine to get you started:

1. The first venue we chose and food from the awesome lunch we had afterwards (while a little tipsy from the venue’s free wine tasting)

2. The first time we visited our new venue after realizing the first one wasn’t going to work out (darn that free wine)

3. The first time I tried on my dress — and a bunch of the reject dresses

Reject dress – this was so NOT me (but fun to laugh at now)

4. Lots of shots of all of my accessories (I spent way too much time choosing them all)

5. Photos from my fittings (I live far away from most of my family, so it was necessary to take these)

6. Photos of my cats enjoying all of the boxes and packaging as wedding gifts started to arrive

Rupert loves Crate & Barrel

7. Photos from my hair and makeup trial and the fabulous date my fiancee took me on afterwards

8. Post-boudoir session selfies

I was so sad I had to go home and “undo” all of this so I wouldn’t ruin the surprise for my hubby

9. Our one DIY project

10. The AMAZING bread pudding French toast I fed to my bridal party the morning of (catered by Whole Foods in case you’re wondering)

11. First selfie as a married woman

12. My husband eating cake in our hotel room the morning after

These are just a few ideas to get you started. I know how easy it is to get stressed out or lost in the details, so don’t forget about all of the memories you’re making too!

Are you thinking about doing a Bridal Boudoir session? If so, contact us for all options and planning. We also have cool new Coterie Petite sessions for those on a tight wedding budget!

bcoterie@sbcglobal.net or 408.460.1855

Nicole