Bridal Portrait ! Umm...What the point???

Bridal portraits are popular in southern US culture but they actually originated in Europe. The bride would take photos beforehand and keep them secret, then reveal them at the reception. I grew up going to my grandparents' homes and my parents' friends' homes and seeing large portraits of brides hanging in dining rooms or hallways. My parents have asked for a bridal portrait of me, to continue the tradition.

I got bridal portraits done a few months before my wedding and was super happy I did it. I used the day as a trial run for hair & makeup, which gave me the opportunity to work with my stylist and photographer beforehand and get comfortable with them. I've completely changed my plan for hair and makeup as a result of doing the trial run/bridal portraits for several reasons. I'm also not comfortable in front of a camera, so it gave me the opportunity to work with my photographer and figure out what the heck to do with my face so I don't look deranged in my actual wedding pictures. I'm also glad that we won't have to waste time taking those particular pictures on our wedding day, because we're already operating on a tight schedule. I plan to have one larger portrait on display by the guest book at the reception and then gift the portraits to my parents after the wedding.

I understand that it's not for everyone - that some people may feel like it's selfish or may feel uncomfortable just having photos of the bride hanging around. But that's okay! There are some benefits, depending on what you're looking for and what you need.