I remember the months leading up to my wedding day, it was overwhelming to say the least. My mother flew in months before my wedding day and we drove up to SF to pick up my Katie May wedding gown from the alteration lady. When I put it on the the top didn’t fit, no I don’t mean it was tight, I don’t mean the straps were off, No…. I mean it didnt fit. At all. I was behind this curtain in the basement (no joke) in this tiny designated area with my mom sitting on this make shift bench looking at me with fear in her eyes “like oh shit here it comes my daughters about to loose it.” I looked at the tag on the dress and yup it was mine, my name was written on it. Tears filled my eyes, pretty sure I screamed every single curse word that could come to mind with my sweet 4’10 Vietnamese mother looking at me like a deer in headlights. Good news, my dress got fixed days before my wedding bad news, my mother probably will never forget that ugly moment.

It got worse, weeks before my wedding day I got a call from our officiant that he had to “travel for work” the day of our wedding and would no longer be able to officiate our wedding. Seriously? Is this for real? Is this really happening right now? Poor Trent, my husband who pretty sure came home that day scared out of his mind to find his future wife ready to pull her hair out. Good news, we found an even better officiant but after a few scary days of non stop calls.

The craziest thing that happened months before our wedding? We bought our first home. To say I’m proud and love our home is a complete understatement but to buy a home three months before your wedding? Now that’s just cray-cray. If you’re a bride, have been a bride you can imagine.

All of these things were extremely overwhelming. I needed a day to myself, to enjoy these last moments being “single” to celebrate my independence and at the same time celebrate becoming a wife. The months leading up to your wedding day are exciting, anxious and in my case over-freaking-whelming. This is one of the many reasons why I urge brides to be to do a boudoir session. Take this day, get pampered, look and more importantly FEEL beautiful, and reflect on the past life you are leaving as a single woman and embrace this new chapter of your life as you enter a new one.

Yes, bridal boudoir is often marketed for that little black book to give to your groom on your wedding day,this is true. BUT, although we photographers may say that, we all know deep down we want you to do it for you. The little black book is just a bonus.