If you're like most of the brides we know, searching for the perfect dress was (or is) time consuming, wonderful, and just a tad stressful. Since you're only going to be wearing it once, make the most of your big day by taking all kinds of photos. While you're working on a shot list to hand over to your photographer, be sure to spend time drafting up scenarios and events that'll show your dress from the best angles possible. To help, we've rounded up some gorgeous pics to inspire you, including detail shots and pretty lighting you might not have thought of yet.
— Additional reporting by Sarah Wasilak
Get inventive! We love the eager bride peering out the window, which, handily, shows off the ruffles of her skirt to full effect.
Emotions come straight through a photo if you can get one of your mother or a close friend helping you into your dress.
If you're besotted with your dress, let it have its own big moment. A classic shot from the waist down means viewers are forced to take in the gown in all its glory.
There's a reason on-hanger shots are so popular! The styled pictures evoke the calm before the storm and don't let anything compete with the dress.
Plenty of dresses are just as stunning from the back. While options abound to get a picture of you walking away, consider playing with a few different poses and even trying some in-action moments.
Ask your photographer to capture all the primping action, especially if folds and pleats of your skirt will require some hands-on bridesmaid action.
A row of classic buttons is a gorgeous dress detail we love to see — especially if it's an important part of your look. Be sure to capture an image of it during a special moment.
Lacy or embroidered edges are often the final finishing touch that offer just the right bit of romance. Zoom in on yours to get the full picture.
Not only is the moment the veil is lifted over your head magical, but it also makes for a stunning photo.
A shot of you and your groom walking away has a nostalgic feel, as if you're officially stepping into your new life, but it's also perfect for showing off the back of a dress.
This adorable picture is equal parts sweet and smart: by lifting you off your feet, your groom's allowing your dress (and veil) to be shown off even more.
Dramatic trains are at their prettiest when fanned out. Contrasted against nature, it's even more shocking.
If you really went for it with a long train, make sure you take images from all angles, even from the side when you're getting set up to pose!
There's so much fun to be had by showcasing the volume of a full gown when sitting with it piled around you. Bonus: it shows off your shoes!
So you've instructed your photographer to take shots from the front, back, and side, but what about from up above? This bird's-eye view puts your dress and accessories in a totally new perspective.
Quiet, solo shots have a serene vibe to them that we love, and they allow for more attention on your dress!
A shot this classic could've come from any generation. Make sure your veil is arranged perfectly, and have your photographer stand directly behind you.
While flashbulbs are sure to go off during your first dance, enlist someone to make sure that they're focusing on the dress, rather than just the dancers.
The hanger shot is a sure thing, but why not try some zoomed-in details, too? Belts, lace, and embellishments are worth their own close-up moments.
Professional models know just how to move to bring life to a picture. Give your wedding day some of that same energy by swishing or moving your gown as you walk.
If your ceremony is happening around sunset, use the light to your best advantage. Ask the photographer to scout out an area that'll allow the evening light to illuminate your dress and veil.
A trumpet or mermaid dress is undeniably glamorous — make sure you're capturing it as such.
Whether your skirt is elaborate or simple tulle, it should get its own moment. Bonus points if you're getting married on the beach like this bride and can achieve a stunning monochromatic palette.
You can lean on your partner in such a way that the shoulder details are the focal point of this photo, without it being too obvious.
One of the best moments for your photographer to capture the silhouette of your bridal look is when you and your partner are exchanging vows.
Have your photographer stand behind you, and go for a casual lean, letting your bouquet hang down to the side and trace your shape.
This one is of utmost importance. Make sure your photographer is in the room, positioned so as to be out of the photo (but with a full view of the mirror) the first time you look at yourself in your wedding dress on your big day.
Capture the details from down low, and use the bright blue sky as your backdrop. It'll allow viewers to see your dress from a totally new perspective.
Play with your skirt or touch it in such a way that the texture of your gown becomes palpable through the photo. People looking through your wedding album who never saw your dress in person will feel as if they were there.