Best Hotels To Get Ready On Your Wedding Day in Indianapolis | Indianapolis Wedding Prep Hotels
- Danielle Harris
- Aug 23, 2020
- 6 min read
Updated: Dec 29, 2025
Best Places to Get Ready on Your Wedding Day in Indianapolis
We know that picking the perfect location to get ready on the wedding day can seem like a daunting task. Many of our couple's ask us what they can do to ensure beautiful photos on their wedding day...The getting ready suite is a big one! You will be spending a significant portion of the wedding day getting primped and taking pre-wedding portraits. The space should be not only beautiful, but have plenty of room for you, your crew, stylists, and me! Below you will find a few key tips to remember when picking the perfect location to get ready for your wedding day, and our favorite Indianapolis Hotel Recommendations!
Tips for Picking Your Getting Ready Space
1. Natural Light Is Everything
Photos taken in natural light look softer, more flattering, and more timeless. Big windows without harsh shadows are your best friend. Avoid rooms with only overhead lighting, heavy colored walls, and no windows.
2. Think About the Size & Flow
Make sure there’s space for: Hair and makeup artists,Your dress and accessories, space or locations for first looks, & seating. It isn't just hair and makeup that takes place at the hotel. We will be doing bridal portraits, details, robe & PJ photos, first looks, etc.
3. Keep the room Tidy & Free of Clutter
Having the wedding party keep their belongings in a separate area or put away in a closet is major. Throw trash away, put dresses in the closet, hide suitcases under the beds..all of these tips will make for more beautiful candid photos while you are getting pampered. A clean room will also look great for when you slip into the dress for those beautiful portraits. Hang your dress where you would like it photographed. To keep your dress perfectly clean, we don't move the dress around to different locations.
4. Pick a location with a style that fits into your wedding day esthetic. We want the photos to flow naturally from the moment you slip on the dress until the last dance of the evening. We suggest having your fiancé get ready at the same hotel or location as you. We want to get photos of them getting ready as well.
5. The Little Things - gather all your detail items are together in one spot, we do't waste precious photo time rounding everything up. This includes ALL wedding bands, Invitations suite with envelope, dress, shoes, jewelry, family heirlooms, and loose floral for styling. These items tell the story of your day, and are the first things we photograph when we arrive.
6. Check out Airbnb for some beautiful historic or modern homes! You might be surprised how many charming locations you can find in Indianapolis. This also allows for everyone to spread out a bit and keep the space looking tidy. This is especially a great option for large wedding parties.
What are the Best Hotels to get ready on your wedding day in Indianapolis?
Downtown Indianapolis Wedding Day Hotel Suggestions- Below you will find a list of some of our favorite hotels for our couple's to get ready. We recommend getting a suite not only for space, but for having windows on both sides of the room for beautiful lighting.
Hotel Indy, Intercontinental, Omni Severin, The Alexander, JW Marriott, Le Meridian, The Conrad, Embassy Suites
*The Westin has a beautiful courtyard outside and is across the street from the State House for a gorgeous photo backdrop prior to the ceremony if you are planning a first look.
*The Alexander hotel is wonderful for winter weddings as the inside provides great photo locations with tons of natural light. Check out this recent winter wedding where almost all of the portraits were taken at the Alexander Hotel.
Carmel, Indiana / North Side Hotels: Hotel Carmichael is my #1 favorite Hotel for Carmel Indiana weddings. The rooms are beautiful, and the palladium gardens next door allow for beautiful portraits prior to the ceremony.
Other North Side Hotel Suggestions: Iron Works Hotel, Hotel Nickel Plate, Marriott Indianapolis North
Some Wedding Venue's already have fantastic getting ready suites on site! This is a HUGE bonus when looking at wedding venues for your big day. Westwood Vowery & Estate, The Sixpence, Regions Tower, & Laurel Hall are a few of my favorite wedding venues that already have the perfect spaces to get ready. No hotel need for these Indy favorites!
If you are getting married at Scottish Rite Cathedral, The Indianapolis Artsgarden, Newfields, Ritz Charles, Black Iris Estate, or The Bluffs at Conner Prairie, you will want to book a hotel room to get ready for the wedding day.
Why Choosing the Right Getting Ready Location Matters
It's not just hair and makeup we will be photographing at the hotel. A good getting-ready space has room for bridal portraits, groom portraits, parent first looks, dress reveal, robe & pj photos, etc.
Plenty of soft, even light for flattering portraits
Enough space for your wedding party to spread out
Minimal clutter or easily styled neutral backdrops
Comfortable areas for both relaxing and photos. If there is just a bed in the room, where will everyone sit?
When your getting-ready space works, your photos feel calm and romantic, and you get to enjoy the moments leading up to the aisle instead of feeling rushed, crowded, and stressed.
FAQ: Getting Ready Locations in Indianapolis For your Wedding Day
Q: What time should we plan to start photos?
We typically arrive 1-2 hours before you get into the dress. Brides are typically still in the hair and makeup chair, but not "just getting started". This gives room for detail shots, makeup & prep photos, candid moments, and portraits without rushing.
Q: Can both the bride and groom getting ready at the same hotel or location?
Yes! It is absolutely recomended that you both get ready at the same venue or hotel. This allows the photos to look cohesive, and allows us to get prep of both groups. If you plan to have your fiancé get ready at a different location, we will do finishing touches photos prior to the ceremony. This is putting on jackets, pinning boutonnières, etc.
Q: Should we get ready at the same hotel as our room block?
Not necessarily. It's actually pretty nice to have your room block at a different hotel so you don't have to worry about running into guests prior to the wedding. Room blocks are typically chosen for guest convenience and budget, while getting-ready locations are best selected for space, natural light, and privacy.
Q: What if our getting ready location is at the church in a school room with no windows?
We always bring supplemental lighting & flash to every wedding. But when possible, choose a location with large windows, neutral decor, and a backdrop for all those moments before the aisle.
Q: Do we need to clear out all personal items before photos start?
Yes, and No. Removing clutter makes a huge difference. You don't need to have a completely empty hotel room, but keeping bags, food, and other items restricted to one area or side of the room ensures we have a clean backdrop for important photos. We always pick an area upon arrival where the lighting is best that you will get dressed, and help clear that area of water bottles, trash, etc.
Q: What should we bring to the getting ready room?
Bring: Details items (dress, shoes, jewelry) Anything sentimental (letter from your partner, family heirlooms)
Q: Does my getting ready space need to match my wedding style?
It's great, but it’s not necessary. Having a space with natural light and plenty of space is all that's needed.
Final Thoughts
Your wedding morning sets the tone for everything that follows. Choosing the right getting ready location matters for your peace of mind, your photos, and how your day feels.
Whether you choose a hotel suite, airbnb, or the space on site at your venue.... the goal is the same: get dressed, laugh, drink coffee (or champagne), soak up the moments, and let your photographer tell your story beautifully.
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Browse the real weddings below to see some of the best places to get ready on a wedding day in Indianapolis, chosen by our recent couples
