Pre-Wedding Photoshoot (Behind the Scenes)

As the title suggests, this post will showcase pictures galore of me in different wedding dresses. If you are not interested in this, feel free to click away now.

Part 1: Some Thoughts

Some couples opt to not do a pre-wedding photoshoot while some prefer to have a photoshoot in their casual clothes. However, since Noel and I have very few nice couple photos taken over the years of us dating, I think wedding is the perfect reason for both of us to doll up and take some corny yet memorable pictures.

Besides that, this is literally a once-in-a-lifetime experience. As a bona fide millennial (someone born from 1981 to 1996) who favors memories and experiences over owning material goods, I couldn't possibly miss out on this!

The whole pre-wedding photoshoot experience in the East is very different from that in the West. There are also many different ways couples can pull together resources for a pre-wedding photoshoot. I will only share with you my personal experience.

Part 2: The Selection Process

Noel and I did not have the time and enthusiasm to scout around for separate wedding dress rental, photographer, and makeup artist. Therefore, we chose to engage the service of a wedding studio, which pretty much took care of everything we needed. 

In fact, we did not even survey any studios online or in person. In June, I asked for contacts from a friend of mine who recently got married in Penang. Then, out of the three contacts she shared with me, Noel and I went to visit two of them in person and swiftly decided on one.

The studio that we picked was C Bride Wedding Studio. The owners are amiable, and I feel more comfortable talking to them compared to the staff in another studio. Noel also prefers this place simply because it is quite near to his parents' home, so it lessens his burden as the driver.

Part 3: The Actual Process

In September, we visited the studio for the second time for the actual photoshoot. The whole process took three consecutive days. 

On the first day, we tried out different gowns and suits and picked out the ones we were going to wear. I tried 15 outfits in total, and picked 1 white wedding dress, 1 color gown and 1 Chinese traditional Kua. Noel tried 6 outfits in total, and picked 2 three-piece suits and 1 Chinese traditional outfit. Unfortunately, and certainly, everyone can tell who is given more attention during a pre-wedding photoshoot. Sorry, boys!

On the second day, we had a 10-hour photoshoot session. Thankfully, these long hours included makeup session and commuting to the outdoor photoshoot location. Even though most of the photos were taken indoor in a studio, there were many props and setups for us to interact with, so the end products do not look monotonous at all. For the outdoor location, we chose Penang Botanical Garden because I wanted something natural and lush as background.

This was my first look for the photoshoot. 

Just for clarification, I had yet to change into my gown when I took this selfie.

This was my third look.

I took this selfie on the way to Penang Botanical Garden. 

At this point, I was already mentally in bed.

On the third day, we went back to the studio to pick out photos that we like. The package we signed up included 35 edited photos. The selection took about an hour, with some help from my mother-in-law. I think having an extra pair of eyes really helped to speed up the process.

To be frank, one of the biggest perks that this studio offers is giving back the customers all the raw photos that have been taken. However, Noel and I gave up on this perk for a slightly lower price because we don't think we will ever go through all 300+ photos of us again after the wedding. In the end, I believe that we have picked out the most endearing pictures that beautifully captured our relationship and our photoshoot experience.

Part 4: The Dresses

Here comes the exciting part of this post where I will show you all the gowns I tried. However, I will not show the two actual gowns that I picked for the photoshoot. 

Dress No. 1 

I love how dreamy the bottom half of the gown looks, but I hate that there are two very define lines on my armpit areas. Also, this dress is too small for me.

Dress No. 2

I think I look great in this, but it is too revealing.

Dress No. 4

This is Noel's favorite; he likes the distinct leavy pattern. 

I love it too, but I don't like how long my torso looks in this gown.  

Dress No. 5

I love both the leavy pattern and the dots on the dress! 

Unfortunately, this dress is rather revealing as well.

Dress No. 6

I had never imagined myself in a gown like this, but surprisingly, I love it after I put it on!

However, I didn't choose this because I look like I am going to attend a Bollywood dance party instead of getting married. In the end, I still prefer lace over stones. 

Dress No. 7

This dress is so pretty!!

If I had a chance to redo the entire photoshoot, I would definitely pick this!

I think the only reason I didn't choose this is because it's rather similar to the white gown I chose in the end. 

Dress No. 8

I guess you can tell by now that I prefer the off-shoulder design. 

I need some fabric on both sides to hide my thick arms.

Dress No. 9

This dress looks very elegant when it's on a hanger, but it's not meant to be worn by me.

For some reason, I don't look good in it. 

Dress No. 10

Ermm...no.

Dress No. 11

This is another dress that I didn't expect myself to look good in!

When the owner first asked me about my preference, I told her I wanted something off shoulder and A-line. I also specifically told her that I preferred to avoid something with love neckline or mermaid cut.

Nevertheless, I am actually quite happy to have tried on this piece. I almost picked this.

Dress No. 12

Hmm...no.

Dress No. 14

Last but not least, here's a picture of me in the Kua that I didn't choose in the end.

There're tiny bells on this outfit that would jingle when I move around, so it is cute!

Part 5: Closing Thoughts

Noel and I are very satisfied with the service offered. My mother-in-law also has a good first impression of the owners. Therefore, on the day we went to select the photos, we booked their photography and makeup service for my actual wedding day right away. 

After we settled the photoshoot and booking, my friend, who is also getting married soon, told me about the prices she was offered when surveying some bridal studios in Johor Bahru. Only then did I have a clear idea that Noel and I really seized a sweet deal from C Bride. I am not paid by the owners to say this, but I sincerely think that the price is very reasonable for the top-notch service they offer.

Personally, I guess the only downside of using the service of a bridal studio is that the photos we took might look rather similar to that of other couples, who have their photos taken in other studios. In fact, I saw another friend of mine sharing her pre-wedding photos on Facebook recently, and it's amusing how some backdrops and poses look oddly familiar to Noel and me.

However, since I am not a famous person who thrives on having the most unique portfolio, I think it's totally fine to have similar gowns, backdrops or poses. Most importantly, we each have a unique spouse that is exclusive to us.