Bridal pictures: yes or no?

For what? (I never quite understood those) Engagement photos I think are worth doing.

If you're talking about bridal portraits, I don't get it.

I did bridal portraits and I love those pictures. Also.... It was a great way to have a trial run of my hair, makeup, and wearing my dress and accessories. I ended up hating my hair that day, and getting extensions to get the look I wanted after talking to my hairdresser. I did another trial with the extensions before the wedding and was thrilled. And I had her make some tweaks to my makeup as well for the actual wedding.

Also, the day of the wedding I didn't have as much pressure to get those pics of me alone, because we had plenty from the bridal portraits.

Anyways, I'm glad I did them. It was really worth it to me.

I'm not doing them. I've never been a fan of pictures just of me. My photographer also said that most of the time, the pictures from the bridal session, although maybe displayed at the wedding, they usually end up in the bride's parent's house. Since they were included in my photographer package, we opted for extra time on the day of instead.

I did them and loved them. I did my hair and makeup trial that day and was able to tweak both after seeing the photos.

OP you'll find that bridal portraits are a "thing" mostly for us here in the south. So other WW users may not be so familiar. Everyone in my family has done them and I'm on the fence if I will or not. I know it's also beneficial for hair and makeup trials... but I'm so used to being photographed and having hair and makeup done from pageants I think it'll be a waste of time and money (for me). Although I do want to get another wear out of my dress... so I might buckle to tradition and get them done lol.

Definitely a southern thing. If it's in your budget, I definitely think you should go for them! I love seeing my friends' bridal sessions. I wish I'd had the time to do a bridal session before I got married!

Pass for me! Plus I've never really heard of them.

I don't really see the point. I know its a Southern thing, and I know typically a big framed print or canvas of the bride is displayed at the reception ... also don't really understand that either, since the bride is there- in person - wearing the same dress - lol. I would skip it. I have many many bridal portraits from my wedding day! It seems unnecessary to do another, separate shoot money-wise. Plus, so inconvenient to have to make sure alterations are done early, take the risk of getting makeup on your dress or getting it dirty or wrinkled, paying for hair and makeup twice, etc!

I wish I had done them. I knew about them, but had the same mentality as some others, thinking what's the point. I waited until the day of and I was happy with only ONE shot of me alone. All the others were taken in a hotel room that was dark and not exactly pretty. I do have a few cell phone photos my friend took that I like a lot, but only one from my photographer. I'm actually considering hiring a local photographer to get some in-studio ones taken before I get my dress preserved.

Bottom line, if you can afford it, do it! I don't see the downside.

Can't brides just take some pictures by herself the day of the wedding? I don't get bridal portraits

I did a short bridal portrait session for my first wedding and rarely looked at those. I even made a book out of them, but it didn't matter. I won't be doing a bridal portrait session for my upcoming wedding.

I think bridals are gorgeous. Both of my sisters did them. If you have room in the budget then go for it. My middle sister did hers the day she had her hair trial.