Do you want to wake up at 5:00 on your wedding day? Didn’t think so! So how do you make sure that the whole wedding party, both sets of parents, and the couple are all ready by the time guests are seated? A wedding morning timeline will ensure that everybody is ready and that you all feel relaxed, refreshed and ready for the best day of your life!
So here, it is; expert tips on how to create a perfect wedding morning, so you aren’t frazzled, stressed or late for your own wedding. A timeline will allow your hairstylist, makeup artist and photographer to work their magic for you so give them plenty of time!
All weddings are unique, so your wedding morning timeline will look different to another couple’s timeline. The timing below will be determined by a number of factors. First, how many bridesmaids do you have? Will your hairstylist and makeup artist do their hair and makeup or will they do their own? Is anybody else getting their hair and makeup done with you, such as your mam or your partner’s mam? Will the hairstylist or makeup artist have an assistant with them?
Featured image credit: Conlon Photography and Film
First, Build Your Wedding Morning Timeline
The order
First up, you need to work out what order everything needs to take place in. We recommend the bride gets her makeup done first, and while this is happening, one of the bridesmaids is getting her hair done. This way, by the time the photographer arrives for ‘getting ready’ photos, you’ll feel confident, fresh-faced and ready to be photographed. Next up, the bride gets her hair done. It’s important that the bride’s hair and makeup takes priority. Bridal styles are the most time-consuming, but they are top priority. If anything takes longer than usual, having the bride first in line means that you can adjust the rest of the wedding morning timeline. Speak with your hairstylist and makeup artist to get an idea of how long each of these will take on the day.
Wedding morning photos
Set aside some time to have some ‘getting ready’ photos in the morning. You’ll want some lovely photos with each of your girls and some detail shots too. We recommend speaking with your photographer about the timing of this. Your photographer may request that people are dressed and ready or that accessories are ready and laid out. Planning ahead will save you time so you aren’t wasting time setting up for these shots.
Other time-consuming activities
The key is to keep in mind that some tasks will take a lot longer than you think. Eating together, getting dressed, putting on your veil. These activities all take time, so make a list of anything and everything you want to get done. Don’t forget to eat and drink! I know what you’re thinking… “I’m a grown adult and I know how to feed myself”, but trust us, food will be the last thing on your mind. So add that to your list and make eating and hydrating a priority.
Factor in some time to yourself. You may want to wake up a little earlier, have a shower and just enjoy the fact that it’s your wedding day.
Add it all up
Now, you should know how much time you need for your wedding morning timeline, so add it up. And then add one more hour. This one hour buffer is great if someone is running late, your hair or makeup takes a lot longer than planned, or something unexpected comes up. Once you’ve done the maths, you should know what time you need to begin. If this time is ridiculously early, find out if your hairstylist or makeup artist could bring along an assistant. This will cut your time in half!
Let everyone know
And the sooner, the better. Tell your wedding party what time you’d like them to arrive, as well as what they should bring with them. They’ll need to coordinate their own travel plans, babysitters and so on, so give them as much notice as you can.
How To Decide Where To Get Ready On The Morning Of Your Wedding
Think about the location
The first step is to think about your location.
A great option to consider is your wedding venue. Find out if there’s a bridal suite or another suitable room on site. While you’re asking, find out if there are any restrictions on how many people you can have in the room at one time.
If your wedding venue doesn’t offer a bridal suite, why not consider another beautiful space nearby? This could be a hotel room or a friend or family member’s home.
And finally, why not use your own home? This is especially convenient if you are planning on staying at home the night before your wedding anyway!
Consider your timeline
When you choose where to get ready on your wedding day, it’s worth considering the rest of your wedding morning timeline. What time do you need to get to the ceremony? How early will you need to wake up? How long will it take for everyone to get ready?
And with all of the above in mind, how much time do you have to drive from home to your getting ready location and then to the ceremony venue?
Are aesthetics important?
There’s no right or wrong answer to this question! You just need to work out if you are happy with any large and tidy space or if you want it to be beautiful. If the photos are important, then you should prioritise a location that will look amazing.
Who will be with you?
There are the obvious people, like your wedding party, hair and makeup artists, photographer and videographer. Is there anybody else you’d like to have with you? Your mam and dad perhaps?
Is it large enough?
Consider your potential getting ready venue and how many people you need to accommodate? That’s the wedding party, your hair and makeup artists, photographer, videographer and any other important guests.
And then make sure you have even more space than needed, so you don’t feel cramped and cluttered. You’ll also need to have space for everybody’s things.
What about your partner?
Think about where your partner will be getting ready with their side of the wedding party. Do you want to be in two completely separate locations or are you happy to be on opposites sides of the same venue?
Top Tips For An Epic Wedding Morning
Take some time out
After all the craziness of wedding planning, you have finally made it to your Big Day. Don’t start the day in a rush. Get an early night, wake up a little earlier and just take some time out to be alone. Meditate, pray, have a long shower and set the tone for your day. If you’re a coffee drinker, make yourself a cuppa and have a peaceful start to the day.
Make a playlist
Compile a playlist that you and the girls can listen to while you get ready on your wedding day. Put all your favourite fun tunes on a playlist and use that to keep the mood upbeat.
Here are a few song ideas:
- Wannabe – Spice Girls
- Get Lucky – Daft Punk
- Man, I feel like a Woman – Shania Twain
- Marry You – Bruno Mars
- I Wanna Dance with Somebody – Whitney Houston
Eat something
Seriously, don’t forget to eat. Have a big breakfast in the morning and have lots of snacks to munch on while you’re getting ready. By the time you get to the top of the aisle, your stomach will be growling if you haven’t eaten anything. The last thing you want is to faint or feel lightheaded on your wedding day. Eating will probably not be at the top of your list, so ask somebody to be in charge of making sure you’ve got something to eat. Have muffins, croissants, fruit, crackers, whatever you enjoy eating. You’ll thank us when you’ve got energy to enjoy your day!
Pop the champagne
It’s your wedding day so what better time to whip out the bubbly! You will (hopefully) not be doing anything on the morning of your wedding other than getting ready and enjoying a drink with your bridesmaids.
Now, it’s time for you to go and get married! Enjoy your Big Day and take it all in.
