Top tip for the morning of your Wedding Day
The getting ready part of a wedding day should be the time you get to great yourself up for the amazing day ahead! As well as have an amazing time with you closest friends and family in quite an intimate setting. But to make sure the experience is everything you hope fo, I have some top tips to make sure this is not a stressful part of the day!
Work backwards on your timings
My best advice to couples, is to work backwards on your timings. This is so important to be able to visually see your timeline and everything you need to achieve in the morning. If there is travel time between a venue and a church also factor this in as well. So this might look something like the below:
Ceremony 2pm
15 min drive
Leave venue 1.40pm
So we know then that leaving at 1.40pm is non negotiable if you want to be on time with a 5 min buffer for traffic. Or if you know the traffic in that are can be bad, look to factor in some more time.Once you know the end point of when you need to leave, or if you are on site and having a registrar arrive to conduct the ceremony this will also be your ‘end point’ as they will do their mini interview/check before the ceremony. Normally 30 mins before for partner 1 and 15 mins before for partner 2.
Once you know these timings it is deciding on what you might like to have happen. So aside from everyone getting hair and makeup done are there other things to do. Such as having fun photos in matching PJ’s, first look with a parent or with your partner, Portraits once in your dress, gift giving etc, time to get in dress and some photos of a special person doing up your dress etc. All of these take time to do and need to be added into the schedule. Factor in 5-10 mins for smaller activities and upto 20 minutes for getting into the dress. So it might look like the following:
Ceremony 2pm
15 min drive or registrar discussion
Leave venue 1.40pm
First look with bridesmaids/dad 1.30pm
1.15pm lip touch ups
1.20pm bridal portraits
Getting in dress (mother of bride ready for photos/doing this) 1pm
12.45pm Mother of the bride gets dressed ready for photos.
Bridesmaids get dressed once makeup done
Bride goes toilet/puts on any underwear for the dress
12.40pm styling paused for PJ photos
This just gives you a little idea of the timings you need to add in alongside hair and makeup.
Speak to your hair and makeup artist about your timings
This leads me onto making sure to speak with your hair and makeup team. You would normally have had a trial so they know how long it will take to do your desired look for yourself and your bridesmaids and anyone else who is having styling done. So this might be 3 hours for example, but you want to make sure they are not putting that finish time too close to the ceremony time. The most experienced stylists would know to allow 45 mins to an hour to built in the above events that we discussed. But some do forget or are newer in the industry so make sure to discuss an end time for when you want to be ready by.
Get your details ready
Often when I arrive it is good to get all the pretty details photos done. So think of things that are important to you that you have planned for the wedding. Such as a nice perfume bottle, one of your invitations, jewellery, lipstick, shoes etc. Pop them all in once bag and I will work my magic when I arrive. I will also look to do the dress at this point too and hang it somewhere elegant so make sure it is fully streamed early in the morning. Doing these photos when I arrive is good as often styling is not far enough along where you would want too many photos, so I can focus on this for 15 mins before doing your getting ready photos.
Make sure your getting ready room is tidy
When you have had a walk around the venue when choosing your wedding venue you would normally be shown where you would get ready. So think about how that space can be sectioned up. Such as an area with good light for hair and makeup, but also a spot for when you get in the dress for some nice photos. You want to make sure the space is free from clutter and endless bags. No one wants bright supermarket bags in the background or suitcases! So make sure these bits are placed in an area out of sight and away. Rather than suitcases all open and items everywhere. It really makes a difference to your photos and having a clean and tidy space to feel comfortable in.
Think about where you will both get ready
Often venues will have shown you options for spaces for getting ready so you know where you will be. It is handy to have both of you on site to help with logistics for the ceremony as well as if you are wanting getting ready for both that I can go between. If off site, then it can still be possible with careful planning of timings of close by. But if further afield then you would need to consider a second photographer. But if that is the only aspect of the day that requires a second photographer think about getting ready closer to the venue to save on that cost.
Make sure your closest people know your schedule
If you are wanting a first look with Dad or photos with Mum doing up your dress, Make sure they know this. Often they have only been guests at weddings and not in the bridal party so they don’t know what to expect. If you can provide them with a schedule it can make family feel more relaxed so they know where they need to be. If they are in those important photos they need to not be last in the make up chair and dressed before you so that you are not waiting for them. It also reduces stress for them and makes everything a much more enjoyable process.
Above all. Enjoy your day. You want to make sure the day is fun, filled with laughter and happy tears with your closest people. So hopefully these top tips can get you on track to have a fabulous wedding day.
