The morning of your wedding day is a time filled with excitement, anticipation, and a touch of nerves. As the bride, you want everything to run smoothly, especially when it comes to the crucial aspects of hair and makeup. A well-planned timeline ensures that you and your bridal party look stunning and are ready to shine when the big moment arrives. In this guide, we'll address some important questions and provide a comprehensive timeline for a blissful wedding morning.
How Long Does Bridal Hair and Makeup Actually Take?
You might be wondering how much time you should set aside for hair and makeup. Typically, bridal hair and makeup takes about 2 hours. This includes time for touch-ups and any last-minute adjustments. It's always better to overestimate and have extra time rather than rush and feel stressed.
How Much Time Is Allocated for Bridesmaids Hair and Makeup?
Your bridesmaids deserve to look and feel fabulous too! Plan for about 45 minutes for each bridesmaid's hair and makeup. If you have a large bridal party or an early ceremony, you may need additional stylists to ensure everyone is ready on time. Your hair and makeup artist can typically arrange this for you, saving you the hassle of searching for extra help yourself.
Should the Bride Get Hair or Makeup Done First?
This choice depends on your personal preference and schedule, but many brides prefer to have their makeup done early. This allows time for any necessary touch-ups before you leave. Additionally, if you're opening gifts or getting dressed, having your makeup done first ensures you look photo-ready from the start. Don't worry about the longevity—your stylist will apply your makeup to last all day!
Do You Have to Change Getting Ready Location?
It’s uncommon, but occasionally, venues may not permit early access for getting ready. To avoid any surprises, ask your venue to confirm the access time, and ensure you inform your stylist of this timing so they can work out their schedule and determine if an assistant is necessary. If you do need to change locations in between getting ready, ensure there is enough time for your stylist to pack away, travel, and reset their kit.
If the getting-ready and ceremony locations are different, be sure to include travel time in your schedule to prevent any delays.
Important Timeline Factors to Consider
Open Gifts
Opening gifts from your partner or bridal party is a special moment to cherish. If you know you'll be moved to happy tears, consider doing this before your makeup to avoid any potential smudging.
Steaming Dresses the Day Before
Make sure all dresses are steamed the day before the wedding. This prevents any last-minute dress issues that could potentially ruin your hair or makeup.
Bras Off!
Remember to take off bras with straps that might leave marks on your shoulders and back long before you need to get into your dress.
Wear a Robe or Button-Down Shirt
When getting your hair and makeup done, wear a light robe or a button-down shirt. This makes it easier to change into your wedding dress without messing up your hair or makeup. Choose something smooth and non-bulky around the neck to avoid ruffling the hair once styled.
Dressing Gown or Fun Photos with Your Photographer
This is the time to have fun and capture those candid moments with your bridal party. Whether it's popping champagne in your dressing gowns or capturing laughter with your bridesmaids, make sure to set aside time for these photos.
Photograph Getting in Dress
Getting into your wedding dress is a momentous occasion. Make sure your photographer is there to capture every moment, from the first zip to the final fluff of your train.
Father of the Bride / Bridesmaids Reveal
The first look with your father or bridesmaids is always a tearjerker. Schedule this after you’re fully dressed to capture their genuine reactions.
Registrar
Ensure you know when the registrar will arrive and where they need to be. This is crucial for a seamless transition to the ceremony.
Ceremony
The main event! Ensure you know the exact start time and have all necessary people and items ready well in advance. Plan to arrive a little early to allow for any unforeseen delays.
Here’s a sample wedding day schedule:
7:00 AM: Wake up
7:30 AM: Hair and makeup begin; timeline from your stylist
8:30 AM: Ensure you have a light breakfast
9:30 AM: Open gifts; if you haven't already, pop the champagne!
9:45 AM: Dressing gown or fun photos with your photographer
11:15 AM: Bridesmaids get dressed
11:30 AM: Bride gets dressed, photographer captures the moment
11:45 AM: Father of the bride/bridesmaids reveal
12:00 PM: Final touch-ups
12:30 PM: The registrar arrives
13:00 PM: Ceremony begins
With this guide, you'll be able to plan a timeline that ensures everything runs smoothly on your big day. Remember, the key is to build in some buffer time for those unexpected moments. Most importantly, enjoy every second of your special day!
Happy planning!
With love, Deborah x