How to plan your morning getting ready | Wedding Timeline
Jamie Randell hard at work! Check out Daiane’s Wedding blog for the full scope!
Your wedding day is filled with magical moments, and how you start it can set the tone for the entire day. One of the key parts of this is the “getting ready” process.
While we’d love to take the credit for this beautifully written blog :P It was Jaime Randell and Grayson Coutts were the ones that voiced their words of wisdom to help spawn all these tips and tricks. Make sure to go check out their work if you’re still on the hunt for that perfect makeup artists or hair stylist!
So, without further ado, to ensure everything runs smoothly and that you can enjoy each moment, here’s a few things you can take into consideration when planning out the morning.
1. Coordinate with Your Hair and Makeup Artists
Start by confirming the timing with your hair and makeup artists. Each artist have their own routine and so times will differ but will generally require about 45-60 minutes per bridesmaid or family member for hair and makeup, and around 1-2 hours for the bride’s hair and makeup. This may also differ depending on the type and complexity of the look and style you’re going for. Understanding their schedule helps in crafting your timeline.
2. Communicate with Your Vendors
If you have separate hair and makeup vendors, it’s crucial that they communicate and coordinate with each other on the day. You could consider spacing out hair and makeup on the schedule to give yourself a break and avoid having to be in a chair for too long at a time. This will help keep the experience pleasant and relaxed for everyone involved.
3. Prioritize the Bride
Make sure that the bride is not the last person to be serviced so that if any delays occur, you as the bride doesn’t get affected. Getting your hair and makeup done earlier ensures you’re not rushed and allows you to become accustomed to your look before the ceremony. It also provides time for any adjustments if needed. Both Grayson & Jamie recommend having the bride in the make up chair second to last so that everything is still as fresh as possible but there’s some flexibility in case anything unforeseeable comes up.
4. Think Ahead
Steam Your Attire: To avoid any last-minute issues with your dress or robes, steam them the night before. This will keep them looking pristine and free of wrinkles.
Prepare Accessories and Details: Gather all your accessories and important details before your artist arrives. This includes your jewelry, veil, shoes, invites and any special items you want in your photos. Having these ready helps streamline the process and allows your photographer to start capturing those beautiful details right away without you needing to jump out of the chair (or shout commands at one of your bridesmaids) to gather everything up.
Knowing who’s up next: Keep the communications going with your artists and the ladies throughout the morning to ensure everyone knows when it’s their turn on the chair. That way they can use the bathroom or anything else that needs doing before its their turn to avoid delays.
Have References Handy: Save all your hair and makeup references on your phone, including from your makeup trial if you’ve done one. This way, your artist can easily access them and ensure they achieve the exact look you’re envisioning.
Extra cautionary advice from Grayson!! DO NOT GO NEAR a steamer once you’ve had your makeup and hair done. All the more important to get it all done the night before. If something has to be steamed, get someone who hasn’t had their makeup and hair done yet or better yet, just get one of the lads/dads to do it!
5. Coordinate with Your Photographer
Determine if there’s additional photos or additional events you’d like before you head off for the ceremony. Here’s a few ideas!
First look/touch: A first look might be a nice way to get most of the day’s bridal party as well as couples photos out of the way so that you may enjoy more time with the guests, this would just you’d need to schedule in a bit more time before the ceremony. If you’re a stickler for traditions and want your first look at the aisle, you can also opt for a First Touch in which neither of you will see each other but get to hold hands and chat a little (or even pray together!). It might just be what you need to help calm the nerves a little before the big event.
Other first looks: These can be done with a single or both parents/grandparents together, the bridesmaids and/or pretty much anyone really!
Robe shots with the ladies!
Group photos before heading to the ceremony.
Discuss with your photographer how much time they will need with you and your bridal party before the ceremony. Share this information with your hair and makeup team to ensure their schedules align. This coordination helps in avoiding any overlaps or delays.
6. Allow Ample Time
To avoid any last-minute rush and ensure you’re not stressed, scheduling in an additional 30-45 minute buffer is a good idea to account for any unforeseen delays, whether it’s the makeup/hair requiring a bit more time to get you looking perfect, someone forgetting something or a last-minute bathroom stop. This will give you plenty of time to relax, review your look, and ensure everything plays out smoothly.
Bonus tip - Makeup Trial
Fair that it’s super hard to find time in your busy schedule these days BUT having a make up trial is definitely one of those things that will be more than worth it. This allows you to go into your morning with confidence that everything will come out just as you’ve envisioned. After all, you’d want to at least try your wedding gown on before the big day right? So why not your makeup?
If you’ve booked an engagement session with your favorite Auckland wedding photographer *nudge* *nudge* you could have both on the same day to capitalise on it! If not, then turn it into a date night! Or both :D
We’ve also put together a guide on how to put together a wedding day timeline along with a sample! So if you’re feeling a bit lost on how to get started, you should definitely head on over and check it out.
Grayson Coutts putting the final touches on one of the Bridesmaids on Aly & Dylan’s Big Day! Check out their full blog here!
