Are you ready for a smooth morning of your wedding?
Truth be told, it’s easy for chaos to ensue the morning of your wedding. There are lots of people to coordinate with. Items can be disorganized and lost. The plan, if there even is a plan, can unravel. Tensions and emotions may be high. In short, it’s easy for the morning of your wedding to turn into a total scene, if you’re not prepared for it.
The great news is, you can prepare for a smooth morning of your wedding. You can plan for a plan. You can be sure that the space you get ready in is ideal. It doesn’t have to be complicated. Just like with many wedding planning elements, once you know, you know. Knowing what you need to ensure will make the morning of your wedding run smooth, and set the rest of the day up for success.
13 Tips For A Smooth Morning Of Your Wedding
This post is going to be filled with tips for a smooth morning of your wedding. In it, I will tell you what you need to know, so everyone, including you, remains calm, cool, and collected. Of course, a little emotion is fine, but let’s try to avoid stress and meltdowns. At least, as much as we can.
Let’s get into it!
1. MAKE SURE TO PROVIDE A “CALL LIST” TO GUESTS
Are you planning on looking at your phone on your wedding day? Checking your social media? Posting selfies, and having fun? If so, you do you.
However, if you are looking at your phone, you run the risk of guests reaching out to you with issues. Letting you know they can’t make it. Asking if they can bring their kids, because the baby sitter is sick. Clarifying the best route to your venue.
Ugh. None of this is what you’ll want to deal with on the morning of your wedding.
Rather than not have your phone nearby, create a little call list for your guests. Put it on your website, and in your hotel welcome bags. List out everyone they can call, if they have a question or issue. Everyone who is not you, that is.
2. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO GET READY
One of the biggest stressors the morning of your wedding is getting behind schedule. Not just getting behind schedule, but literally running out of time.
Because of this, you have to plan your “getting ready schedule” well. Ask your makeup artists and hair stylists how much time each person needs. Factor in risks like someone running late, running behind, needing to take care of something, or losing something. Estimate the time to get ready accordingly, and add a little padding, just in case.
3. MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS THE PLAN
Confusion is surely going to impact having a smooth wedding day morning. To reduce the confusion, share the plan. And share it well.
What does this look like, you might ask?
Well, start with creating a great schedule. Then, lay it out in a document or email. Be sure to note who is needed where, and when. Then share, share, share. Share via email. Text it. Send a DM. Heck, you can print it out and mail it to anyone who needs to know the plan you have for your wedding day. Just get it out there, ahead of the wedding. This will allow anyone with questions to reach out and get them clarified, before it messes up your wedding day.
4. MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS THEIR ARRIVAL TIME
Along with making sure everyone knows the plan for the wedding day, and making sure there’s a solid schedule with enough time to get ready, is ensuring that people know when to arrive in the morning.
Now, if you’ve never gotten ready on the morning of a wedding, with the bride, let me tell you how it goes. Usually there is a schedule for each girl to have her hair and makeup done. Not everyone goes at once. This means that different people may have different times that they need to be there to get ready.
You can tell this to your group, or have them all arrive at the same time. The ones who arrive early, or on time, can get done up first. Those who arrive late, go later. Or, you can have some sort of planned cadence to it. Do what works for you, just be clear about the expectations for everyone.
5. MAKE SURE EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT TO BRING
There’s nothing worse than not bringing something with you, that you should have. This is why it’s important that you’re super clear with anyone who is with you on the morning of your wedding about what they need to bring with them.
Don’t be afraid to remind everyone to bring their clothes and shoes. Remind them about any accessories that you’d like them to wear. Tell them about special requests. For example, maybe one of your bridesmaids has a speaker for music. Make sure she knows to bring it. Your mom may be on point to bring your veil. Make sure she knows about that. Keep it all clear, for everyone, ahead of time. This will reduce stress later on.
6. MAKE SURE THERE IS ENOUGH SPACE FOR EVERYONE
One thing that many brides overlook when they plan their wedding day is the amount of space they need to get ready.
It’s not just about getting a group of people in one room. It’s also about getting their stuff in that room as well. There are outfits, accessories, special items, shoes, and everything in between. Depending on the size of your wedding party, and the number of moms, aunts, mother-in-laws, and extra friends, you may find that everyone is crammed into a small space. Things can get heated, literally.
If the room that you’re getting ready in seems too small, think ahead. Can you utilize another space? Ask, or make it happen, if possible. If not, think about how you can reconfigure the space you can use, so it’s not too chaotic.
7. MAKE SURE THERE IS ENOUGH SEATING
Along the same lines as having enough room for everyone the morning of your wedding, you’ve got to think about seating.
Now, if you’re getting ready in a hotel room, people will use the bed as seating. However, if you’re getting ready in a side room, a living room, or a barn (it happens), seating may be limited. Bridesmaids may end up on the floor, in their dresses, if you’re not prepared.
Be sure to think ahead about this. What can be done for seating? At least to make sure that dresses don’t get dirty or wrinkled in the meantime. Can you bring in some extra seats? Or will it be okay? Thinking about this ahead of time will help you have a smooth morning of your wedding. It will also help everyone look and feel their best during your wedding.
8. MAKE SURE YOU REMEMBER THOSE CUTE OUTFITS
Are you one of those brides who wants everyone to wear something cute while getting ready? Perhaps a shorts and shirt set? Or some robes?
Be sure to remember them.
You thought ahead to purchase the outfit. You may have asked everyone their size. Outfits were researched, ordered, and received. Don’t let those cute outfits go to waste. Even if you have to delegate someone else to bring them, make it happen.
9. MAKE SURE THERE IS ENOUGH LIGHTING
Lighting is everything when you’re getting ready. Especially natural lighting.
Ask any makeup artist, and they will tell you that this is true. That when they do makeup, being near a window is ideal. This can get tricky when a few people are having their makeup done, and lighting is a commodity. Things can get crowded, real quick.
To help with this, first try and figure out a place to get ready that has a lot of natural light. If this isn’t possible, scope out the light situation in the room. Will the bathroom lights suffice? Is a ring light necessary? If possible, bring in backup lighting.
10. MAKE SURE YOUR EVERYONE HAS EVERYTHING THEY NEED
Is someone preparing an emergency kit for your wedding? If not, it’s time to start thinking about it.
If you want to know more about emergency kits, this is a great post for you. Essentially, it’s a little kit filled with items that help make a smooth morning of your wedding. Items that aid headaches, blisters, hair issues, rips in dresses, etc. Items that will make everyone a bit more comfortable, and make it so no one needs to run out and grab something that is missing. Emergency kits can be a lifesaver.
11. MAKE SURE THERE ARE SNACK AND DRINKS
Hungry, dehydrated people are not happy people. And, happy people are what will make a smooth morning of your wedding.
Be sure to have lots of snacks and drinks available for those who are getting ready with you. Accommodate dietary restrictions, when possible. Have straws for bottled water, so makeup doesn’t get messed up. Be sure to provide some protein, and not all carbs and sugar. Getting ready can take a long time, and everyone will appreciate the refreshments.
12. MAKE SURE VENDORS KNOW THE LOGISTICS
Most vendors will square this away with you before your wedding day, but it’s still important for you to ensure everyone is on the same page. Make sure they know how to get ahold of you, or someone close to the wedding, on the morning of your wedding.
This means that your makeup artist has your direct number. And the number of a backup, in case your phone isn’t working. That your hair stylist knows where to be, and when. That your photographer knows where to park. Be sure that they know all the details ahead of time, so there is no confusion on your big day. Confusion does not help a smooth morning of your wedding, and that’s the real goal here.
13. MAKE SURE THERE IS TRANSPORTATION FOR EVERYONE
Okay, so you know how to make sure everyone is comfortable and cared for while getting ready. That they are fed and hydrated. However, once everyone is done getting ready, do you have a plan for how they will get to the next destination?
If not, make one. In some cases, you’ll all be able to walk. In other cases, you’ll need different transportation. Be sure to figure it all out before the morning of your wedding. You don’t want that looming over your head at the last minute. A plan means more peace later on.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Alright friends, I hope the details in today’s post will help you have a smooth morning of your wedding. Remember, the morning will set the tone for the rest of the day. No one wants to be stressed and sweaty right before their wedding. We want to feel calm, collected, and in control. The key to doing that is to plan ahead, and make sure everyone knows that plan. Happy wedding planning!
More From Hummingbird Wedding Advice
9 Things You Should Do Before You Put On Your Wedding Dress
10 More Things You May Forget During Wedding Planning
Why You May Want A Small Wedding Party
Did you find this post helpful, inspiring? PIN it to your Wedding Planning Board on Pinterest!
More From Around The Knot
Why You Need A Prewedding Wellness Routine
[…] wedding days. Myself included. And, if you are a bride, and need those tips, you can find them here. However, what about tips for grooms getting ready on their wedding day? Should we assume the same […]