Wedding getting-ready timeline for brides
If you are looking for the perfect wedding day getting-ready timeline, you have come to the right place.
We have plenty of wedding day tips you can follow along with to help you enjoy your big day.
It’s imperative to stick to a wedding day timeline.
Sticking to a wedding day timeline is crucial to ensure your special day goes as smoothly and stress-free as possible.
Planning a wedding can be pretty stressful, so it’s essential to make sure that you have enough time to get ready before the ceremony.
By allowing yourself plenty of time to get dressed, have your makeup done and prepare, you will be able to arrive at the ceremony venue feeling relaxed and confident.
Having a timeline and everyone involved knowing what to expect and when makes the day run more efficiently.
This ensures that all the crucial moments of your wedding day are captured, and you have enough time to enjoy every moment without feeling rushed.
It also helps keep your vendors on the same page and ensures that your guests can enjoy the day without any confusion.
When you plan and have a timeline that everyone follows, your special day will be more enjoyable and stress-free for everyone!
So how do you create a wedding day get-ready timeline without losing your mind?
We asked Halle of Lulle Photo and Film to share a wedding timeline and “getting ready” tips to ensure our couple can follow along.
We also wanted to answer a few of these popular questions:
-
How long does it take to get ready on the wedding day?
-
What should a wedding day get-ready timeline look like?
-
Where to purchase get-ready outfits for the bride and bridal party
If you plan to get great bride-getting-ready photos, it’s essential to have a realistic timeline that gives you enough time.
This will help ensure that your big day runs smoothly and you have time to enjoy the moment!
So what should a wedding day timeline look like?
Before we get started on the wedding day getting-ready timeline, we wanted you to take the time to like our Facebook Page here! We also use affiliate links in our blog posts, meaning we can make a commission if you use any of our affiliate links. Please visit our policy page here for details.
If you are getting married this year, join our Bride Facebook here.
Sign up for your FREE wedding planning checklist here!
Getting ready wedding timeline
Getting ready for a wedding on the day can be a lot of stress.
When creating a sample timeline, think of all the details.
Start with your ceremony start time and work backwards.
Your day should start early.
Give yourself plenty of time to plan and create a timeline that will work for your day.
This will allow you to account for any unexpected delays or issues.
You want to account for every step minutes per minute.
Are you taking wedding party photos while getting ready?
Put that into your schedule.
Don’t forget about travel time.
Other things to consider
- Getting hair and makeup done
- Putting on the wedding dress
- Any wedding accessories
- Pre-wedding photos
- Any first-look photos
Choosing a space to get ready for your wedding
When looking for the perfect space to get ready, comfort and convenience should be your top priority and high on the list.
Think about how many people will need to fit in the area – many brides choose a hotel suite where they can spread out and have enough room to move around.
Consider logistics as well.
Is it far from you?
How long will it take you to get to your wedding venue?
Do you have a large bridal party?
If so, it might be good to set up a transportation company or shuttle to help drive everyone to the following location.
It’s also essential to choose a space that has good natural light.
This has many incredible benefits for hair and makeup artists as they put the final touches and the photographer.
A dark room can make it slightly more challenging, so be sure that the makeup artists have ring lights or other external lights to make sure they can match the correct colour for your makeup.
When choosing a space, consider any additional needs such as snacks, mirrors, chairs, an ironing board, outlets for the hair stylists and phone chargers for the group.
Getting organized for your wedding
Getting organized is vital to ensure everything runs smoothly on the day of.
Have all wedding day getting ready essentials laid out and ready to go on the day.
Have all clothes, shoes, accessories and essentials packed in one bag so nothing gets lost or left behind?
Ensure important documents like marriage licenses are with you when you arrive at the wedding venue.
It’s also helpful to create a checklist and ensure all the items you need to bring are checked off.
Sample Getting Ready Wedding Checklist
To help you stay organized and on track on your big day, here is a suggested getting-ready wedding checklist to consider:
- Bride: Have a designated area set up that is spacious, well-lit, and relatively quiet. Ensure you have all the accessories (veil, shoes, jewelry, etc.).
- Groom: Have the groom’s suit ready to be photographed, including any ties, cufflinks or other accessories he will be wearing. Also, ensure enough space for him to get dressed comfortably.
- Bridesmaids/Groomsmen: Prepare an area for them to get dressed, including any necessary items such as shoes or jewelry they may need on your wedding day.
- Venue: If possible, provide the photographer with a detailed tour of the venue before the wedding day. This will help them to plan and be familiar with any potential spots they may use for photos.
- Rings: Have the rings ready in their respective boxes and any other items you’d like photographed (such as wedding invitations).
- Decorations/Props: Gather any decorations or props you want to be featured in your detail shots (bouquets, centrepieces, etc.). You can also use this opportunity to document important moments such as exchanging gifts, reading letters from each other, or anything special you’d like to capture.
- Gifts: Have all your gifts (to each other or the wedding party) ready to be photographed. This can include any wedding messages you have written to one another or any sentimental items that represent your relationship.
- Miscellaneous Items: If there are any other special items you’d like captured in detail shots, such as a toast on a champagne flute or a dress hanging up with care, make sure these are also prepared and ready for the photographer.
Timeline Tips for getting ready
The number one tip for creating the perfect wedding day getting-ready timeline is to have a checklist.
Create a checklist of all the tasks that must be completed before the ceremony starts.
This will help you keep track of your progress and ensure that you don’t forget anything and are not running out of time.
Getting Ready Tips For Brides:
- Start your morning with a relaxed breakfast. Whether a simple meal such as cereal or something more elaborate, having a leisurely meal will help you stay energized and focused throughout the day.
- Wear comfortable clothes during the preparation process – like yoga pants or leggings, to allow you to move freely. {Check out this epic list of get-ready outfits}
- Have a light snack before you put on your dress. You don’t want to be too full when trying to fit into the dress!
- Give yourself plenty of time to get ready. Don’t wait until the last minute, and try not to stress too much – have your friends or family around you to help with anything you need.
Halle has excellent points here.
You want to be prepared to avoid rushing before the ceremony.
Getting Ready Tips For The Groom
- Take a few minutes in the morning to relax and collect your thoughts before getting dressed.
- Have someone there who can assist with tying your tie, pocket square or any other accessories that may require assistance.
- Ensure all items are ironed, if needed, and laid out where they can be easily accessed.
- Please wear comfortable, easily removable shoes when it is time for dancing later!
Create a great wedding day getting-ready timeline with enough time for everyone.
When getting ready, plan a timeline with your hair and makeup team, so everyone knows what needs to be done and when.
Have conversations about any particular looks or styles you are looking for – this way, there won’t be any surprises on the big day!
In this case, having a hair and makeup wedding trial before the big day is a great idea.
Make sure you leave enough time between hairstyling and makeup application.
Asking your hair and makeup artist how long they need based on the styles you’re going for will be necessary.
Also, knowing how many people in your bridal party will need their hair and makeup done is critical for you to know to plan ahead of time.
When getting those questions answered, add buffer time for a champagne toast, lunch, and bathroom breaks before getting your dress on.
Grooms often get ready with their groomsmen or friends.
Make sure you plan for enough time to get dressed and ready, and account for any special activities such as a game of poker or other fun groom’s party traditions.
If possible, try to coordinate the start times between bride and groom preparations so that no one is waiting too long.
Make sure you communicate with your wedding photographer about what photos and moments you want to be captured during all the getting-ready festivities – from bridesmaid’s laughs to mother-of-the-bride helping her daughter into her dress.
These are some of the most precious memories that will last forever!
Lastly, give yourself plenty of time in your wedding day timeline – it’s easy to underestimate how much time is needed for all the preparations.
Your photographer will also likely have a lot of input for how much time they will need to document all these essential aspects of your day.
If hiring a videographer, you will also want to consult them since sometimes that will require more time with all the additional gear for audio and other things for lighting fixtures, tripods, and more.
Sample Get-Ready Wedding Timeline:
Your timeline will depend on when you are starting your day.
We recommend adjusting your timeline to your wedding.
And the more bridesmaid in your bridal party, the more time you might need.
Most of the weddings we plan have a 3 pm start time.
So here is a sample wedding get-ready timeline we recommend:
Wedding Day Getting-ready Sample Timeline9:00 a.m. Bride’s makeup and bridesmaid 1 hair 9:30 a.m. Bridesmaid 2’s hair. 10:00 a.m. Bridesmaid 3’s hair and bridesmaid 1’s makeup. 10:30 a.m. Bridesmaid 4’s hair. 10:45 a.m. Bridesmaid 2’s makeup. 11:30 a.m. Bride’s hair, bridesmaid 3’s makeup, the photographer arrives to take getting-ready and detail photos. 12:15 p.m. Bridesmaid 4’s makeup. 1:30 p.m. All hair and makeup complete. Wedding party photos are done. |
Get ready outfits for brides – ideas we love:
What should I wear to get ready for my wedding?
We get asked this question frequently.
There are plenty of great places to get ready-to-wear ensembles online.
You will find various stylish, quality clothing that can be shipped to your door.
They have everything from casual to formal looks, so you can find something that fits your style online.
Final thoughts for your wedding day getting-ready timeline
A lot goes into planning a wedding, and the more you can plan ahead of time and think through the logistics of your day, the more prepared you will be.
Checklists, clear communication, and vendor input will help you immensely as you plan and prepare for the best day of your life.
Which wedding day getting-ready timeline tip will you keep in mind?
Please share them below.
| JOIN OUR GROWING WEDDING FACEBOOK GROUP TO CONNECT WITH OTHER BRIDES FOR MORE WEDDING IDEAS AND TO SCORE DEALS |
Read next:
- Cute wedding photography poses
- Collecting photos from wedding guests
- Spooky Halloween wedding photos
- Fall Engagement wedding photos
- Issa Rae’s Wedding Photos
| About the Author:
Halle is a full-time wedding photographer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Specializing in weddings and elopements, Halle serves a broad audience and travels for destination weddings and elopements. Her husband, Luke, is her partner who does wedding videography alongside her. Together they make a fun team with cohesive storytelling. If you’d like to learn more, you can check out their work here: Lulle Photo and Film! |
Don’t forget to check out the wedding printable shop for your wedding planning checklists, worksheets, and freebies.
Follow us on Instagram for all the best wedding tips! And do not forget to join our new Facebook group dedicated to brides!