9 Tips for a Calm and Organised Wedding Morning
This is the day that you have been dreaming of! Your wedding day preparations are in full swing but you find yourself overwhelmed with the stress of planning your perfect wedding. This just isn’t what you imagined this romantic journey of planning to be.
I have been in the wedding industry for a number of years, and while I’m not a professional wedding planner, I have had a front row seat to the stress that brides and grooms have to deal with on their wedding morning. In an attempt to try to lighten the load for you beautiful brides, I have put together a list of how to take advantage of a stress free wedding morning, from a professional photographer’s point of view.
LAY OUT YOUR DRESS AND ACCESSORIES
Just so you know it’s all there and accounted for. Hang up your dress and veil and leave the shoes close-by. Oh! On the the topic of shoes, make sure your wee stickers are off the bottom and do the same for the bridesmaids shoes also. Have everything ready so that all you have to do is slip everything on after your hair and makeup are finished. Having all these things in one place will mean your photographer can arrange and shoot them without too many little taps on the shoulder to ask where your jewellery is hiding etc.
ALSO! If you can have surfaces (dressers, window-sills) clear and dust free they make great places to shoot accessories
DON’T FORGET TO EAT
I’ve been there on many a morning and appreciate a bride is holding on to every last opportunity to keep that dress fitting as best it can, but you’ve a long day ahead (although it won’t feel it) so if possible, be sure and eat something (fruit, yogurt, cereal or granola are all safe, low risk of stain options). If you really want that fry bap go for it however if you’re feeling anxious greasy and stodgy foods can make the tum a little queasy. If staying in a hotel, order breakfast in advance the night before and try to never have greasy hot food in the same POSTCODE as your dress (tell the guys the same for the suits as we all know the boys love a fry).
YOUR HAIR AND BEAUTY TIMELINE
Time your hair and make-up trials when you do them so you know how long they'll take on the morning of.
Double check how your hair and skin should be prepped before they arrive; you may need to have hair washed the night before.
Confirm with the hair and make-up artists on the bridal party schedule and brief your bridal party so there's no confusion about who goes first.
Make sure you've tested any new beauty products before the big day to ensure there are no last minute reactions!
TRUST THE PROFESSIONALS YOU HAVE HIRED. They will want the very best fo you and will steer you in the right direction.
TIP FROM A PRO feat. CARLA BAILIE <—- find her here
“Have a lipstick for top ups just before the ceremony as the makeup artist(s) will be gone by that stage...even give it to photographer as they are last point of contact as bridesmaids will be gone before bride.”
CARLA’S TOP TIP! - “did you know that makeup setting spray can be used under your arms to stop sweating”.
“Also, when it’s makeup and hair time that’s when you can actually relax and enjoy the morning...enjoy the calmness before the crazy as the rest of the day will go by in a blink of an eye. Take the opportunity to sit and drink up the stillness of the moment in an otherwise busy busy day. Enjoy it all because that’s really the start of your big day and it goes by in a blink.”
HIT PLAY ON SOME SWEET SOUNDS
Prepare a playlist of your favourite songs to listen to or use a ready to go playlist off spotify or apple music (other streaming services are available). It lifts the mood of the whole place just having something on in the background. I’ve walked in to houses on mornings where everyone is sitting in silence and it can really relieve a lot of stress just with some light background noise. Don't forget to pack a set of portable speakers in your overnight bag if not getting ready at home.
PINNING FLOWERS!
Firstly, is there someone with the boys who can pin on a button hole? I would say 80% of the grooms parties that I visit I end up needing me to pin on flowers to their lapel. Don’t get me wrong I don’t mind as I know that when I put them on they will stay on and I won’t have to fix them later on for photos. If in doubt, check out this little video I filmed with my buddy Elaine from DITSY FLORAL DESIGN
DON'T GET READY IN A DARK, CRAMPED ROOM.
When you're choosing where to get ready, make sure there's plenty of natural light and space. Especially if you're having a large bridal party and multiple hairstylists and makeup artists. You want your preparation photos to be beautiful, and the key to that is plenty of good, natural lighting. You also don't want everyone to feel cramped and on top of each other (plus, think of all the garment bags, beauty tools, food, drinks and more things that will take up space)—so the more room you can get, the better. Your make up artists will likely look for a nice big window that will flood you with natural light so they can see how their application will look the rest of the day rather than under the dodgy florescent light in your mum’s kitchen.
Give yourself plenty of room to get into your dress also, even if it’s a spare room used for nothing else other than stepping into the dress. Have room so that the #bridesquad can get around you to fuss over you and help and so your photographer can get some angles of that process. Oh! regarding that.. I often advise a bride to get into the dress and leave a decent 40 mins before you have to leave. This will allow some time to take it all in, let the girls enjoy their time with you and give you some gentle hugs (that don’t smudge any makeup), rather than bundle yourself into the car before you can get your shoes on.
Heres some of my favourite images from the prep sessions I’ve shot. It really it one of my favourite parts of the day, and where i can get to know everyone before the day ahead.
CLICK BELOW IF YOU’D LIKE TO ENQUIRE ABOUT PHOTOGRAPHY FOR YOUR WEDDING
NO MORE PLANNING!
This is basically down to having stuff in order so you’re not stressing the night before and day of. Confirm timings with your vendors and bridal party such as hair and makeup artist arrival or flower and cake delivery a few days before. If you're are planning on making items, arranging flowers or doing some of your own decor make sure to have everything ready to go and in place before the big day. This SHOULD mean no more DIYs or actual wedding-prep the day of!
If you want to check the venue or set up, make sure it's the first thing you do so it's out of the way. Have all the cash for any on the day vendors in envelopes ready to go and handed over to a trusted bridal party member such as your chief bridesmaid or best man. Make them have a list to tick off as it’s handed over.
INVEST IN AND TRUST THE TEAM
If you hire professionals (by that I mean people who work in this industry full time) you can expect that they give their all to providing you with the best possible service. Book the people who’s work you love and trust them to deliver that for you. It’s also okay to bring on board people you just like having around too. Your photographer (for instance) will be with you more on your wedding day than any other person, if you cant stand to be around them that makes for a really stressful day. Meet your vendors, if you get a bad vibe, maybe it’s just not the right fit.
LEAVE EXTRA TIME
Make sure you allow for plenty of contingency time in your wedding day timeline. Things can happen and you don't want to feel rushed out the door if timings run over! We recommend that you aim to be ready an hour before your ceremony begins. This means you can be relaxed and ready to go while allowing you time to enjoy being with your bridal party rather than rushing at the last moment.
Schedule in extra time if doing a first look with your Mum, Dad or other half, handing out bridal party gifts or simply to have a glass of bubbly before you go! If you're travelling to your ceremony or doing a first look, make sure to leave in good time to allow for any traffic or issues along the way.