Planning the morning of your wedding
It should be the most enjoyable and relaxed day of your life but with poor planning it can often be the most stressful thing you’ve ever experienced.
let’s be blunt it here – the good old myth that “the bride can be late” isn’t true – Take it from experience the registrars will leave and go to the next wedding if you are not on time.
What can go wrong on the morning of your wedding?
Even with the best planning, little hiccups can creep in. Some of the most common ones I’ve seen are:
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Poorly planned timings from hair & makeup – if the schedule’s too tight, it causes a domino effect.
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Mix-ups between “ready time” and “ceremony time” – you need to be ready well before the actual start!
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Last-minute extras – bridesmaids (or even the bride!) asking for more touch-ups than the glam squad expected.
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Sleeping in 😅 – it happens more often than you’d think. (Again a domino effect)
All of these eat into that carefully planned routine your glam team has in mind, and can leave you feeling rushed. The key? Build in buffer time, communicate clearly with your hair & makeup team, and remember: it’s always better to be ready early with a glass of fizz in hand than scrambling at the last minute.
No bride wants to stress her self last minute and be thrown in to a room with 100 guests, it’s not exactly the magical moment most had in mind.
What time do I need to be ready on the morning of my wedding?
Let’s work backwards 👇 (assuming you’re getting ready at your venue):
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Ceremony at 1:00pm → You’ll want to be completely ready and at the ceremony space by 12:45pm.
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In your dress by 12:00pm → Yep, a whole 45 minutes before! This gives time for portraits, first looks, and—most importantly—a chance to breathe, relax, and sip a glass of prosecco 🍾.
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Hair & makeup finished by 11:30am → That way you’ve got a buffer for robe/PJ photos, a bit of fun with your bridal party, and then a good 20 minutes to get into your dresses without rushing.
Now what time you start getting ready? well this all falls on how many people your make up and hair have got to get through
💡 Trust me, those “extra” minutes get eaten up fast—whether it’s a missing button, a tricky zip, or someone suddenly needing safety pins. Having that cushion makes the whole morning feel calm instead of chaotic.
The Effect of Being Late
It might not sound like a big deal, but even being 10–15 minutes late can ripple through the whole day.
Venues can’t simply delay food service—when they’ve got over 100 meals prepped and ready, they can’t just “hold off another 20 minutes.” Instead, the time usually gets cut from your drinks reception.
And that’s the part of the day where you’d normally mingle with guests, grab a prosecco, and have plenty of time for photos. Lose that window, and the pressure builds later on.
That’s why timings are everything. They keep the day flowing smoothly, make sure you enjoy every part, and ensure nothing feels rushed.
