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Original poster

What to do the night before my wedding?

7 replies

Nootellaontoast · 07/05/2025 19:50

Hello!

Getting married in a little over a year. The venue does not have any accommodation apart from a honeymoon suite the night of the wedding. However we can use their bridal suite from 8:15 to get ready.

My dilemma is this… I live just over an hour away from the venue so it will be a lot easier for us to be closer on the day. I was thinking of renting a house/air bnb close to the venue, but I can’t find anywhere big enough that is within 30 minutes. They mostly all just have 3 bedrooms and sleep 6 but I have 8 people in my bridal party. The other option is to just find a hotel nearby.. there are a few but they are all over 20 minutes away still.

I was wondering if anyone has experience of getting married and staying in a hotel the night before. Due to the size of my wedding party we would need to start getting ready at like 6:30/7am but my venue doesn’t let us use the room until 8:15. Would we be better not using the venue at all and just getting ready at the hotel? If so, I feel like I would then need to hire wedding cars because I can’t exactly get a taxi can I in my dress wjth everyone? And because I’m staying at the venue the night of the wedding, I would have to bring my bag and all of my belongings with me in the car.

I was thinking of maybe just doing hair and make up at the hotel and then all getting a taxi together to the venue to finish off getting dressed but this might be too much faffing around and having to transport my dress in the taxi. I just don’t know how to work it, can anyone help?

OP posts:
Ellopal · 07/05/2025 20:18

Can you ask the venue what other brides have done in the past?

does any of the bridal party drive? May be an easier option instead of taxis?

have you booked hair and make up yet? Is it worth looking at getting a second artist so that you can all start getting ready later at the venue?

Needtosoundoffandbreathe · 07/05/2025 20:29

Could a family member/friend take your belongings to the venue for you? Could someone you know who is going to the wedding give you a lift from another hotel nearby - you probably know someone with a nice car? I know a few people who've done that.

Original poster
Nootellaontoast · 07/05/2025 20:45

Ellopal · 07/05/2025 20:18

Can you ask the venue what other brides have done in the past?

does any of the bridal party drive? May be an easier option instead of taxis?

have you booked hair and make up yet? Is it worth looking at getting a second artist so that you can all start getting ready later at the venue?

asking the venue is such a good idea and I don’t understand why I haven’t already done that haha.

yeah, I think I will be going down with my mum and sister and then the bridesmaids will drive down together so there will be two cars there. This is a good idea, thank you

I haven’t booked it yet but I have considered getting 2 but I wondered if the MUA would be offended by this or annoyed that they are losing out on the money lol

OP posts:

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Original poster
Nootellaontoast · 07/05/2025 20:48

I was wondering if I could ask my MOH to do it? Like if she goes in a taxi/car with my bridesmaids and I go with my mum and dad my MOH could quickly nip to the honeymoon or bridal suite for me?

OP posts:
Ellopal · 07/05/2025 21:25

Don’t worry about offending the MUA, you could try find someone who is already in a pair OR they may have some recommendations for you of people they have worked with before! It’s not uncommon to need multiple for larger bridal parties.

The best piece of advice I have for you is to just be open with suppliers about your conundrum. The venue will have seen it before, and if the hair stylist or make up artist have done weddings their before they probably have also seen other brides struggle and come up with a solution.

The other thing to say is while the preferred option is to obviously start getting ready later so you all are well rested, don’t stress if that’s not the solution you land on. I’ve seen weddings where the bridal party have been up at 3:30 for a similar situation and you’ll be surprised at just how much the excitement and adrenaline gets you through the day!

Original poster
Nootellaontoast · 07/05/2025 21:40

Ellopal · 07/05/2025 21:25

Don’t worry about offending the MUA, you could try find someone who is already in a pair OR they may have some recommendations for you of people they have worked with before! It’s not uncommon to need multiple for larger bridal parties.

The best piece of advice I have for you is to just be open with suppliers about your conundrum. The venue will have seen it before, and if the hair stylist or make up artist have done weddings their before they probably have also seen other brides struggle and come up with a solution.

The other thing to say is while the preferred option is to obviously start getting ready later so you all are well rested, don’t stress if that’s not the solution you land on. I’ve seen weddings where the bridal party have been up at 3:30 for a similar situation and you’ll be surprised at just how much the excitement and adrenaline gets you through the day!

Thank you! I started to regret choosing the venue I did because it’s so far away and wish I could just sleep in my own bed the night before because I’m worried about not being able to sleep in an unfamiliar place. But I have heard from a few people that even though they didn’t sleep much, they didn’t feel it the next day which is reassuring

OP posts:
NewAgeNewMe · 07/05/2025 21:45

You have chosen it for a reason. Speak to the venue. You won’t be the first to have this dilemma

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