What time did you do things on the morning of your wedding?

[Slightlystressedbride]

I have no idea how much longer eg getting dressed would take, am struggling with a reasonable morning schedule so really appreciate advice!

Working backwards...
Church ceremony 2pm
Church 5 mins from house
Bridesmaids staying the night before

What time would you plan for hair (me, 3 bridesmaids + DM) - we are going to local hairdressers in the morning 5 mins round the corner - and what time for makeup, what time would you get into your dress?

Hairdressers currently has us booked into the salon 9-11 which seems really early considering wedding is at 2? Or am I being naive?? (My hair is shit and will definitely fall out over the day so the later it's styled the better from that perspective).

I should point out I'm not remotely sentimental and am not looking to spend a lot of time faffing with DM/DF, I'll be looking to just get on with it I think!

Thanks!

If you're having a photographer, ask when she needs you to be ready for and work back from there. Once you know the time, speak to the salon about how much time they need for each person.

We had a 1.30 ceremony and got ready at the venue. Photographer wanted my hair and make up done for 12.30 so she could photograph getting the dress, veil etc on and a few once I was ready. Hair and make up arrived about 7.30 to start at 8ish for me, bridesmaid, mother of bride and mother of groom so we could be done for 12.30. They allowed about an hour for each of my hair and make up (less for bridal party) plus time for everyone to get touch ups. Your bridesmaids and mum will also need time to get dressed and it helped that mine were ready before me to help me in to my dress. It was fairly heavy and had lots of covered buttons so took ages to fasten. I had a train and long veil so even moving about was slower than expected and I needed a bit of help manoeuvring until I could get out to an open space, with the photographer tweaking it for photos as we moved to the ceremony. I thought the timeline sounded like we had loads of time but found everything took a bit longer than expected so definitely allow a bit of a buffer if you can.

The suppliers we hired were a great help so definitely ask their opinion.

For a midday or it may have been 1pm ceremony the hairdresser arrived at the bride's house at 5.15am. I was so surprised at how early they wanted to start. There were six of us to do hair and make up on and there were two of them. I was a bridesmaid.

Hairdresser timings sound right, I had a 2.30 ceremony and started hair and make up at 9 for me and 2 others. Are you doing your own make up? If not, ask how long that will take.
I had one person doing both hair and make up which took 1hr in total for each person. Plus we had a bit of travel time and I didn't have a church wedding so had to be ready for a meeting with the registrar before the ceremony.

I'd suggest starting earlier than you expect you'll need so you're feeling nice and relaxed and can sit and chat and eat rather than run around wishing you'd give yourself more time!

Really useful thanks everyone. Anything anyone would do differently if they could go back in time?

At what point did you get into your dress?? And at what point did you eat?

I've been a bridesmaid numerous times but clearly I was not taking notes!

Get into your dress as late as possible (reduces chances of anything happening to it before you're there). I got into mine 20 mins before the car was due.

Make up/ hair always takes longer than you think it will, so I definitely wouldn't go any later than 9am. And there are 5 of you - how many hairdressers are there? 2 hours is not really a lot of time, so I wouldn't be surprised if you go over a bit there.

They normally do the bride last though so you are fresh.

Are you doing make up after hair? If so that will easily take you from 11am up to time to leave.

I had a hair/make up artist come to my place, she did my mum first and then me. She arrived before 9am and that was only to do 2 of us (hair and make up) and we still only just made it out of the door for 1pm.

So yes - definitely allow for more time than you think you'll need - it does go quickly!