A Step-by-Step Guide for a Stress-Free Start
Your wedding day is one of the most meaningful days of your life, where you officially commit to
your partner in front of those you love and care about. Each part of the wedding process is
individually important, but nothing is more important than the morning of your wedding, as it sets
the emotional tone for the rest of the day. A well-structured morning ensures that you feel calm,
prepared and fully present on your big day so you can enjoy your wedding as much as you have
dreamed. Without a clear plan like this, small delays can build up and turn into unnecessary
stress, which can have a knock-on effect on the rest of the day, causing anxiety and frustration
that could have been avoided. This step-by-step guide will help you organise your wedding
morning so everything flows smoothly from waking up on the morning of your big day to walking
down the aisle with your loved ones by your side.
Start with a realistic schedule
The key to a relaxing wedding morning is to build your day backwards from your ceremony. If
your ceremony starts at 2 pm, you should work backwards to determine what time you should
wake up, get your hair and makeup done and when photos need to be taken.
For brides, professional hair and makeup can take an hour and a half each, not including the
hair and makeup of the bridal party and photos that are taken after the dress is put on. If you
have bridesmaids or family, you should factor in at least another hour for them to get ready as
well as a buffer of 30 minutes after the dress has been put on for any unexpected delays, such
as an issue with the makeup or a delay in the vehicle driving to the ceremony. Ensure to give
yourself enough time so you don’t feel rushed at any point and can enjoy the process. You can
do this by practising timings and doing a run-through of your morning before the big day, to
exactly track timings
● Confirm ceremony time
● Estimate hair and makeup duration
● Practice run-throughs
● Add buffer times
● Share finalised timings with vendors and the bridal party
Prepare everything the night before
Organisation is the best way to reduce morning chaos. You can control what happens the night
before, but you can not control what happens on your wedding day, therefore ensuring that
everything is in place, including laying out your dress, shoes, jewellery, veil, perfume, vow book
and emergency kit, is essential.
Also pack a small essentials bag with items such as tissues, blotting paper, lip liner for
touchups, snacks and any pain relievers that you will want to access on the day. Ensuring that
you confirm arrival times and that all vendors are all arriving on time the night before relieves
stress.
Also, getting at least 7-8 hours of sleep is a must before a long day of dancing and socialising,
and this helps you to keep a clear mind.
● Layout attire and accessories
● Prepare an emergency kit
● Confirm vendor details
● Prioritize sleep
Hair and makeup: build in extra time
This is often the longest part of the wedding morning and the most essential; therefore, it should be meticulously planned to avoid stress and ensure everything is on time.
- Have a clean, dry face and hair ready before the artists arrive
- Wear a robe to avoid disturbing completed hair and makeup
- Curate a calm wedding playlist to set the tone and a positive mood
Leave time at the end of the hair and make-up to request any adjustments, such as adding some more blush or pinning up some more hair. The extra time you leave is also a great opportunity to bond with your bridal party, laughing, sharing stories and soaking in the excitement.
A calm morning creates a beautiful beginning
A structured wedding timeline doesn’t remove spontaneity; it creates space for it. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s presence, where you can feel confident and relaxed for one of the most forgettable moments of your life.
