It’s finally your wedding day! Hopefully all of the details are in place and if there are any last minute to-dos that still need crossing off the list, you’ve delegated them so that you can enjoy the most stress-free morning possible. The getting ready portion of the day is honestly one of my favorites because the energy is so high. With that being said, it can be easy in the planning process to write-off the morning and not put much thought into choosing your getting ready location or planning a great schedule but it’s actually really important that you do. This tends to be the part of the day (yep, the very beginning) when things get behind schedule.

To make sure you have the best getting ready experience, I teamed up with friend and Detroit-based stylist, Hailey Ivankovics (who is also a bride and in the midst of planning her own wedding as we write this) to give you our best wedding day bridal beauty timeline tips for balancing both hair and make-up and photography and keeping everyone on schedule in the morning! 

HAIR & MAKE-UP

1. DECIDE IF YOU’RE GETTING READY ON-SITE OR AT A SALON

You’ll first need to decide if you’ll be going to a salon or having your artists come to you. (Read more about that in the wedding guide).

2. HAVE YOUR MAKE-UP DONE FIRST, THEN YOUR HAIR

This way, your make-up artist doesn’t have to worry about pinning your freshly done hair off your face and you’ll have make-up on when the photography begins.

3. HIRE ENOUGH STYLISTS FOR YOUR BRIDAL PARTY SIZE

Most makeup applications take 20 to 45 minutes and most formal hair styling takes 40 to 60 minutes. You’ll want 1 makeup artist and 1 hair stylist for every 3 people receiving services. This will help everyone stay on time and not overwhelm the stylists.

4. PLAN TO BE DONE WITH YOUR HAIR & MAKE-UP 3 HOURS BEFORE YOU NEED TO GET DRESSED & LEAVE

I know this sounds excessive, but here’s why. More often than not, something will require more time than anticipated and we all would always rather have extra time than to have you be an hour late to your own wedding because your favorite Aunt Dorothy couldn’t get the right shade of lipstick and her dang bangs just won’t lay right. Some stylists charge extra for getting started before 8am. This is normal in the industry and worth every penny to ensure your day runs as scheduled.

5. AS THE BRIDE, YOU SHOULD BE ONE OF THE FIRST PERSONS TO BE DONE UP

You should be one of the first persons, if not the first, out of the party to be done up since you are the reason for the day and deserve to have as much time spent on your hair and make-up as needed. If your artists have to rush through a few bridesmaids at the end because your make-up or hair ran over on time, that is always a better scenario than rushing through your hair and make-up because of darn, hard to please Aunt Dorothy. And this way, you’ll be ready for photos and to get dressed (even if your stylist is still finishing up a bridesmaid)  if things come down to the wire. 

PHOTOGRAPHY TIMELINE

If you go to a salon, it’s simple. schedule your appointments so that you’re all done several hours before your photographer’s arrival. If your team is traveling to you, time the photographer’s arrival for 1.5 to 2 hours before you need to get dressed or during the anticipated start time for hair of the second to last person in your group. Right when I arrive, I’ll begin capturing all of your details and your dress followed by some candids of you and your entourage hanging out and being dolled up.

If the groom is getting ready in the same location, this is also when I’ll quickly jump over to capture him and his entourage getting ready. Otherwise, my second photographer will capture the groom getting ready as well as candids, details and possibly group portraits, while I’m with the bride.

Next, I’ll ask your bridesmaids to get into their dresses and shoes so that when it comes time for you to get into your dress, they are dressed and ready to help you. While they change, we can recreate some final photos of your lipstick being applied and hair style being finished. I’ll capture your loved ones helping you tie the dress, put on your shoes, pin your veil and finish with any jewelry. And after a few final beauty shots, we’ll head out for the first-look or some portraits.

If you follow Hailey’s wedding day bridal beauty timeline tips when planning out your hair and make-up, your photography timeline will work hand in hand beautifully, no one’s time will be encroached on and you’ll look and feel your best for all photos. 

For more getting ready tips from Hailey and sample timelines for your wedding day, click below to get my free wedding guide loaded with wedding planning tips and things to think about for the most successful photography and a wedding day that’s fun, on time and stress free!

 

 

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