One of the most common questions brides ask when planning their wedding day is “How early should I start getting ready?”
The morning of your wedding can be exciting, emotional and, if you don’t plan it properly, a little stressful. Knowing what time to start getting ready can help make sure you have plenty of time for hair, makeup, getting dressed and those all-important photographs.
So, how early should a bride start getting ready?
As a general guide, most brides should allow around 3–4 hours before the ceremony to get ready. However, the exact timing will depend on your wedding party, hair and makeup, photography schedule and how far you need to travel.
If your wedding ceremony is at 2pm, you might want to start getting ready around 10am or 10:30am. This gives you enough time for:
- Hair and makeup
- Getting dressed
- Bridesmaids getting ready
- Breakfast and drinks
- Photos
- Any last-minute preparations
- Travelling to the ceremony
- A little breathing room if something takes longer than expected
The key is not to plan every minute too tightly. Weddings rarely run exactly to schedule, so giving yourself some extra time can make the morning much more relaxed.
How Long Does A Bride’s Hair and Makeup Take?
Your hair and makeup can take longer than you might expect, particularly if you have a larger bridal party. As a rough guide, allow around 60–90 minutes for the bride’s hair and makeup, although this will depend on the style and your suppliers. Bridesmaids and other members of the wedding party will also need time. If several people are having their hair and makeup done, speak to your hair and makeup artists beforehand and ask them to create a schedule for the morning.
It’s not just the bride who needs to get ready. If you’re having bridesmaids, make sure their hair and makeup timings are included in your wedding morning schedule. It can help to have the bridesmaids ready before the bride gets into her dress. This means they can help with final preparations and be ready for photographs.
When Should The Bride Put Her Dress On?
Try to leave around 30–45 minutes for getting into your wedding dress, particularly if it has buttons, a corset, a detailed back or several layers. Don’t leave this until the very last minute. Your photographer may also want to capture photographs of the dress, shoes, jewellery, flowers and other details before you get dressed. Having your dress ready and hanging up in the room can make this part of the morning much easier.
Don’t Forget To Eat Breakfast
It’s easy to forget about food when you’re excited about getting married. Make sure you have something to eat and drink during the morning. Choose something that will keep you going without making you feel too full. Fruit, pastries, toast, sandwiches or a light breakfast can all work well.
And remember to drink water!
Allow Time for Wedding Morning Photos
Your wedding photographer may want to take photographs while everyone is getting ready. These can include:
- Your wedding dress
- Shoes and jewellery
- Flowers
- Hair and makeup
- Bridesmaids
- Family members
- Candid moments
- Getting into your dress
- Final touches before leaving
Speak to your photographer before the wedding so you know how much time they would like. These photographs can be some of the most natural and personal images from your wedding day.
Where Should the Bride Get Ready?
Your getting-ready location can make a big difference to the morning. You might get ready:
- At home
- In a hotel
- At the wedding venue
- In a bridal suite
- In a marquee or tipi
- At a family member’s house
If you’re having an outdoor wedding or marquee wedding, think about where you and your bridal party will get ready. You want somewhere comfortable, private and close enough to the ceremony that you don’t have to spend too much time travelling.
Outdoor weddings can be beautiful, but you may need to think about a few extra things. The weather can affect your plans, particularly in the UK. If you’re getting ready in or near an outdoor wedding setup, make sure there is a comfortable space with:
- Good lighting
- Mirrors
- Seating
- Power for hair and makeup
- Somewhere to store personal belongings
- Protection from the weather
A marquee or tipi can provide a practical space for your wedding day while also giving you somewhere to get ready, relax and spend time with your bridal party.
One of the biggest mistakes brides can make is not allowing enough time. Someone might arrive late, your hair might take longer than expected, your dress might need adjusting or you might simply want to take a few extra minutes to enjoy the moment. Building some spare time into your schedule means these little things don’t turn into big problems.
It’s much nicer to be ready early than to be rushing out of the door.
Example Wedding Morning Schedule
For a 2pm wedding ceremony, your morning could look something like:
9:00am – Breakfast and final preparations
9:30am – Hair and makeup begins
11:30am – Bridesmaids finishing hair and makeup
12:00pm – Bride’s final hair and makeup
12:15pm – Wedding morning photographs
12:45pm – Bride gets dressed
1:15pm – Final photos and touch-ups
1:30pm – Leave for ceremony
2:00pm – Ceremony
This is only an example. Your timings will depend on your ceremony location, suppliers, bridal party and travel time.
How to Make Your Wedding Morning Less Stressful
A little preparation can make a huge difference.
Before your wedding day:
- Confirm your hair and makeup schedule
- Speak to your photographer about timings
- Have your dress and accessories ready
- Prepare an emergency kit
- Make sure everyone knows where they need to be
- Arrange breakfast and drinks
- Check travel times
- Allow extra time for unexpected delays
So, How Early Should a Bride Start Getting Ready?
For most weddings, starting to get ready around 3–4 hours before the ceremony is a good starting point. If you have a large bridal party, complicated hair and makeup, lots of photographs or a longer journey to the ceremony, you may want to start even earlier. The aim isn’t to rush through the morning. It’s to give yourself enough time to get ready, spend time with the people closest to you and actually enjoy those final few hours before saying “I do”.
At Events Under Canvas, we know that the getting-ready part of the day is just as important as the ceremony and reception. From marquees and tipis to furniture, lighting and heating, we can help create a comfortable and beautiful setting for your wedding day from start to finish.
