Bridal Prep Timeline: How to Plan a Stress-Free Wedding Morning
Your wedding morning should be a calm, enjoyable experience, filled with moments of excitement and joy as you prepare for the big day. Creating a timeline for your hair and makeup is one of the most effective ways to keep things running smoothly. With a clear schedule, everyone can relax and enjoy the preparations without feeling rushed. Below, I’ve laid out some key steps and advice for planning your bridal prep timeline. As a bridal hair and makeup artist who has been part of hundreds of wedding mornings, I know a thing or two about how to plan for a calm and beautiful wedding morning!
Image credit: Bethany Lavin
1. Setup time for your artist: 20-30 minutes
Once your artist arrives, they’ll need about 20-30 minutes to set up before beginning services. This allows time to prepare their kit and ensure everything is ready to make you and your bridal party look and feel fabulous. This setup time should be planned into your timeline so that everyone is ready to start hair and makeup without delay.
2. Hair and makeup timing: Individual service times
Planning enough time for each hair and makeup service ensures that no one feels rushed. A timeline will be discussed beforehand with your hair and makeup artist, to ensure you’re happy with everything.
Here’s what to expect:
Bride: 1 hour per service (hair or makeup) or 2 hours for both (to be discussed beforehand at your bridal preview).
Bridal Party: 40-45 minutes per service (hair or makeup) or 1.5 hours for both.
TIP: I usually place the bride somewhere in the middle of the lineup or second-to-last to give you time to enjoy some pampering and be ready for pre-ceremony photos, without any last-minute rush.
Image credit: Bethany Lavin
3. Touch-ups after final service: 20-30 minutes
Once everyone’s hair and makeup are complete, I always stay for about 30 minutes for final touch-ups. This way, I’m available to ensure that each detail is perfect - whether it’s refreshing a lip, adding a touch of powder, or giving hair an extra spritz for hold. This is also the time that I will add any final accessories such as a veil. It’s important to schedule in this time to finalise everything before you head for the aisle!
4. Ready 45-60 minutes before departure
For a smooth transition to the ceremony, it’s best for everyone to be ready 45-60 minutes before your departure time. This buffer allows you and your bridal party to slip into your dresses, capture those beautiful pre-ceremony photos, and even enjoy a quick toast with a glass of bubbly. With this extra time, you won’t feel rushed, and the final moments of getting ready will be relaxed and memorable.
Example Timeline for a 2:00pm ceremony:
07:00am - Artist arrival and set up
07:30am - Bridesmaid 1 Hair
08:15am - Bridesmaid 2 Hair
09:00am - Bride Hair & Makeup
11:00 am - Bridesmaid 1 Makeup
11:40am - Bridesmaid 2 Makeup
12:20pm - Into dresses, fizz and photos
13:00pm - Final touch-ups
13:30pm - Leave for ceremony (15-minute drive)
14:00pm - Ceremony
5. Communicate with your bridal party and photographer
Letting your bridal party, photographer, and videographer know the morning timeline in advance ensures that everyone is on the same page. Share the hair and makeup schedule and any specific plans for photos or videos, so your team can capture these moments effortlessly, allowing you to enjoy the experience without needing to coordinate on the day.
6. Get the details ready in advance
Prepare as much as you can the day before to save time and reduce stress. Here are a few simple things to take care of ahead of time:
Steaming dresses and removing any labels from clothing or shoes.
Setting out your jewellery, perfume, and accessories so they’re easy to find.
Organising breakfast or snacks so you can stay energised throughout the morning.
TIP: Assigning these tasks to your bridal party or family members means you can focus on getting pampered and enjoying the experience, knowing everything is taken care of.
With a well-planned hair and makeup timeline, your wedding morning can feel like a breeze! We’re here to make sure your wedding day runs as smoothly as possible, so you can focus on making beautiful memories.
Ready to start planning your wedding morning? Get in touch to enquire about our bridal hair and makeup packages. We’d love to be part of your special day!
Visit our Bridal Services page or contact us to secure your wedding date and start planning your dream look.
alice@lucenthairandmakeup.co.uk | +44 (0)7500848183 | @lucenthairandmakeup
