I had the best wedding morning. I woke up with my husband and spent the morning at my house hanging with my bridesmaids while we got our hair and makeup done, sipping champagne and catching up. (My husband went out for lunch and jumped in a swimming hole with his groomsmen – it was a very hot summer day!) It was relaxed, simple, and so much fun.
I’ve also been part of wedding mornings that were chaotic and stressful. Ones that left me feeling rushed, hungry, or a just little frazzled heading to the ceremony.
That’s why I know how helpful it is to have a plan for your wedding morning. It’s is the onramp to your wedding celebration, and the goal is a smooth transition that gets you ready and excited.
Read on for our best tips for a smooth, fun wedding morning!
1. Make a clear plan and timeline for your wedding morning
There are a lot of moving parts to your wedding morning, and a lot of emotion. Make a plan with your partner so you both feel good on your wedding morning. Consider the following:
- What do you want to do the morning of your wedding? (Ex. wake up with your partner, do a yoga class with your wedding party)
- What do you have to do? (Ex. hair and makeup, get dressed)
- What do you realistically have time for? (Ex. if you have a 3pm ceremony and 8 person bridal party, that yoga class may not work, but you can wake up with your partner and enjoy a cup of coffee before splitting up to get ready)
- Who do you want to be with you? (Your wedding morning can be emotional; choose to surround yourself with people who make you feel good. Maybe in addition to your bridesmaids, you really want your aunt there, for example. Many couples choose to get ready separately, but maybe you want to all get ready together!)
Once you know what you want from your wedding morning, you can draft a timeline to keep everyone on schedule. Your unique, final timeline will be created with your vendor team, but we have excellent templates to help you get started in our Ultimate Wedding Planning Guide. (Along with additional tips!)
2. Communicate your expectations about your wedding morning to everyone involved
I recommend sending an email to your wedding party a week in advance with all the details for your wedding weekend. If you need your bridesmaids to be at your hotel room to start hair and makeup by 7am, don’t spring that information on them at 10pm after your rehearsal dinner!
Consider:
- Where do people need to meet? (Ex. your hotel room, your house, the venue, a salon)
- When do you need them there? (This is where you’ll rely on your wedding day timeline)
- What should they bring? (Do they need to bring everything they need for the wedding, or will you be going back to the lodging in between getting ready and the ceremony?)
- Transportation – are you providing transportation? Is everyone responsible for their own?
- What do you want them to wear? (It’s important to wear a loose neck or button-down top to avoid messing up hair and makeup)
Clear expectations help everyone feel confident!
3. Set the mood with music on your wedding morning
A fun playlist can help shake off the nerves (and sleepiness) and get everyone in the mood to celebrate! Check out our Spotify Playlists for some inspiration. We curated one specifically for your wedding morning. (Don’t forget to pack and charge a portable speaker.)
4. Pass out gifts on your wedding morning
If you’re planning to give gifts to your bridesmaids and groomsmen, the wedding morning is a great time to do this since you’re all together in a more intimate setting.
Check out our Gift Guide for dozens of unique, Vermont-made gift ideas for your wedding party. If you’re planning to gift something to wear on your wedding day (ex. jewelry, a tie) it’s a good idea to tell your crew not to worry about that item ahead of time so they don’t buy something else in preparation.
5. Take the classic wedding morning picture in matching pj’s with your bridesmaids
One popular gift for bridal parties that’s always a hit is matching pajamas! This also makes for a great photo opportunity. Pop some champagne, pile on a bed and snap your own cute picture with your bridal party. It’s a classic for a reason and still one of my favorite pictures from my own wedding.
6. Don’t Forget to Eat – Ideas for A Wedding Morning Breakfast and Lunch
Nobody wants to be hangry on your wedding day, so don’t forget to feed your crew and eat! Some easy ideas for a wedding morning breakfast that will fill everyone up: a bagel bar, a breakfast casserole (easy to make ahead of time), and a big fruit salad.
Depending on the timing of your ceremony, you’ll want to also provide lunch or at least some heavy snacks as well. Think: a hearty, mayo-free pasta salad or sandwiches.
A mimosa bar and coffee are always fun too!
If you’re getting ready and eating off site from your lodging, we recommend bringing your toothbrush, some mouthwash and some floss so you can freshen up after eating.
7. Do a trial run with your wedding day attire and accessories
Do a test run of everything you’re wearing on your wedding day before your wedding morning. We mean everything from your dress or suit to shoes, accessories, and undergarments.
You don’t want to find out your underwear pinches funny or have to Google “how to tie a bow tie” on the morning of your wedding.
Also, be sure to remove all the extra strings and tags from your clothes, like those pesky hanger loops on bridesmaid dresses or the suit jacket vent threads.
8. Shift your mindset on your wedding morning from “planning” to “celebrating”
Take off your wedding planning hat, and slip on your party hat (metaphorically speaking, or depending on your style, for real). Take a few minutes to admire yourself in the mirror after you’ve slipped on your dress or suit; play a special song and sit quietly; stage a dramatic champagne bottle pop while yelling “IT’S MY WEDDING DAY!” … whatever you need to do to ground yourself in the moment. You’ve done the planning and now the day is here – enjoy and celebrate!
We hope these tips help you start your wedding morning off right!
