Breaking Down the Beauty Timeline
Alright – the date is set, the venue is booked, and the dresses are purchased. Now you might be wondering… What time do I need to set my alarm to get this party started?
While no two wedding parties are ever the same, I’ve broken down the key things to consider when planning the morning of your wedding! I’ve even thrown in a sample timeline as a bonus!
Step 1 – Timing
First things first: In order to know what time we need to start at, we need to determine what time everyone needs to be ready by.
This can be a tricky one because even within this consideration, there are many factors at play. For example, will you be having a ‘first look’ with your beloved before the ceremony? How about photos with the wedding party? If so, you may need to be ready earlier than you think. My best piece of advice is to connect with your photographer (and/or wedding planner) if you are planning on taking any photos before the ceremony to get a better idea of what time everyone needs to be ready by.
If you’re going in favour of photos after the ceremony, my rule of thumb is to have hair and makeup completed at least 90 minutes before the ceremony. And we can’t forget about travel time! Depending on the distance between your prep location and the venue, you may want to add in an extra 30 minutes or so to accommodate travel time.
Step 2 – Services Needed
Next, we need to consider how many people are having their hair done?
The number of services directly relates to the amount of time needed for hair and makeup. I speak for myself when I say that I budget 1.5 hours for the bride, 1 hour for each member of the wedding party or additional guest, and 30 minutes for a short hair blow dry.
So with this is mind, let’s take a look at a real timeline from a past #parlabride!
Step 3 – Build that Timeline
Number of Services – Bride + 4 Bridesmaids + MOB (short hair blow dry)
Total time needed (hair only) – 6 hours
Prep location – Andaz Hotel (325 Dalhousie Street, Ottawa, ON)
Venue – Stonefields Estate
Travel time – 40 mins + 10 mins to get from room to parking garage
Photos beforehand – Yes (2 hours)
Ceremony time – 4:00pm
Ready By – 1:00pm
Start Time – 7:00am
6:30am – Kira arrives and sets up
6:45am – Bridesmaid #1
7:45am – Bridesmaid #2
8:45am – Bridesmaid #3
9:45am – Bridesmaid #4
10:45am – Bride
12:15pm – MOB
12:45pm – Touch Ups/Photos
If you’re a future #parlabride, I will create this timeline and send to you at least 4 weeks before the wedding (latest lockdown not included ????). I’ll even touch base with your makeup artist to make sure we’re on the same page!
I hope this was helpful as you prepare for the big day! And as always, if you have any questions, you know I’m here for you!
xo Kira
