day-of timeline/bridesmaids prep

zulamay · June 2011

My photographer let me know that he thinks we don't have enough time built into the day for photos. I need to cut down the bridesmaids' dressing time from an hour and a half to something shorter. How much time should I allow them without making them feel rushed? Their hair will be done, but 3 of the five are doing their own makeup. Would an hour feel sufficient?

abbeylynne06 · June 2011

Can we see your timeline? I think an hour would be fine, but is there a reason they couldn't just come earlier if you/they feel like more time is necessary?

zulamay · June 2011

Sure, my wedding coordinator is putting it together. We built in large amounts of time for travel between locations, because traffic gets so awful around here on Saturdays. I think if we do half of the pictures prior to the ceremony and half after the ceremony during cocktail hour we can make it work. I need two hours total for photos.

11.00 to 12.30 pm	Bride & Bridemaids getting hair done
12.30 to 1.00 pm	Travel to Bride's apartment
1.00 to 2.30 pm	Bride & Bridesmaids getting ready
2.30 to 3.00 pm	Travel to Church
3.00 pm	Bride arrvies with Bridesmaids
3.00 pm	Groom arrives with groomsmen
3.05 pm	Birde & Groom first look and photos
3.05 to 3.45 pm	photos with bridal party
4.00 pm	Guest arrives
4.20 pm	Line up bridal party
4.40 to 5.15 pm	Wedding ceremony
5.15 to 5.45 pm	Receiving Line
5.45 to 6.15 pm	Travel to the Marriott
6.00 to 7.00 pm	Cocktail Hour
	Bar Open
7.15 to 7.25 pm	Introductions
	Intro bridal party
7.25 pm	Cake Cutting
7.30 to 8.30 pm	Dinner Served
	Speeches begin
7.30 to 8.00 pm	Bar closed
8.30 pm	First Dance
8.35 pm	Father/Daughter Dance
8.40 pm	Mother/Son Dance
8.45 pm	Bridal Party Dance
8.50 pm	Open Dance Floor
11.00 pm	Pizza and Pretzel Bar

zulamay · June 2011

PS As far as making everything earlier:

1. I hate mornings and we will be up late the night before.

2. I want to have a leisurely breakfast with my bridesmaids because I won't get to have a bachelorette party or have them at my shower. It would be nice to spend some actual time with them.

3. My hair will be falling down by the time the ceremony starts as it is.

matuofm · June 2011

I've never been in a wedding party, so it's possible that I'm missing something, but I don't see any reason why they would need more than an hour to get ready. They've already showered and everything, and their hair is done. So...you put on your dress and accessories, which are all gathered together for them - 15 minutes, tops. Then you do your makeup. I see no reason why that should take any more than 30 minutes. Unless you're going to need them all to help you get dressed during that time, I don't see why an hour's a problem - and it looks from the schedule like you could make it an hour and 15 and still get in an hour of pics before the ceremony.

As for after the ceremony, it looks like the receiving line ends around 5:45, you take pics until 6:45 while the guests are at cocktail hour, head to the Marriott and get there for 7:15 in time for the intro. Might be a teeny bit tight, but you said you worked extra time in for traffic, so I'd say you look good.

ooh - also - I'm unclear from this timeline when and where you and the other two bridesmaids are having your makeup done.

abbeylynne06 · June 2011

Everything looks fine on there, and I don't think you'd be tight on time at all. The only thing that stands out to me is that it's a lot of travel. Would you be able to get ready at the church? If not, it's not a big deal, I just thought you could cut out one of the traveling parts. Really, all you and the bridesmaids would need to do would be to put on dresses and finish up makeup, so that shouldn't take too long at all.

And like your photog, I think you could stand to do a little more time for pictures prior to the ceremony... in 40 minutes, I think you could get shots of you guys done, but probably not all the bridal party plus bride and groom shots.

lisa89760 · June 2011

In my opinion, trying to get all the pictures done in 40 min is gonna be tough. I don't see why your BM's would need an entire hour and half to just do their make up. I would drop the getting ready time down to an hour.

How far away are the seperate sites you are going to? It's good that you built in travel time but you might have some extra time there.

Meegles4 · June 2011

I've been in my share of weddings, and I think an hour is sufficient for getting ready. I also agree with abbey about maybe getting ready at the church to eliminate some travel?

But taking out a half hour of "getting ready" time, should give you just over an hour for those pre-ceremony pics and I agree with your photographer that don't want to feel rushed for that -- especially for the first look photos! You'll want a few minutes for the two of you before the craziness starts!

zulamay · June 2011

Ok cool, I'll drop it down to an hour and plan for photos during cocktail hour. The only help I need to get dressed is someone to lace up my corset, and I was going to have my mom meet me at my apartment and do that.

The church won't let us in until an hour before the ceremony. There is a chance that I could get in earlier if no other weddings or events are scheduled, but their standard policy is one hour and they really aren't flexible on these things.

Oh, and my makeup is being done at the salon - the timeline should read hair & makeup.

Thanks for everyone's help!

day-of timeline/bridesmaids prep

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