Getting Ready Timeline

[robbie3982]

I just scheduled my hair and makeup appointments. Hair is at 10am and makeup is at 10:30 (Somehow I doubt my hair will only take a half hour though). This supposedly has be ready by 11. All of the bridesmaids plus my mom, possibly FI''s mom and 2 of our 3 flower girls are getting either hair or makeup or both done at this same location. That''s at least 8 people. I know they''ll try to get us out as soon as possible, but I really can''t see everyone being done before 12. This is fine with me since our ceremony isn''t until 4:30 and they told me that they''ll be serving us mimosas

. I also plan on having the photographer their to take pictures of us all getting ready. If we leave at 12, we should be able to make it to the ceremony location (where we''ll be getting ready) by 1 and I can''t see it taking more than a half hour for us all to get dressed, so I see us all dressed and ready to go at 1:30.

I really want to take pictures before the ceremony to ensure that we have good lighting (it''s a fall wedding, so I don''t want to run out of light after the ceremony!) and I''m also worried about the kids not messing up their hair or outfits (3 flower girls age 3 and 3 ring bearers 6-. We''re going to be going to a nearby college (5 min away maybe?) to take pictures assuming we have good weather.

Does this sound like I''m leaving enough/too much/not enough time?

 

[So_happy]

Haha, I just spent 3 hours on my preliminary day-of timeline last night. Ironic for me that you post this now.

First, you need to know how long each of your professionals say thier service will take. That includes your photographer, makeup artist, hair stylist. Then, just work backwards from the time you want to be lined up and ready to walk down the aisle.

Working backwards really surprised me in that I needed much more time than I had thought. Plus, you''ll probably want to build in some error. So, if ceremony starts at 4:30, plan to be at site by 4pm (better to sit waiting in a limo than rushing and freaking out that your''e not there yet). If you want to be there at 4, leave getting-ready place by 3pm if it''s an hour away. Have everyone absoulutely dressed/makeup''d/hair''d by 2:45 and waiting for the limo to pick everyone up. (Again, this is building extra time in on most things).

If everyone needs to be ready by 2:45, well.....you get the idea. Here is a timeline I have that breaks down things in 15 minute increments........

11:00 Have breakfast at apartment(juice,pastries,coffee) for all
11:15
11:30
11:45
12:00
12:15
12:30
12:45
1:00
1:15 Shower/dress in button down shirt
1:30
1:45
2:00 Arrive at AC’d Towers/ Hair apointment
2:15 Have veggie/snack tray/drinks for getting ready
2:30
2:45 Hair finished/Begin Makeup Appointment
3:00
3:15
3:30
3:45 Makeup done/Get dressed and veil on
4:00 Dressed, makeup and hair DONE! Pics alone
4:15 Lv for Park in limo with BMs
4:30
4:45
5:00 Arrive at Park and wait inside limo. Girls find guys to line up with
5:15 Ceremony begins: BP processional
5:30 Bride walks down aisle and gets married!

 

[So_happy]

ps. That is obviously MY timeline but it helped me to do an Excel sheet with these incremental times on the left side and each person''s (groom, bridesmaids, groomsmen, caterer, day-of coordinator, moms etc) timeline so I can plan for everyone else''s day, too. fun!!!!

. I''m putting contact info on it too and it has become my Master Timeline.

 

[robbie3982]

Thanks for the idea! I''ll have to try that. I definitely think they''re underestimating on how long hair and makeup will take. My hair''s naturally curly and I want it straightened and then curled with big loose curlse (very different from my natural curl) and then put half up. If they can do it in a half hour, I''ll be amazed.

 

[So_happy]

I understand. My hair is curly/wavy/thick and usually only my Columbian stylist can deal with my hair properly. Thus, since I can''t have him do my hair on my wedding, I''m going to wash and dry my own hair the night before and use my chi flat iron to make it straight and shiny. I do this on a regular basis so I''m really good at getting every wave out. Besides, with the Chi, it only takes me 1/2 hour and I have really thick/wavy tresses so it''s not like it''ll be a hardship or anything. I would probably do it anyway. Then, on the day-of, they can just curl if they need to and I won''t have to worry about thier (possible) inadequacies to get all the waves out. (I also do not want to get hot/sweaty in the dead of August with a blow out as they usually take an hour if done properly.)

I think my plan is also saving me some money as my stylist is only charging me $35 if I get a half up/half down style.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Robbie, I cannot remember EXACT times but everything took so much longer. We had two stylists who did three girls each and one make-up artist. We were at the salon for at least 3-4 hours. We brought lunch with us. Don''t forget to eat! It''s VERY important on your wedding day.

 

[robbie3982]

So Happy, every place I called charges the same for half up vs. all up

. booooooooo. My hair''s not that thick or difficult to straighten, but straightening it alone usually takes the stylist at least 30 min and then she still has to do the curling and putting it half up.

Tacori, if it takes us that long, we may just have enough time to get ready without rushing. Yikes! I''ll definitely have to remember to take lunch or have someone bring a lunch for us. I can''t imagine not eating all day especially when I''m going to be in that big hot dress. I''d probably pass out.

 

[Tacori E-ring]

Robbie, like I said I can''t remember ALL the details. My ceremony started at 5:30 and we did end up having plenty of time for pics before hand. DH and I even saw each other and had some photos before the ceremony (WHICH I HIGHLY SUGGEST!!!) There is a local sub place that I am totally in love with so my SIL went and picked up subs for us all. I just went home and was sad I couldn''t eat there

I don''t think dinner was served until 9:00ish so I would have died w/o lunch! Make sure you wear a button down so you don''t ruin your hair (mine was 1/2 up as well). Remember to enjoy everything. The day goes by SO fast.