How to Avoid Running Late The Morning Of The Wedding

You’ve heard stories and seen them in movies…

The bride or groom rushes into a taxi, dashes to the chapel for the ceremony and arrives—late, very late.

You only get one chance at your wedding day. And the morning of your wedding will set the tone for how the rest of the day unfolds. If you start it by running behind, you’re going to spend the rest of the day trying to catch up. And nobody wants that!

So, here are a few tips to ensure your day starts smoothly and on time! And help you avoid running late on the morning of your wedding!

Schedule Hair & Makeup Early

An easy way to get off on the right foot is to schedule your hair and makeup EARLY. I cannot stress this tip enough; it is THAT important.

In my experience, at least 60-70% of all weddings run late because hair and makeup fall behind. Whether it’s because the hair and makeup artist arrived late. They did not accurately estimate the amount of time (or the number of artists) it would take to get everyone done. Bridesmaids or family members arrive late. Someone’s hair or makeup gets ruined (or they don’t like it) – and it has to be re-done. Everyone has too much fun talking and it runs behind, etc. The list is endless, but the fact remains that if you want to ensure that your morning runs smoothly; schedule your hair and makeup to be done at LEAST an hour earlier than the estimated time, if not more.

Worst comes to worst, you are ready early and have that much more time to relax and to take more portraits. I have seen hair and makeup push back a wedding timeline by as much as 3 hours. Causing them to be late for their own ceremony. Don’t let this be you – plan to be ready early!!

Decide On The Hairstyle You Want to Use (& Practice It!)

To avoid morning-of rushing, make sure you’ve decided on a particular hairstyle before the morning of the wedding. For complicated braids, knots, or buns, make sure that you, or your stylists, have tried the style before and know how to do it well on your specific hair texture. (This is why bridal hair/makeup trials are so valuable!)

Make sure to set out any special hairpieces or crowns so they’re not forgotten in the hustle and bustle of the morning’s activities. We’re already saving some time!

Check The Fit Of Your Dress With Your Undergarments

Here’s another often-overlooked tip: try on your dress a day or two before the wedding. AND with the exact undergarments you plan on wearing! To avoid last-minute panic, be brave enough to try on that dress beforehand. This allows you to make any last-minute changes or come up with a backup plan BEFORE your wedding day has begun.

Practice Having Your Person Lace Up Your Dress

Cut down on stress the morning of your wedding day by assigning particular jobs to the people in your bridal party. With a specific job for each person, things will go much smoother. One job that should be assigned is lacing, tying, or buttoning the back of your dress. Corset backs can be especially tricky! Practice with your person beforehand so they know exactly what to do. Working with a friend who is prepared is sure to help you stay on schedule the morning of the wedding.

(Also, make sure someone knows how to and practices bustling your dress as well! Not important for the morning per se, but will save time/stress of having to figure it out for the first time before/during the reception!)

Appoint Someone To Put In Your Veil 

In a similar vein, appoint a friend or family member to be in charge of putting on and securing your veil. Spending time reworking or resetting the veil over and over can start to ruin your hair-do. Having a practiced and prepared person can make it a one-and-done process. That way you can be fully present and in the moment on your wedding day. And not constantly fiddling with your veil unnecessarily.

With the preparation and coordination of your bridal team, you won’t run late or even rush the morning of your wedding! You can take those extra minutes to savor this special time with family and friends. 

In the meantime, if you’re looking for a Dallas wedding photographer, I would love to hear more about what you’re dreaming up for your special day! Don’t hesitate to reach out!