Kick it off Right: Important Tips for the Morning of Your Wedding
These days we are seeing brides put just as much planning and preparation into the morning of the wedding as the wedding itself. To be honest, I have mixed feelings. It can definitely go too far.
I don’t think you need to spend an hour every night shopping on Amazon and ETSY to get a perfectly curated gift basket for your bridesmaids, moms, grandmas, cousins, nieces, future sister-in-laws, and second cousins. Who does this? Oh girl, I’ve seen it! Someone on ETSY can customize just about anything for you, and after-all, when else are your friends going to have a chance to wear custom “Bride Tribe” fuzzy slippers? They’re just sooooo cute.
Trust me, I love a thoughtfully monogrammed gift, and you should treat your bridesmaids for all the sacrifices they’ve made for your wedding. Let’s just be sure to keep your eye on the prize: a stress-free, drama-free, relaxing and fun morning getting glam with your girls. This time sets the tone for the rest of your day. Reflect on what you want out of that time and plan for that.
Have a Pack-Out List
I can tell you from years of experience that things get a little more tense for the bride in those final hours before heading to the ceremony. Once you have full makeup and your hair is complete, it’s time to put on the dress and that’s when the excitement (and sometimes anxiety) starts to kick-in.
Don’t be surprised if your brain is a little foggy or you get a little cranky. I remember when I realized my mother forgot to bring the cash tips for the hair and makeup artists. I kinda freaked out. I remember thinking, “well, if I can’t count on you for one simple task, what other balls are being dropped right now?” Ouch. I think I asked my makeup artist to touch up my eyebrows 5 times because they didn’t match. My best friend had to come over and say, “honey, they’re sisters, not twins. Your eyebrows look great.” Y’all— that is NOT my normal personality! It’s so embarrassing, but it’s a good lesson to remember when I need to be patient with my clients. Weddings do weird things to people.
So all this to really drive in the point that you need a pack-out-list. Do NOT trust your brain to remember anything:
Vows, if writing your own
Beauty bag: lip touch ups, oil blotting pads, mini deodorant, wine wipes for your teeth
Put someone in charge of your phone
Extra shoes or extra outfit, if changing later
Mints and mini toothbrush/toothpaste, for after your meal before you talk to 100+ people
Your hotel key
For men, we recommend an extra white button up shirt (especially if your man tends to sweat a lot ;)
Also, remember that maneuvering a bridal party from a hotel suite to the bus waiting downstairs is 100% like herding cats. Get them headed in the right direction early. Inevitably someone left an item in the room, needs a last minute phone charger, or simply has to pee again. If you have a bus making the rounds, the bridal party is usually first so you don’t want to kick off the transportation schedule running behind.
If you’re sensitive to anxiety, consider a smaller bridal party and limit who is in the room getting ready with you. Remember, you’ll also have one or two photographers, one or two videographers, and one or two hair and makeup stylists. It gets crowded quickly. I love these intimate images by Rick Cortez and One Eleven East. These ladies went for a calm and lighthearted vibe, which works great for a lot of people on a high-anxiety day.
2. Wedding Party Gifts
I’ve seen the wedding party gifts industry explode over the past 6 years, largely in part to ETSY and Pinterest. Back when I got married in 2010 it was customary to gift your wedding party with a pair of matching earrings or a pashmina wrap. That was it— D for done!
Today it starts with the custom “will you be my bridesmaid” box set, then “bride tribe” accessories at the bachelorette party, and ends with curated welcome boxes in their hotel rooms and customized robes, shoes, and chocolates on the wedding day. If you love this type of thing, go for it girl! Just don’t let it take over your happiness or ability to stay in the moment.
If you’re the type to procrastinate opening all those Amazon boxes until the day before the bridesmaids arrive, then either task your friend or pay your wedding planner. Your wedding weekend goes by in a flash and I want you to be present for it all.
Here is a list of my favorite bridal party gifts!
Matching Sets - Robes or pajama sets are still 100% on trend. Honestly, I haven’t found a better place to shop than BHLDN where they have a section dedicated specifically to bridesmaids robes!
Champagne Flutes - Hand-calligraphy champagne glasses make for really fun Insta photos when it’s time to pop the bubbly. We’ve teamed up with the talented Amanda Reid Designs to create custom glasses for our Glam giveaway!
Jewelry- The thing I love about gifting jewelry is that you think of that friend every time you see that item in your closet. Earrings don’t have to match exactly; feel free to pick specific ones that reflect that friend’s style. I love the starburst earrings at Modern Maven. Try to shop local and support women-owned businesses!
Custom Tote- Gifting a large custom tote is ideal for keeping your bridal changing suite tidy. Not only does it work as a gift, but it’s easy to pack if they flew in town. Encourage your girls to keep their items contained in their own tote so it’s easy to depart on time after hair and makeup.
Be sure to think about when and where you want to present these gifts. If your photographer is with you the morning of getting ready and you want to get photos, be sure to set it all up in a well lit area of the suite or getting-ready room. That way he or she can snap the important photos when they arrive and your wedding party can dive in. Keep in mind that your girls may start arriving at 11am and your photographer may not arrive until 3pm. If you want them to use an item (like custom-calligraphy champagne glasses) be sure to set those out separate from the gifts.
3. What to Eat
Of course it depends on what time you’re getting started, but I think brunch is the easiest to please all dietary concerns. It also tends to translate well before, and after, noon. I mean, there is no “right time” to indulge on a cheese and fruit platter.
Speaking of cheese, have you seen the new company Grazeology? They deliver artfully curated cheese platters that are absolutely amazing! They deliver in Austin for just $20.
Here are a few things to consider when putting together your glam-time grazing:
Gluten-free and carb-conscious: mini frittatas or breakfast tacos with corn tortillas work great for these ladies. A fresh salad also works for both brunch or lunch, but be careful not to leave it sitting out for too long.
Vegetarians: Fruit and cheese displays are always a huge hit because you can just nibble a little at a time as opposed to sitting down for a meal. No one wants to stuff their belly before getting in a gown, so grazing is key!
Non-drinkers: Don’t forget to have a few non alcoholic options out. Even those who are imbibing need to pace themselves! For brunch, offer coffee and a variety of juices. At lunch, a nice sparkling water and iced tea is lovely.
Sweet tooth: I don’t know about you, but after a month of dieting to fit in a dress I’m ready to nibble on some chocolate. Have some small-portion sweets and chocolates available for a last minute indulgence!
4. Where to Get Glam
Some venues have large, luxurious get-ready suites included with your venue rental. My favorite changing suites provide ample space for friends and family to gather, include access as early as you need it, and supply tons of natural light, plenty of power, and mirrors. If you’re getting married at Woodbine Mansion, The Greenhouse at Driftwood, Prospect House, or Hidden River Ranch, then you will likely want to utilize their absolutely perfect bridal suites. They hit all the checkboxes we look for in a changing suite!
A few things to think about in advance:
How is the bridal party arriving? Your ladies probably don’t want their cars stuck at the venue late night. Consider renting a small minibus for a one-time trip, or consider a service like Blacklane to schedule a vehicle in advance. Uber is also an option for some venues, or perhaps you get suuuper lucky with a pregnant bridesmaid who happens to drive a minivan or suburban! :)
Who is cleaning up? Ladies tend to leave a wake of mess behind them during glam time. No judgment, I blame it on the mimosas! If you have someone dropping off coffee, mimosas, muffins, a fruit tray, cheese tray, sandwich platter and all the disposables that accompany those items, be sure to appoint someone to round it all up and dispose of it pre-ceremony. You can also ask your venue manager, catering contact, or wedding planner if that is something they would be able to do for you!
At Hidden River Ranch, you can choose between the bridal changing room in the event barn, or the main cabin. I love these sweet images from Julie Wilhite photography of the wedding party at the main cabin. It comes equipped with a grand fireplace, full-size kitchen, dining room and living room. Ample space to relax with your ladies!
If your venue doesn’t provide a spacious changing suite, or if you’re getting married at a hotel, then a hotel suite is where it’s at, girl! There are tons of benefits to getting ready at a hotel:
Your wedding party is likely staying there, so they don’t all have to arrive at the same time. You can have a trickle-in of ladies and a lucky few (including you, if you like) get to sleep in!
Providing brunch or lunch for the ladies is a cinch! I love it when a few aunts volunteer to “host” and simply charge the brunch to one of their rooms. You don’t have to worry about plates and napkins, having enough ice, or delivery. The hotel takes care of everything for you, including cleanup!
The hotel has everything you may have forgotten: a dress steamer, last minute sewing kit, etc. I even had a father of the bride forget to pack his cufflinks and Four Seasons Hotel Austin was able to provide a spare pair for him!
Two words: spa services! I highly recommend starting your day with a massage. Avoid facials or anything that could go wrong. Do splurge instead on your own mental and physical relaxation and get into the right mindset.
I love these photos from Carlotta and Austin’s wedding at the Four Seasons. The girls grazed on delicious bite-sized snacks provided by the hotel and sipped Starbucks throughout the morning. They watched a few of their favorite throw-back movies (and knew all the words, of course). This led to an impromptu dance party in matching lemon PJs. The lesson here? Make it your own!
5. Pump Up the Jams
Music is an important part of any celebration, especially when the celebration involves a room full of women! Assign a friend with making an ad-free playlist on Spotify and bringing a bluetooth speaker. Some hotel rooms come equipped with speakers that you can plug into, but plan to have a backup regardless.
Some clients prefer to keep things calm and relaxing. I remember the cab ride from my condo to the hotel on the morning of my wedding and the driver was playing songs by Jack Johnson and John Mayer. It was so lovely to start my day feeling calm and inspired. I recommend starting with chill tunes, then bringing up the party mix about an hour before it’s time to head to the church. Now as a wedding planner I love walking into a changing suite that smells like perfume and hair products as girls are dancing in the living room to Lizzo and Madonna.
We are sooo beyond excited to have DJ Nixx create a custom playlist for our Glam Giveaway. Be sure to check in on our instagram feed Wednesday afternoon (April 7th) when we announce the winner live with DJ Nixx! I can’t wait to see what she puts together for one lucky bridal party!
In Summary
Remember this ladies: the wedding day goes by quickly. There is no avoiding it unless you’re extremely skilled at mindfulness meditaion and most of us are too busy to add that to our list of wedding preparation. Give some thought to what will get you in the right frame of mind that day and plan ahead. If yoga is your jam, I’d rather you spend $200 bringing in a private yoga instructor to set the tone as opposed to spending $200 on ETSY junk everyone just throws away. If you’re a spa services kinda girl (hi, that’s me!) then target that $200 to a hot stone massage to get loose and relaxed.
Brides these days are too hyper-focused on the Insta photos and purchasing all the right things. Instead, turn inward.
What do you want that morning to smell like? Pack a scented diffuser for the room.
What do you want that morning to sound like? Assign a trusted friend with creating a playlist and packing a bluetooth speaker.
What do you want that morning to taste like? Set your menu and assign someone cleanup duty.
Girl, you got this! XO
Ren Newey