What to do when getting ready on your big day!

Here are some tips for making the getting ready part of the big day an enjoyable experience. Let’s explore the challenges you will face and how to make getting ready run smoothly.

1) Food and Water

I cannot emphasize this enough. There is a reason it is number one on the list! Mostly likely everyone is up at the crack of dawn and only had time to throw back a cup of coffee which will eventually make eventually cranky as they are hungry. You want to make sure you have snack foods on hand that won’t cause bloating. Foods that are good quality proteins, high fat content and lots of veggie options. Examples are:

  • almonds
  • hummus and crackers (try rice crackers if you are gluten-free)
  • vegetable platter or grilled vegetables if raw veggies aren’t your thing (tip: cooked vegetables are easier to digest)
  • good quality protein like chicken, fish or quiche, cashews and edamame beans for vegetarians
  • fruit is always a great choice but stay away from grapes as they can make you bloated, try watermelon, apples and pear instead
  • cheese (okay, so it’s not a good fat but who doesn’t love cheese! Stick with hummus if you are lactose intolerant)
  • have a good amount of water on hand and stay away from pop. You do not want to be gassy. Great alternatives to pop are
  • coconut water, Gatorade or mint tea. If you are drinking champagne while getting ready, make sure to pair it with some
  • food or make mimosas (1/3 orange juice and 2/3 champagne) so you’re not taking in too much acidity.

2) Book a caterer

If collecting all the food is too much for one or two members of the wedding party, look into catering options or check out pre-made platters are your local grocery store.

3) Scout the location

Check out the location of where you are getting ready beforehand. Do they only have one mirror? Is the bathroom way too small? Will they provide any water or snacks? Be prepared so you aren’t surprised when you get there.

4) Organize

Once everyone bring their getting ready bags, the room may look like an explosion of hair products and clothing. My suggestion is to bring a “carry-on” bag that you can put all your personal items in, zip it up, and roll it out. Often at weddings I’ve seen lots of different types of bags that make it easy for things to fall out. The zip-up pouch bags stack nicely and you don’t have to worry about losing anything.

5) Time management

Stagger the girls getting their hair and make-up done. All of your bridesmaids don’t have to be there at the same time to get ready as there are often only two (sometimes only one) person doing the hair and make-up. Stagger the start times so that your bridesmaid aren’t sitting around waiting for their turn. Assign jobs to the members of your bridal party who will arrive later, such as grabbing food, Starbucks or last minute items.

6) Music

Nothing is worse than a quiet room that can contribute to bringing down the energy in the room. Keep it upbeat with a Bluetooth speaker and some good music. Some upbeat music suggestions would be Stevie Wonder, mo-town classics, or 70’s hits like Billy Joel and Elton John.

7) Give yourself some wiggle room

Things run late, that’s normal. Give yourself a 30 minute buffer on your time line to ensure you have enough time to get yourself to the venue.

8) For the groom and groomsmen

You won’t be taking as much time to get ready as the ladies but don’t use that time to eat a massive meal. You do not want to be falling asleep during the photos or at the ceremony. Ensure you have a good meal that is high in protein, moderate in fat, low on carbs and a moderate size. Get your suit, socks, and shoes ready the night before so you aren’t scrambling around the morning of the wedding. Also, don’t stress about those boutonnieres, most wedding vendors, including myself, know how to pin those on quickly for you before the photos.

Hopefully these tips give you some insight on how to make your getting ready party run smoothly before those I do’s!