How to Stick to Your Wedding Morning Timeline

When you think of getting your makeup professionally done, you may imagine J-Lo or another celebrity sitting in a big directors chair chatting on their phone, eating a snack, sipping a drink, and having tons of people clustered around them. Well, for brides, I try to provide the opposite experience! Here are some tips and things to think about for your big day:

1- Timing: Before you even sit in my chair, ensure that you and your bridal party know the timeline for the day. In order to keep things on time, people have to BE on time. This also means that each person receiving makeup should come to me with a clean, makeup-free face. If I have to remove last nights makeup, that tacks on an additional 5+ minutes to their time slot. If things start on time, the day is much more likely to run smoothly!

2- Cell Phones: This is probably the biggest offender! I completely understand that wedding mornings can be hectic and fast paced. However, every time you have to answer a call or text, that adds on unnecessary time to your appointment, and runs the risk of us falling behind schedule. My suggestion is, designate your maid of honor or another trusted friend to be in charge of your phone while you get your makeup done. After all, you should be RELAXING and enjoying yourself while getting pampered! This goes for bridesmaids, too!

3- Vendor Interruptions: This is a touchy subject because, well, I AM a vendor! But, if you have the planner, florist, caterer, photographer, etc., interrupting our appointment time, well, you know by now- things will run behind! It's difficult because we each were hired for a specific job, and sometimes that means getting final approval from the bride. If you find vendors coming in and needing to chat, just let them know that you have X amount of time left in makeup, and then they can have your FULL attention. Of course, there are always exceptions to this! Something may need immediate attention, or the photographer might be there to capture you getting ready. I am always happy to share the space with those who are capturing this special time. 

4- Bridesmaid Interruptions: Another touchy subject! Of course you should be enjoying your time getting ready with all your favorite gal pals. However, it makes my job difficult if you have to keep turning your head or getting up to see their hair, their nails, their snap chat, etc, etc. It's also a safety risk if I'm working around your eyes and you keep moving or turning your head abruptly. Try to take the time in my chair to reflect on the day ahead, and really soak it all up. I promise, their hair will still be there to look at after 30 minutes ;) 

Wrapping things up, I just want you to enjoy your time in my chair and take a moment to breathe. Even though that one text, or that one vendor chat might not seem like a lot of time, it does add up. Unfortunately for makeup (and hair) folks, if the morning falls behind schedule, we are usually the scapegoat. Just keep in mind how stressful that rushed first look might be, or rushed group photos might be, all because of distractions. I try to build in an extra 15-30 minutes of "buffer" time, in case distractions come up, but you (and your bride tribes') cooperation is extremely helpful! 

PC: Sabin Gratz