How Long Do You Need to Get Ready on Your Wedding Day?

Most wedding mornings do not go wrong because hair or makeup takes an impossibly long time. They become stressful because every task is scheduled back-to-back with no room for breakfast, photographs, interruptions or simply taking a breath.

This article forms part of our Sussex wedding planning collection, created to help couples make confident decisions before choosing suppliers or a Sussex wedding venue with accommodation.

Work backwards from the ceremony

Start with the time you must be ready—not the ceremony time. Allow for the registrar meeting, travelling or walking to the ceremony, final photographs and a few quiet minutes before guests see you. For an onsite ceremony, being completely ready 45 to 60 minutes beforehand usually creates a far calmer morning.

Hair and makeup need more time than the final appointment

Ask your hair and makeup team for a written schedule covering every person. Add setup time, touch-ups and contingency. Large wedding parties may need additional artists rather than a much earlier start.

A preparation room should provide natural light, mirrors, seating, power sockets, refreshments and enough space for professionals to work without stepping over bags and clothing.

Build photography into the plan

Photographers such as John Scofield Photography and Loveheart Photography offer coverage that can begin with preparations. Those images work best when the room is reasonably tidy and the key people are dressed before the final outfit goes on. Decide in advance whether you want details, gifts, first looks with parents or friends, and a calm portrait before leaving the room.

Who should actually be in the room?

Choose people who make you feel grounded. A crowded room may look sociable on paper but can become noisy and distracting. Give practical jobs to reliable people: looking after phones, checking clothing, collecting flowers, keeping food and drinks moving and making sure personal belongings reach the correct bedroom afterwards.

How this applies at Tottington Manor

Tottington Manor is an independently owned countryside wedding venue in West Sussex, close to Brighton, Worthing, Horsham and Burgess Hill. Couples can hold their ceremony, wedding breakfast and evening celebration in one place, supported by an experienced wedding and hospitality team, 12 boutique bedrooms and in-house food from the team behind TERRA Restaurant.