The Perfect Wedding Morning Timeline, From a Planner and a Hair & Make-Up Artist
One of the most underestimated parts of a wedding day is the morning. It sets the tone for everything that follows, from how calm you feel walking into your ceremony, to how present you are in the moments that matter most.
As a wedding planner, I see first-hand how a well-structured wedding morning can completely transform the experience for a couple. To explore this in more depth, I’ve collaborated with Sian, founder of Brush Beauty Co, a highly respected hair and make-up artist known for her refined, long-lasting bridal work.
Throughout this guide, you’ll find Sian’s professional insight woven in, offering a behind-the-scenes look at how hair and make-up timelines really work, and how thoughtful planning can elevate both your experience and your final photographs.
All the images included in this blog showcase the Brush Beauty Co team’s gorgeous work.
Why Your Wedding Morning Timeline Matters
A rushed morning often leads to unnecessary stress, late running schedules, and compromised photos. A well-planned timeline, on the other hand, creates space for calm, connection, and confidence.
From a planning perspective, the wedding morning isn’t just about hair and make-up. It’s about building momentum gently, protecting your energy, and ensuring the day unfolds seamlessly from the very first hour.
Establish Your Ceremony Time (and Work Backwards)
Every wedding morning timeline begins with one fixed point: your ceremony start time. From there, we work backwards to determine when you need to be fully ready, dressed, and relaxed.
As a general rule, I aim for the bride to be fully dressed at least 30-45 minutes before leaving for the ceremony. This buffer allows time for final touch-ups, portraits, and simply being present.
Sian’s insight:
Wedding mornings always fly by, and the start time is often a surprise to our brides as they tend to start earlier than you expect!
We always want hair and makeup complete at least an hour before the ceremony, if getting ready on site or an hour before your leaving time if getting ready elsewhere.
That final hour allows time to get dressed, have pictures and have final touch ups such as lipstick top ups, powder and placing your veil and accessories!
Hair & Make-Up: How Long Does It Really Take?
This is one of the most common areas where timelines become unrealistic. Bridal hair and make-up is not the same as an everyday appointment; it’s detailed, layered, and designed to last through hours of emotion, movement, and photography.
Most professional HMUAs will advise allowing:
The bride: 2–2.5 hours
Each member of the bridal party: 45–75 minutes per service
Exact timings depend on style, hair type, and the number of artists involved.
Sian’s insight:
I like to allow an hour per service for everyone as a base (certain styles such as Hollywood waves require longer) and if needed then I will allow longer for the bride.
This gives us plenty of time on the morning for everyone. There may be some services that don’t need a full hour and that extra time can act as a buffer throughout the morning which is always a good idea!
This is worth bearing in mind when it comes to the access time to your prep room if you plan to get ready on site. If you aren't able to stay there the night before then this may mean you need to start prep elsewhere before moving to the venue to carry on, and travel time will need to be factored!
Who Goes First (and Why It Matters)
The order of hair and make-up is strategic. From a planning standpoint, I usually recommend starting with bridesmaids or family members, allowing the bride to go later in the schedule so her look feels fresh.
Agree your order beforehand, make sure whoever is going first is prepared for the potentially early morning, and if there are any delays the person going last is more relaxed to do a simpler style if at all necessary.
Sian’s insight:
For most weddings, we tend to pop bride second to last. That way the hair and makeup is fresh, everything has had time to settle so touch ups are effective but bride isn’t left to the end and potentially rushed if anything has delayed throughout the morning!
Things to note, anyone who has jobs to do on the morning we recommend scheduling their hair and makeup for later so they aren’t rushing around getting hot and bothered with their hair and makeup done!
Building in Buffer Time
One of the biggest differences between a stressful wedding morning and a calm one is buffer time. Hair taking longer than expected, someone running late, or simply needing a breather - these moments are normal.
A strong timeline allows for flexibility without panic. I always build in quiet pockets where nothing is “happening,” so the morning doesn’t feel rushed or over-programmed.
For a well planned wedding morning check out my full planning support package.
When to Get Dressed
Getting dressed is not a five-minute job. Dresses often require assistance, careful handling, and time for adjustments.
From a planning perspective, this usually happens 45–60 minutes before departure, depending on dress complexity and photography priorities.
Sian’s insight:
I always tell my brides to start getting dressed as soon as we hit that final hour! It often takes longer than you think and some dresses can be fiddly.
We also want plenty of time for you to have a little moment with your bridal party, have pictures and be ready for our registrar meeting which is usually 15-20mins before your ceremony. You want to head into your ceremony calm (as calm as you can be!) relaxed and not rushed so being ready in good time is essential!
Final Touch-Ups and Finishing Details
Once you’re dressed, hair and make-up touch-ups should be light and intentional, refining rather than reworking.
This is also the moment for veil placement, fragrance, jewellery, and any final styling details.
Sian’s insight:
The final touch ups for us are usually refreshing your lipstick and a final powder/setting spray to ensure everything looks perfect before you head down the aisle!
We will pop your veil in once your dress is on and I always show the bridal party how to remove the veil to ensure the hair isn’t affected.
I never ever leave my brides until I have seen you off to the aisle so if there are any last minute needs, I am right there on hand.
Creating the Right Environment
Where you get ready matters more than couples often realise. Natural light, enough space, minimal clutter, and a calm atmosphere all impact how the morning feels, and how it photographs.
As a planner, I’ll often advise limiting the number of people in the room and designating one area for bags, food, and personal items to keep the space feeling calm.
Sian’s insight:
Prep space is a huge priority for a wedding morning! From a hair and makeup perspective, we need lots of natural light, plenty of space as well as lots of surfaces to be able to lay out our kits.
Plug sockets next to the surfaces are also a bonus! As well as avoiding endless stairs if it can be helped, our kits are heavy!
Your prep area will be photographed while you’re getting ready so I completely agree on a designated area for bags so the rest of the space is clear and tidy for photos.
Food, Hydration, and Energy
A common oversight is forgetting to eat or drink during the morning. Light, non-greasy food and regular water breaks help maintain energy levels and ensure you feel your best.
This is especially important when hair and make-up spans several hours.
Don’t forget to provide some food and snacks for your hair & make-up team too! They probably woke up at the crack of dawn (which means breakfast in the car on route to your venue) to make sure you are feeling your absolute best on the day.
The Emotional Pace of the Morning
The wedding morning is not just logistical, it’s emotional. It’s a time for grounding, reflection, and quiet connection with the people you’ve chosen to surround yourself with.
A well-planned timeline supports this by removing urgency and allowing the morning to unfold naturally.
Final Thoughts
The perfect wedding morning timeline isn’t rigid, it’s intentional. When your planner and hair and make-up artist work collaboratively, the result is a morning that feels calm, unhurried, and supportive of your experience.
By understanding realistic timings and building in space, you set yourself up not only to look your best, but to truly enjoy the start of your wedding day.
If you’re planning your wedding and want expert support designing a seamless, stress-free timeline, I’d love to help.
View my services, or contact me to find out more.
Supplier Spotlight
The gorgeous images of brides with their stunning hair and make-up in this blog are curtesy of Brush Beauty Co, with expert advice throughout from Sian at Brush Beaty Co. You can visit there website Brush Beauty Co and their instagram @brushbeautyco to check out more of their amazing work.
