The most underrated part of your day…
The wedding morning is something that’s often overlooked, but it really sets the tone for your entire day. If it feels rushed or stressful, it’s hard to come down from that — and that’s the energy you walk into your ceremony with. I wanted mine to feel calm and relaxed (which can be tricky with a lot of people), so here are a few things that helped:
Surround yourself with the right people
I had my childhood neighbour (now a make-up artist in Sydney) do my make-up and my hairdresser of 12 years do my hair. I love their company, so starting the day with them my bridesmaids and immediate family felt easy and fun. We watched ‘Bridesmaids’, laughed all morning, and had breakfast together — exactly the energy I wanted.
Allow more time than you think
I allowed a lot of time and it still felt slightly rushed at the end — mostly from people taking longer to get dressed. We only had an hour for photos at home, so it did feel a bit tight. Build in extra buffer where you can.
Think about your bridal party
Do you really want your closest friends arriving at 4am? And if so, are you okay with them being exhausted by the evening? We had 2x hair and 2x make-up artists for 7 people. Everyone started between 8–9am, we were ready by 12pm, and left for our first look at 1pm — it felt like a good balance.
Don’t go last
If you’re the one getting married, don’t go last. I went first for make-up and loved it. It meant I could relax, get touch-ups later, and see how everything wore. Good make-up lasts — and mine held perfectly all day (and night!).
Plan your photo space
I didn’t do this and it added unnecessary stress to the morning. Rooms get messy quickly and busy walls don’t photograph well. Try to have a clean space with natural light set aside for photos.
Prepare the people around you
Weddings feel normal to me, but they’re not for everyone. I was calm, but some people around me were nervous about their role in the day, and that energy can be contagious. Be clear about how you want the morning to feel and communicate it — what feels obvious to you might not be to others.