If in knew then what I know now, the morning of my wedding would have been a lot less stressful! It felt a bit chaotic due to my lack of preparation. I was extremely organized through out the  wedding planning process, but didn’t prepare myself for the business that morning would bring. 

Throughout the years of being a wedding photographer, I’ve seen how being organized can make or break your getting ready experience. That being said, I wanted to share some wedding day tips that will help your morning flow with ease, and ultimately allow you to enjoy unforgettable memories with your loved ones. 

1. It all starts with a well thought out timeline. If you don’t have a wedding planner, then your photographer can help you with this. It’s a good idea to have your timeline in place about 6 weeks before the wedding day. With a solid timeline, everyone involved in the wedding will know what’s coming next, leaving little room for stress. But don’t keep watching the clock, have your maid of honor, or a family member keep track of the time. Also, if you don’t have a wedding planner, enlist the help of your bridal party to handle any emergencies. Put your cell phone down, and trust that if there’s an issue, your friends and family will handle it. 
2. Make sure your getting ready space is large enough to host your family and bridal party. Plain and simple, the more room you have to get ready, the less chaotic the environment will be. It’s also easier to keep a larger room tidy.
3. If at all possible, try to secure a room with plenty of natural light coming through the windows. It’s not only nice for the makeup artist, but also great for photos! Natural light provides such a beautiful ethereal quality to your images. 
4. This is important: Make sure you eat!! It sounds like common sense, but the morning flies by, trust me. Delegate the task of ordering something healthy and yummy to a family member or friend. It will be a long time until you’re able to chow down, and you don’t want to feel your tummy rumbling while you say your vows! 
5. When your photographer arrives, have all of your wedding day details in one place: Shoes, rings, flowers, dress, jewelry, invitation suite, heirloom items, etc. That way you don’t have to get up, and search for multiple items. This allows you to carry on with relaxing and being pampered. 
6. Have an emergency kit handy: Safety pins, stain remover, hair pins, hot glue, anything you can think of that you might need in case of a wardrobe/hair/anything malfunction. 
7. A grab bag packed and ready at the door is always a good idea. Especially if you are leaving for another location, have items that you need for the rest of the day. A simple tote bag or a small purse is perfect. Have a change of shoes for the reception, lip gloss, lip stick, makeup for touchups, deodorant, emergency kit, marriage license, etc. Trust me, you don’t want an all out mad scramble looking for items as you walk out the door.
8. Enjoy this time with your family and friends!! Getting ready should be relaxing and fun. Enjoy these moments, you will thank yourself later when reflecting on the day. Nothing is worth getting upset over. You’re getting MARRIED!!! Yay!! Once you leave that room, the excitement and rush of the day are on!