Morning Mojo

by

If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, your wedding-morning game plan is your avocado toast. It’s not the big event, but it’s going to set the tone. It’s your chance to screw your head on straight and prep yo’ self for this mighty milestone, for receiving lines and hangry small talk and details that run amok. For some, this a.m. prelude will crawl on by; for others, it will careen - and suddenly you’re on a flight to your Portugal honeymoon. Either way, listen up. Our experts have your morning strategy all mapped out.

The Hair & Makeup Artist:

Jackie Nunez of Jackie’s Design

When should the bride and her party start to get ready?

It depends. “I create my timeline based on when the photographer needs them, the size of the group, and the number of services. We spend a full hour with the bride. I curl her hair first, then start working with my assistant on bridesmaids, before returning to apply the bride’s makeup and style. The bride should never go last. We ask her to dictate the order, based on who needs to be ready when. It takes us approximately 30-45 minutes with each bridesmaid.”

Do you prefer clean or dirty hair?

Clean! “I tell my clients to wash and rough dry their hair the night before. If the hair is too clean, the style won't hold. Skin should be clean with no trace of makeup.”

Most brides do beauty trials weeks in advance to fine-tune their wedding look, whereas bridesmaids are working with you for the first time on the morning of the wedding. How can they come prepared?

Bring realistic examples. “I always call them inspirational pictures. We have a quick consultation where I try to be very realistic about what will work. For example, a bridesmaid might show me a Pinterest image of a model whose hair is thick and halfway down her back, but the bridesmaid has very thin hair. My best advice is for them to find pictures of people that have their kind of hair and their kind of skin. You wouldn’t believe how many photos I see of Kim Kardashian!”

Purchase hair extensions. “A lot of Pinterest images are done with hair extensions. We offer permanent options, which will always look better, but the clip-in kind are fine, too. I send clients to Sally Beauty; their products are not top-of-the-line, but they use human hair. I don’t recommend purchasing extensions online because the colors will look different in person.”

What else do brides need to know?

Start taking care of your skin early. “We like to start prepping for the wedding day months, or at least a few weeks, beforehand, so we can make sure our clients’ skin is hydrated and can get rid of clogged pores and dead ends. If they follow the skin regimen we recommend, it makes our job easier on the day of the wedding. Makeup will go on smoother and they will look and feel better.”

Make sure someone knows how to remove the veil. “Your hairdresser should stay until you are finished getting ready, so she can put your veil on and make any necessary adjustments. She also should teach the bride’s mom or maid of honor how to take the veil off without unraveling the bride’s ‘do.”

The Planner: 

Deb Terhune of Ramsey Madison Events

What can couples do to ensure their wedding mornings go smoothly?

Have a timeline and stick to it! “I wear an Apple Watch and set at least 15 alarms for the day-of; there’s an alarm when hair and makeup is supposed to start, an alarm for when the florist arrives, an alarm for the DJ, the organist, the servers. You want to choose a planner who is well-organized and can keep everything on track.”

Make an emergency kit. “I bring an old suitcase with everything imaginable in it; safety pins, scissors, hairspray, an eyebrow pencil, batteries, nuts, Pepto-Bismol, a tiny steamer, you name it. I even carry fake diamond studs, after working a wedding where a bridesmaid lost her earrings and started freaking out.”

Take a breather. “Your wedding day is going to be the most important day in your life until you give birth to your children. It’s important to take time away from everybody to focus on what this day means to you, even if it’s just for 20 minutes.”

Usually, the getting ready period involves a lot of sitting and waiting. How can brides create a fun and relaxing environment that encourages bonding?

Honor your girls. “The morning of your wedding is a great time to exchange gifts and tell your bridesmaids what they mean to you. In this day and age, we’re so quick with relationships. We don’t take enough time to thank our friends for being in our lives. I encourage all my brides to write individual notes to their bridesmaids explaining why they chose them. It’s important because once the bride goes down the aisle, [the balance shifts] and it’s all about her and her soon-to-be husband.”

Plan a mini potluck. “One of my favorite things to do is to ask each bridesmaid to bring a snack that represents a memory she has with the bride. For example, if Sally and Judy always ate chicken wings together during football season, I’d encourage Judy to bring chicken wings for the whole group. Revisiting those special moments between friends builds even more of a bond.”

The Photographer: 

Mike Busada of Mike B. Photography

What can couples do to ensure the best getting-ready shots?

Keep the room clean. “If the space where you are getting ready is a mess, we’re going to waste a lot of time straightening it up and moving things out of the way for pictures. Take the bag your wedding gown was in and stuff it under the bed. If you’re in a hotel, ask housekeeping to make the beds before your photographer arrives.”

Communicate the plan beforehand. “If we have a lot of time to work with the bride in the morning, her attendants can be in robes. But if we’re on a tight schedule, we want to make sure the bridesmaids are dressed before we get there. If dad is doing a first look, he needs to know. Otherwise, he’ll think he’s not needed for photos until later on, he won’t be dressed, and we may miss that opportunity.”

Schedule enough time for photos. “One of the big things we run into is not allowing enough time for hair and makeup. Build a thirty-minute cushion into your schedule in case your vendors run behind. Otherwise, we’ll have to rush a lot of the getting ready photos. Generally, giving your photographer at least an hour to capture candid moments and details is ideal.”

Does location matter?

When it comes to lighting, yes. “If the party is getting ready in a hotel, request a corner room with extra windows. If they’re in a private residence, pick the brightest room. In both cases, open all the blinds to let in as much natural light as possible.”

Do couples need to bring props?

Just the essentials. “The bride should have her invitation, shoes, rings, and other jewelry in the room with her. Her dress should be on a nice hanger and if possible, she should have the bouquets ready, too, so the photographer can use them as backdrops for some of the set-ups.”