5:30 pm Ceremony Time

I guess it depends on how much time you would need and where you would be getting ready. My ceremony is at 6:00pm. I'll be getting ready a little earlier because we're going to get the pictures out of the way first. So I was thinking I can start getting ready at about 2:00pm, start pictures at about 3:00pm, so that I'll have enough time to get to the ceremony location and freshen up before the ceremony.

I can't imagine I'll get anything started before noon. We are also taking picture beforehand. I am either getting ready at a hotel that is 2 miles away from the picture location and venue, or I'm getting ready at a friend's house who is 20 minutes (with traffic) away from the picture location and venue. Maybe I'll go get a massage at 8 or 9 am

Our wedding is at 5 and I'm starting to get ready around 9:30 or 10am. That way I make sure there's plenty of time to get everyone's hair and makeup done, and I'll get the pictures of me and my girls done prior to the ceremony. I just don't want to feel rushed.

Are your bridesmaids getting ready with you? if so how many? are you getting professional hair and makeup done ? are you doing a first look? how far away is the ceremony? all these will go into your decision.

My ceremony starts at 4 and I'm going to start getting ready around 10 am, but I'm doing a first look and will be having professional hair and makeup.

Whatever you decide you definiteley don't want to underestimate the time it takes to get ready. You want to be calm and relaxed before the wedding, so better to err on the side of caution imo.

Oh my lord, my ceremony is at 7 and hair and makeup for everyone starts at 10:30 in the morning. WTF

Mine starts at 5, so my thought was to start getting ready around noon with my bridesmaids.

It depends on what you have to get done on your wedding day. For instance your hair appointment, mani/pedi, make-up, etc. Also, you are slow about getting dress ( I know I am..lol)? Are you and wedding party going to do brunch or anything before getting ready (like taking pictures)? My wedding starts at 5:00 pm and I know I move slow and I do not live in the same city as where my wedding will be, so will be getting ready early. My MUA is doing the 1st girl make-up at 10am. I have a total of 9 girls getting make-up and then she will get to me.

Also I wouldn't get a massage the day of the wedding just in case it leaves you sore.

My ceremony started at 7:30 and we were up at 7 AM for hair and make up.

We are having professional hair and makeup. I'm offering it up to my 3 bridesmaids to get their hair done. I'll probably pay for it. But it won't be required. If they don't want to get ready with me until later because they want to be with their SO, I don't have a problem with that. We are doing a first look. I am either getting ready at a hotel that is 2 miles away from the picture location and venue (ceremony and reception in one location), or I'm getting ready at a friend's house who is 20 minutes (with traffic) away from the picture location and venue. So I'm not far at all. We can't arrive too early to the venue because there is no bridal suite. So I have to wait in the limo in the parking lot until I walk down the aisle.

I had a 3pm ceremony. Hair & make up came at 10:30, she was done by noon. Photographers showed up just after 1. They were done and I was dressed by 2 and we were all completely ready to go by 2:30.

I got married at my venue (bed and breakfast) so I had no travel time, and I did have some downtime at a few points in the process, which I liked. I got to hang out and spend some time with my girls and feel less frazzled and rushed, but not everyone likes that.

If you're doing hair and make up, and getting ready pictures with a photographer - give yourself atleast 4 hours, I'd say, for all of it. More if you have any significant travel time to the ceremony.

Also, I am not slow in the least bit with getting ready. I have gotten ready in 7 minutes before (from waking up to out the door) so I don't lolligag in the morning! I just don't want to be sitting around in my dress with 3 hours to spare. I have anxiety attacks that relate to not being able to get to a bathroom. Being in a big poofy dress will add to that anxiety and give me an attack!

I would work backwards. My ceremony is at 5pm, we're going to do our first look at 3 or 3:30pm (early enough to make sure we are done with bridal party pics before guests begin to arrive), dress at 2:45pm, so I could start my hair/make up at 1:30pm, get to the venue at 11am to make sure everything is set up, meanwhile my BMs could be doing their hair/make up. So leave for the venue at 10am, wake up at 7:30, exercise/shower, get everything else together...

My ceremony was at 5:30 and we arrived at the venue at 1:30. We were pressed for time. I wish we had started at 12:30/1. We needed hair done for 7 people (2 stylists), and my makeup done and started pictures at 3:45ish. If we didn't do pictures before, we would have been fine starting at 1:30.

I get ready for work in 20 minutes but your wedding day is a bit different. Give yourself plenty of time so you don't get anxious about being on time.

I would say you should probably set up your timeline based on feedback from your photographer, and hair/MUA. They will have the best idea on how long things will take. I am getting hair done for myself, 3 bridesmaids, MOB and MOG, and make up done for myself and my 3 bridesmaids. I am having a hair person and a makeup artist through the same company, and they are saying that it will take 4 hours to do everyone. Also, our photographer suggested a 2 hour window to take pictures of everyone. And our venue suggested that we plan to be out of sight by 3:15 since guests will start coming in by 3:30 for our 4pm ceremony and we don't want to spoil the first look.

So, with all of that and putting in time in the schedule for getting dressed, lunch and breakfast. We are leaving for the venue at 8:30am starting getting ready at 9am for a 4pm ceremony. I don't usually take a long time to get ready in the mornings either, I am very much role out of bed, but this is different than a standard day. I attached my morning timeline.

Our ceremony starts at 5, photographer will be there at 3 to do the final getting ready pictures and our first look and stuff, we're doing a rehearsal at 2:30, I'm doing my own hair and makeup, starting at home and finishing at the venue, starting probably at 10 just in case. I don't want to feel rushed and I want to take a lunch break. I'm a hairstylist and I've practiced my wedding hair and can get it done in 1 hour start to finish, but I'm not taking any chances.

Our ceremony starts at 5:30. I am going to be starting to get ready at 9:30/10- need time for hair and makeup for 3 people, lounging, breakfast, arrival at the venue. Then photographer arrives around 12:30 for pictures of the dress, ring, invitations etc, first look at 2:00 (need to go to a nearby park for that, so have to include some travel time), pics with the bridal party at 3:15, pics with family at 4:00 and then done and back to the venue between 4:30 and 4:45 so everyone can get into place before guests start arriving around 5.

My 5pm ceremony timeline was:

10-11: hair at salon (5 girls)

11:30-2: makeup at house (4 girls separately - mine took 1 hour, theirs 30 minutes)

2-315: photos at house (girls in robes, getting ready, first look, with our dogs).

330-430: at venue, photos (wedding party, bride and groom, bride family).

430-5: hide in bridal suite.

It was no where near enough time! I wish I had had an extra hour for pictures so we weren't so stressed for time.

Our ceremony was at 4 and we started at 10am. We had a team of 3 doing hair and 1 person doing everyone's makeup. We could have used a little more time.

I would just start as early as possible and if you have extra time - use it to take pictures, celebrate, relax, etc!

One thing I have learned as a women, if I have 20 minutes to get ready I will finish is 15. if I have 10 hours to get ready I will take 10 hours to get ready...lol..

I was also wondering about how long it takes to really get ready. Our ceremony is @ 4pm, we have to set up the venue inside (reception) & outside (ceremony) but cant start until 9am. I want to do pictures before the wedding too... I have a feeling this day is going to be crazy!