It’s A Matter of Time – Wedding Day Itinerary Construction Tip #1

When constructing your wedding day itinerary, there are three points of views to be considered. The first of which, is from the view point of you as the couple, your families and the wedding party.

The last thing you want on your wedding day is for those involved (including yourselves) to feel anxious, harried, rushed or unprepared for the wedding. If the day starts off running behind schedule it will create a snowball effect for the rest of the day, and you will find yourselves trying to play catch up as the day progresses.

One of the first things to take into account is the preparation time (hair, make-up, grooming, and dressing) needed for the bride, groom, attendants, parents, etc., and the travel time needed to get all of the players to the ceremony site on time. Keep in mind that on time doesn’t mean the start time but at least 45 minutes to an hour before. Here are a few tips to help you better manage your preparation and travel time.

Hair and Make-up

· If it is at all possible, please avoid getting your hair done on the day of the wedding. Of course every bride and for that matter bridesmaid wants to have a fresh hair style on the day of the wedding. This can be accomplished by getting your hair done the day before and getting it touched up on the morning of the wedding.
· Get all coloring, cutting, perms and weaves done a day or two before the wedding day…these processes will eat up time that you do not have on the wedding day.
· Get all facials, waxing, plucking, etc. done a week or two before your wedding. The last thing you want is to have to spend "time" tending to a swollen, pimply, red, blotchy face on your big day.
· If you will be having a make-up artist do your make-up as well as the make-up for your bridal party, plan accordingly. Generally speaking make-up artist require 30 to 45 minutes for each face, and like to have at least an hour for the bride.
· I don’t want to leave out the groom and groomsmen on this one. Similar to the advice for the bride and bridesmaids, gentlemen please get your haircut and shave a day or two before the big day. Your wedding day is the one day it will take a little longer to prepare yourself, and you don’t want to be delayed by the barber.

Travel Preparation

· When it comes to scheduling your travel itinerary, obviously you want to be on time. In order to do that, be sure to take into account such things as weather conditions, traffic patterns during your travel time, and construction that may be taking place on your travel route.
· Be sure to factor in the number of people and the time it takes for them to get in and out of the vehicle.
· If you will be using a larger vehicle, such as a stretch limo, hummer, etc., be sure to make allowance for the extra time these vehicles will need to navigate through streets that you normally drive with ease.

Organization is Key

· One of the best pieces of advice I can give on the subject of preparing yourself on the morning of the wedding is to be organized. There will be a lot going on as everyone will be trying to get themselves together, and assist the bride and groom in their preparation. A clutter free environment is the goal. If multiple people are getting dressed in one location, it is wise to get organized by hanging up attire, lining up shoes, laying out jewelry, and packing necessary items that you will need during the course of the day as you go along. Be sure to get rid of unneeded bags, boxes, etc., and designate a separate area for hair and make-up.

Be sure to check back later for tips on how to construct your wedding day itinerary from the point of view of your vendors.