Day of timeline

What I did was asked my photographer what time I needed to be getting in my dress in order for us to have time for all the pictures before the ceremony we wanted. Then I told my hair and makeup artist that time and they told me what time they would need to start on everyone in order to have us ready by that time.

Personally, my wedding was at noon. I am not a morning person by any means, and I have bad anxiety so I knew the longer I sat there waiting for my wedding to start, the more my anxiety would build. I did my own makeup, and when I timed myself when I practiced it took me 20 minutes, so I left myself 30. My hair stylist said 60-90 minutes, and she was only doing my hair (one of my bridesmaids did hair and makeup for herself and the other girls). My bridesmaids came over at 9:30, I started my makeup around 9:45, was done with makeup when my hair stylist arrived at 10:15, and was already in my dress and ready to go when the photographers arrived at 11:40.

It was definitely a little rushed. Could I have a do-over, I'd like to think maybe I would've started at 9, leaving myself a little over 2.5 hours, instead of just around 2. But I am also glad that I had the extra half hour of sleep... The night before my wedding, I slept from around 12:45 until 4:45, and then I was up until about 8 (just with nerves!) and I felt so horribly sick with exhaustion. Thank God I drifted back around 8 until my alarm went off at 9:15...... That last hour of sleep made a WORLD of difference!

So... TLDR: It really depends on (1) how many people are getting ready with you (2) how long your hair/makeup artists say it will take (3) how much chill time you want to have. It really is a precarious balance weighing what will give you more anxiety: the nerves of waiting for your wedding to start vs. the stress of not having enough time to get ready.

But most importantly I'd just say make sure you prioritize getting enough sleep! You'll need it!

I basically worked backwards.... Start at the time you need to be ready for pictures and work your way back. Allow for a little extra time on everything! I was happy I had enough time to get ready but not so much that nerves settled in. It also depends on your situation- do you have a hotel room, bridal suite, getting ready photos, first look, etc.
We didn't do getting ready photos so I had to be ready by 5:00 (ceremony at 5:30). Couldn't get into bridal suite until 3:30, so only makeup and getting dressed could be done there. Hair had to be done before then and would take about 2 and a half hours for myself, bridesmaids and my mom. Travel was about thirty... So we said need hair done by 2:30. Told hairstylist this and she told me when she needed us all in.

Thank you all!!! I think I’ve figured it out now (: