Getting Ready Schedule

I’m sort of in the same situation. I have an 11am ceremony. Originally I wanted to diy most of it but I had to give that up as I started realizing how short on time we were. My advice is to delegate as much as you can to the wedding party, family and/or friends and to simplify projects that can’t be done ahead of time. If I were you I would decorate as soon as possible but be there mostly to delegate and show people what you want. Then leave to get ready. Even if you can’t delegate I would decorate first but have a certain time to stop no matter what. Like stop at 11am so at 10:45 a timer goes off for you to clean up what you have and accept it for how it is. Then go get ready. I personally would do this because 1) I personally wouldn’t ever feel like it’s done (perfectionist) 2) guests may arrive early and you don’t want them to catch you still decorating and 3) doing makeup and hair after allows you to calm your nerves and not ruin it by getting sweaty if you were running all over the place to set up. Also, I’m no morning person either but I know I wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway from excitement and nerves so I’m waking early to get to the venue for hair and makeup at 6am. I purposely made the rehearsal dinner a lunch so I can hopefully get to bed early. Either way it will be a great day good luck!

This sounds like quite a lot to do! I am sure the nerves will help with the early rising. I would definitely advice you to air on the side of time and leave more room than you think. Better to have a few minutes to spare than still do set-up as guests arrive!

I would delegate as much of the decorating to trusted family/friends as you can. If you can't get into your venue until 10am, and the wedding is at 12noon, that's only 2 hours. When are you going to get ready?

I don't think getting ready first is the answer, if you're then going to be putting up a bunch of decorations. If it were me, I'd be a sweaty mess by the time I was done, which negates the getting ready beforehand.

I think you need to ask someone else to stand in for you with the decorating, and spend that 2 hours before the ceremony getting yourself ready (hair makeup and dress). Ask FH to get some of his GMs involved, if possible. It usually doesn't take the men as long to get ready (no hair and makeup), and so they could probably get all the decor up, and then go get dressed in plenty of time.

Hey Kristal! I totally understand your worries, 2 hours will go by very quickly when you have so much to do. I would definitely advocate for getting up early. You will then have time to have a relaxing breakfast with your parents, and lots of coffee to help you wake up!

Do you know what time your florist opens at? Would you be able to ask one of your parents or someone else close to you to collect your flowers so that is something you won't have to worry about?

If you were to decide to get ready after your decorations have been put up, is there somewhere at your venue that you can get changed and do your makeup comfortably?

Are you having a photographer take 'getting ready' photos?

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My florist opens at 9 and is less than a mile from my venue. My plan for that initially was to have my parents with me and get there at 930 because I am their transport from the hotel and they are helping with the deco but now that I am thinking logistics, i don't think i'd have room for all the deco and my parents. I'm contemplating having my MOH or one of my bridesmaids do one or the other if they are willing and have vehicles... with both of the bridesmaids coming in from out of town, as of right now, thats an unknown.

The bridal suite at my venue is fairly large and has a huge mirror for putting on makeup. My dress is zip up so that wont take long.

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Unfortunately all but one of the GMs will be on baby duty. BM and one of the GMs have kids under the age of 3 and are already having trouble finding babysitters for the main part of the day (GM's wife will have a newborn to take care of in addition to their current 1 year old) and BM has his parents taking care of the kids for the main part of the day but they already complain about that-the mom is my MOH. I'm unsure about the last GM but I have since posting asked FFIL for assistance and he said he'd be glad to help but then I'm no longer sure if i can count on my mom/stepdad as we dont know they'll be able to make it.... mom has a bloodclot and they were planning to fly from michigan to texas for the wedding. I'm trying to stay calm about it but it really is just throwing a curveball into everything. I can't imagine not having her there.

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I'm definitely leaning towards doing it in the half hour I am going to be forced to chill in the bridal suite. A lot of things just seem way too up in the air.