Getting Ready Space Ideas

Could you get ready at someone's house? Not sure how far your wedding is from where you or your family/friends live. Or what about renting an Airbnb to get ready? You could see if the girls want to have a sleepover the night before then they don't have to worry about traveling for hair and makeup the morning of the wedding.

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Unfortunately we live about 30 minutes away. The hotel is right next to the venue so we're trying to find something close by so people aren't driving back and forth, plus I want vendors to be able to go back and forth (e.g. planner helping to set up the venue, and swing by us getting ready as needed.) I've thought about this, but I don't think we can swing it.

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What about the Airbnb option I also mentioned?

I’m getting ready in a normal hotel room at the Outer Banks with my 3 bridesmaids and my mom. It will be cozy, but we will make it work! The biggest thing is lighting in the room, or if you can get a room with a balcony, that might be helpful.

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Yes this is an option too that I have looking into. Good thought! None (that are left) are very nice or close to downtown. I'd hate for anyone to not be able to stay with their dates the night before. I can certainly do this if nothing else, but I'm also thinking I'd prefer my hotel's meeting space simply do to convenience and look of the space compared to my airbnb options. I'm certainly keeping this one in the consideration set though. Thanks!

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Ah that sounds prefect! I have 7 bridesmaids, MOG and my SIL is officiating and getting ready with us - so its 10 total plus a couple vendors who will be in and out. Wah wish we could make a normal room work!

View Quoted Comment Oh goodness, yes, that’s too many! Wish I had a better suggestion for you, but you’ll figure it out!!

What about connecting hotel rooms and rent two? (Since you have such a large crowd)

Check out historical houses or bed and breakfasts. There’s several where I live that can be rented out for events for cheap.

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Oh that's a good idea - I've been come across a few here and there in my "hotel" searching, but phrasing it B&B and historical homes has brought up a few more I can reach out to. Thanks!

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Thanks for the idea! This is what we're doing for the guys, I'd still prefer some sitting space for the ladies, but this is a good backup option too!

If renting an additional hotel room is not an option, go with the closest home of whoever is in your group. A 30 minute drive in an Uber van will go by quickly.

What's the venue? Is it indoors or outdoors?


When my sister got married, she had a hair/nails/makeup "party" in one of the rooms at the hotel she reserved for the out-of-town family, and then we went to the venue to change into our dresses. The venue was in a historic house and we just used a spare room upstairs to change as a group.
I'm getting married in early October and it's an outdoor setting so we're getting the venue to set up a canopy with sides for myself and other members of my bridal party to get ready in. While we aren't planning on getting pictures taken in it, I think a large canopy would be really adorable set up with a cute little love seat and some decorations!
If you can't set it up at your actual venue, maybe a nearby park? Or if a canopy setting just isn't your thing, maybe get an airbnb instead? Renting an airbnb space for that day would also give you a place to spend the night or provide accommodation for guests, if needed. And, anyone with belongings that they don't need at the wedding would be able to just leave them there safely.

For a few of the weddings I've been in/attended, the bridal party has gotten ready in a rented airbnb, a B&B, at the hair salon where the stylist worked (booked out for that morning), in the conference room at a hotel (hotel staff removed table and set up for relaxing), and at a friend/family members house.

We're considering having the girls get ready at the hotel using either a suite if available or renting a conference room like I said above, and the guys get ready at our house the day of because of the amount of room and seating options, and we're about 45 minutes away from the venue. I'm not too worried about it, we'd hire a bus or something to travel together to make it more fun for them.

Have you already booked your hair and makeup? Sometimes they have a bridal salon that you can get ready in. Since you are in Raleigh, check out the Bardot Bridal. They happen to also have a team in St. Augustine who I am using for my HMU, and I am using their bridal salon in St. A to get ready. They used to have a super cute "beauty bus" available in NC to get ready in. I'm not sure if they still have the bus, but it's worth looking into!