The Wedding Morning Ideas You'll Need to Rise and Shine
The morning of your wedding day is undoubtedly an exciting time; however, with so many moving parts—from the hair and makeup to the first-look photos—it can be an overwhelming few hours. However, to ensure the day goes off without a hitch, look no further than these expert-approved ideas for the morning of your wedding.
Whether you're the one getting married or a member of the wedding party, The Knot has you covered. What's more, we've reached out to various wedding pros—planners, photographers and more—to uncover the best things for you to do on the morning of the wedding (spoiler alert: don't forget to eat!).
In this article:
To-Be-Wed: Morning of the Wedding Ideas
The countdown to the altar is officially on, but, in the meantime, we're sharing some top tips, tricks and must-dos for the morning of the wedding: thank us later!
Start the day with a hearty breakfast.
You already know that breakfast is the most important meal of the day—and it's important to fuel up before the festivities. Alison Russell, owner of Stonegate Manor, a wedding venue in Benton Harbor, Michigan, recommends sitting down for breakfast with your soon-to-be spouse (that is, assuming you are planning to see your partner before the wedding ceremony). According to the wedding pro, "This is also a nice time to express romantic sentiments to each other, present tokens of affection, and share how much this day means to you."
Take a breather.
The day (and night) ahead is sure to be a busy one—and it's completely normal if you have some pre-wedding jitters. To combat your nerves and help you calm down, Russell recommends setting aside some time to unwind. For example, you may consider yoga, meditation, deep breathing exercises or embarking on a short walk.
Read over your vows.
If you and your spouse-to-be have opted to write your own vows, it's worth looking them over one final time before saying "I do." "At this point, you've put hard work into preparing them," says Russell, before adding: "This last look just gives you a boost of confidence." Remember, practice makes perfect!
Shake it off.
Set the tone for the day by blasting some of your favorite tunes and busting a move. Need some music inspiration? Check out our ultimate prewedding playlist (you're welcome!).
Present your wedding party with a thoughtful letter or gift.
While bridesmaid gifts are entirely optional, they serve as a special way for you to show appreciation to your crew one last time before walking down the aisle. Alternatively, consider presenting the members of your wedding party with thoughtful handwritten notes, which can go a long way.
Have a first look with your wedding party.
Whether or not you choose to have a first look with your soon-to-be spouse, you should absolutely have one with members of the wedding party. It's also worth asking your wedding photographer to capture the special moment you reveal your dress to your nearest and dearest.
Spend time with your family.
According to Diane Kolanović-Šolaja of Dee Kay Events in Manalapan, New Jersey, you may want to carve out some time to hang with your family before you embark on this new chapter as a married couple. For example, she says, "Parent dances will still be happening later, but when will breakfast with your mom and mother-in-law happen again?" Ultimately, it's safe to say these happy memories will last you all a lifetime.
Wedding Party: Morning of the Wedding Ideas
Members of the wedding party play a crucial role in the days—and hours!—leading up to the wedding ceremony. Ahead, we're rounding up the top things to do the morning of the wedding to set the scene for a fun and fuss-free day.
Communicate and coordinate.
You already know this, but communication is key to ensuring everything runs smoothly on the day of the wedding. With this in mind, Boston, Massachusetts-based wedding photographer Jessica Feiden tells The Knot: "Make sure to coordinate with everyone in the wedding party to see if essential items will be on hand to get ready such as a steamer, hair spray, fashion tape, etc."
Share a toast.
Start the day off on a sentimental note with a heartfelt toast to your soon-to-be-wed pal—and prepare to cry happy tears!
Curate an epic getting-ready playlist.
The morning of the wedding can be chaotic, to say the least. So, lighten up the mood—and get everyone psyched for the (long) day ahead—by blasting your favorite high-energy tunes and compiling them into the ultimate prewedding playlist. Don't be afraid to bust a move or two, either.
Bring snacks and water.
Nora Sheils, co-founder of Rock Paper Coin and founder of Bridal Bliss in Lake Oswego, Oregon, encourages members of the wedding party to set up the room with snacks and water. "Nerves tend to make people forget to eat, but when the options are plentiful and filling, you are setting everyone up for success." She continues, telling The Knot, "Plus, it's one less thing for the couple to worry about."
Practice your speech (if applicable).
If you're giving a speech during the wedding reception, Brian Franklin, the cofounder of Vows & Speeches in Los Angeles, California, recommends rehearsing "as many times as you can" the morning of the wedding. He also advises printing out the speech in a large enough font to where you'll be able to read it in what might potentially be dim lighting."
Decorate the getting-ready suite.
Per Feiden, "It could be a fun activity to decorate the getting-ready suite to make the morning even more celebratory as you get ready for the day." Also, be sure to record your friend's heartwarming reaction so they can have it for years to come.
Take (lots of) photos and videos!
Last but certainly not least, you'll want to make time to capture as much content—videos and photos included—as you can for the newlyweds. Just think about how special it'll be for the couple to receive those behind-the-scenes photos of the dress, accessories and hair and makeup and more.