What time should I be ready on my wedding morning?

Beautiful bridal portraits, a relaxed wedding morning and why being fashionably late isn't actually always fashionable.

I'm going to let you in on a little wedding photography secret.

Some of the most beautiful bridal portraits you'll ever see? They weren't taken in a mad rush, five minutes before the bride needed to leave.

They happened because there was time.

Time to find the beautiful light. Time to arrange the dress. Time to get those gorgeous, magazine-worthy portraits you've been saving to your Pinterest board for the last eighteen months.

And most importantly, time to actually enjoy the experience.

So, here's my biggest piece of advice for your wedding morning:

Aim to be completely ready at least ONE HOUR before your ceremony.

Yes, an entire hour. No, I haven't lost my mind. Let me explain.

Weddings Run Late. It's Practically a Tradition.

If there's one thing I've learnt from photographing weddings, it's that everything takes longer than you think it will.

Hair and makeup? Longer.

Getting into your dress? Longer.

Finding the earrings you definitely put somewhere safe? Significantly longer.

And let's not even discuss the bridesmaid who's decided now is the perfect time to steam her dress.

The reality is that wedding mornings are busy. There's a lot happening, a lot of people involved and usually someone asking where the scissors are.

Even the most meticulously planned mornings can overrun.

Which is exactly why building in some extra time is so important.

Because when everything is scheduled down to the very last minute, one tiny delay can have a domino effect on the rest of your morning.

And unfortunately, the first thing that tends to disappear when time runs out?

Your bridal portraits.

Those Beautiful Bridal Portraits Don't Just Happen in 30 Seconds.

You know those gorgeous photographs of a bride standing by a beautiful window, her dress perfectly arranged, looking like she's just stepped out of the pages of Vogue?

Or those relaxed, joyful photographs with her bridesmaids, champagne in hand, looking effortlessly fabulous?

They need time.

Not hours and hours. And certainly not an entire morning spent posing for photographs.

But enough time for us to find the best light, choose a beautiful spot, make sure your dress looks incredible and give you a little direction.

Because whilst I can work quickly when I need to, there's a difference between taking a photograph and having the time to create something really special.

And if you've chosen me because you love those beautiful, slightly editorial bridal portraits, I want to make sure we actually have the opportunity to create them for you.

Preferably without someone shouting, "THE CAR'S HERE!" halfway through.

Your Bridesmaids and Family Deserve Their Moment Too.

One of my favourite things about having extra time on a wedding morning is that we can capture so much more than just portraits of you.

Think beautiful photographs with your bridesmaids, your mum helping with the finishing touches, a lovely portrait with your dad or a few moments with the people who've been by your side all morning.

These aren't just photographs to tick off a list.

They're memories of a really special part of your wedding day.

And when we have time to photograph them before the ceremony, it means there's potentially less to squeeze into that precious time afterwards.

Which, quite frankly, sounds like an excellent excuse to spend more time enjoying your

drinks reception.

Being Ready Early Doesn't Mean Sitting Around Doing Nothing.

I think this is where people sometimes get a little confused.

When I say you should aim to be ready an hour before your ceremony, I don't mean sitting perfectly still in your dress, staring at the clock and wondering what to do with yourself.

I mean having the freedom to enjoy those final moments.

To have a glass of champagne with your bridesmaids.

To take a few beautiful photographs without feeling rushed.

To have a moment with your family.

To actually look in the mirror and take in the fact that you're about to get married.

Because your wedding morning is part of your wedding day too. It deserves to be enjoyed, not just survived.

So, How Do You Make It Happen?

It all starts with your hair and makeup schedule.

Speak to your hair and makeup team well in advance and explain that you'd love to be completely ready with plenty of time to spare.

And by ready, I mean hair finished, makeup finished, dress on, jewellery in place and shoes somewhere other than the bottom of a suitcase.

If you're travelling to your ceremony, you'll need to factor that in too. An hour before the ceremony isn't much use if you've got a 45-minute journey ahead of you!

For that reason, I always recommend working backwards from the time you need to leave, rather than just the ceremony itself.

Your photographer can help you plan this as part of your wedding photography timeline, making sure there's a realistic window for those beautiful portraits without making the morning feel like a military operation.

And If Everything Doesn't Go to Plan?

Please don't panic.

I'm fully aware that weddings are unpredictable, and sometimes even the most beautifully organised morning goes completely out of the window.

If you're running late, we'll adapt. We'll find another opportunity for those portraits, whether that's after the ceremony or later in the day.

That's part of my job.

But there's a big difference between having a backup plan and deliberately leaving ourselves no time in the first place.

I'd much rather we have an extra twenty minutes to enjoy than be desperately trying to find twenty minutes that don't exist.

The Bottom Line? Give Yourself the Gift of Time.

You've spent months, perhaps years, planning this day.

You've chosen the dress, the flowers, the venue, the people you want around you and, hopefully, a photographer whose work you absolutely love.

So let's make sure there's time to capture it all beautifully.

Because those gorgeous bridal portraits aren't something I want to squeeze in between fastening your shoes and sprinting to the ceremony.

I want you to enjoy having them taken.

I want you to feel incredible.

And I want you to look back at your photographs and remember how wonderful that morning felt, rather than how quickly everyone was shouting at you to get in the car.

So please, build that extra hour into your plans.

Your photographs, your stress levels and your future self will thank you.

And if we finish early? Well, there's always time for another glass of champagne. 🥂