The most common reason a bride arrives late to church is not traffic. It is a morning planned as if hair, makeup and photos take half the time they actually do.
A realistic timeline, worked backwards from the ceremony start time, can remove most of the stress. Here is a guide for a typical church wedding in Ghana or Nigeria.
Work backwards
Start from the time you must leave for the church, then subtract the time each task takes. For a ceremony at 10 a.m., with 45 minutes’ travel, you should leave by about 9 a.m. That means being fully dressed by about 8.30 a.m.
A sample timeline
- 4.30 to 5 a.m. Wake up, shower, eat something light, drink water.
- 5 to 6.30 a.m. Hair styling or gele preparation, depending on the look.
- 5.30 to 7.30 a.m. Makeup for the bride. Bridesmaids and mothers often have makeup done before or alongside, so book enough artists.
- 7.30 a.m. Photographer arrives for details: dress, shoes, rings, jewellery, invitation.
- 7.45 to 8.15 a.m. Getting dressed, with help from a trusted friend or relative.
- 8.15 to 8.45 a.m. Portraits with bridesmaids and family.
- 8.45 a.m. Final touch-ups.
- 9 a.m. Leave for the church.
Add extra time if you have a large bridal party or several looks.
Who should be in the room
Keep the room small: the bride, a few bridesmaids, a close relative, the hair and makeup team and the photographer. Crowded rooms slow everyone down and add stress.
What to pack
- Dress, veil, shoes and undergarments;
- jewellery and any heirloom items;
- a small emergency kit: safety pins, sewing kit, tissues, blotting paper, painkillers, plasters, deodorant, lip colour;
- snacks and water;
- phone charger;
- a printed timeline and contact list.
Eat
Many brides skip food because they are nervous, then feel faint during the ceremony. Eat a small breakfast and keep snacks nearby.
Assign a coordinator
Choose one calm person, a planner, bridesmaid or relative, to keep time, handle vendors and answer phone calls, so the bride does not have to.
Traditional wedding mornings
For traditional ceremonies, allow extra time for complex outfits such as kente wraps, beadwork and gele, which can take longer than expected.
The first photographs of the day are often taken in the bridal room. The calm ones come from mornings that started early enough.
