Getting Ready: The Calm Before The Storm

The morning of our wedding started off quietly and slowly, with my mom, sister and I heading to one of my bridesmaids’ homes to start getting all dolled up for the special moments to come.

As we entered the quiet house along with our hair and makeup stylists, I relished the serenity of the day, but felt eager for the hustle and bustle I knew would soon follow. After all, this was my wedding day, and every moment was supposed to feel action-packed and fun, right?

But since a few bridesmaids had gone to a separate salon, things remained calm and relatively peaceful for quite a while. My mom made a Starbucks run, as stylist Jana and her daughter worked away. Stephen’s sisters joined us, patiently awaiting their turns in the makeup chair. My phone on my lap, I found time to blog and send off a few fun “wedding day” messages.

But sure enough, as the morning wore on, the house started to fill up, both with people and things. My future mother-in-law brought us lunch, leftover from our rehearsal dinner the night before. Future father-in-law? He also stopped by, kindly heading to Jamba Juice to grab our favorites. The rest of the girls arrived, and there was excited chatter, plus hugs all around.

As the kitchen table became strewn with plates, boxes of crackers, and empty plastic cups, one or two of the girls’ boyfriends even popped in and out of the picture, while photographer Damien steadily snapped away, alongside his assistant Nicole. Photo equipment filled the living room, as my gown hung happily in the window, where it could finally have its day in the sun.

Things were calm yet crazy, and quiet yet joyously loud. It was the perfect combination.

LESSON LEARNED: Before your wedding day, think about exactly what type of “getting ready” experience you’d like, as this can set the tone for how you feel going into the entire day – nervous, excited, calm, and so on. Do you envision a boisterous morning to get you pumped up? A calm, relaxing moment shared with just your sister and mom? A mix of both, like me? Let your personality be your guide. Plus, when choosing a location, be sure to pick a spot that is large enough to comfortably accommodate however many people will be there. A place that will lend a great backdrop for photos doesn’t hurt, either.

Where do you or did you plan to get ready on your wedding day? Do you prefer to be surrounded by a large group, or to keep things small?

(Photo Credits: Personal Library & Damien Smith Photography)