Let me tell you a story about a girl who “thought” she had all of her Wedding Day Detail Must-Haves totally in order.
It was my wedding day. I had planned the whole thing in just eight months. Talking tight timeline, multiple moving pieces, and (of course) I thought I had it all together. But somewhere between the hairspray haze, frustration, grabbing my vow book, wrangling my dress, and calming my nerves, arriving late to my own ceremony… I forgot one pretty important thing:
My veil.
You know, that delicate, lacy, sentimental piece I had picked out months in advance? The one thing I was most excited about because I spent countless hours (and attempts) matching it to my wedding dress…
Yep. It never made it into the car. Didn’t even make it it to the ceremony. And as soon as I realized it, I had two choices: freak out… or laugh, breathe, and roll with it. (Spoiler alert: I really wanted to go back and get it, but I was already late to my own ceremony, so I laughed, and it still turned out to be one of my favorite stories from my wedding.)
So yeah, take it from a real-life bride-turned-wedding photographer. Your getting ready hours are everything. They set the tone for the entire day. Honestly, I had so many good (and bad) memories of my wedding. Either way, whether you’re the ultra-organized type or the “wing it with mimosas” type, I hope these Wedding Day Detail Must-Haves tips will help you have a smoother, calmer, and honestly more fun morning without too much of the chaos of the day.
1. Start Earlier Than You Think You Need to
I know it sounds excessive when I say “start hair and makeup early,” do it. Realistically, we all would love for weddings to run perfectly on time, but trust me when I say things always take longer than expected. As someone who did her own makeup, I can tell you… sometimes a lash just refuses to cooperate. And as someone who had her hair done professionally, let’s just say my hair gives people a run for their money. Someone will forget their shoes (or even their vow book). Your designated helper might need assistance steaming the dress or suits. A button will pop. It’s all part of it, and the more buffer time you build in, the less any of it actually matters.
This is why I say this to all my couples: Give yourself breathing room. When I create your Wedding Day Photo Timeline, I always build buffer time into the timeline I help you plan. It’s not about being rigid or overly structured, it’s about being realistic. More time = less stress. Always.
📸 Photographer tip: I aim to arrive about 90 minutes before you’re fully dressed to capture flat lays, detail shots, and final emotional pre-wedding getting ready moments. So yes, please do not worry if you are still in your comfy robe!
2. Designate a Getting Ready Zone for your Wedding Day Detail Must-Haves
Lighting matters. So does space.
If possible, get ready in a room with great natural light—ideally near a window with soft, indirect light. Whether you’re in a hotel suite, an Airbnb, or your best friend’s living room, try to keep one area tidy for photos and another for the makeup/hair team to do their thing.
Now let’s talk about the whole documentary photographer thing because people love to throw that term around without really knowing what it means.
I’m not full documentary, but I kind of am. I’m also not the up-in-your-face news reporter telling you, “Hey, move the curling iron and maybe smile a little more.” What I am is your personal hype woman, chaos-calmer, and go-to guide for making sure you feel like the best version of yourself, even with pre-wedding nerves kicking in.
So here’s the real question:
Do you want every empty Starbucks cup, overflowing makeup bag, and your accidental RBF documented for life…or do you want someone who’s going to gently jump in, clear the clutter, fix the flyaways, and remind you that you’re killing it?
Because I’ll absolutely capture the true documentary real moments, but I’ll also help you (and your space) look and feel GOOD while doing it. We’re not staging fake stuff, we’re just making sure your timeline and space actually support the memories you want to relive.
And if you’re anything like me (aka: multiple water bottles, iced coffee round two, and three curling irons on the counter), do yourself a favor and assign someone to be on clutter patrol. I promise, future-you will thank present-you.
3. Pack a “Don’t Forget This!” Wedding Day Detail Must-Haves Bag
Let’s just say… if I had made a checklist the night before, my veil would’ve made the cut. 😉
Here’s what to include:
- Jewelry
- Vow books
- Invitation suite (for flat lay photos!)
- Perfume or cologne
- Hair and makeup touch-up kit
- Emergency kit (stain stick, mini sewing kit, band-aids, pain reliever)
- Deodorant
- Mints or gum
- Phone charger
- Flats or slippers
- SNACKS. (Please don’t skip breakfast.)
- Oh…and almost forgot (again)…the VEIL if you will have one.
👜 Pro tip: Put this bag next to your dress or shoes the night before. Label it. Make it stand out! Remember….Out of sight = out of wedding.
4. Play Your Hype Music
The vibe you set in the morning can seriously shift your energy for the rest of the day. So make a getting ready playlist, or better yet, a shared one with your wedding party and press play the moment coffee is brewed.
Whether it’s 90s bangers, early 2000s throwbacks (hello, Usher, Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, & Destiny’s Child), or those scream-the-lyrics kind of jams, let music fill the room. It sets the tone, brings the energy.
5. Choose Your People Wisely & add them to the Wedding Day Detail Must-Haves list
I mean this from the bottom of my veil-forgetting heart: be intentional about who’s in the room with you. Creating a Wedding Day Detail Must-Haves is not just about the details like your dress, your vows, your rings, etc. It is also about the people.
Your getting ready space should feel safe, supportive, and peaceful. I’ve lived the reality of having someone in my space who brought more tension than calm, and while I didn’t realize how much it affected me in the moment, I definitely felt it (and heard all about it) later. This part of the day should be filled with ease, joy, and people who remind you why you’re so excited to walk down the aisle.
💛 If someone’s energy isn’t serving you, it’s more than okay to create space. Protect your peace, you only get this morning once.
6. Lay Everything Out the Night Before
This is your no-brainer hack: hang your dress, set out your accessories, lay out your shoes, and stack all photo details in one spot. Seriously—don’t wait until the morning of to be digging through bags or asking your cousin where the vow book ended up.
Create a box, tote, or even a zippered pouch and label it whatever feels like youL “Details,” “Important AF,” “Don’t Forget This Sh**”. Seriously, whatever makes you laugh and remember that this little bag holds big magic.
Want those Pinterest-worthy flat lay photos? This is how we make that happen. Put everything you want photographed in the box or bag the night before and leave it right next to your dress so I can grab it and work my flat lay magic the moment I walk in. You won’t have to think about a thing, we’ve got this handled.
7. Assign a Morning Point Person
You shouldn’t be the one texting the florist, checking if Aunt Marcy has arrived, or running back to the car to grab a bow tie. It is so easy to forgot to grab all of the Wedding Day Detail Must-Haves that you planned months for.
Pick one trusted friend or family member (not in your wedding party) to be your “runner” for the day. Hand them your phone if needed. Let them field the last-minute questions and handle the hiccups so you can stay in the moment, not spiral into chaos-control mode.
I’ve had brides I watched burst into tears because the caterer was late, the flowers were missing, and they were glued to their phones trying to fix everything themselves. It’s heartbreaking, but it is so avoidable. You deserve to breathe through your morning, not panic your way through it.
I always coordinate directly with your point person when I arrive, so you don’t even have to think about who’s doing what. It keeps things flowing, keeps questions off your plate, and helps you avoid decision fatigue before noon.
8. Create Moments That Matter
This might sound sappy, but don’t rush through this part. My own wedding day flew by in the blink of an eye. One minute I was getting my hair done, and the next I was waving goodbye at the end of the night. And honestly? I wish I had slowed down enough to fully soak in that just-married feeling with my husband. Seriously., the guy I waited five years to marry, and would choose again a hundred times over I only remember the aftermath of it all. I don’t even remember what our food tasted like, I was that stressed.
Your wedding morning can be one of the most emotional, intimate parts of the day. I’ve witnessed brides reading letters from their partner through tears, dads seeing their daughter in her dress for the first time, best friends holding hands during prayer circles, and siblings whispering pep talks in quiet corners.
Make space for that. Plan for that. Let it matter just as much as the big moments later in the day.
Because when the cake’s gone and the music fades, the photos will tell the emotions and memories of your day. You will relieve the quiet, real, heart-filled in-betweens that remind you exactly why you said yes in the first place.
✅ Grab the Free Wedding Morning Checklist
Want to keep all of this organized? I’ve got you covered.
Click here to get my free Wedding Morning Checklist (PDF)
It includes everything we just covered, essentials for you, must-haves for your photographer, snacks (obviously), and an emergency kit that’ll save the day when buttons pop or curls won’t hold.
Final Thoughts from Someone Who’s Been Married
Here’s the truth: the little things might not go perfectly. Your dress might snag. Your ring bearer might eat a macaron before photos. You might, I don’t know… forget your veil.
But if you start your day with intention, good people, and breathing room and you’ll be able to laugh when those things happen. You’ll be present for the good stuff. And your photos will reflect the peace, joy, and heck-yes energy you deserve.
And that? That’s what I’ll be there to capture.
Need help making sure you’ve got every last detail covered for your Colorado wedding morning? After photographing hundreds of weddings across Colorado and beyond, I’ve seen exactly what makes a wedding day flow smoothly, and what throws it off. That’s why I created the Wedding Day Detail Must-Haves “Wedding Morning Checklist” and wrote (if I do say so myself), this very real blog of lessons I’ve both learned and seen to help you feel calm, organized, and ready for whatever the day brings (including the little things, like remembering your veil…).
I don’t just show up with a camera, I help my couples remember their Wedding Day Detail Must-Haves, build stress-free, intentional timelines that leave room for real moments and unforgettable memories. If you’re feeling stuck or want someone in your corner who’s done this a hundred times over (literally), I’ve got you. Connect with me and plan your Colorado wedding adventure. Reach out today!