Let’s get right into it! Bailey Thorpe is a highly recommended makeup artist in Columbus Ohio who travels frequently. I have invited her to share some of her best tips and advice for your wedding day so that you can prepare as best as possible for a perfect day! Below are her recommendations (all of which I highly agree with!!)

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“Remember this is YOUR day, you are the Bride! Do not be afraid to say what you want/need, your wedding vendors are there to make your wedding dreams come true. Also, I know there is a huge stress on “running late” but the truth is, nothing can start without the Bride! If you are running a little behind, don’t stress about it. Everything will workout fine and the wedding vendors know how to handle it! If you don’t have a wedding planner, make sure you have someone who is experienced help you with the wedding day schedule so that everything runs smoothly. If you do, they will be amazing at doing it for you and will communicate with all of your vendors! (I highly recommend having a planner)If you are one of my brides and need help with timing and schedules I’d be happy to help you as well!

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Make sure to eat!
It sounds simple, but be sure to eat lunch and drink lots of water! It’s ok to sip some champagne but make sure to hydrate, you have a very long day ahead of you! I always suggest bringing in some kind of lunch for you and your bridal party to eat while you’re getting ready. No one wants a hangry bridal party! It’s easiest to order ahead of time so that you aren’t trying to figure out orders on the day of and set up a delivery.

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Go with the flow on your wedding day
You have spent months if not more planning the perfect day. On the day of the wedding, things will go wrong. I have never talked to a bride afterwards who has said 100% of things went perfectly. At my own wedding, my cake was never cut for guests, my brother had a suit button pop off minutes before walking down the aisle (my MOH fixed it really quick though) and it rained all day so the ceremony moved to inside just to name a few. It was still the best day of my life and I didn’t let any of it bother me. The point is, there are a lot of things that will be out of your control and the best thing you can do is just accept it and enjoy every minute of your day. They aren’t kidding when they tell you it’s the fastest day of your life!

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Booking vendors as soon as possible
Book your makeup & hair artists as soon as you have your venue and date secured. There are only so many artists and there are A LOT of weddings that happen on the same dates. Dates book up way earlier than you think. Waiting until 1-3 months before is way too close to the wedding date. It is really never to soon to start reaching out to us! I always try to recommend other artists if I am unavailable, but the truth is most of the time they are also already booked. I am already booking all the way through 2022. The order I would personally recommend booking vendors is 1. Venue, photo/video & wedding planner, 2. Makeup & Hair, Florist, DJ or Band 3. Food, Cake, rentals and other details. Book the things you care about most first so you don’t miss out on the vendors you want!

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Details for your Photographer
Put together a bag of all of the details you want to give your photographer for photos when they arrive. They will ask for invitations, shoes, perfume, accessories and anything else that might be special to you. Give the bag to your MOH so that they can handle it for you. You will most likely be getting your hair or makeup done when the photographer arrives so it will be much easier if you don’t have to get up and look for things when they do!

Wedding Sparkler Exit at Old Blue Rooster in Canal Winchester Ohio

Emergency kit
Items to bring in case of emergency for the wedding day! I’m sure there are many more but these are things I’ve noticed after both being in weddings as a bridesmaid and working them. Leave some of your must haves in the comments for future brides!
Mini sewing kit
Lint roller
Hand steamer
Water bottles
Advil/meds
Bobby pins
Toothbrush/toothpaste for the bride
Fashion tape
Tampons
Lotion
Small tissue packs
Deodorant
Bandaids

Bring comfy reception shoes
I wore very cute and uncomfortable shoes for my ceremony and switched out of them as soon as I got back down the aisle. I know it sounds crazy but crocs makes a pair of comfy wedges that are actually pretty cute. I swear by them! They are the most comfortable shoe I’ve ever worn, 10/10 recommend. You will have way more fun dancing if your feet don’t hurt and no one will see them. Plus if you wear flat shoes after, your dress will probably be a little too long so the wedge is ideal.

Pick out a new perfume for your wedding day
Every time you wear it after for years to come, it will remind you of your special day! Scents are one of the biggest things that can trigger memories and bring you right back to those moments that you cherish. My wedding scent was Versace Eros Pour Femme, and I typically wear it now for special occasions. I love having something that I can use to remind me of the best day of my life! My husband also picked a cologne for the wedding day and I love when he wears it.

The First Look
There are so many perks of doing a first look! You get more time for pictures before the ceremony and more time to spend with your wedding guests after. After your ceremony is the ideal time to take family photos while the rest of the guests head to cocktail hour. You will most likely get some more pictures with the bridal party and then some alone time just the two of you to get some photos and calm your nerves before the reception starts! The first look is a good opportunity for you two to share letters, say prayers or exchange gifts. Your wedding day is the fastest day ever and you are going to want to soak up every minute with friends, family & eachother. The other amazing part of doing a first look is it gives you a few moments together before you walk down the aisle and it helps calm your nerves. Don’t worry, you will still feel plenty of emotions walking down the aisle! I 1000% recommend. Originally my husband was very against doing one but he changed his mind a few weeks before and now it is one of our favorite memories. We are both so happy we did it!”
You can find Bailey on her facebook or instagram.
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Photo planning tips and advice
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Budgeting for your wedding day
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Have additional advice? List it in the comments so that future brides can best prepare! You just might be featured in our next blog post.

Gabriella Sutherland is a wedding and elopement photographer based out of Columbus Ohio that travels in and out of state frequently. To book your wedding date with Gabby, inquire with her at the link below.