GOOD MORNING SUNSHINE

From who to spend it with to what to eat, here are some pointers to bring the joy to your wedding morning preparations

words Elizabeth Chester

Often consumed with drifting down the aisle on a wave of gossamer, brides can overlook the part of their day wedding before the formalities begin. Small details, perhaps, but no less important…

Where to stay

Whether you’re safely ensconced in the bridal suite of the venue you’re marrying in, at home eagerly anticipating the arrival of a Rolls-Royce to whisk you away, or getting ready in self-catering accommodation, there may be hours to fill before your ceremony begins. Depending on your bridal look, the time of your ceremony and when your guests are arriving, that may allow you time to plan some things to do.

What to do

If you and your bridal party are all at your venue or hotel, gather together in one room for a makeover morning or bridal breakfast. Or how about a sleepover with your best girls the night before in your suite? If you’d rather wake up alone, you could enquire about hiring the snug or lounge in another part of the hotel for a chic get-together and pamper breakfast, where nails can be painted and movies can be screened.

Should you wish to enjoy the great outdoors, a sea swim or stroll with your bridal gang could work well if you’re marrying later in the day and help you to get moving (mornings of weddings can often involve quite a lot of sitting around!). Larger wedding venues and hotels can organise activities for you on-site, so ask what’s available at your venue.

If you’re getting ready at home, at least you don’t have to worry about forgetting to pack everything! Leaving for your nuptials straight from home means you have everything at your fingertips, so take a trip down memory lane, reminiscing with your besties over old photographs, memories and songs.

Self-catering accommodation offers intimacy and flexibility in a way that a hotel, which may have other guests staying, may not be able to. So how about an old school crafty morning – no glitter, please! – creating self-portraits of one another or handmade thank yous for your friends and family. This could be a fun and carefree way to while away an hour in a small group, particularly if you don’t want to begin the gettingbridal-ready stage too early.

Who to see

Some couples have strict rules about who they must or mustn’t see ahead of the big reveal. If you’re having a first look, you may well be in hair and make-up early,

and your exact location could be shrouded in secrecy so as not to spoil the surprise of that first glimpse. Some couples, however, like to spend the morning of the day together and even play a part in each other getting ready. One recent bride loved the fact her fiancé zipped her into her wedding dress before their elopement.

Decide early which of your party is privy to your preceremony plans and if you want them with you, give them plenty of notice. The wedding party might have grand plans to get ready together but if you’d rather go it alone or choose the glossy magazine-style secrecy with just hair and make-up allowed, make it clear that the rest of your party will be invited to play a bigger part of the day once things have officially kicked off.

What to wear

This depends largely on what you plan to do. If you’re having a girlie get-ready morning in the hotel, then dressing robes emblazoned with The Bride or your Mrs-To-Be name are a cute option. Team tracksuits are also a sweet way to unite a group of besties and can be personalised with whatever you wish. We know of one bride who was in her dress from 8am on the morning of the day despite the ceremony not being until 2pm. That’s one way to get your money’s worth!

What to eat

High five to any brides who can push aside the nerves and tuck into a proper gourmet breakfast on the morning of the big day. This is, of course, the way to go to ensure you feel ready and grounded for the day ahead. Porridge with fruit is a good option to fill you up, with its combination of fibre and slow-digesting carbs meaning you’ll get a slow release of energy, keeping you full for longer.

If you want food to play a key role in your morning, you could ask your venue or hotel to prepare a themed breakfast with delicacies from countries that mean something to you. Or if you’re in self-catering accommodation or at home, you can have a bridal brunch prepared and delivered to you and your gang. Devon-based Bridal Brunches (bridalbrunches.co.uk) can deliver wedding carts groaning with everything from fruit and pastries to maple syrup-drizzled waffles, and smoked salmon and cream cheese bagels. If your budget doesn’t quite stretch to outside catering, how about enlisting any culinary-fabulous friends to create you some dream wedding-day treats.

What you do in the hours before your wedding begins is entirely up to you and ultimately depends on the timings of your day. But just bear in mind, there may be more to organise than you think, so don’t over plan. While the idea of a wedding day walk across the local national park is wonderful and will give you a beautiful bridal glow, no one wants to be atop a tor or stuck in a bog when they’re supposed to be rearranging their veil and hearing the first notes of Pachelbel’s Canon!