The Bridal Suite at your wedding Venue may be cute, well decorated, and worthy of some photo ops. That doesn’t mean it’s always the best place to get ready the morning of your wedding. Consider the following recommendations for your bridal suite rom a professional (that’s me) when making the decision about where to get ready on your wedding day.

-can you get in BEFORE 10am? This is a widespread trend and some venues have even later entry times. If you need to be ready by 11am, 12pm, or 1pm, that is unlikely to be enough time to get hair and makeup finished without the stress of having to rush. A good rule of thumb: early finish time=early start time. Unfortunately, some venues will carry a hefty price tag to allow you in before 10am.

-Space, is there enough for everyone that will need to be there…and then room for more? The reality is, even if you only have 1 hairstylist and 1 makeup artist we will each have a kit with us that we will need to set up. Your bridal party will have all their dresses, in addition to yours, snacks, food beverages, and then…relatives and friends that “stop by” to help or check-in. Eventually your photographer, florist, and planner or coordinator will also arrive adding more to the mix. Spaces like hotel rooms, or smaller bridal suites aren’t practical and you certainly don’t want to be cramped or not have room for everyone when you’re trying to start your day.

-Temperature control? Believe it or not, some bridal suites are not temp controlled. This is primarily the case at barn venues, and is extremely important to consider if you are getting married in warmer months. If you or your party are already sweating when I am trying to apply makeup, and the hair stylist is trying to curl it decreases the likelihood of it lasting for very long.

-Suggestions? AirBnb’s or hotel conference rooms work extremely well as spaces for getting ready. Is someone’s house (or even your own) an option? You will be happy to have the comforts, and space, of a home. In my experience, these are the spaces that work best.