9 Wedding Morning Rituals to Follow Before Saying I Do: A Bride’s Detailed Guide

Tying the knot is one of the most thrilling life milestones one can experience – from getting engaged, finding the best wedding theme, and scouting for the ideal venue, down to fitting your dream dress, purchasing the rings, and finalizing the favours. It's fun, exciting, and sometimes a bit overwhelming.

One thing that brides sometimes overlook is the fact that planning the morning leading up to the wedding day is almost as important as preparing for the actual ceremony and reception. The wedding morning is the only time before you say “I do” that you can settle last-minute changes, put yourself in the right state of mind and shrug off the nerves, savour the moment, and compose yourself for a long day of hectic activities and emotional happenings.

If you’re at a loss on what you should be doing on the morning of your wedding, we got you. We have prepared a comprehensive guide and routine which you can undertake the morning of your big day.

Have a nice night

Wedding jitters usually get a bride down the night before the wedding as this is when nervousness and anxiety about how the event will unfold settle in. It is completely normal and there are several ways you can make the night nice and stress-free.

The first thing you should do is have a delicious and healthy dinner to instantly boost your mood. Next thing is to pamper your body with a decadent beauty ritual. Have a long and languorous hot bath, wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner (if you’re getting your hair curled, use hair mousse), apply a face mask and under eye patches to moisturize and prepare your skin, get a soothing massage, and if you haven’t gotten your manicure and pedicure yet, this is the best time to do so. You can share this luxurious experience with your girl gang or enjoy it all by yourself.

Once you’re done with all the pampering, you can move on to other pre-wedding tasks like preparing your bridesmaid gifts and letters, running through and editing your wedding vows, putting together your wedding essentials bag, polishing your engagement ring, and some last-minute bonding with your partner.

Lastly, get yourself to bed early to avoid eye bags and get that natural day of the wedding glow. If you’re having a hard time sleeping, light some scented candles, listen to ASMR, or play some calming music.

Fuel up your body

One of the most important things to do the morning of your wedding is to fuel up your body with a hearty and nourishing meal to keep you fresh and pumping for the whirlwind of activities ahead. Get something light (cereal, toast, salad, smoothie) with a side of fresh fruits and avoid greasy junk foods that could potentially make you feel bloated and queasy. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking a couple of glasses of water (in the morning and throughout the day) and drinking some tea for a calming vibe. You should book your meal the night before so it will already be ready for serving once you are up. Aside from a healthy breakfast, exercise like a quick run or stroll to get your blood running is also a great day starter.

Gather up your bridal party

Kick off the day by gathering your dearest girls, saying a prayer together, and surprising them with the gifts you have prepared the night before. Pop open a bottle of champagne and personally thank them for being present on your special day. This is also a good time to give them matching pjs and slippers that you can wear while getting your hair and makeup done. Maximize this moment by giving your bridesmaids final instructions (who will do which task) regarding their duties. Tell them you appreciate all their help and the day won’t be complete without them by your side.

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Get made up and ready with your female entourage

Once you’re done with the gift-giving and toasts, it’s time to get ready for your hair and makeup. Make this a fun experience by blasting your favourite tunes and sharing laughter and stories. If you have quite a lead time, you can squeeze in extra pampering for your female entourage like facials, foot massages, and pedicures.

Touch base with your wedding team

The success of your wedding highly depends on your team of professional suppliers tasked to make sure that every detail of your event is properly in place and ironed out before go time. Spare some moment during the wedding morning to meet them all together and ask for a final run-through. Draw up a game plan in case of unforeseen incidents that could come up. Do a final check of the to-dos with your head wedding planner, and give out last-minute instructions. Lastly, thank them for their hard work and let them know that you appreciate them. Throw away your worries and trust the team that will help you achieve the wedding of your dreams.

Secure your soundtrack

The music playlist will set the mood of the whole event so it’s imperative to ensure that all things related to the soundtrack of your affair are in order. If you have a live band playing for the event, set an early call time so they can have a proper sound and technical check. If you’re going with recorded songs, hand out a copy of your music to the sound team and another backup copy to your planner.

Document everything

Every moment counts and should be captured as your wedding is one of the most important milestones of your life. Hire a documentation team or a wedding photographer who will follow you during the morning of your wedding day and take videos and photos. These detailed shots could include the happenings as early as your breakfast as well as the moments with your bridesmaids and entourage. Get two teams to follow your side and your partner’s side to ensure that no important moment will be missed.

Put together your bridal must-haves

Although you have already prepared your bridal bag the night before, it is recommended to double-check to make sure that you have all your bridal must-haves in one pouch. This includes extra accessories and jewellery just in case you need a replacement, baby wipes, oil blotting sheets, and tissue to keep you fresh, band-aids and meds in case of scratches and headaches, a small mirror, makeup, and comb for hair and face retouches, a small bottle of your favourite scent, tampons or pads for period emergency, and lastly, floss and breath mints.

Settle back and relax

Nerves are normal but the best thing you can do during the morning of the wedding is to relax. Practice some breathing exercises or even sneak in some yoga poses in between the preparations. If you keep worrying and doubting, you won’t be able to enjoy everything that is happening around you and might miss appreciating the good wishes of the people you’re with. Just like the night before, you can play some calming music or recite some words of affirmation to ease the jitters. You can also light some scented candles, reflect, and practice your vows. And finally, wear a big smile that will light up the whole event.