I’ve managed to get myself majorly stressed and worked up about this issue, so thought I would see if any of you could give me any helpful advice please.
I’m sorting out the timings of my wedding day (including Nikaah). I have been to a few weddings that start at 7pm and then the bride makes her entrance at 9pm and we only get to see her for a couple of hours! I have also been to a wedding where starters were being served during the bride’s entrance! This makes me really sad. I don’t want to spend loads on an amazing venue, outfit and make-up only to be seen for 2 hours and everything to be rushed! So I want my wedding party to be 3-10.30pm. Many people think this is a bit weird, but I’ve paid for the venue for 8 hours so why not?!
The first hour is for drinks reception/canapes, followed by arrival of baraat and Nikaah. So even still I’ll be making my entrance at around 6pm. Now here is the dilemma… My fiance and I would like to do our couple photos in advance. We know a lot of people who have found it difficult to leave their wedding party to get their couple photos done once they are in the hall and all the relatives want to come up to the stage. So we thought we might be more relaxed if we get this out of the way earlier. Also this way our photographer can dedicate a proper slot to get good photos of me getting ready, instead of being with me while the baraat are arriving or something.
Now the problem is- to do this I need to get my make-up done at 2pm. Do you think this is too early if I am making my entrance at 6pm (in summer)? After my couple photos I should be able to just go and sit in a room with AC. The plus point is that my make-up will be fresh for my photos with my new husband, which I guess is what you keep forever. But I do also want to look good for my guests. I’m just really worried that my make-up won’t look good when I walk in.
Any advice please… especially from people who have personal experience in this.
Re: Mega-stressed re wedding timings! Please help!
Are you able to get your makeup artist to come back for a quick touch up? or a talented friend/cousin/sibling who can make you look fresh for your entrance?
Re: Mega-stressed re wedding timings! Please help!
Where are you located? Is an event that long common in your community? Some Hindu ceremonies are long like this. As are some Christian weddings -- people attend the ceremony at the Church, then go somewhere for appetizers or some small activity, then head to the main reception. Just make sure that this long an event is something people can manage comfortably. If you have the space for 8 hours, does that time include time for set up and clean up? Make sure to check about that.
Can you shift the timings to be like 5-12, instead of 3-10:30? That way you could do a 5/5:30 nikkah ceremony, then guests would have appetizers while you could take photos with close family/friends. then by 7:30 or 8 you could open the doors for the main reception/dinner. I've seen this done often at more Western style weddings (it does require that the baraat and majority of guests arrive on time). Or you could do the more typically desi form, appetizers first (maybe at 5), arrival of baraat, nikkah by 7, dinner by 8 (during that time you could do photos with close family/friends), then dessert, etc.
Re: Mega-stressed re wedding timings! Please help!
My husband and I did a photo session prior to going to the venue at both the Baraat and valima. It was such a time saver!
I ageee with SO2, try to switch the timings a bit and like someone else suggested, check to see if your makeup artist can come in for touch up.
Re: Mega-stressed re wedding timings! Please help!
If your mua uses the right products, the makeup will look flawless throughout the night! I was ready by 3pm and took pics outside! I just made sure to tell my mua that I needed something long wearing because I have very oily skin! She left behind some powder and the lipstick she used on my :)
Re: Mega-stressed re wedding timings! Please help!
I got my make up done by 3.30-4PM, and it lasted fine the whole night. I had just asked my MUA to leave a bit of the lipstick for me, and I re-touched it only once the whole night, after dinner.
We had our photo shoot from 4.30- 6ish. Then 6 is when guests started coming in and we had a cocktail hour. Made my entrance around 7.15 or so...and left the hall by 12.30. Of course I didn't have the nikkah in there...so for you maybe you could have your nikkah at around 4.30, then go for the photo shoot from 5 or 5.30-6.30. I think it's okay to have your entrance by even 7.30 or so, because you will probably still be at the hall till 11. I think 3+ hours is quite a bit for guests to see you. Your husband and close family will be seeing you for longer anyway as they'll be there for the nikkah/photoshoot.
Re: Mega-stressed re wedding timings! Please help!
Are you able to get your makeup artist to come back for a quick touch up? or a talented friend/cousin/sibling who can make you look fresh for your entrance?
She can't come back. But one of my friends could probably do a quick touch-up.
Re: Mega-stressed re wedding timings! Please help!
Where are you located? Is an event that lobng common in your community? Some Hindu ceremonies are long like this. As are some Christian weddings -- people attend the ceremony at the Church, then go somewhere for appetizers or some small activity, then head to the main reception. Just make sure that this long an event is something people can manage comfortably. If you have the space for 8 hours, does that time include time for set up and clean up? Make sure to check about that.
Can you shift the timings to be like 5-12, instead of 3-10:30? That way you could do a 5/5:30 nikkah ceremony, then guests would have appetizers while you could take photos with close family/friends. then by 7:30 or 8 you could open the doors for the main reception/dinner. I've seen this done often at more Western style weddings (it does require that the baraat and majority of guests arrive on time). Or you could do the more typically desi form, appetizers first (maybe at 5), arrival of baraat, nikkah by 7, dinner by 8 (during that time you could do photos with close family/friends), then dessert, etc.
Thanks for your detailed reply. The venue is in Central London. I haven't seen many people in our community have these sort of timings. But I have been to a lot of weddings in the community that have been really rushed and poorly organised.
We're trying not to finish too late as my in-laws have some customs at their house, then we have to come back to the hotel! Also will be better for people coming from far.
We have a nice area for reception drinks at the venue so want to try to utilise it.
Re: Mega-stressed re wedding timings! Please help!
My husband and I did a photo session prior to going to the venue at both the Baraat and valima. It was such a time saver!
I ageee with SO2, try to switch the timings a bit and like someone else suggested, check to see if your makeup artist can come in for touch up.
Thanks. That's reassuring to know you recommend doing a photo session first :)
Re: Mega-stressed re wedding timings! Please help!
If your mua uses the right products, the makeup will look flawless throughout the night! I was ready by 3pm and took pics outside! I just made sure to tell my mua that I needed something long wearing because I have very oily skin! She left behind some powder and the lipstick she used on my :)
Re: Mega-stressed re wedding timings! Please help!
I got my make up done by 3.30-4PM, and it lasted fine the whole night. I had just asked my MUA to leave a bit of the lipstick for me, and I re-touched it only once the whole night, after dinner.
We had our photo shoot from 4.30- 6ish. Then 6 is when guests started coming in and we had a cocktail hour. Made my entrance around 7.15 or so...and left the hall by 12.30. Of course I didn't have the nikkah in there...so for you maybe you could have your nikkah at around 4.30, then go for the photo shoot from 5 or 5.30-6.30. I think it's okay to have your entrance by even 7.30 or so, because you will probably still be at the hall till 11. I think 3+ hours is quite a bit for guests to see you. Your husband and close family will be seeing you for longer anyway as they'll be there for the nikkah/photoshoot.
Thanks for your reply. So your schedule seems similar to ours apart from the nikaah. I'm a bit lost about what a few people have said about the nikaah though. Maybe different cultures do it differently.
For us, after the arrival of the baraat there are some customs like blocking the gate etc. Meanwhile the Imaam will come to me separately first to ask my consent (only about 5 close people will be with me). Then the nikaah for the groom will be done in front of all the guests and then I will make my entrance.
This is what is making the timings so long. I only make my entrance after the nikaah and no one really sees me before then.
Re: Mega-stressed re wedding timings! Please help!
Enaya - yes traditionally that's how people do it if they're having 2 events - barat and valima properly. But even then, some people have their nikah before barat. Like some of my cousins had their nikkah in the morning of their barat, or even a day earlier. My nikah was done at a mosque a day earlier too. So the shadi day didn't have nikah.
Re: Mega-stressed re wedding timings! Please help!
One of my friends had an all day-ish wedding too:
- She got her makeup done by 2pm
- Nikkah at the mosque at 3:30pm (I believe that was the time after asr)
- then she had a gap and most people went home to freshen up/change into heavier clothes... meanwhile the bride and groom went for their photoshoot
- 6:30pm the reception started (realistically by the time everyone was settled in it was 7pm)
- She made her entrance around 7:30pm (but everthe people who were present at her nikkah had seen her dressed up already) and it ended around 11pm
Her makeup stayed fine - she had to touch up her lipstick a couple of times but it was okay overall. She was just exhausted from the long day! Makeup from a good artist will be long lasting so you should be fine :)
Re: Mega-stressed re wedding timings! Please help!
You can do the nikkah together, so you make your entrance before. I prefer this, but it depends on what you and your family are most comfortable with. Will everyone be okay with you guys posing for photos before the nikah?
Re: Mega-stressed re wedding timings! Please help!
My make up was done in afternoon around 3 to 5 pm and my barrat came at 11:00pm I just said my makeup artist to make a base so it last for at least more time becoz I have to go our of city and my makeup last for 5 am she gave me lipstick touch up and face powder in extra things