When planning a wedding, there are SO many things to think about when planning your day, one of the most important things to think about is your getting ready space.  You only get one wedding day after all, so it’s no wonder you want your day to be perfect!  There are SOOO many things to think about when planning out your wedding, one of which being your getting ready space! In this blog we will go over everything you need to know about choosing and prepping a getting ready space for your wedding day!

What is a Getting Ready Space

A getting ready space is the space you and your wedding party will use to get ready on your wedding day.  This space will more than likely serve as a number of different things.  You will have your hair and makeup done in this space, you will more than likely eat breakfast and lunch in this space, and you will start your wedding day in this space!  With so many things happening for such a large group of people, you will want to make sure you’re prepared for all of the festivities throughout the wedding morning. 

What to Look for In a Getting Ready Space

Natural Light

When looking for a space to get ready with your wedding party, you will want to make sure there is plenty of natural light.  This can look like skylights, large windows or spaces that can be opened up to let in more light.  Your makeup and hair artists will be looking for natural light to work with throughout the morning to ensure your makeup colors are accurate.  In addition, your photographer will also be looking for some natural light to work with when taking photos of you and your wedding party.

Outlets

Outlets are a MUST in your getting ready space.  If you and your wedding party are all getting ready together in the same place you will need a LOT of outlets. This way you can be sure everyone can be ready on time for your wedding day.  When looking at your options you will want to make sure there are at least enough outlets in the room for at least ⅔’s of your wedding party.  Most standard hotel rooms have plenty of outlets available. Most getting-ready spaces that are included with your venue will have a fair bit of outlets as well.  If you are planning on getting ready in someones home or an Airbnb though be sure to check the listing photos for outlets all throughout the space.

Space

When looking at options for your getting ready space, think about how many people will be present while you all are getting ready.  This includes you and your wedding party, your hair and makeup artists, your photographer, your videographer and any other family members you plan to have with you.  Take a total headcount to make sure everyone will fit and then if you’re getting ready in a hotel or Airbnb be sure to get approval from the location owners to host that amount of people while getting ready. 

Wedding Getting Ready Space Options

There are SO many unique spaces that can be perfect for getting ready for your wedding day.  Once you decide who you would like to have with you on your wedding morning, think through what your options are for getting ready on your wedding day!  Remember, when choosing your getting ready location you will want to think about space, time, location, and any other factors that will play a part in the experience of your wedding day.  

Your Venue

If your venue has a good getting ready space I HIGHLY recommend getting ready there!  It will give you flexibility in your timeline because you won’t have to spend as much time traveling.  Many venues these days have getting ready locations for both sides of the wedding party and make for a great experience for you and allows you both to have your wedding vendors with you throughout the morning while you are getting ready.

A Hotel or Inn

Hotels or inns can be great options for your wedding day.  I recommend making sure your hotel is within 10 miles of your venue to avoid any long travel times for your wedding day. The great thing about hotels and inns is their flexibility when it comes to their space, amenities, and how many options there are available. Most also have a fair bit of natural light to work with as well.

An Airbnb

There are so many perks to getting ready in Airbnbs! They offer a lot of the same positives as Hotels and Inns, but usually with more character and even more options. Airbnb’s and VRBO’s have become insanely popular lately making them widely available throughout the country so you shouldn’t have an issue finding one near your venue which will help you avoid any long travel times.

Things to Bring to Your Wedding Getting Ready Space

Steamer

Pro tip number one for your getting ready space is to bring along a steamer on your wedding day. The last thing you want is to realize your clothes are all wrinkly the morning of your wedding and there’s nothing you can do about it. Pack a steamer to bring along to avoid any wardrobe complications for your big day!

An Emergency Kit

Yes, believe it or not, almost every wedding I’ve been to, something from the emergency kit was used throughout the morning.  Scissors to cut tags of bridesmaids dresses, stain sticks on the father of the grooms shirt, sewing kits to make a repair on a wedding dress or grooms pants (yes it happens). Be sure to put together an emergency kit. You can also have someone in your wedding party put together one for you!

A Speaker

I HIGHLY recommend bringing a speaker along to your getting ready space for your wedding day. There’s nothing like putting on your favorite playlist while surrounded by all of your favorite people before your wedding day. There’s so much hype and excitement that goes into a wedding day, and some awesome tunes will only add to the hype levels!

Pro Tip: The Parent Trap Soundtrack is a super fun and chill soundtrack to listen to the morning of your wedding!

Water

As much as you’ll want to party on your wedding day, and by all means you should, hydrating is crucial to making sure you have a great wedding day experience. Be sure you or your wedding party brings along some water to keep everyone hydrated. You will especially want this for the start of the day before you put on your wedding attire. This will help you all to be in tip top shape for the wedding and be able to celebrate the entire day! 

Food

You’re going to want to pack some food to bring along to your getting ready space on your wedding day. Making sure that you have some food in you to fuel you for your wedding day is HUGE!  Once your wedding festivities begin, you won’t have time to eat until dinner other than small snacks. Also, if you and your wedding party are planning on drinking on the day of your wedding, you will want to make sure your getting ready space is stocked with food.

Chicago and Indy Venues with Great Getting Ready Spaces

Some of my favorite venues in Chicago and Indy with great getting ready spaces include the following!

The Arbory, Chicago

The Arbory has a great-sized getting ready suite with plenty of room and light! This venue is a really beautiful venue in a great urban feel neighborhood in Chicago. This makes it perfect for photos and exploration throughout your wedding day.

Greenhouse Loft, Chicago

The Greenhouse has you set with TWO getting-ready suits, so you and your honey can both get ready at the same time within the space without seeing one another. This makes things easy for your photographer to document both of your mornings and give you a lot of flexibility in your timeline.

Bottleworks, Indy

Located in the Bottleworks Hotel, there are plenty of suites with loads of room for you and your honey to get ready surrounded by all your family and friends.  Then after you’re ready all you have to do is head downstairs for your wedding day!

Sixpence, Indy

Sixpence was made and designed by a wedding photographer who thought of EVERYTHING.  So between lighting, outlets, and plenty of space for you and your partner to get ready, this venue really has it all.

I can’t emphasize enough how important a well thought out and stocked getting ready space is for your wedding day. Between food and water, an emergency kit, and plenty of light and outlets, there is plenty to think about when choosing your space. For more suggestions on great venues and more wedding tips to help you plan your wedding day head to my blog where I am spilling ALL the wedding planning details to plan your day!