Weddings are not merely a couple of hours’ affair. Rather, it’s an all-day event, especially if the bridal party is large. The pre-wedding festivities can often begin at dawn or even earlier. This fact was brought to light recently when an impending bride shared on TikTok that her bridesmaids’ makeup would start at an ungodly hour of 4 a.m.
The revelation came from 2025 bride Mia Moore who asked in the video, “How should I determine which bridesmaid gets their makeup done at 4 am?” She further suggested a method of picking a stick out of a cup. She also clarified that there were nine bridesmaids in total, and the wedding ceremony starts at 5 pm.
In the video, she displayed the time slots, first at 4 am and the last one at 12 pm. She explained, “I was told the rule of thumb is to work backward from your start time with a two-hour buffer.” This statement poured in a lot of comments, to which Moore replied, “If I would have known that something as simple as a bridesmaid makeup schedule would have been this controversial, I would have kept it to myself.”
Addressing a comment from a user who said she would readily get her makeup done at 4 am if asked, Moore said, “If you would not do absolutely anything for the person getting married then, why are you even a bridesmaid?” She further questioned those who said they would withdraw from the wedding just because they were asked to get up early. Moore also assured that several bridesmaids volunteered to go first, and hence, it hasn’t been a point of conflict.
The TikTok followers started debating on the topic – some agreed that it’s a show of true friendship, while others thought the call time was too early. One follower noted, “If I was in your wedding, it’s because I love you. If you asked me to get my makeup done at 4 am, I would do anything for you. Just provide caffeine and snacks, and they’ll be fine.”
Some followers were enthusiastic and said they would wake up even at 1 am for their friend’s special day. Yet, others voiced their concern saying that fatigue would take a toll and they would hardly be awake during the wedding if they were expected to rise at such an hour.
A New York-based makeup artist, Ann Liendo, offered useful insights explaining why brides might opt for such early call times. These times are needed for brides involved in traditional ceremonies requiring beautifying routines to finish before sunrise. It also becomes mandatory when the bridal party is large, and the bride wants to avoid extra fees by not hiring multiple makeup artists.
Ann explained that generally, a makeup artist can handle a maximum of five to six people on a wedding day. However, in case of larger bridal parties or time constraints, an early start becomes imperative. She also mentioned her early start fee for out-of-the-ordinary early morning services but assured that it’s only applicable in special circumstances.
Thus, Mia’s 4 am makeup regimen for her bridesmaids sparked a heated discussion. However, it underlined the fact that weddings are about supporting the couple in making their special day perfect, whether it means waking up early or handling other responsibilities. The debate even taught us a few things about the behind-the-scenes working of wedding preparations.
