Selecting Your Bridal Party: Hair & Makeup Timings

Planning a wedding can be a stressful endeavour, but creating a schedule for hair and makeup can help ensure the day goes smoothly. It's important to allow ample time for the bridal party to get ready, and to stick to a predetermined itinerary. When creating a hair and makeup schedule, it's a good idea to be mindful of each bridesmaid's responsibilities and preferences. For example, a bridesmaid with young children may prefer to have her hair and makeup done while someone else is watching her children. It's also a good idea to schedule the most responsible bridesmaids earlier in the day to avoid delays. The bride's hair and makeup should be done in the middle of the timeline to allow for adjustments and to ensure she's ready for the photographer and florist.

Schedule a consultation and trial session with your makeup artist and hairstylist 3-6 months prior to your wedding

Scheduling a consultation and trial session with your makeup artist and hairstylist 3-6 months before your wedding is crucial to ensuring your big day runs smoothly. Here are some detailed tips to help you prepare for this important appointment:

Choose the Right Artists

Before booking your trial, take the time to research and select reputable makeup artists and hairstylists who specialise in bridal looks. Ask for recommendations, read reviews, and look at their portfolios to ensure their style aligns with your vision. It's also essential to communicate your desired look and any specific requirements you may have.

Prepare for the Trial

To get the most out of your trial, come prepared. Bring inspirational photos, your chosen accessories, and even your everyday makeup products if you have specific preferences. If you plan to cut or colour your hair, it's best to do so at least six months before the trial, allowing your stylist to plan the transition and work with your current hair condition. Arrive at the trial with clean, dry hair and a fresh face, providing a blank canvas for your artists.

Understand the Timing

On your wedding day, hairstyling typically takes 40-45 minutes per person, while makeup applications take around 30 minutes per person. When creating your timeline, work backward from the time you need to be ready, allocating 30-40 minute increments for each service. It's generally recommended that the bride's hair and makeup are done towards the beginning or middle of the timeline to avoid rushing if things run behind schedule.

Consider the Order

While it's often suggested to have hair done before makeup to avoid hairspray on the face, some artists prefer to decide on a case-by-case basis, especially if the hairstyle involves face-framing pieces that could interfere with makeup application. If your hairstyle requires setting, such as curls, you may opt to start with hair and then move on to makeup while your hair sets.

Manage Expectations

Remember that the trial is a collaborative process. Be open and vocal about your likes and dislikes, but also trust your artists' expertise and guidance. Understand that highly filtered social media images may set unrealistic expectations, and be cautious about making drastic changes close to your wedding day.

Plan for Touch-ups

Confirm with your beauty team if touch-ups are included in their services. If not, be prepared to bring essential items for touch-ups throughout your wedding day, such as blotting sheets, pressed powder, and lip colour.

By following these tips and scheduling your consultation and trial well in advance, you'll feel confident and relaxed, knowing that your wedding day beauty is in capable hands.

Book hair and makeup artists based on the number of people and time needed per person

When it comes to booking hair and makeup artists for your wedding, it's important to consider the number of people in your bridal party and the time needed per person to avoid delays and ensure a stress-free morning.

Firstly, you should allow for around 30-45 minutes per person for hairstyling and 30 minutes per person for makeup applications. If you have a large bridal party, consider booking multiple stylists and makeup artists to avoid any delays. As a rule of thumb, Beke Beau, a Philadelphia-based makeup artist, suggests having one makeup artist for every six applications. This ensures the artists don't feel rushed and can take the time needed per person.

When deciding on the number of artists to book, consider the time you need to be ready by and work backward. For example, if you need to be ready by 3 pm and have six hairstyling and makeup applications to complete, you should start hair at 11 am and makeup at 12 pm.

If you have a large group and an early ceremony time, you may also ask your beauty team to bring assistants to save time. Alternatively, you could ask your bridal party to arrive with dry hair to speed up the process.

To further streamline the process, you can suggest that your bridal party be flexible with their appointment times. This means that if someone needs to step out, they can easily swap appointments with another bridesmaid.

Additionally, consider the order of appointments. You may want to schedule the most responsible bridesmaids earlier in the morning to avoid delays caused by latecomers. If you have a large bridal party, you can also ask your stylist to bring an assistant to cut down on time.

Finally, don't forget to factor in time for touch-ups, which can be done at the end to ensure everyone looks fresh as they walk out the door.

Decide whether the bride, bridesmaids, or a combination of the two will pay for hair and makeup services

There are several options for deciding who pays for hair and makeup services for the bridal party. The choice is often dictated by the bride's budget, the wedding location and vibe, and the financial situation of the bridesmaids.

Option 1: Bride Pays for Hair and Makeup

The most traditional arrangement is for the bride to cover all hair and makeup costs for the bridal party. This gives the bride more control over the beauty agenda for the wedding and ensures everyone is in the same place in the lead-up to the event. However, this option can be expensive and difficult to coordinate.

Option 2: Bridesmaids Pay for Hair and Makeup

Another option is to let bridesmaids opt in and pay for their own hair and makeup services. This approach gives bridesmaids freedom to choose their preferred stylists but requires the bride to be more flexible about the outcome. This can be a practical approach, especially for large bridal parties or weddings with significant costs.

Option 3: Bride and Bridesmaids Split the Cost

The bride may also choose to pay for a portion of the hair and makeup services. This could involve covering the cost of either hair or makeup, or contributing a set amount towards each service. This option allows the bride to treat her bridesmaids while also being mindful of budget constraints. It can also be a good alternative to a traditional bridesmaid gift.

Option 4: Bridesmaids DIY Hair and Makeup

If the bride is not requiring professional hair and makeup services, bridesmaids may choose to do their own hair and makeup. This option allows bridesmaids to save money and make their own arrangements, particularly if they have specific preferences or comfort levels with professional services.

Create a schedule for hair and makeup appointments, keeping in mind the bride's photography schedule

Scheduling hair and makeup appointments for a wedding can be a stressful task, but creating a timeline can help ensure the day runs smoothly. Here is a step-by-step guide to creating a schedule for hair and makeup appointments, taking into account the bride's photography schedule:

Know Your Timeline:

First, understand the wedding day timeline, including the ceremony start time, the bride's photography schedule, and any other key moments. This will help you allocate time for hair and makeup accordingly.

Estimate Time Needed:

Next, estimate how much time you will need for hair and makeup services. As a rule of thumb, allow for 30-45 minutes per person and 60-90 minutes for the bride. If there are specific hairstyle requirements, such as curls or intricate updos, factor in additional time.

Determine the Order:

The order of appointments is crucial. Schedule the most responsible bridesmaids earlier in the day to avoid delays. Consider any external factors, such as bridesmaids with young children or the mother of the bride, who may want their services done earlier.

Schedule the Bride:

When scheduling the bride's hair and makeup, consider her pre-ceremony activities. If she is doing a boudoir shoot, bridal portraits, or a first look, schedule her services earlier in the day. If she is not doing any photos until after the ceremony, you can schedule her second to last or last, allowing her time to relax before putting on her dress.

Plan for VIPs:

Factor in the hair and makeup of VIPs, such as the mother of the bride or maid of honor, who may need to be ready earlier if they are helping the bride get dressed, as this moment will likely be photographed.

Schedule Flower Girls Last:

Young flower girls tend to be fidgety, so schedule their hair and makeup appointments last to prevent their hairstyles from coming undone or needing constant touch-ups.

Calculate Stylist Requirements:

To stay on schedule, ensure you have enough stylists and makeup artists. As a general rule, allocate one makeup artist for every six applications. For larger bridal parties or earlier ceremony times, consider asking your beauty team to bring assistants to save time.

Work Backwards:

Once you know the total time needed and the number of stylists, work backward from the time everyone needs to be ready to determine the start time for hair and makeup services.

Coordinate with Photographer:

If you want getting-ready photos, coordinate the bride's hair and makeup time with the photographer's arrival. This will ensure the day runs smoothly, and photos are not delayed.

Be Flexible:

Remember that strict schedules may not always work due to varying hair and skin types. Instead, create a flexible schedule with a particular order for appointments, allowing for some adjustments as needed.

Trial Runs:

Lastly, don't forget to schedule consultation and trial sessions with your hair and makeup artists 3-6 months before the wedding to ensure you are happy with your look and to avoid last-minute decisions.

By following these steps, you can create a comprehensive schedule for hair and makeup appointments that takes into account the bride's photography schedule and helps ensure a stress-free and timely wedding day.

Ask bridesmaids to arrive 5-10 minutes before their assigned time slot to keep things running smoothly

It's important to keep things running smoothly on your wedding day. You don't want to be stressing about timings when you should be relaxing and enjoying the lead-up to your ceremony. A good way to ensure things stay on track is to ask your bridesmaids to arrive 5-10 minutes before their assigned time slot. This way, if things are running ahead of schedule, you can keep the ball rolling and avoid any delays.

It's a good idea to be smart about the order in which your bridesmaids have their hair and makeup done. Schedule the most responsible bridesmaids earlier in the day so that your plans aren't held up by anyone who is running late. You should also consider any external factors that might impact their time slot. For example, a bridesmaid with young children may prefer to have their hair and makeup done while someone else is watching them.

While it's important to stick to a pre-determined itinerary, strict schedules rarely work. Everyone's hair and skin types are different, so services will take varying amounts of time for each person. Instead of setting strict appointment times, ask your bridesmaids to be available in a particular order without a strict time attached. This way, they can easily swap appointments if someone needs to step out for a few minutes.

If you're worried about things running behind schedule, you could hire additional stylists to cut down on time. As a general rule of thumb, allow for 30-45 minutes per person for hairstyling and 30 minutes per person for makeup applications. For large groups and early ceremony times, ask your beauty team to bring assistants to save time.

Remember, the key to a stress-free wedding day is to establish a clear beauty timeline in advance. Be sure to schedule a consultation and trial session with your makeup artist and hairstylist 3-6 months before your wedding. This will help you feel relaxed and ensure you're not making last-minute decisions under pressure.

Frequently asked questions