Planning Your Wedding Hair: Timing Is Everything

Planning a wedding is a complex task, and scheduling is everything. When it comes to hair and makeup appointments on the big day, it's crucial to allocate enough time to ensure the bride and bridal party are ready in time for the ceremony. The last thing anyone wants is for hair and makeup to run late and throw the entire schedule off course. So, how early should hair appointments be scheduled?

Allow for travel time to the venue when scheduling hair and makeup appointments

When planning your wedding day hair and makeup schedule, it's important to consider travel time to the venue. If you're getting ready at a hotel or Airbnb, you'll need to factor in time for travelling to the venue later in the day. This means an earlier start for hair and makeup, but it does make logistics easier, as you won't have to transport outfits and toiletries to the venue.

Getting ready at your venue means you won't need to travel after hair and makeup, but it does mean an earlier start to ensure you have enough time. It's also important to ensure that your venue rental includes enough time for everyone to get ready, and that the bridal suite has everything you need, such as vanity space, outlets, wall hooks and seating.

If you're getting ready off-site, you'll need to factor in travel time for your hair and makeup artists, as well as set-up time. They'll usually arrive about 30 minutes before their scheduled start time to set up their equipment.

To ensure your wedding day runs smoothly, it's crucial to create a detailed schedule for hair and makeup appointments, taking into account the number of people, the complexity of styles, and the number of artists available. This will help you plan the timing of your day and ensure you arrive at the venue with time to spare.

Schedule a consultation and trial with your hair and makeup artists 3-6 months prior to your wedding

Scheduling a consultation and trial with your hair and makeup artists 3-6 months before your wedding is a crucial step in the lead-up to your big day. This will ensure you have ample time to tweak and adjust your look, and ease any worries about unexpected mishaps. Here are some tips to consider:

Date and Venue

Before confirming your glam squad, it's a good idea to have your date and venue finalised. The location and season of your wedding can influence the styles you choose for hair and makeup. For example, a beach wedding in summer may call for a different look than a winter ceremony in a ballroom. Knowing these details will help you communicate your vision to your hair and makeup artists.

Wedding Dress and Accessories

It's also beneficial to have your wedding dress and some accessories, like your veil, headpiece, jewellery, and shoes, selected before the consultation. The style of your dress and the overall aesthetic you want to achieve will guide your hair and makeup choices. For instance, a formal, elegant dress may be complemented by an updo and sophisticated makeup, while a more relaxed, boho-style dress might suit loose curls and natural makeup.

Research and Inspiration

Gather inspiration for your desired hair and makeup looks. Create a mood board or a collection of photos that represent the style you envision. It's important to choose images of people with similar features to yours, as the same look can appear very different on different people. Consider what you like and dislike about each image, and be prepared to discuss this with your artists.

Skin and Hair Care

In the months leading up to your wedding, focus on a consistent skincare routine to ensure your skin is in optimal condition. A good skincare regimen will provide a smooth canvas for your makeup artist to work with. Similarly, if you're planning any significant changes to your hair, such as a new cut or colour, allow ample time for adjustments. Consult with your hairstylist about the timeline for any cuts, colours, or treatments to ensure your hair is in the best shape for your wedding.

The Trial

During your trial, be open and honest with your hair and makeup artists. Share your ideas and inspirations, and don't be afraid to speak up if there's something you'd like to change or adjust. It's also a good idea to wear your trial look for the rest of the day to see how it holds up. This will give you a true sense of how the hair and makeup last, and you can provide feedback to your artists if any tweaks are needed.

Timeline and Logistics

Finally, when scheduling your wedding day, consider the number of people in your bridal party who will require hair and makeup services. This will help you estimate the time needed and determine if you require additional artists to stay on schedule. Communicate your desired timeline and location with your artists, and be mindful of travel time if you're getting ready off-site.

Remember, the key to a stress-free wedding day is advance planning and clear communication with your hair and makeup artists. Enjoy the process of crafting your dream look, and you'll step into your wedding day feeling confident and radiant.

Work backward from the time you need to be ready to determine when your beauty team should arrive

To ensure your wedding day runs smoothly, it's important to work backward from the time you need to be ready to determine when your beauty team should arrive.

First, decide where you will be getting ready. If you are getting ready at your venue, you will need to ensure your rental includes enough time for hair and makeup for your entire bridal party. If you are getting ready off-site, you will need to factor in travel time to the venue.

Next, you will need to know the number of bridal party members needing services and how many artists your salon will be sending for hair and makeup. Communicate with your salon and let them know the timeframe you are working within so they can send the appropriate number of artists.

Once you know how many artists will be assigned to your event, you can finally start your schedule. On average, it takes about 30 minutes per service, with the bride needing anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour per service, depending on the intricacy of the hair and makeup.

To create your schedule, work backward from the time you need to be ready. For example, if you need to be ready by 3 pm and have six applications/styles total, the start time would be 11 am for hair and 12 pm for makeup.

If you are hoping for some getting-ready photos, the planned time slot for the bride's hair and makeup should coordinate with the arrival time of your photographer.

Remember to include buffer time at the end for touch-ups, which can also act as extra time in case some services run over or someone is late. Knowing that you've got extra time built in will make things less stressful when something doesn't go according to plan.

By working backward from the time you need to be ready and creating a detailed schedule, you can ensure your beauty team arrives on time and your wedding day runs smoothly.

Have your hair done first, followed by makeup to avoid hairspray on your face

When it comes to your wedding day, you want to ensure that everything runs smoothly and according to schedule. After all, the last thing you need is to be stressed about timing on what should be a relaxed and enjoyable day. So, how do you decide when to make that all-important hair appointment? Well, it depends on several factors.

Firstly, consider the location. If you are getting your hair done at a salon, you will need to factor in travel time to the venue afterward. It is better to allow more time than you think you need, just in case you encounter traffic or unexpected delays. If you are getting ready at your venue, you will need to ensure that your rental includes enough time for hair and makeup for your entire bridal party.

Secondly, think about the number of people who need their hair styled and how many stylists will be available. The more people there are, the more time you will need to allocate. A good rule of thumb is to allow for 30-45 minutes per person, and 60-90 minutes for the bride. If you have a large group, ask your salon if they can provide additional stylists to save time.

Now, onto the order of events. It is generally recommended to have your hair done first, followed by makeup, to avoid hairspray on your freshly made-up face. However, some stylists prefer to leave face-framing pieces until after makeup to avoid touching the face once it has been done. If you are having a hairstyle that requires setting, such as curls, it is a good idea to get this process started before moving on to makeup. This way, you can have your makeup done while your hair is setting, and then finish off any final touches to your hair when you are done.

When deciding on the timing for the bride's appointment, consider any pre-ceremony activities. For example, if you are doing a boudoir shoot, bridal portraits, or a first look, you will need to have your hair and makeup done earlier in the day. If you are not doing any photos until after the ceremony, you may want to schedule the bride's services second to last or last to allow for some relaxation time before getting dressed. It is also important to ensure that anyone who will be helping the bride get dressed, such as the mother of the bride or maid of honor, has their hair and makeup done beforehand so that they can be included in those special getting-ready photos.

To ensure a stress-free morning, it is a good idea to create a detailed schedule for the day, allowing for 30-minute time increments for each person. This will help everyone plan their mornings and know when they need to be ready. Remember to build in some buffer time for touch-ups and any unexpected delays.

So, when should you make that hair appointment? Well, if your ceremony is at 4 pm, a good time to start hair and makeup would be around 9 am to 10 am, depending on the number of people and stylists available. This will give you plenty of time to get ready and enjoy the process without feeling rushed.

If you want getting-ready photos, coordinate the bride's hair and makeup with the photographer's arrival time

Wedding days can be hectic, and establishing a beauty timeline is essential for creating a stress-free experience. If you want to capture the magic of the day in photographs, it's important to coordinate the bride's hair and makeup with the photographer's arrival time. Here are some tips to ensure everything runs smoothly:

Consult with your hair and makeup artists in advance:

Schedule a consultation and trial session with your hair and makeup artists 3-6 months before your wedding. This will help you feel relaxed and confident, knowing that you're not making last-minute decisions under pressure. During this consultation, you can discuss the expected duration for hair and makeup services, which is typically 30-45 minutes per person for hairstyling and 30 minutes per person for makeup applications.

Create a detailed schedule:

Once you know the time you need to be ready by, work backward in 30-45 minute increments to determine the arrival time for your beauty team. For example, if you need to be ready by 3 PM and have six people in total, the start time for hair could be 11 AM, followed by makeup at 12 PM. It is 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.

Coordinate with your photographer:

If you want getting-ready photos, ensure the bride's hair and makeup time slot aligns with the photographer's arrival. This will keep the day running smoothly and prevent any delays in capturing those special moments. Communicate with your photographer in advance to confirm their arrival time and ensure they are aware of your beauty timeline.

Be flexible with the order of services:

While it is typically suggested to have hair done first, followed by makeup, don't stress too much about the order. Some artists prefer to do makeup after hair to avoid hairspray on the face, while others make judgments based on the hairstyle. Ultimately, it's about ensuring the services run smoothly and efficiently.

Prepare for any delays:

Ask your bridesmaids and family members to arrive 5-10 minutes before their assigned time slots. This way, if someone is running late, you can keep the schedule on track. It's also essential to have a buffer for touch-ups at the end, which can also act as extra time in case services run over or someone is late.

By following these tips, you can ensure that the bride's hair and makeup are perfectly coordinated with the photographer's arrival, capturing those precious getting-ready moments without any delays or stress.

Frequently asked questions