Timing and Trials
Booking your Hair Stylist and Make-up Artist
You should begin to consider booking your hair and make-up artists 6-9 months prior to your wedding day. Below are some details you will be asked when initially enquiring.
Wedding date
Ceremony time
Preparation location
Who will require hair
Who will require make-up
It is important to have all these details finalised so that your chosen artists can establish their availability and provide you with an accurate quote for the day.
The next step is to secure your artists (usually by way of deposit). Most hair and make-up artists only book one wedding per day so this will ensure they will only be booked on your wedding.
Hair and Make-up Trials
Trials are an important part of any wedding preparation. They are recommended 1-2 months prior to your wedding day. Having your trial at this time is a smart idea. You will have made a decision on your hair and make-up style and your hair will be relatively the same length and colour as to your wedding day.
Hair and make-up trials generally take longer than on the wedding day and enable you to try looks you have in mind. It’s a great idea to have reference pictures for your hair and makeup artist to refer to at your trial. We find this one of the simplest ways to convey ideas and get a good understanding of what our client desires before we begin.
Speak up if there is something you don’t like. There is nothing worse than being uncomfortable with the look your hair and make-up artist has created for you. Every bride should feel amazing on her wedding day and you will find the hair and make-up artists you choose will be striving to create the perfect look for you in any way they can.
Some other items you may wish to take to your trial include pictures of your dress and your bridesmaids dresses, dress swatches, your veil, jewellery, hair accessories and hair pieces and pictures of your flowers. This will give the hair and make-up artist a great understanding of your overall look and influence their style creation.
Timing on your Wedding Day
One essential point you must discuss at your trial is timing on your wedding day. What time is you hair stylist and make-up artist going to arrive and what time will they be finishing? Good stylists will work their timing back from the arrival of your photographer. They should be aiming to finish 1/2 hour prior to your photographer arriving to enable to you to dress, put on jewellery ect.
Hair styling for the bride and bridesmaids will generally take 1 hr each and make-up 45mins each. Your hair and make-up artists should offer touch-ups before they leave. They may have been with you for a period of 4 or 5 hrs so touching up lipstick, powder, making sure the hair is perfect and giving it a final spray is essential. This is one of the major advantages of having stylists come to you. If you booked your hair and make-up in a salon you would not be offered this extra level of service.
