The morning of your wedding can feel like a dream. The surreal moment you put your dress on for the first time, all the bridesmaids looks all coming together and, of course, the hair and makeup! Planning for your wedding is extremely exciting, however many brides find a considerable amount of stress comes from making sure to look like the best version of themselves for the big day.Â
Whether you're a pro or a complete beginner at hair and beauty, your wedding morning is guaranteed to be made less stressful by hiring a professional to help with all things beauty...but how do you know you have the right professional? We have put together 10 top tips to help guide you in the right direction!
Have a Plan
Before you start thinking about planning to book, it is very important you have an idea of what looks you love. Start creating mood boards on Pinterest to help you see what looks tend to appear the most to help this decision process. It is always ideal to enter a consultation with an idea of what you like and what you don't like.Â
However, make sure you leave room for flexibility. It is very important to take into account your hair type, personality, skin type and wedding theme.. Not all hair and makeup styles will suit all brides and weddings. However, don't panic, your artist will largely be able to guide you to make the right decision for you!
Hair Accessories
Once you have an idea of the wedding styles you like, you must make sure you factor in your bridal wear. Have an idea of the hair accessories you want for your wedding day before having a consultation. This is very important as some hairstyles don't work as well with certain bridal accessories. For example a heavy veil can cause curl styled hair to drop quicker! Having a professional stylist, they will help and guide you with decisions. Often a lot of artists hold hair accessories in house so during your trial you can figure out what works best for you!
Wedding Plans
It is also very important to take into account what you have planned for your big day. Open top cars or outdoor ceremonies can play havoc on certain hairstyles and makeup looks so you may be tempted to look towards more up-do styles. It is crucial your professional stylist is aware of all these factors during the consultation so they can guide you in the most accurate way possible.
Budget
Now you have a strong idea on what wedding looks and styles you're attracted to, it is time to work out your budget. You will need to determine how important hair and beauty is to your big day - will it just be you getting dolled up? Will your bridesmaids be needing their hair and makeup done too? The budget couples set for hair and beauty can vary significantly from couple to couple so you will need to figure out what works best for you.Â
For further budget planning tips and tricks, check out our budgeting guide section that will provide you with all the advice you require!
Who to Book?
Now for the hard part - booking your stylist! Hair and makeup is a very personal decision and everyone's idea of 'perfect' is different. It is important to look for stylists who are able to adapt and cater their skills to each specific client. To ensure you pick a stylist that can do that, look for a variety of styles and looks on their social media and portfolios. This will also be really helpful if you want a more bespoke and special wedding look. Also make sure to ask them about the products they use, as this can vary enormously.Â
It has been recommended to book a stylist with a skill in both hair and makeup. This will save both time and money and often makes the day run smoother. However, this is largely up to you.Â
When to Book?
Booking your stylist is always given an inaccurate place in wedding planning guides. While most places recommend booking in your stylist 6 months in advance, we would recommend booking about 1 year-18 months in advance. The best stylists get booked up very quickly, therefore in order to get the pick of the bunch it's ideal to get thinking as soon as possible!Â
You may find that the most popular wedding makeup artists are booked up to 2 years in advance! So make sure you get in there very early.
Trial Prep
Well done, the hard part is over! Now it's time to start thinking about prepping for your trail session. Make your you prep you hair the day before. It is strongly advised that you don't go with freshly washed hair! Don't let it dry naturally either. Both these factors will cause your hair to be too soft therefore difficult to work with, especially if you are planning for an up-do. Rigidity in the hair is key. On the day of your trial, come to the salon with a freshly moisturised and clean face. This will give the stylist a nice base to work from to give you the most accurate wedding glam.Â
Most stylists will inform you of this before the day so don't worry!
Trial, Trial, Trial!
Trial days are extremely important for both you and the stylist. The day gives you a chance to feel more confident and gives your stylist an indication of the look you're going for and they type of hair she is working with. Trials are also extremely important to test for allergies, skin sensitivities etc. Additionally, makeup tends to take up to an hour to complete however, hair can take anywhere between 15mins-4hrs to do! So you must make sure you know the time you will need to carve out for your wedding morning.Â
It is imperative you leave enough time for a practice run. It is recommended that your trial is done about 2-4 months before the big day. This is proposed as it is ideal to be at the forefront of your artists mind. Little details, such as eye shadow shape or lip colouring, can slip the artists mind if it's too far away from the big day. Additionally, makeup products that you chose for your wedding may be discontinued.Â
Bring photos to the trial. By this point you should have a clear idea of what you want your wedding beauty to look like however, the stylist may not be on the same page yet. Photos will give the artist a starting point. Bringing photos can prevent your descriptions from being vague, e.g. "natural", and you and your stylist can become more confident you are on the same page. The photos you bring can be of your dress, bridesmaids dresses, Pinterest hair inspiration etc. The more photos the better!
During the trial, do not be afraid to speak up if it is not perfect! This is what a trial is for! Make sure you work with your stylist, not against them, to create your dream look.Â
If you want your bridal party to get glammed up before your big day too, why not make a day of your trial and ask you stylist whether you can have exclusive use of their studio for your hen party?!
Be Selective
Be selective about who you ask advice from. It is very common that many of your family and friends to want to share their views and opinions on your bridal look, but sometimes that can get a bit overwhelming! Whether it's sharing your Pinterest mood board or taking them to your trial session, make sure you are selective with the people you share this information with. While opinions can be extremely helpful and reassuring, often too many opinions will result in you straying away from the ideal look that you desired.Â
Mini Photoshoot!
After trial, have a mini photoshoot too see if your bridal look looks good through the lens! As well as being very helpful, it is also a little bit of fun!
For more information about booking your hair and beauty for your wedding day, have a look at our Guides for Brides podcast, and other guides and articles we have available for you here!