Your wedding day is one of the most memorable days of your life, and it's every bride's dream to feel radiant, confident, and perfect on their special day. This comprehensive guide will help you navigate every aspect of wedding beauty preparation, from initial planning to the final touch-ups on your big day.
Lots of people want to look and feel their best on their wedding day and this often includes wanting to be pampered in the lead up and on the day of the event. For some they may want to look and feel natural and therefore choose to do their own hair and makeup as usual, for others they may hire professionals to help them feel their best. This may be the day of your life where the most photographs are taken of you, so it's important that you feel confident. The key is that you feel comfortable and confident - therefore, if you feel your best without makeup on, don't wear it!
Planning Your Wedding Beauty Journey
Understanding Your Wedding Beauty Budget
The average UK wedding costs over £20,000. Of this, we recommend putting aside around 2% of the overall budget towards wedding beauty. With a budget of £17,500, this is roughly around £350-£400. Obviously, this budget can vary from person to person and very much depends on your preferences and priorities.
- Take into consideration any extra treatments you want done prior to your wedding. This may include getting a fresh mani/pedi, or maybe you're keen to get a spray tan.
- Once you've worked out the costs for the other treatments, you can then work out how much of the budget is left for your wedding hair and makeup.
- Research the wedding hair and makeup suppliers out there. See what is within your budget range and discover how their prices are laid out.
When to Book Your Beauty Professionals
It is important to book your hair and makeup artist in plenty of time before the wedding. This is to ensure that your dream supplier isn't already booked for the date you need. Because of this, we recommend booking your hair and makeup artist approximately 10 months prior to your wedding day.
Matching Your Look to Your Wedding Theme
Your wedding theme should guide your beauty choices:
- Relaxed, boho wedding: Fishtail plait or mermaid waves with fresh flower accessories
- Elegant black-tie affair: Hollywood curls pinned to the side, or a chignon paired with sparkling pins
- Vintage wedding: Classic red lip and winged liner
- Rustic, romantic day: Pink tones on the lips and cheeks with subtle shimmer on the eyes
- Festival wedding: Glitter and a bright lip.
Consider the neckline of your dress when choosing your hairstyle. Strapless dresses work well with loose hair, or half-up, half-down styles, while high or busy necklines work better with updos.
Why Should I Choose a Professional Hair and Makeup Artist?
Brides sometimes see hair and makeup artists as an unnecessary expense for their wedding day. However, we disagree and here's why:
Highly skilled experts
Wedding hair and makeup is very different from everyday hair and makeup. So even if you're brilliant at doing your day-to-day routine, there are certain techniques, trends and skills that professional artists know to use that you have probably never heard of!
Your wedding day look might be inspired by something you've seen on Pinterest or by celebrities. If you have a professional, you can show them this inspiration and you will feel confident that they have the skills and experience to recreate those looks.
Access to top quality makeup and tools
With some amazing hair styling tools out there, many often break the bank and are tricky to use. To save you time and money, hire someone who knows how to use these tools! Hiring a professional hair and makeup artist, they will have access to loads of top quality, tried and tested tools and makeup for you to get your hands on. Why not treat yourself by having a top quality pampering session on your wedding day?!
Save time
Hiring a makeup artist will ultimately save you so much time on the morning of your wedding day. Because hair and makeup artists have had so much time to practice their craft and become used to the chaos of a wedding morning, they can work quickly and effortlessly in the morning allowing you more time to spend with your bridal party (or making a quick TikTok or two!)
Less stress
Of course, a key benefit of hiring a professional hair and makeup artist means it's another thing you don't have to worry about! If you were to tackle your hair and makeup yourself, your wedding morning could become quite stressful.
Professional hair and makeup artists are used to working under pressure in hectic environments. So, leave the organisation up to them and put your feet up!
Picture perfect
You really do need your hair and makeup done differently if you want it to photograph well! On your wedding day, you are likely to be photographed hundreds, if not thousands, of times. This is where having a professional hair and makeup artist is essential.
Even if you think you've put on the right amount of makeup, it's probably not enough to appear in photos. Experienced wedding makeup artists know the perfect balance and know what needs enhancing so it doesn't disappear in photographs. They also know how to apply plenty of product without making you look clownish or highlighting fine lines and wrinkles.
Last all night long
If dancing late into the night is on your wedding agenda then you better be hiring a hair and makeup artist! Late night wedding party photos are by far some of the best shots of the day, however no one wants to be looking frazzled in these photos! A hair and makeup artist will ensure that your hair will look perfect no matter the conditions and your makeup won't budge no matter how much you cry (or sweat!). Sometimes, hair and makeup artists have the capacity to stay throughout the day and are on hand for quick touch-up's when they're needed. How handy!
Why not?!
You may be great at applying your everyday makeup, or feel confident doing your hair. But it's your wedding day! The perfect excuse to feel extra special and have a once in a lifetime experience. When else are you going to have your hair and makeup professionally done?
What Questions Should I Ask my Hair and Makeup Artist Prior to Booking?
Can I see your portfolio?
This is the very first thing you should ask your hair and makeup artist before booking them. Their portfolio will show you all their strengths and preferences when it comes to certain hair and makeup styles. If you are a bride looking for a full glam look yet the portfolio shows the artist preferring a more natural look, then this supplier may not be right for you.
Will you be using an assistant on the day? If so, can I see their work?
Depending on your requirements, your hair and makeup artist may need reinforcements to help complete the job in a time-efficient manner. If this the case, then get to know the assistant(s)! Take a look at their work to decide if they produce the same quality of work as the lead stylist.
What are your costs? What do these include?
This is a very important question to ask. At first glance, it may appear that the supplier is within budget, however certain services that you require may not be included in the cost displayed. Take a look at the cost breakdown before making any judgement.
Are you willing to travel? If so, how far?
More often than not, hair and makeup artists are very happy to travel to deliver their services on the day. However, certain suppliers may have a cap on how far they travel, or require an increase in cost to travel long distances. Make sure you ask your supplier their preferences on this. It may be smart starting your search with suppliers local to your wedding venue to reduce the organisation.
Do you have experience working with my skin tone/hair type?
It is important to check with your potential suppliers whether they have had experience/got the products to work with your particular skin and hair type. Everyone's hair and skin is slightly different and there is no cookie cutter rule for how to treat them. Either check their portfolio or ask their experience to understand the range they have worked with.
What brands/tools do you use?
This question is important if you have certain preferences on products.
Would you be willing to work with some of my preferred makeup?
If you are in love with your concealer, or you have a curling wand you can't live without, asking your hair and makeup artist if they'd be willing to use certain products you own instead of their own tools is an important question. Sometimes, hair and makeup artists prefer using their own tools as they are tried and tested. However, there will be some willing to switch up the products used. After all, no one knows your hair and skin better than you!
Are there any specific requirements for trial day?
Making the most of your trial day is very important as it will allow you to trial out lots of different looks and get these looks as close to perfect. Ask your supplier what is required of you to allow the magic to happen!
How many looks can we try out on trial day?
Whether you have the dream look decided already, or are still debating the perfect wedding look, trialling out a number of looks on you trial day is always a good idea. The dream look may not come out the way you imagined, or your supplier may suggest a new idea you've never thought of before. Ask you supplier how long a trial often take and how many looks they are willing to try. Be prepared to kiss a lot of frogs before finding the perfect look!
How long would you expect the hair and makeup to take on the day?
This will all depend on the services you require on the day, but it is important to get a rough idea so your wedding day timetable is accurate and you don't end up running late. Leaving enough time to get ready will ensure a fun and relaxed wedding morning with your bridal party.
How long will you be able to stay on the day? Will you be able to do an evening look?
Often brides require a hair and makeup touch-up throughout the day. Whether it is from having a little cry, or getting a bit too lively on the dance floor, it is always reassuring to have your hair and makeup artist on standby just in case. Check with your supplier if this is possible and within your budget. Sometimes, hair and makeup artists may have a few clients per day so this may not be possible.
What is you cancellation/postponement policy?
In case of unforeseen circumstances, it is important to know the suppliers cancellation and/or postponement policy. Protecting your money when you are preparing for a wedding is important.
When Should I Book my Hair and Makeup Artist?
It is important to book your hair and makeup artist in plenty of time before the wedding. This is to ensure that your dream supplier isn't already booked for the date you need. Because of this, we recommend booking your hair and makeup artist approximately 10 months prior to your wedding day.
To stay on top of all your wedding planning and supplier bookings, why not sign up to the Guides for Brides wedding planner to keep track of your progress!
How to Prepare For a Hair and Makeup Trial
A hair and makeup trial is often offered to bride-to-be prior to her wedding day to have a few hours with the artist to practice different looks for the day. It is a great way for the artist to get to know the bride and get familiar with her hair and skin type. It also ensure that there will be no snags on the big day.
Your hair and makeup trial should be scheduled between 2-4 months prior to your wedding day to allow for any changes to be made in time.
To prepare for your makeup trial, speak to the artist beforehand to understand their preferences. But, be prepared to:
Avoid wearing dark colours
As any woman knows, dark clothing and makeup is a tricky pairing. To avoid any unwanted stains, stick to colourful colours when it comes to getting your hair and makeup done.
Wear a top with a similar neckline to your dress
The neckline of your dress makes a massive impact on the hair and makeup that would work well with the outfit. If you have already picked out your dream dress, then find a top with a similar neckline to match the vibe. This will help both you and the artist decide what look will work best.
Come prepared with ideas
Pinterest is your best friend in these moments. Whether you look online or take inspiration from your suppliers portfolio, come prepared with your favourite looks in order to cut down on time and give the artist some direction on where you want to go with your look.
Bring accessories
Accessories are so important to bring to your hair appointment. Whether you want to display some gorgeous earrings or you have a complicated hair piece you want to incorporate into you overall wedding look, your hair and makeup artist need to be aware of these and how to manage the hair and makeup around this.
Don't arrive with wet hair
Hair and makeup artists tend to vary on the preparedness of your hair before the trial, but one thing they do agree on is to never show up with wet hair! In general, wet hair is not pretty and is very trick to style.
Arrive with a clean face
Make sure you have done a thorough and good job at cleaning your face the night before, but show up to your appointment with a fresh face. This will offer your makeup artist a blank canvas to work from without any existing products interrupting the process.
Allow around 3 hours for the appointment
When booking your hair and makeup trial, allow plenty of time for you to get a full and immersive experience. You do not want to be rushing through potential looks, or not having enough time to trial all the looks you are thinking about. Speak to your supplier to discuss how much time you should set aside. We recommend no less than 3 hours.
Be picky with who attends your trial
Be selective about who you take to your trial. It is very common that many of your family and friends will want to share their views and opinions on your bridal look, but sometimes that can get a bit overwhelming! 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.
Wedding Nails and Manicures
Your hands will be in photos all day long, making your wedding manicure an essential part of your bridal beauty routine!
Nail Preparation
Just as makeup looks best on healthy, cared-for skin, manicures look smoother and last longer on properly prepped nails. Using a cuticle oil daily will help keep the skin around your nails soft and supple (no more cracks or hangnails) while applying a nail strengthener is a good way to avoid breakage and flaking nails. Contrary to what you might think, keeping polish on your nails is a good way to strengthen them, as 'naked' nails absorb more water, becoming soft and are more likely to snap. Avoid over-buffing too, as this makes nails thin and weak.
DIY vs Salon Manicures
DIY Manicures: If you're doing your wedding manicure yourself, then we recommend doing it the day before (the last thing you want is to be rushing around with wet nails on the day!). Be sure to check that your polish is in good condition before the day you paint, as old favourites can easily clog up and be unusable, and take the bottle with you to the venue in case of last-minute chips.
Salon Manicures: If you're having your nails done in a salon, ideally it would be one you've visited before and are familiar with. We recommend having a gel manicure, as these will stay put for up to two weeks, meaning you can have perfect nails for the honeymoon too!
Choosing Your Nail Colour
Nude Shades: When it comes to a wedding manicure, you can't go wrong with nude. Be sure to pick a shade that flatters your skin tone for the most natural look - cool-toned ladies should pick nudes with more pink tones, while warm-toned brides can opt for more peachy shades. Darker skin tones can pull off pretty much any shade, including deep chocolate tones.
Alternative Options: You don't have to stick to nude if that's not your style - a classic red can look super chic on a bride, or you could opt for modern silver, bold burgundy or bubblegum pink. We love the idea of pale blue on toes as your 'something blue', too!
DIY Wedding Makeup Tips
If you choose to do your own wedding makeup, here are some professional tips to ensure you look picture-perfect:
Product Selection and Application
When applying your own makeup, don't be tempted to pile the makeup on thickly believing it will last longer. Often the opposite is true. When makeup is applied heavily, not only can it look obvious but it can actually 'slide off' easier. The trick is to use a primer and then apply your makeup in thin layers. Not only will it last longer but your skin can shine through making you look more natural and radiant.
Long-Lasting Lip Colour
Nowadays there is no reason for brides to have to constantly retouch their lipstick. Try using one of the many long lasting lip colours on the market. They tend to be dual ended so you apply the colour first and then allow it to dry fully before applying a clear gloss. Depending on the brand the lipstick can last around 12 hours and only needs the gloss reapplying occasionally to give that luscious juicy lip look!
Photography Considerations
Be wary of using makeup with light reflective pigments or glitter in. There is a very popular product on the market that instead of being a typical concealer is designed to brighten the under eye area using light reflective pigments. Whilst it is a fantastic product for every day use, it isn't ideal for use when you know you are going to be photographed as if a flash needs to be used the flash will pick up on those light reflective pigments and give you the opposite of panda eyes! The same can be said for glitter eye shadows. Try using shimmer or satin shadows instead.
Bear in mind that your makeup is likely to be slightly heavier than usual in order to show up properly in the wedding photographs. Very natural looks tend to wash out on camera, especially when paired with a white or ivory wedding dress, so you may end up looking like you're not wearing makeup at all in the photos! Pay extra attention to defining the eyes (individual false lashes are a great way to achieve this), and choose a lip colour that's one shade darker than usual.
Essential Products for DIY Brides
If you're doing your own wedding makeup, then the normal contents of your makeup bag may not be suitable. You'll need long-wearing products that are sweatproof and waterproof, and your foundation and setting powder should contain no SPF in order to avoid flashback in photos.
Additional Beauty Preparations
Skincare Routine
A glowing complexion is the foundation of bridal beauty, but achieving such a look isn't a quick process. The sooner you start, the better. In the days, weeks, and months leading up to your wedding day, hone in on your skincare routine.
Use a light cleanser and a hydrating moisturiser to keep your skin soft and supple. Incorporate exfoliation one day each week to help remove dead skin cells and reveal fresh, glowing skin. Drink lots of water to boost your hydration efforts and keep your skin looking plump and fresh. If you have any specific skin concerns or plan to try a new skincare treatment, see a dermatologist well before the big day.
One of the big worries many brides, bridesmaids and mothers have is about existing blemishes or having one appear just when you don't want one on your big day. Other common concerns are for rosacea, redness, scars and tattoos. A good makeup artist will be able to handle these with ease. Whilst an artist won't be able to remove the 'volume' of a blemish, they should be able to colour match and cover blemishes or rosacea to last all day and be unnoticeable in photographs.
Wedding Day Fragrance
Finding the right fragrance is one of the most personal, unforgettable parts of wedding preparations. It becomes a memorable element not just for you but also for those close to you. The right scent for your big day depends on the vibe you're going for and should be chosen well in advance to ensure it's truly 'you'.
Final Tips for Wedding Beauty Success
Trust the Professionals
Bridal experts will do hair and makeup for numerous weddings all throughout the year; they see a range of groups and there is always the factor of working to personal taste. Be encouraged to communicate with your team and explain what preferences you have. If something isn't right, just let them know and they will be happy to make adjustments.
They are there not only to prepare your hair and makeup, but to provide support like a Fairy Godmother on the biggest day of your life. They will try to remind you of important moments to be captured, help with your dress and veil.
Relax and Enjoy the Process
Remember, this is your special day! Take time to pamper yourself with pre-wedding treats to relax and unwind. Enjoy a manicure or pedicure, a massage, or a full spa day, and remember to get plenty of sleep. This way, you can approach your wedding day relaxed, glowy, and well-rested, just like you should be.
Bridal preparation isn't only about looking good. It's all about feeling confident, radiant, and ready to embrace every moment of your wedding day. From glowy skin to the perfect scent, every detail matters.