The number secret to a stress free wedding!
Scheduling ample hair and makeup time for you and your bridesmaids.
By including enough prep time in your wedding day schedule, you’ll arrive at the ceremony venue relaxed and ready to go, with plenty of time to spare.
Otherwise, if hair and make up run late, everything else will be behind schedule for the rest of the day.
So, to help you make it to the church on time, follow my getting-ready guide.
The first question I usually get asked by brides is how long will the bridal makeup take?
I have decided to give you a little breakdown of what to expect on your wedding day and how to plan timings for hair and make up.
I like to allow 60 minutes per person for bridal make up on your wedding day.
Although it may not always take a full hour to make everyone up, this time allows for interuptions with florists, photographers, friends and family on the day.
I know some make up artists will tell you they can work quicker and fit more in but as this is your special day do you really want your make up artist and hair stylist rushing?
The last thing you need on your big day is any stress so I find it is much better when you don’t work to such a tight schedule.
The Wedding Day:
On the day of your wedding, I come to either your home or your wedding venue depending on where you are getting ready. It is always useful to have a small table placed near a window from which I can work from. It usually takes me around 15 minutes to unpack and set up my kit and lighting.
It is always better to have natural lighting when applying make up, this is why I like to be near a window if possible.
I will always bring my own adjustable chair with me and makeup light incase it’s a dark overcast day.
I allow one hour per person for make up application, this time includes the tidying up of my work station and cleaning brushes in between clients.
I usually advise the bride to have her make up done 2nd to last on the day so her make up looks fresh and if for some reason we should ever run over time (it has never happened yet) then at least it will not be the bride who is effected by this.
Coordinating with Hair Stylists.
I'm happy to collaborate with your hairstylist! We can work together and alternate clients for an efficient flow. I am also happy to provide you with recommendations for local hair stylists that I have worked with.
Sample Schedule for a Wedding Party of 5:
Bride
3 Bridesmaids
Mother of the Bride
Wedding Ceremony: 1:00 PM
6:45 AM: Makeup Artist Arrives & Sets Up
7:00 AM: Mother of the Bride Makeup / Bridesmaid 1 Hair
8:00 AM: Bridesmaid 1 Makeup / Mother of the Bride Hair
9:00 AM: Bridesmaid 2 Makeup / Bride Hair
10:00 AM: Bride Makeup / Bridesmaid 3 Hair
11:00 AM: Bridesmaid 3 Makeup / Bridesmaid 2 Hair
12:00 PM: Everyone Finished with Hair & Makeup!
Relaxation & Final Touches
Once hair and makeup is done, you will have one hour to spare to get into your dress, have photographs and of course have a glass of bubbly to calm those nerves.
This hour will also allow for lipstick touch ups.
So ladies if you have a large bridal party and you are still at the planning stage, please remember to factor in these timings and try not to book your ceremony too early.
Quite often I start at 6am for weddings but that doesn’t mean the bride has to be up at 6am.
Delegate & Conquer: As the bride, you deserve some relaxation! Let a bridesmaid or your mother go first for hair and makeup, allowing you to sleep in a bit.
If you have a separate person to style the hair you don’t need to factor in extra time for hair as we work together and swap.
Double the Efficiency: Hiring separate hair and makeup artists can significantly cut down on getting-ready time compared to having one person handle both.
If you are having one person for hair and makeup then the time it takes to get ready will double and you will be starting very early so in my opinion you are always better having two people who specialise in either bridal hair or bridal makeup.
If you have any questions or would like to chat with me about creating your perfect bridal makeup look, get in touch. I'd love to hear from you xxx