A guide to planning wedding day hair and makeup, covering artist booking timelines, trial appointments, bridal party scheduling, touch-up kits, and payment and tipping etiquette.
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Booking Your Artists
Research and book hair and makeup artists 6-9 months ahead
Top artists book 8-12 months in advance for peak wedding season (May-October). Request portfolios showing work on skin tones and hair textures similar to yours. Expect $150-$400 for bridal hair and $150-$400 for bridal makeup.
Read at least 10 reviews from recent wedding clients
Confirm they travel to your venue or arrange a suitable prep location
Ask about their experience with your wedding setting
Outdoor, beach, and summer weddings require different products than indoor winter events. An artist who mostly works in studios may not be prepared for humidity, wind, or extreme temperatures. Ask directly.
Review and sign the contract carefully
The contract should list: services, per-person cost, travel fees, overtime rates, deposit amount, and cancellation terms. Most require a 30-50% non-refundable deposit. Clarify who pays for parking and meals if the artist stays all day.
Determine if you need one artist or a team
One artist can style 3-4 people per hour for hair and 3-4 for makeup. For a bridal party of 6+, you need at least 2 artists to finish on time. Calculate backward from your ceremony start time.
Trial Appointments
Schedule a hair and makeup trial 2-3 months before the wedding
Trials typically cost $100-$250 each (sometimes credited toward the wedding day). Bring photos of 3-5 styles you like. Wear a top similar in neckline to your wedding dress so you can see the full effect.
Bring your veil, headpiece, or hair accessories to test with the style
Photograph the finished look in natural light and artificial light
Wear the trial look for 6-8 hours to test staying power
Don't wash it off right after the trial. Go about your day and check how it holds after dinner, dancing, and any outdoor time. Take photos every 2 hours to compare. This is the only way to know if it lasts.
Give honest feedback and request adjustments
If something isn't right, say so now — not on the wedding morning. Bring your trial photos to the wedding day appointment as a reference. If you're unhappy after 2 trials with the same artist, it may be time to find a new one.
Wedding Day Timeline
Build a hair and makeup schedule working backward from the ceremony
Allow 45-60 minutes per person for hair and 30-45 minutes per person for makeup. The bride goes last so her look is freshest. Add a 30-minute buffer for delays. A party of 5 needs to start 5-6 hours before the ceremony.
Send the schedule to every bridal party member at least 2 weeks ahead
Assign specific time slots so everyone knows when to be in the chair
Plan the order of who gets styled first
Start with the person who needs the least touch-up time. Bridesmaids and mothers go first, then the maid of honor, then the bride. People with earlier ceremony roles (readers, soloists) should be scheduled before others.
Arrange the prep space with proper lighting and seating
The artist needs a chair by a window or well-lit mirror, a nearby outlet for tools, and a clean flat surface for products. Hotel rooms often lack space — book a suite or ask the venue for a bridal prep room.
Touch-Up Kit and Supplies
Assemble a touch-up kit for the day
Include: blotting papers, pressed powder, lip color, bobby pins, hair spray, safety pins, and stain remover pen. Fit it in a small zippered bag. Assign one person to carry it during the ceremony and reception.
Ask the makeup artist for the exact lip color used so you can reapply
Add false eyelash glue if wearing lashes — one edge always lifts
Schedule a touch-up between the ceremony and reception
If the artist offers a touch-up visit, it costs $50-$150 extra and takes 10-15 minutes. It's worth it if there's a gap between ceremony and reception or if you'll be outdoors for photos.
Keep a mirror and good lighting near the reception entrance
Place a small mirror at the bridal suite or restroom near the reception for quick checks. Many venues have dim restrooms — bring a rechargeable LED mirror ($15-$30) so you can actually see what you're fixing.
Payment and Tipping
Confirm final headcount and total cost 2 weeks before the wedding
Review the contract line by line: number of people, services per person, travel fees, and any add-ons from the trial. Get the final total in writing. Most artists require full payment on the wedding day, not after.
Ask about accepted payment methods — many prefer cash or direct transfer
Prepare tips for the hair and makeup team
Standard tipping is 15-20% of the total service cost per artist. If the lead artist is also the business owner, tipping is appreciated but not expected. Prepare cash tips in labeled envelopes before the wedding day.
Assign someone to handle payment on the wedding morning
You should not be scrambling for envelopes or payment apps while getting ready. Give the payment and tip envelopes to your maid of honor or a parent the night before with clear instructions on when to hand them over.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does bridal hair and makeup cost?
Bridal hair and makeup averages $250-$500 for the bride alone — hair typically runs $100-$250 and makeup $100-$250. Bridesmaid services cost $75-$150 each for hair and $75-$125 each for makeup. A trial run (highly recommended) adds $100-$200 to the total. For a bridal party of 5, total hair and makeup costs typically range from $1,000-$2,500. Travel fees add $50-$150 if the artist comes to your getting-ready location.
When should I book my wedding hair and makeup artist?
Book your hair and makeup artist 6-9 months before the wedding. Top artists in major cities book 9-12 months out during peak season (May-October). Schedule your trial 4-8 weeks before the wedding — early enough to switch artists if you are unhappy, but close enough to your wedding day that seasonal factors (tan, hair length) are similar. Bring inspiration photos and your veil or headpiece to the trial.
Should I do a hair and makeup trial before the wedding?
Absolutely — 90% of bridal beauty professionals strongly recommend a trial. It takes 60-90 minutes and costs $100-$200, which is applied as a credit toward wedding-day services by some artists. The trial lets you test the look in different lighting, see how it wears over 4-6 hours, and photograph it to confirm it looks good on camera. Bring your veil, headpiece, and dress neckline photo for the most accurate preview.
How long does bridal party hair and makeup take on the wedding day?
Each person takes 45-60 minutes for hair and 30-45 minutes for makeup — about 1.5 hours per person total. For a bridal party of 5 plus the bride, start 5-6 hours before ceremony time if using one artist. Two artists working simultaneously cut the timeline to 3-3.5 hours. The bride always goes last so her look is freshest for the ceremony. Build in a 30-minute buffer for touch-ups and photos.