How Long Does Hair and Makeup Take for a Wedding? The reality of it may surprise you

Bonus* Our hair and makeup timeline template you can use as your beauty timeline guide.

Creating a wedding morning timeline is crucial for a stress-free and on-time ceremony.

Here’s a breakdown of the key components you’ll need to include in your hair and makeup schedule:

How Long Does Hair and Makeup Take?

• Overall Duration: Typically, hair and makeup can take 4 to 6 hours for everyone involved. This includes the bride and bridal party.
• Bridal Hair and Makeup: Expect around 2 to 3 hours. Scheduling 2.5 hours is a good buffer to ensure everything runs smoothly.
• Bridal Party Hair and Makeup: Plan for 1 to 2 hours per person. Using multiple artists can help streamline this process. We are lucky to have a team that works together from intimate to bigger weddings.

Order of Hair and Makeup

• Hair First: It’s generally best to start with hair to avoid affecting makeup with heat or sprays. This also allows your makeup artist to apply makeup last, ensuring it stays fresh.
• Hot Tip- Steam your dresses the night before. Don’t have time have someone help you before they have their makeup or hair service done. Steam has water and will affect the hairspray. Plus you want to look refreshed for the day of full of photos.

Timing for the Bride

• Ready Time: The bride should be ready 1 to 2 hours before the ceremony. This accounts for any pre-ceremony activities, including photos and any potential delays.

Wedding Hair and Makeup Timeline Template

Here’s a sample timeline to help guide your planning:

• 8:00 a.m.: Wake Up
• Enjoy a light breakfast, hydrate, and complete any pre-makeup skincare.
• 8:30 a.m.: Hair and Makeup Arrival
• Artists arrive and set up their equipment.
• 8:40 a.m.: Start Bridal Party Hair and Makeup
• With a team of artists, you can have multiple bridesmaids getting ready at the same time.
• 10:00 a.m.: Start Bridal Hair and Makeup
• This allows for a relaxed and unrushed process, giving time for any last-minute adjustments.
• 12:00 p.m.: Last-Minute Touch-Ups
• Final adjustments and touch-ups to ensure everyone looks flawless.

Additional Tips

1. Consult with Your Stylist: Work with your hairstylist and makeup artist to fine-tune your timeline based on their recommendations.
2. Communicate Clearly: Make sure everyone in the bridal party knows their scheduled time and location.
3. Have Snacks and Drinks Ready: Keep refreshments on hand to keep energy levels up throughout the morning.

We offer a complimentary timeline and preparation guides as part of your day of service. Because making it a relaxing experience is our priority.

By planning ahead and following a structured timeline, you’ll set the stage for a beautiful, stress-free wedding day!

✨ Need help with your beauty timeline or finding the perfect hair and makeup pros? Reach out to us, and let’s make sure you and your bridal party get started on your ultimate wedding beauty plan. Your dream day deserves nothing less than a relaxing start.