Hairstyles and make up for the wedding day
You want to look amazing when you walk up the aisle, and to glow with health and inner radiance in your wedding photos, but that takes lots of preparation well before the wedding day to ensure healthy hair, skin and nails from the inside, and most brides will also want the help of a great beautician and hairdresser on the wedding day itself.
Your usual hair stylist maybe reluctant to leave their salon on a busy Saturday and you may prefer that your hair and make-up are done in the comfort and privacy of your home so that you don't have to walk down the High Street wearing a tiara like someone from a bridal beauty pageant. Choose a hairdresser and beautician who specialise in wedding beauty and offer home appointments. Arrange a “girl’s day in” and have a trial run with your hairstyle, make-up and nails so that your beautician and stylist will know exactly how they can help you to look your very best on your wedding day.
A professional in bridal beauty will also be able to do your bridesmaids hairstyles as well as specialising in bridal hairstyles, so search around and find a professional beautician who can do everything that you want.
Remember, you can do your own make-up and hair, and some brides do, but a skilled make-up artist will let you relax while she applies make up that will look as natural or as glamorous as you are comfortable with.
Beauty, hair & Makeup FAQ
When should I book my wedding hair and makeup?
This depends on how long your engagement is, but we generally recommend booking your wedding hair and makeup 6 months in advance. If your wedding date is a Saturday in the summer, you may have to book sooner than this to avoid missing out. The important thing is that you have your wedding venue and wedding dress already booked, as this can change the vibe of your bridal look.
Should I book a wedding hair and makeup trial?
Most bridal hair and makeup artists strongly recommend having a wedding hair and makeup trial 4 to 6 weeks before the wedding. This gives you a chance to test out some looks, give feedback to your supplier, and wear test the hairstyle and makeup for longevity.
What happens at a wedding hair trial?
Your stylist will be able to talk you through exactly what to expect at your wedding hair trial, but generally this is an opportunity to test out the hairstyle you’re hoping to wear on the day. Often your stylist will only try out one hairstyle and may make tweaks, but sometimes they’ll try more than one style. Regardless, you should attend your wedding hair trial with the length, colour and cut you expect to have on the day itself for the best results.
What happens at a wedding makeup trial?
Wedding makeup trials can vary in length and detail, but in general it’s a chance for your makeup artist to try out your bridal look before the big day. Whether this is trying a few looks, or just the one and making small adjustments, it’s a great way for you to test out the makeup in person and see how long it lasts. That way, you know what to expect on your wedding day.
How much does wedding hair and makeup cost?
Costs will vary depending on your hair and makeup artist, and how many people you’re booking wedding hair and makeup for! If you’re paying for your bridesmaids, flower girls and mothers of the bride and groom, then your costs will go up. On average, our brides spend £250 on hair and makeup.
Cosmetic surgery
Whether it is botox, teeth whitening or something more drastic, lots of brides (and indeed grooms) are turning to specialist clinics before their wedding so that they can look their very best. Make sure that any pre-wedding cosmetic procedures are carried out well before the wedding so that you can adjust to your new look or shape – and that there is time for any dress alterations in the case of any major cosmetic surgery such as breast enlargement or reduction, or a tummy tuck.
Instead of full cosmetic procedures a lot of brides now choose a gentler “medi-spa” approach where they offer less aggressive and invasive treatments than would be classed as cosmetic surgery, but with greater effects than you would get from a spa treatment. These medi-spas can help with thread veins, cellulite, patchy or blotchy skin and various other minor blemishes that you might want to address before your wedding day.
It is generally accepted that brides or grooms choosing to have cosmetic surgery before the wedding are not just doing it because they want to look their best for their wedding day, or wedding night, but that it is more about starting a new chapter in their life, and starting the chapter as the person they have always aspired to be, both emotionally and physically.
