When's a good time to get hair/makeup done?

FiancB

I was going to do it myself and kinda last minute decided I'd really like for someone else to do it. I found someone that is available and not outrageous. I have hair and makeup for myself, 3 bridesmaids and a jr bridesmaid. My ceremony is at 4:30, no pre-ceremony pics planned, with the photographer arriving at about 3. 

When I told this to the stylist they said they wanted to do hair/makeup from 9:30 to 12:30. Isn't that... awfully early? I kind of get the sense that maybe they're just trying to pack in as many appointments as possible. I don't really want to have to try not to screw anything up for 4 hours. 

LadyMillil

My ceremony was at 4:30 and I had pre-ceremony pictures scheduled for 1:30ish. For hair, we had me and my 2 BMs, and then the three of us plus my mom for make up. It took about an 1 hour and 30 minutes to do my hair - long hair, in an up-do with a veil and headpiece, then about 1 hour for each BM. Make up was about 20-30 minutes per person. We had both the hairdresser and the MUA working at the same time. We started both at 9. Makeup was done by 11, hair was done just before 12. This gave me enough time to have some food before getting dressed.

If you figure an hour per person, that would have you starting between 10-11, so that you aren't rushed at the end. You could also be in the middle or last so you have less time to screw everything up. There were so many bobby pins and so much hairspray in my hair it stayed in place really well.

ahyatt87

My ceremony was at 4:00 pm. I had four girls for hair and four girls for makeup. Since I had a hair trial, my hair style was actually the quickest of the four and only took 45 minutes. I had one makeup artist and one hair stylist, both of whom came to me. We started at 11:00 am and ended at 3:00 pm, with one hour set aside for each appoinment. I had my hair appointment at 1:00 pm and my makeup appointment at 2:00 pm. It worked out well for us.

larrygaga

I would say just make sure your appointment early enough that if something bad happened you have time to fix it, but late enough so you do have less time to mess it up. Get hair and makeup that doesn't mess up, as well. I would go around 1 if my ceremony is at 4:30, but that's just me. 12:30 is probably fine. You want to keep in mind getting around and getting in your dress and all that. It takes longer than  you think!

FiancB

Ok, so it doesn't sound quite so far off. I'll see if I can start maybe more like 11. I'm not planning on doing a complicated updo or anything like that. I definitely don't want to be rushed, but also don't want to sit with my veil in for 4 hours. 

erinlin25

I had a 6pm wedding, with photographer coming at 4:30--I started hair at 10/10:30am and she took about 1.5-2 hrs for my hair (I have a lot of hair!). I was then able to eat (brush my teeth) and then had my make up done. Took about 1 hr. I was happy getting it done and no one was rushing so it was calm all day. We had two stylists and 1 MUA for me, 5 bridesmaids, my mom and MIL. and she put my veil in right before she left at 2pm so that way I did not have to have it on all day.

melbenso

My salon worked backwards from the timeline I had.  I wanted to be at the venue by 2 (4 o'clock ceremony).  It takes about an hour to get there from the salon if there's traffic, so I wanted to leave by 1.  The salon built in a little extra cushion time, and scheduled our appointments so everyone would be out of there by 12:45.  My appointment starts at 10:45 for hair and make-up.  My mom and bridesmaids appointments start between 10:45 and 11:30, depending on what they are having done.

My trial took about 2 hours, but I nixed the first hairstyle we tried and we started over, so this time it should take less time, even if I decide to tweak my makeup a little.  (I went with a really natural look and I'm thinking I might want slightly more drama to the eye makeup.)

lkristenj

@KnotPorscha - vendor

Maggie0829

We wanted to be at the venue by 2pm (4:30pm ceremony start time) so that we had about 30 minutes or so to just sit and relax and to make sure everything was coming together decor wise.  It was nice to not have to rush once we got to the venue.  Because the venue was an hour away we wanted to leave my house (where we got hair and makeup done) at 1pm.  The first appointments started at 8:30/9am and I was done last; there were four of us.  I was finished at about 12:45.

And really those few hours between when you are finished your hair and makeup and when your photographer arrives will fly by.  You and your girls will have to get dressed and I am sure the photographer will take pictures of you prior to the ceremony since he will already be there.