How soon is too soon..

taylorl21

...for a make-up and hair trial? I am getting married in August, but my fiancé and I have his Firefighters banquet mid-March. I would really love to schedule my trial on the same day so it can really be put to the test, and I don't have any other events between then and our wedding. Is that stretching it too much before our wedding?

augsum15

I would say the sooner the better, especially if you don't have someone picked out yet. Luckily I have a friend who does all my cutting etc for me. I'm also getting married in August, we tried an up-do last summer and it really helped me to narrow down what I actually wanted. So go for it! That way, if you don't end up liking what you think you'd like, you have plenty of time to try something new, and if you love it, it's out of the way. 

WhatawagSBNy

There are two reasons for a trial, so you can decide if this is the person you want to do your hair and makeup, and to talk about what you like and do not like, trying things out, wiping off what you do not like and trying it again. Comb out this way, or braid.

Starting early, you still have time to find someone else if this person does not work out, a plus.

But this far in advance, the makeup artist/ stylist will not remember what she did for a customer, what worked and what didn't. Not with 500 customers since.

So take a good camera with front and side and back views. Then write down: Liked brand a foundation, shade natural. Brand B creamy blush was too masklike and pink, Brand C shade pale made me look like a ghost.

You and the stylist go through each choice, and in 5 minutes you have agreed on what looks best and put it in writing.
Bring the picture and make up description in months later, your makeup and hair will be done in a way you know you like.

Might as well look good for a party, you have paid enough for a trial!

taylorl21

Thank you so much! I normally wouldn't have done it that early if it weren't for the banquet! Thanks!

MadHops21

I'm getting married in June 2016, but I'm thinking of doing some trials with just hair to see what I like this year.

I picked about 4 different styles, and I have a brand new stylist, so I'm thinking I'll get it done for days that I go out for just to see if she does hair styles the way I like and if it looks good. 

[Deleted User]

Another vote for do it for the banquet. Where I went they had a sample face on paper that they use to write down the colors they use on you and put it in a bridal file that they have & they took pictures of my hair. I went about 2 months before my wedding for mine. My stylist does hair for so many people, I wouldn't expect her to remember everything from my trial to my actual wedding day. And like the others said, if you don't like how it turned out you have time to try out different looks or different stylists.

floridabride44

I think doing it the day of the banquet is a great idea - I'm already annoyed I'm going to drop a bunch of money on my trial to get my hair & makeup done and then go nowhere, haha. I'd love to have a fancy event to go to, to make the trial worth it! 

Knottie68775487

I don;t think it's too early! The salon I'm interested in booking with, asked if when I come in to meet the staff, if I wanted to do a trial then or just discuss options. I'm also an August bride. My best friend is having a "prom" themed party in April (we're 26 BTW), so I'm going to try and schedule a trial for that day. 

JoanE2012

The banquet is a good time for a trial!  Heck, I'd probably do it even earlier, but that's me.  When I was looking around for MUA and hair stylists, if I wanted them to pen me in their calendar for my wedding, I had to leave a deposit.  No way would I leave a deposit without a trial first.  And delaying the trial just meant someone else might come in and swoop up my date.  

I'm glad I gave myself plenty of time before the wedding too, because the first MUA was awful despite getting rave reviews on my local board and I had to look for someone new. 

ETA - PP earlier mentioned about the stylist/MUA forgetting what you want if you go too early.  Reality is, they'd probably forget even if it was done just weeks earlier.  A good stylist/MUA will write down what they used and take plenty of photos.  Mine had no problem recreating the look based on the notes and photos from the trial.