Your wedding hair and makeup timeline is one of the most important factors for having a stress-free and enjoyable wedding day. These quiet moments in the morning surrounded by your best friends and family are a few of the most joyful memories past brides have shared with me and truthfully, they didn’t just happen by chance.  Preparing your wedding getting-ready timeline in advance and reviewing it with your stylist is the number one way to ensure a relaxed and lovely morning with your girlfriends.

Here are a few tips to consider for creating the perfect wedding hair and makeup timeline.

How much time does your stylist need for each service?

It’s important to understand how long each service will take so you can a lot . You can estimate about 45 minutes to an hour of time for one service to be completed, but every stylist is different so be sure to ask them their preference on length.

Consider the size of your bridal party.

If you have 4 girls or 14, taking into consideration the size of your bridal party when creating your hair and makeup timeline is important.  The last thing you want to be on your wedding day is rushed, so buffer in some extra time if you have larger parties in case a few girls take longer than expected. This leads me to my next point….

How many stylists will you have on site?

If you have large bridal party, you may need a couple of hair and makeup stylists on-site in order to get everyone done on time.   Share with your vendors the time that you need all services to be COMPLETED by, and they will work backwards from there… creating a timeline and bringing an accurate number of stylists for everyone to be ready on time.

Don’t rush the bride.

The bride should typically go last or second to last in the schedule so their hair and makeup is the most fresh. Caveat: If you’re anxious or picky about your hair and makeup, consider placing yourself in the middle of the timeline in case you want to change your style last minute or need more time making the final touches.

Make time for your photographer.

This is SO important. If getting ready shots are high on your shot list and you want your photographer to capture some of these morning moments, you need to work them into your timeline. Consider what time the bride is getting ready and confirm that the photographer will be on-site for those shots.

Will you be getting ready on-site or at a salon?

Don’t forget that travel time should be buffered into your wedding hair and makeup timeline if you will be getting ready at a salon.

 Consider the order.

Starting the morning off on the right foot will set a positive tone for the rest of the day. If you have a bridesmaid that is notoriously late for everything, don’t put her first in the order. If you have junior bridesmaids or flower girls that want their makeup done, consider having them go last since their service won’t take as long as the others. It’s inevitable that no one wants to be the first to get ready as they want their hair and makeup fresh for photos, but reassure your maids that they can have touchups before you leave for photos. 

While it’s so important to prepare for your day, it’s equally as important to remember that a timeline is a timeline… and it’s there to keep you on track but don’t be alarmed if it’s running before or behind schedule a few minutes.  Enjoy your wedding day, have fun with your best friends and create wedding day memories that will last a lifetime.

Make sure to follow along this week on my instagram account. I am partnering with Pittsburgh-based makeup artist, Clare Lozano, of See Jane Blush,  to share some additional makeup tips and tricks and a step-by-step makeup tutorial!

Looking for more wedding planning tips and tricks? Here are a few of my favorite reads:
What to bring to your wedding florist consultation

How to choose the best photographer for your wedding day

 

xx Alyssa

Feature Image: Palermo Photo

Blog Image: Photo: Maria Vicencio

Alyssa Thomas is a Pittsburgh Wedding Planner and Pittsburgh Event Planner serving clients in Pittsburgh, Columbus, Maryland and Worldwide Destinations. Her work spans from weddings and corporate events, to meetups and intimate gatherings. Contact her today for your consultation and stop by her instagram to see some beautiful events, design work, and a peek into her personal life + traveling adventures. @alyssathomasevents

Pittsburgh Wedding Planner | Columbus Wedding Planner