When to book hair and makeup for your wedding (+ artist recommendations!)
My favorite wedding-day acronym is HAMU, which of course stands for hair and makeup! Lots of brides ask me about the timing for HAMU on your wedding day. And I’m so glad! Scheduling hair and makeup for your wedding is an important part of your wedding day timeline to ensure that you acheive the look that you want and everything runs smoothly in the timeline. Here's a general guideline for when to schedule hair and makeup for your wedding:
Consultation and Trial Run (months before — check in with your HAMU artist for their recommended timing):
Schedule a consultation and trial run with your chosen hair and makeup artist several months before the wedding. This will help you finalize your look and make any necessary adjustments.
Hair and Makeup Artists' Arrival (morning of the wedding):
On the actual wedding day, your hair and makeup artists should arrive early in the morning, well in advance of my arrival. The exact timing will depend on various factors, including:
Ceremony Time: Work backward from the time of your ceremony to determine when you need to start getting ready. Allow ample time for all the preparations, including hair, makeup, and getting dressed.
Travel Time: Consider the time it takes for your hair and makeup artists to travel to your location, especially if you're getting ready at a different venue than where the ceremony will be held.
Bridesmaids and Other Wedding Party Members:
Schedule time for your bridesmaids or other members of the wedding party to have their hair and makeup done. Make sure to coordinate with your artists to ensure everyone is ready on time. I recommend that you don’t go last, meaning you (the bride) are not the last one in the chair! I say this because you need to be ready earlier than you probably think. And you want to leave plenty of time for the artists to run a little behind and any changes you might make.
Touch-Up Time:
This where I reommend we take your getting ready photos. You’ve already had your hair and makeup completely finished for about an hour when I arrive. HAMU looks more natural once it’s been in place for about an hour. Then we can take photos of you getting touchups — think lipstick, blotting powder, and hairspray with a glass of champagne in hand. Then you’ll get into your dress! And your hair and makeup artists can stay for touch-ups or provide you with a touch-up kit for the rest of the day.
Relaxation Time:
Don't forget to schedule a bit of relaxation time for yourself. It's essential to stay calm and enjoy the morning with your bridal party and loved ones.
Keep in mind that the exact timing can vary depending on your preferences, the complexity of your hairstyle and makeup, and the number of people getting ready. Communicate your timeline clearly with your hair and makeup artists, and be sure to factor in some buffer time in case of unexpected delays. Ultimately, the goal is to feel relaxed, pampered, and confident on your day.
Here are some recommended HAMU artists that I love in Austin:
