Hair and makeup starting hours before ceremony

They know their schedules based on past experience of doing this for a living. Trust that they know what they're doing. Most ladies say time flies. Make sure to eat beforehand.

That sounds right to me depending on how long each person takes to get their stuff done and what the timeline is. for instance, we all got ourselves ready for my wedding at around noon because we took photos at around 2 and the ceremony wasn't even til 5p

Yes, that is normal. I have never seen wedding hair and makeup take less than 4-5 hours.

You won’t be sitting around. I had my hair and makeup services services start at 11:00 for a 3:00 ceremony. There was so much going on between hair and makeup, photography and videography prewedding pictures, and bridal portraits that the time will fly by. Believe me, you won’t just be sitting around. Lol!

You shouldn't be sitting around lol there will be much to do.

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I agree with others. Perhaps ask to see the HMUA's typical scheduling/blocking for services. Depending on the total number of people, I'd guess not everyone's service will start at 1:30, but some services need to start then. Typically, the bride is one of the last ones finished (within a timeframe that works for photography, first look, etc.). Once you understand their full plan, you'll know if some can arrive later than 1:30 and/or will be done significantly earlier. No matter what the schedule looks like, double-check that some extra time/padding has been built in -- most experienced HMUAs will plan for this. A relative was an hour late for her wedding because of HMUA delays.... (The same relative, who booked her own services, was 90 minutes late to daughter's wedding, and then mad because we hadn't arranged a separate lunch for her after she completely missed the time she was told to arrive....) As others have said, the day will go much faster than you anticipate!

That sounds normal. I’ve had to go at like 7:30 am for a 2 pm wedding...

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I know. I am thinking about those starting services at 1:30 as well as the fact that I need to be there from start to finish even tho I am not until the end.

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If there is a super clear schedule, like BMs A, B, and C, start their first service at 1:30, and MOH, MOB, and MOG start their first service at 2:15, and Bride, FG, and BM D start at 3:00, you may be able to give people some flexibility in when they arrive, etc. At the same time, each person's services might not occur in a sequential flow -- HMUAs might jump back and forth, doing some "prework" on hairstyles, like setting with hot rollers or with a curling iron, then moving to someone/something else while curls set, AND timing may not be perfect -- one person's hair might take a LOT longer than anticipated and another's may be much faster -- so everyone needs to be a bit flexible. An experienced team might have a really complicated flow to their work that lets them be as efficient as possible and guarantee that everyone is done at the scheduled completion time. Depending on where this is all happening (e.g., in a salon, hotel suite, at a home, etc.) there is likely the opportunity for other things to be going on simultaneously, like eating a light lunch, some getting ready photos, and hanging out. Hopefully, as the bride, you won't have other pressing things to do in the 5 hours before your wedding, like setting up décor or prepping food, so maybe try to see it as some fun, relaxing, bonding time with your wedding party. Good luck!

FWIW -- daughter and I had to be at her HMUA's salon at 7 am...the ceremony began at 3:30! Honestly, the day flew by.... And, good wedding HMU should be built to last 12+ hours and still look perfect!

Yes. It's normal. The bride is last. And you want pics and video of you getting ready

Yes, it’s normal for the ladies to begin getting ready many hours before the ceremony begins. Unfortunately, a lot of brides don’t realize that when they’re selecting a bridal party and have a number of women who need to sit for hair and makeup. FH and I decided early on against having a bridal party. So I’m the only one getting hair and makeup done. No waking up early, no coordinating others and no waiting around 🥳. However you’ll be so excited that day that you won’t even mind.

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That's the funny part! I don't have a bridal party at all!!!! All my sisters and husband's sisters and our moms wanted to get ready with me so there are 7 girls getting ready with me now.

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That's different, if it's just a bunch of family members looking to hang out, then I think you have more flexibility in what time your appointment is and how much of the full block you want to be there for.... When daughter figured out that if her entire wedding party were to use her HMUA, they'd have to start around 4 am, she said forget it! Four of her 5 BMs did their own hair and make-up at one of the BM's home -- I think they started around 9 am. Daughter and I went to the HMUA's salon together; my appointment was first from 7-8:15, then daughter's hair & make-up were done. Her MIL got to the salon around 10, in time to see daughter finish up by 10:15. We left the salon around 10:30 to get home to meet up with the BMs for lunch and the photographer for getting ready photos. Another relative had a hair appointment after MIL's, starting around noon -- we didn't see her until the wedding. By 12:30, the wedding party was already headed to the venue for first look, etc. I guess if you want to spend the afternoon with all of those people in lieu of spending the time with a bridal party, it makes sense, but given those circumstances, I think your schedule/preferences should be the priority.... If you don't want to show up until 3 or whatever time the HUMAs need you, then I wouldn't rush....

Sounds about right! I have 7 people getting ready including myself with 2 artists and we're starting at 10am and should be finished at 2:30pm.

View Quoted Comment Oh wow!!! Lol

Yes very normal. We are starting at 8 to be finish by 1.

Yeah very normal. My ceremony starts at 6 pm and they will arrive on locations at 1 pm.