Mixed gender wedding parties, getting ready plans?

My plan is to invite have our groomsgals come to the bridal suite to get their hair done first so they can spend most of their time before with the grooms people.

Talk to the individuals involved. In my experience, only about half of all women in bridal parties want pro hair services, and a large number of them like to go to their own person, or one in a salon in or near a hotel, not wait turns for one or two people in a bridal suite to do the whole wedding party, some Mothers. And if asked, you might find some are planning to do their own or have a friend help, not pro at all. Some like being part of a getting ready with bride thing for hours and hours, but some take care of their own so that no more than 1½ hour or so of their whole day of is shower/hair/ make-up and the rest of their day is spent with SO, or doing their own thing. Despite what is pushed as team wedding on TV, traditionally only family or one or two of bridal party spend time with the bride in the early part of wedding day. And the rest show up, groomed and dressed, in time for photos, or an hour before the wedding. No use making a big effort to plan for all if some or most do not want it. Sometimes brides book for the max number they think will do it, and a HMUA says, fine, for 6 women 10 am to 3 pm, that will be $ 900, plus bride is $1150. So bride tells people, $150 each . Then finds 3 do not want it or cannot afford it. Only to have stylist say, same $900 must be paid, she engaged her time, so either people pay $300 each, and some more say, no way. Or bride herself pays $450 for nothing so BM only pay the previously agreed on $150 each. Then bride still pays $250 for herself. Save yourself from a possible mess by first checking individually with every bridesmaid, and every groom's woman , or MOB or others, and ask if they want to get ready as a group from 9 am-3pm or whatever, and ask which want pro hair and makeup, and what price suits their budget. Or if they want to take care if getting services or doing themselves. I offered pro HMU to my 4 women, but no one wanted it. And I did not. And MOG was paying her DIL who is a pro , to do MOG in her room. All but 1 of us work now, or in past, in jobs requiring fast change model shoot or stage performance ready dress up looks, multiple times a week, done themselves. Happier each in her own room and bath, not paying and waiting turns. Whatever our suggestions on WW, start with individual talks with your women, and groom's.

Like the pp said ask them if they even want to get their hair and makeup done with you. They may very well just want to do it on their own unless you are paying for it. We didn't get ready with any of our people so I'm not much help but honestly everyone all getting ready together seems more stressful. After doing wedding photography I learned I didn't want a big room full of people getting ready with me. I wanted peace and quiet before the big night.

My FH has at least 1 (possibly 2) women on his side and honestly I feel like they would probably get ready with the guys. They are welcome with us if they want but I think they would be more comfortable with FH. I would ask each one and your FH what they are thinking.

I'd invite the girls to get ready with you (if it were me) so they could use the same hair and makeup people and getting ready space. It will be a lot easier.

Our venue has two suites that we’re using to get ready. We also have a mixed gender party. The girls on my FW’s side that will need to have hair and makeup done will just come to my suite when it’s their turn. If we didn’t have two suites, we probably would have rented two hotel rooms and went with the same plan.