out of town wedding - hair and makeup trials

Definitely get the trial with the person you are booking!!!!! That's the whole point!

If you can't travel to the area where you're going to be, I would recommend booking with someone based on reviews/recommendations from people you know with similar hair as yours. Are you getting into the area a few days before your wedding? Even if it's just a few days before, I would still book a trial. You need to make sure that the hairstyle works for you and also that your stylist can do it. Even a few days before will give you enough notice to work things out. This is what my friend did for her wedding last month and it worked out great.

We live in FL., we are getting married in Or., needless to say a trial is not an easy thing to set up. When we land next week we have two appointments. 1) get the marriage license and 2) go do my trial. My MUA is also styling my hair so that makes it a bit easier.

I read every review, talked to other vendors that had used her in the past, did skype and phone calls with her, exchanged emails so we were both on the same page....so we will see on Monday if it all paid off.

I'm just going to copy and past Lynnie's comment as she is bang on.

Definitely get the trial with the person you are booking!!!!! That's the whole point!

I did my MU trial a week before the wedding (I also organized from OOT). SO glad I did, I was really unhappy with what she did so ended up booking her for a 2nd trial the day before to make sure she understood what I wanted.

I planned long distance and didn't have any trials at all. Booked solely based on recommendations and portfolio. Everything turned out perfectly

Thanks everyone!

I definitely would prefer to get the trials done by the actual stylists. I just don't know if I have the time and money to travel to the wedding city before the actual day. Worst case scenario, I may just follow the suggestion of getting into town a few days before the wedding and having the trials done then (assuming I can convince the FI to take more time than absolutely necessary off from work).

Hey!

As a makeup artist, I can tell you that it is important to have the trial with the person who will actually be dolling you up on your wedding day. What one artist may be able to create for you, another artist may not be able to copy it. It seems like it would be easy to just copy a look from a picture, but a lot of makeup artists have their own style, so being able to recreate someone elses work isn't always possible. If you aren't too fussy with your makeup, then don't stress it. I often have brides who choose not to have trials because they have seen my work and trust that we can create a special glamorous look for them on the wedding day. However, if you like your makeup done a certain way or have a very specific look in mind, then I would suggest heading there a few days early to squeeze that trial in

Our wedding is across the state from where we live. I'm having my regular hair stylist here do my hair and am just paying her to travel for the wedding. I tried to figure this same scenario out, but decided it was easier and less money in the long run to do my trials here with her and just pay her travel expenses. Not sure if that is an option for you but something to think about.

Ask your vendors (especially your photographer) for recommendations.

Im planning long diatance as well. Im set to go down in january to do all the tasting and picking out stuff. I have trials set up for then. Maybe you can plan one trip down to finalize things.

I've had a similar problem - planning a wedding in Michigan when I live in the Caribbean. I had to book my MUA without any kind of trial, but I spent ages reading reviews and looking at pictures on her website. I'm lucky that I'm actually going to be in Michigan two weeks before the wedding, and a trial was included in the price, so I have my trial booked a week before the wedding. As others have said, you definitely need to have the trial done by the person who will be doing it on the day. Is there any way you can be in the area a few days before to get one done?