Too early for hair and makeup?

Are you doing a first look? Or BP photos before the ceremony? Do you need to travel to the venue? Three hours doesn't seem that long to me once you factor in getting dressed, final touches, and photos.

My ceremony was at 4 and I was done with hair and makeup and getting in my dress at 1:30. I did a first look with my dad and fiancé and also wedding party pictures before. So that is the timeline I figured out with my photographer.

View Quoted Comment No first look. My hair and makeup will be done at the venue in their bridal suite. Good point, I probably will be doing before pictures with my bridal party. Thanks for your comment!

I'm getting married in August and recently booked my hair and makeup as well! I'm also getting ready at the venue in the bridal suite and chose not to do a first look. Our ceremony is at 5:30 and my finish time is 3:30. I think you will be fine finishing a tad earlier and taking some pictures. Photos before are a great idea! We are taking a few bridesmaids photos prior to the ceremony as well. Good luck!

Even if you're not doing a first look you should still try to get most of your pictures with your bridal party and VIPs done before the ceremony. This itself could take 1-2 hours depending on how many people you have and how many pics you want. So I think being done by 2 p.m. is a good idea. Also, it is good to have that cushion so you and your HMUA don't feel rushed. I actually ran behind on my wedding day but we had enough of a cushion built in that I ended up being ready on time.

View Quoted Comment Wow this is so helpful! Thank you Malarie and Earias!

I was done by noon for my 3pm ceremony. Believe me that time flies with getting ready photos and pre ceremony stuff. My hair and make up was still on point at the end of the night, except I got shiny in the face which is just what happens to me.

I will be done with my hair and make up at 10:30 with a 2:30 ceremony, but I will have to travel between venues.

My photographer actually came up with my timeline for the day, so you can ask. We are getting most of our pictures done ahead of time so I am going to be done by 1 for our 4:30 ceremony

That seems super early, unless you are doing all pictures before & a first look. We aren't doing a first look, my hair and makeup will be done at 4:00 PM and our ceremony is at 5:00 PM. The only pictures before will be getting ready ones.

Trust the expert! The last thing you want to be doing is feeling rushed on your big day!

That seems fine considering you’re doing photos with your bridal party, even without a first look! I’m also not doing a first look, but want most pictures done with bridal party done before ceremony time!

View Quoted Comment

Hi Amy! I agree with Clover & Jon here. Like your hair & makeup stylist advised, being done by 2 p.m. is safe and would give you time for pre-wedding photos, getting ready pictures, and a good cushion for her not to feel rushed, too!

Personally I think that is a lot of time unless you are doing all your pictures prior to the ceremony. My FH and I are not doing a first look, but I will be with my dad. Outside of that, I am really just getting pictures with my bridesmaids as we are getting ready and maybe a few all done up before the ceremony starts and I am planning to be done with hair and makeup an hour and a half before the ceremony.

Personally I think that is a lot of time unless you are doing all your pictures prior to the ceremony. My FH and I are not doing a first look, but I will be with my dad. Outside of that, I am really just getting pictures with my bridesmaids as we are getting ready and maybe a few all done up before the ceremony starts and I am planning to be done with hair and makeup an hour and a half before the ceremony.

A friend of mine who barely ever wears make up beyond striking red lipstick spent four hours having her hair and make up done. She’d still look like herself, but just more amazing and very glamorous. Both make up and hair stylist work as professionals for magazine shoots and asked for that amount of time but her hair and make up stayed all day and the photos were just amazing it’s not so much about looking good On the day, good make up artists are trying to give you that PhotoFinish look which lasts way longer than a few hours they’re asking for. Totally up to you, but I would just allow the time they’ve asked for. Proof will be in the pudding when you have your photographs taken.

My hair and makeup will be done by 12:00 for a 2:00 ceremony. I would check with whoever is officiating the wedding (our priest wants us at the church a decent time in advance)and check with your photographer about what photos should be done before the ceremony. It seems like a long time in advance but time will move so quickly the day of and she’s also probably factoring in a little cushion time for any unforeseen delays so that you don’t feel rushed or flustered on your big day.