Wedding Hair and Makeup Order

If you’re wondering what the perfect order is for bridal party hair and makeup then this one’s for you!

If you’re here, you’re probably trying to work out a hair and makeup timeline and navigate the unenvious task of scheduling your bridesmaids, mum and mum-in-law. It’s a task that tends to be put off until a bridesmaid pipes up and declares that she doesn’t want to be first up.

While any great makeup artist and hair stylist can work around a varying schedule, the days preparations are always going to run smoother with a plan, provided it does have some flexibility for unforeseen circumstances that may pop up.

Some hair and makeup artists will supply an order list, while others may give you a general gist or simply go with the flow. Here’s my advice to help make your morning magical, memorable and without a hitch for hair and makeup.

Location

Have everyone that’s booked in for hair and makeup on location ready to go. It’s ideal if they can stay at the same accommodation, this doesn’t have to be the same room but at the least the same building. It only takes one late person to hold up the schedule so it’s best to have someone else to take the spot at a moments notice. This will keep things running fluid and won’t eat into the all important buffer time for touch-ups. If on the other hand you can’t get everyone at the same accommodation, get them to arrive early. It’s not unusual for your nearest and dearest to be a little blazé on the day of the wedding, (everyone thinks they have all the time in the world!) but that times flies by, and if they’re stuck in traffic, get talking to friends and familiy in the elevator or at breakfast, or even have to drive back to get something they’ve left behind - that’s time holding up other guests. So if they are scheduled for a set time, get them to arrive half an hour earlier than this to avoid any hold ups.

Timing

I always suggest that the bride is completed second or third last. This is because as time ticks closer to the departure time, there are all sorts of vendors arriving which can eat into the preparation time but the ability for the bride to relax and feel pampered too! Vendors that usually pop in closer to time are the celebrant, florist, photographer and videographer. Not to mention guest interruptions too by curious family members, or bridal party questions, (what time is the photographer arriving? how should we walk down the aisle? Isn’t the photobooth meant to arrive now?) Interruptions aside, many brides will feel excited but anxious, and it’s compounded when everyone else around them is complete so they feel anxious being incomplete. For this reason I always suggest the bride isn’t scheduled last, and this also gives the makeup artist or hair stylist a greater opportunity ahead of the deadline to make any necessary adjustments.

Hair or Makeup?

In essence, it doesn’t really matter. However, in a perfect world there will always be a preference. If you have the luxury of separate hair and makeup artists then it’s always a good idea to have makeup done first with hair done afterwards. This means the makeup artist can really get into the hairline with product, doesn’t have to be too conservative with sprays and mists, and won’t have to clip back or move any face framing or fringe pieces. Where this isn’t possible, a great hair stylist will simply style the hair and leave the front unfinished and clipped back so makeup can get right in. The hair stylists will do touch-ups of the front pinned sections after makeup has been completed, (usually during touch-ups). If you are having the jack-of-all-trades looking after hair and makeup, then usually all hair styling is done first, with makeup completed after, followed by touch-ups. This is to ensure the makeup us as fresh as possible. Some adjustments may be done pending requirements to hair, but this is typically it.

The Actual Order

Now we know the preference is to have the bride second or third last, but what about everyone else? A good rule of thumb is to schedule anyone that’s on the grooms side first up as they will typically need to leave earlier than anyone else. Bridesmaids should follow, and mother of the bride should be last. This lets mum have some downtime while the bridesmaids are organising your details and tidying the room for the photographer. An exception to the mother of the bride going last is if you are having flower girls, and in this case they usually need to go last if they are quite little and needing naps, and for the fact that they are full of beans and will be jumping off walls otherwise. Flower-girls going last will ensure they look as polished as possible; if they are done too far in advance their hair may not look as polished, (sitting on hair and rolling around the sofa, and eating away or transferring their lip gloss).

Finish time

Unless your photographer or videographer has said otherwise, you should always aim to schedule your completion time for no later than 1.5hrs prior to your departure time. This will allow for a slight buffer for touch-ups and contingency, along with ample time for your preparation photos if you’re having them, as well as getting dressed and taking it all in.

I hope this helps to guide you and your special people for a smoother hair and makeup preparation session. And if all else fails, speak to your hair stylist or makeup artist so do up a schedule for you, if nothing else, it will save you from the task of delegation.

Rachel Pivetta is a Multi-Award Winning Sunshine Coast Makeup Artist, Hair Stylist, Beauty Therapist and Educator passionate about guiding Brides with expert advice, and helping upcoming makeup artists and stylists navigate the world of bridal.