Wedding Planning

Everything You Need To Know About Getting Ready Timelines

September 15, 2022

If you’ve entered the phase of nailing down your wedding day timelines, congratulations, you’re almost to the finish line! By now, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed and stretched a bit thin; we want you to know this is totally normal. Hopefully, you secured a full or part time wedding planner, so he or she is handling your full day-of timeline for you, but what about your incredibly detailed hair and makeup timeline? Who handles that? Hi, it’s us, your dream hair and makeup team! Our dedicated Operations Team at Updos For I Dos specializes in crafting seamless timelines tailored to your needs, so you can focus on enjoying every moment leading up to your "I do's."

What Time Should Hair and Makeup Services Start? 

One of the first questions we receive from brides is: What time should hair and makeup services begin on my wedding day? The truth is, there's no one-size-fits-all answer. The start time for your hair and makeup services will depend on various factors unique to your wedding day. To help us tailor your timeline precisely, we'll ask you a series of questions:

How many services are needed? Whether it's just you or an entire bridal party, knowing the number of services required sets the foundation for your timeline.

Is anyone receiving a blow out with their style? Blowouts can add extra time to the styling process, so we factor this into your schedule accordingly.

What time do services need to be wrapped? We work backward from your desired completion time to ensure everything stays on track.

When does your photographer/videographer arrive? Coordinating with your photo and video team ensures they capture any moments of your getting-ready process that you would like included.

Are you doing a first look with your bridal party? If so, we'll adjust the start time to accommodate this special moment.

First look with your parents? We'll factor in any additional first-look sessions you have planned.

First look with your partner? If you're sharing a special reveal with your partner before the ceremony, we'll ensure you're ready in time.

Are you traveling from your getting ready location to your ceremony location? Transportation logistics play a role in determining your start time.

Once we have all the necessary information, our team gets to work crafting your personalized getting-ready schedule. We understand that timing is everything on your wedding day, so we strive to create a timeline that ensures you're relaxed, pampered, and ready to walk down the aisle feeling like the best version of yourself!

Various Getting Ready Timeline Tips

We’re often asked how to determine the order in which attendants receive their hair and makeup services. While we totally understand, and love, highly organized brides, the actual order in which party members receive their services can be a little more loose! It can actually be a bit more challenging to follow a time specific schedule, rather than a chronological order.

Why We Do Not Recommend Appointment Style Hair and Makeup Schedule

Every time we run into a wedding party that is determined to follow a time appointment schedule, we’re just going to be honest, it pretty much never goes according to plan. Someone is always running late, needs to run to get coffee or lunch, needs to rinse off their spray tan, etc. If one person is running late, the entire timeline is thrown off for the remainder of the morning. Anytime an artist is waiting with an empty chair, the getting ready timeline is thrown off. Additionally, your timeline can also be affected by the 30 minute service allotments. Some hairstyles may not require a full 30 minutes, while others may require more like 45 minutes. 

Why We Do Recommend Chronological Hair and Makeup Schedules

We’ve been in the hair and makeup industry for almost 20 years now, and one thing we’ve learned is that a chronological timeline is absolutely the way to go when getting ready for your big day! This way, no one receiving services feels rushed or like they are running late for their appointment. 

When is Best for Brides to Receive Hair and Makeup Services?

We always recommend our brides receive their hair and makeup services somewhere in the middle of the getting ready timeline! We suggest not having the bride go first for her services because we want her to have a chance to relax and ease into her day! It’s also not ideal for the bride to go last as this might make her feel rushed. Usually, photographers start showing up towards the end of our getting ready timelines, and we want the bride to be all set for photos by then! 

Party Punctuality

Ensure that all members receiving hair and makeup services are present when your artist arrives, even if it means an early start. This step is crucial for keeping things on track.

Sometimes, Flexibility is Key 

Stay flexible if the order of services needs to be adjusted. If Morgan, who was scheduled for hair styling before Stacy, is occupied with steaming dresses when her turn arrives, remain calm. Allow Morgan to finish her task and simply switch the order accordingly. Flexibility is key to a seamless process.

Everything You Need To Know About Getting Ready Timelines

Planning your wedding hair and makeup schedule can feel overwhelming, especially considering the millions of other things you're juggling! Fear not! At Updos For I Dos, we're here to make it all as easy breezy for you as possible. Our team is dedicated to making sure everything runs smoothly on your big day, so you can relax and enjoy every moment. We'll work with you to figure out the best timing for your hair and makeup services, taking into account all the little details. Whether it's coordinating with your photographers or making sure everyone gets their turn without feeling rushed, we've got you covered! So kick back, take a deep breath, and let us handle the nitty-gritty. When you’re ready to hand over the reins and say goodbye to any stress related to your wedding hair and makeup, go ahead and click the link here! We can’t wait for your best day ever!

Cover Photo Credit: Christy Nicole Photography