Wedding planning and when to book your MUA
Congratulations, you are engaged!
Most ladies have a fair idea of the sort of wedding they want by the time their other half pops the question and so the planning often begins straight away.
I was engaged and married within 5 months and had a low key registry office ceremony, with the reception at a fantastically quirky bar/restaurant with divine food, cocktails and dancing to a live salsa band. I was able to plan everything within a short space of time because I knew what I wanted and I knew what I didn’t want. I think that knowing what you DON’T want is really crucial for keeping control of the scale and budget of the wedding. I have seen so many brides who said they started out wanted something very simple and then, bam, before they knew it, they had a huge event on their hands…it is very easy to get swept up with many add-ons, and of course, it is absolutely the bride’s prerogative to have what she wants!!
If hiring a professional hair and make-up artist is on your list of wants then it is never too soon to start browsing for inspiration. Definitely check out Instagram and Pinterest, pretty soon you will get a feel for the style that you are drawn to. Always look for real bride portfolios and not artists who only showcase studio created images which have been edited for social media, as these can be misleading and give you an unrealistic expectation.
When should you book your bridal hair and make up artist?
Start a dialogue with stylists whose work you admire, and when you have a date/venue booked and an idea of who would want hair and/or make up then ask for a quote. Many suppliers will not secure your booking until a deposit/payment has been made. A quote on it’s own will not guarantee your supplier’s availability. Typically my brides book me around 9 months ahead with some booking up to 18 months in advance and some brides booking at very short notice aswell. Inevitably some peak season dates will be very popular, sometimes it is impossible to predict the dates which have multiple enquiries, so to be safe, try to get yours locked in asap.
How far in advance should you book your bridal trial for hair and make-up?
For bridal make up trials I advise a few months before the big day, as the vision for everything else is usually fairly set at that point and so the make-up (and hair) is a finishing touch. Many of my brides coincide their trials with the hen do or a dress fitting, so as to make the most of the ‘glam’!
Hair and make-up for the big day is such a fun, exciting element to your bridal look, and will be evident in the joy you will get from your wedding photos for many years to come.