Getting Ready - When? Where?

For an accurate estimate of how long services take to complete, I’d suggest you go straight to the source and ask the freelance artists for a time estimate for that many people. Obviously, the more people you hire the less time overall it will take. For reference, I have 1 MUA and 1 hair stylist for 4 total people including me and it’s estimated to take 3 hours for us. So if you have 9+ people to doll up, and 2 MUA and 2 hair stylists... theoretically based on my timeline it may take somewhere around 3.5 to 4 hours plus?

I would ask the venue if the getting ready time would be included in the 12 hours. Most that I talked to allow the bride & her party to get there outside of the window because it takes them longer to get ready. I don’t think 3 hours would be enough.

In my personal opinion that’s wouldn’t even be close to enough time! Me and my girls have to be ready by 1:30pm and we’re starting at 7:30am. I’m very OCD so we have a timeline, but I gave us at least 6 hours. It may sound crazy, but I’d rather be ready early than late!

Since you don't yet have hair and makeup hired (so you can't just ask them - but ask when you're getting quotes!), I'd estimate 45 minutes per person per service and 1 hour per service for yourself, plus time for touch-ups once everyone is done. If you hire 2 hair stylists and 2 makeup artists for 8-9 people plus yourself, you're looking at around 5 hours, if my math is correct!

I would definitely ask the hair and makeup service what they suggest. If you give them the amount of girls they need to work on and when they need to be ready by then they will give you suggestions.

On my wedding day we got ready at the place. There were 7 girls that needed to be ready by 1:00pm. We started at 7:00am. They sent us 4 girls. 2 for hair and 2 for makeup. They were completely done with everyone a little after 12:00pm which was perfect because that gave us an hour to change, put on jewelry, and eat a little before everything else starts.

Thank you all for your advice! This is all very helpful.

View Quoted Comment Yes. My venue coordinator said it's open to us by noon but we can come earlier for getting ready.