Hair and makeup trial

There's nothing to say you can't have two trials - if you're concerned you can ask for one now and one much nearer to the time

Definitely book now! Also do a trial before booking. I had a trial with the HA I thought I was going with, but she burned me and didn't even notice. My trial with the person I booked went much better. We'll have another "trial" closer to the date to finalize what I want.

I booked my hair and makeup a year ago and did my trials 1-2 months before and I HATED my hair trial! 2 weeks before my wedding I frantically booked someone else for hair. If you want to be sure before putting down a deposit I would definitely do a trial in advanced. Definitely at least look at pictures of what they've done before to see if you like it.

You can always do a "trial" now and schedule it for a night you have an event to go to and just say it's for that. I think the main reason they suggest doing trials about 1-2 months before your wedding is your hair length and color may change between now and then so it would be more accurate how it'll actually look on your wedding day.

You generally should do your "official" trial closer to the wedding, but places tend to book up well before a month or two away from a date, so waiting until then to book someone isn't advised. I think it would make sense to do a trial before booking and then another closer to the actual date of your wedding if you want to make sure you like their work. If you don't want to pay for a pre-booking trial, you could always scope out the social media and website galleries of anyone you're considering to see if you like how they handle styles similar to what you like.

In addition to Ashley's point about doing a trial closer to the wedding to make sure you like the way everything looks with your hair color and length as they'll be at the wedding, you'll also have a better idea of what kind of style you'd want. The cut of your dress, accessories, veil, etc. can all impact what you want the final style to be. Plus you may just change your mind sometime in the next 2 years.

I booked Hair & MUA about 10 months out from our wedding. I personally didn’t ask for a trial before choosing them because they cost A LOT (practically as much as the cost for the day-of service). I did extensive research and looked at portfolios of artists before deciding. It is not likely that you will find someone willing to do a trial Pre-booking for free, so beware of that if you want to have a trial before booking (I think some actually don’t allow that even). And yes you should have a trial close to your wedding day, like 1 month out. Any earlier and you may change your mind and go back and forth on the look you wanted. Your artists should be open to feedback, so if there’s something you didn’t like from your pre-wedding day trial, be sure to reach out to them. Also do it as close to the time of day you’ll be getting it done as possible and wear it the rest of the day to test how well it stays. I gave feedback that my updo really hurt as the day went on and my artist was able to make it super comfortable with less bobby pins on the day of!

I’m a year out from my wedding and am having my trial next month. I specifically asked the HMU vendor for her advice on when I should book, and she made a point that I hadn’t even considered. My wedding is an outdoor venue in the late summer, so she recommended doing it now so that I can make sure my hair holds up under similar weather conditions. Waiting until next summer to book would have been way too late, but if I’d held off until around spring closer to my wedding, it would have been during a much milder climate. Obviously if you’re indoors that’s less of an issue, but it’s something to consider if weather will be a factor at all.

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Definitely. The sun and weather play a big part in how your hair and makeup will do in an outside venue. It is especially good to test how the makeup works. The bit of exception here is that the actual wedding makeup can be done with airbrushed makeup but not for the trial.

Thank you everyone! I think it’s best that I do two trials one before putting the deposit down and one about a month before the wedding. I just didn’t know if I would look like a complete lunatic doing a trial before actually booking them or not. I really don’t want to be labeled a bridezilla!

It seems an extra trial would be welcomed as additional business for the salon. It also should mean that they would try harder to make it work out -- since you have not done the contract with them. You might be able to say that you had a problem when prepared for your friend's wedding so you want to make doubly sure you know the way this new team will do it for you.

Just remember to speak expectantly based on the MUA's and hair stylist's reputation.

I booked my H&M artist 7 months in advance. We did a trial run in May and I was able to make comments about things I liked and wanted changed at that time. Then she made little adjusts until we got to what I was looking for.
2 years out seems a bit far, maybe wait until 1 year out?

A few years ago, I was the stand-up bride at a wedding. I wasn't wild about my hair and makeup, but it didn't matter much because the bride was the centre of attention.