When should you book your wedding hair and makeup artist?
Congratulations on your engagement! As you dive into wedding planning, one of the most important things to think about is how you want to look for your big day - from your dress to your hairstyle. After all, all eyes will be on YOU that day and your photos will be around a lifetime and even generations to come! So booking the professional who who will be doing your hair and makeup on your big day truly is oe of the most important decisions you will make. The right artist can make all the difference not only in how you look, but also how you FEEL on one of the most special days of your life. After all we all know that we feel better and have more confidence when we love the way we look!
As soon as you have your venue booked and date set, it’s imporant to secure your vendors who can only book ONE wedding per date, and this typically includes your photographer, videographer… AND your hair and makeup artist. Starting the process as early as possible will give you the best chance of being able to book your first choice artist or beauty team. Then you can breathe easy for the remainder of your engagement knowing you’re in capable hands that can bring your vision to life.
So, when should you book your bridal beauty vendor?
The short answer is… it depends on your date! If your wedding is on a Saturday during peak wedding season (generally considered to be March-June and September-Mid December in the DFW Area), it's best to book your hair and makeup artist at LEAST 6-9 months in advance. A lot of people are surprised to know that in Texas, October is actually our busiest wedding month! And if you’re getting married on a holiday weekend, your Sunday wedding is going to be as popular as a peak season Saturday, so plan accordingly! Also if your date is at all “mathy” or has repetitive numbers… rest assured it’s going to be popular. I’ve been around a while and trust me, I’m still trying to recover from the insanity that was 07/07/07, 10/10/20 and more recently 04/22/22) The most popular and established beauty artists are often booked up to a year in advance on the most popular wedding dates of the year, so don't wait too long to make your decision!
On the other hand, if your wedding is on a weekday or Sunday, or during non-peak season (July-August or Late December-February), you will probably be okay waiting until 3-6 months out from your wedding to book your beauty vendor if you need the extra time or have a shorter engagement. (But of course it’s always safer to book earlier in order to secure your top choice artist.)
Is it possible to book TOO far in advance? If you have a long engagement (over a year), by all means start doing your research early. Maybe even book a few date night hair and makeup sessions with different artists to start getting a feel for whose style and personality is the best fit for you. If you’re hoping to do trials with multiple artists before making your final selection, definitely start that process early! Most artists will not hold your date without a contract and retainer. Many artists won’t start booking weddings until closer to 12-18 months out so they have a better idea of what their personal schedule and availability looks like for the year.
When you do find the right artist, expect to sign a contract and put down a date retainer fee to hold your wedding date. The contractual agreement will give you peace of mind that your artist will be there for you on your wedding date (and won’t leave you high and dry if something else comes along… trust us we hear about this happening ALL the time.). And it also ensures that the artist won’t experience a loss of income that day if for some reason you need to cancel or reschedule your booking.
“But Erin, I still don’t know how many of my bridesmaids are going to want hair and makeup!” I get it - this happens ALL the time, and my suggestion in this case is to book your chosen artist’s minimum - or, the amount you know for SURE you will need on the wedding day. Most artists will allow you to add on more services, but won’t let you remove services once they are contracted as they have likely blocked off the time and number of artists necessary. In this scenario, I just would advise not to wait TOO long to finalize those numbers. If you add on enough that another artist will be necessary, you’ll want to be able to get that additional artist secured before it’s too late and nobody is available!
Overall, while the process of booking your bridal beauty vendor may seem a bit overwhelming, just remember to take it one step at a time. And remember that the most important thing is to find the artist that both has professionalism and also makes you feel like the absolute best version of yourself. So, take your time, do your research, and don't be afraid to reach out to potential artists with any questions or concerns you may have.
So did I convince you that it’s time to get your beauty team booked? You can get the ball rolling by requesting a phone consultation or a quote!