WEDDING MAKEUP | The insider's guide to wedding day beauty prep

Your wedding day is likely to be the most photographed day of your life. While the dress, the catering and the blooms are all ultra important things to consider, bridal beauty needs to be high on your list too!

It's wise to start thinking about your makeup and hair early on — perhaps right after you lock down your dress. That way your whole entire vibe goes together. Your wedding day beauty requires a certain level of organisation, and the earlier you start to think about it, the less stressful it will be on the day- trust!

Read on for our ultimate guide to wedding day beauty prep- and all our insider tips on when to book in for what so nothing gets overlooked.

It's your key to staying zen in the weeks leading up to your epic love party.

Skincare prep

Your wedding is the perfect excuse for some extra pampering and now is the time to start incorporating a routine. If you have major skin concerns like acne and uneven pigmentation, it’s best to see an expert to get the situation under control well in advance.

You may want to book monthly facials to really refresh your skin, but be wary about trying any new products or aggressive treatment.

Compound the effects of your facials by drinking loads of water, getting adequate sleep, exercising, and maintaining a well-balanced diet. At home, wear extra sun protection, use a mild exfoliator, and apply moisturiser regularly.

And don't forget your lips- it's easier to prevent your lips from getting chapped than it is to repair them. If you spend lots of time outdoors, a thick balm with SPF 30 will keep your lips hydrated.

Book a trial run

At your trial, aim to look like yourself but better with defined brows, lashes and lips, and giving skin a healthy glow.

Send through any reference pics and ideas that you like with you so you can talk with your stylist about what you want to achieve.

Take pictures of your finished face so you can see how you look in different lighting. This can help you determine if you want to pump up your shadow or switch from a foundation to a tinted moisturiser.

Shape your brows

Book shapings every four to six weeks leading up to the wedding, and ask your expert to take a conservative approach, following the natural line of your brows.

The most flattering shape for brides is full with a nice arch. Be sure to schedule your last appointment for at least a week before your wedding to prevent any redness on the day and abstain from DIY plucking between visits.

Whiten teeth

You may wish to whiten your teeth, in which case you can purchase white-strips that whiten in a week or less for a quick boost, or you can check in for a clean / whiten at your dentist.

Check in with your hair

If you're wearing your hair down or half up, you’ll need to get it looking as healthy as possible. Try for a couple of deep conditioning treatments at your salon or you can use your favourite deep conditioner at home.

If you’re planning on an updo, skip the treatments in the weeks before your wedding. Hair is easier to work with when it’s more textured, rather than sleek and overly conditioned.

Get a root touch up and trim

If you colour your hair, consider touching up your regrowth a few days before your big day. Take heed though: this is not the time for drastic changes. Trust me! It's best to be the colour that makes you feel most like yourself. Touching up your regrowth two weeks before your event is ideal, as it will give the dye a chance to settle while still looking fresh, without your roots growing in.

If it’s been a while since your last haircut, even a subtle trim can make a world of difference. Have a trusted stylist do a very light trimming of the ends a week or two before your big day.

Hands and body

Schedule regular manis to create a uniform length and shape for nails. If you haven't yet chosen a nail polish for the wedding, pull a dozen colours you like and try a new one each week. Once you decide on colour, buy a bottle for emergency touch-ups.

If you're into tanning, start experimenting with the right shade a few months before your wedding to adjust to seeing yourself with colour. Work continuously with the same specialist to avoid any surprises and book your final pre-wedding session three days before the ceremony. If you’re using an at-home tan, exfoliate before each session and then again every two to three days afterward to avoid streaks and unevenness.

No matter what your skin type is, it craves water. Drinking lots of water helps, but snacking on naturally hydrating foods like watermelon works too. Other super foods for your face include grapefruit, cucumbers, tomatoes and kale.

A quick and easy timeline

9-12 months before your big date

Start researching hair andmakeup artists with the view of locking one down at least 9-12 months before your big day.
A lot of brides choose their makeup artist and/or hair stylist and book them for their weddings about 9 months before their wedding. There's no hard and fast rule to any of this, you just want to ensure you don't miss out on scoring your ideal stylist. At Killer Queen, we generally book 6-12 months in advance, and we book out pretty fast for Saturdays, particularly in peak wedding season.
Start thinking about whether you want to grow your hair or make any major changes while you've got time.

9 months out

Start collecting photos of your favorite wedding hairstyles and makeup ideas. Make a note of your bridal party and any particular looks you haev in mind for them.
Start wearing SPF every day if you don't already.
Finalise your makeup and hair stylist, pay your deposit and book the wedding day for you and your wedding party. Once your date is locked your stylist will generally send you a contract, Make sure you read it and make a note of when you need to return it by.

6 months out

Consider what other beauty treatments you'll need for the day and start booking 'em in
Start booking regular facials to address any skin concerns you may have (tired or dull skin, congestion, blackheads, dry skin)
Make a plan to start getting more sleep and drinking more water.
Think about teeth whitening if you feel self conscious about your smile.

3 months out

Book your hair and makeup trial(s). You'll want to do it about a month or so before your big day, but go with your stylist's lead and their availability. Some like to do a trial closer to the day so that there won't be any major changes to your skin or hair in that time, others will prefer a longer lead time in order to make any tweaks before your big day.
Your trial is a chance for you to talk about your look as well as how your skin and hair are presently, and it's also a good chance to flag any skin issues or allergies with your stylist. Start making notes now on any skin concerns with either you or any of your bridal party.

1 month out

4-6 weeks before your wedding, get a hair trim. If you straighten or curl your hair professionally, do this at least one month before the wedding so your hair has time to relax.
Have your hair and makeup trial. Ask your makeup artist and hair stylist any questions that are concerning you and use your time to really go over everything you're not sure about. When booking with Killer Queen, we supply you with a schedule for your day to help you relax and not worry about timings etc. We'll go over this with you at the trial so make sure you flag anything that may impact on the running of the day.

2 weeks out

2 weeks before, get your hair color touched up and a micro trim if you feel you need it. Touching up your regrowth two weeks before your big day is ideal, as it will give the dye a chance to settle while still looking fresh, without your roots growing in.

1 week out

Confirm your hair, and makeup appointments at least a week before the big day.
Go over your wedding day beauty schedule to make 100% sure you are happy with how everything runs.
Make sure to note in any additional things that need doing (ie placing flowers in the hair or headpieces) so your stylist can factor in extra time.
Last brow appointment before your big day, to avoid any redness or swelling.
Last facial before your big day, to avoid any redness or break outs. Try a soothing, hydrating facial. For a boost on the morning of your wedding, smooth a hydrating serum onto your face to enhance your glow before heading into hair and makeup.
Go in for a wedding mani/ pedi if you're getting your nails done.
Consider paying any balances to your hair andmakeup artist(s) now, so you don't have to worry about doing it on your big day.

Have a question? Feel free to get in touch with me

I LOVE awesome parties and alternative weddings and know a lot of great wedding vendors that do too!

Making you look and feel amazing on your big day is the core of what I do, and I'd be over the moon to help you out with ideas, beauty prep advice and ways to stay zen on your big day.

Killer Queen are all about modern glam for rebel brides who go their own way, and we’re passionate about creating the perfect vision that speaks to your style and individuality. We pride ourselves on our fun, relaxed and personable approach to your wedding day beauty.

We love meeting hella cool couples who wanna shun tradition and do things their way!

If that's YOU? Get in touch today- we'd LOVE to hear from you about your crazy cool plans!

Click here to browse our wedding day info!

Featured

Hey, I'm Danee!

I’m a makeup & hair artist and all-round creative with a serious cheese fetish and a hankering for tequila. A badass beauty disruptor and educator with nearly a decade of clocked miles in the beauty industry. I’m a playlist ADDICT who also stans for writing, drawing, inhaling 70s design and 90s pop culture; and have a mad love affair for thrift shopping, sleeping, and going on roadtrips!