Everything you need to know about your hair & makeup trial run

We have all had bad hair days and have tried some DIY makeup contouring that ends up looking like a pinterest worthy disaster. Let’s not do that ladies! You do not want to experiment on the most memorable and most photographed day of your life. That’s why a Hair & Makeup trial run is a very crucial step in making sure everything runs smoothly with no surprises on the big day.

You wouldn’t get married without a rehearsal dinner or pick a dress that you haven’t even tried on. The same goes for your hair and makeup. You don’t want any surprises on the big day. As your big day inches closer, your wedding hair and makeup trial run will provide you with an early glimpse of how you will look and feel on the special day. So here are my expert tips for making sure your Trial Run goes smoothly and your on top of your game!

                 

1. A trial run is more than just a practice run for hair and makeup. It is the perfect opportunity to get to know your artist’s personality and their skill level, and to determine if they are the perfect fit for you. You want to be comfortable with them and make sure they are able to execute your desired style or makeup look. Get to know eachother, plan your look, try on different styles, ask questions! This is the fun part!

2. Make sure you have already said YES to the Dress! If you haven’t found your dress yet, Stop right there and go find you a dress! Your dress will dramatically affect the style you choose for hair and makeup. A classic chignon would look a little off with a boho-inspired, lacey little number and a stunning backless dress might call for an updo instead of cascading lived in curls. (Be sure to bring a photo of your dress to the trials!)

3. Destination Brides! If you’re planning a destination wedding and not bringing a hair stylist along, it may help to have a trial at home. This is a good option to find the look you are after. Take plenty of notes and pics so your destination stylist come master the creation. INSIDER TIP: I always offer my destination brides a Hair & Makeup trial run the day of Rehersal Dinner. That way you are all dolled up for the night and can rest easy knowing how flawless you will look the next morning.

4. Wedding day schedules tend to be pretty tight, so knowing exactly what look is desired and how long it takes to perform can save a lot of valuable time.

5.Give yourself plenty of time, but not too much time! And I mean that in more ways than one. First of all, you need to give yourself enough time before your wedding day. Incase you want to try on different styles or maybe want to try a bold lip for a fall wedding, etc. Three months before your wedding date should give you enough time. I don’t like to schedule trial runs any time before 5 months of the wedding date. Us woman do change our minds a lot and thats not a bad thing but if you come in too early chances are you will want another trial run closer to the wedding date as; you don’t remember how you felt in your bridal look, you decided on a completely different hair style, your skin is tanner, etc. Keep this in mind when scheduling.

6.Come Prepared. Time to pull out that Pinterest board — the more inspiration you bring, the easier it will be for your stylist to interpret what you want. Photos of looks you love are always helpful. Take note on WHAT you love about the style specifically though. And if you’re wearing a veil, don’t forget to bring it to your hair trial!

5. IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS! At the end of the trial, you should discuss the financial expectations for the big day or at least get a general idea of where you are at. In general, the larger the bridal party, the better the price. Have as much info as you can about how many people will be styled, what style each person wants and where the styling will take place. If you have a large party, you should also ask who will be assisting your stylist and what their experience level is. Also discuss on-location setup, travel fees, and if you need to provide anything depending on where you will be getting ready.

6. Fly it SOLO. Try to not bring your mother or any friends who tend to be too opinionated — they could impact your decision big time. I always tell me brides to remember this is THEIR day and I want you to feel comfortable in your own skin with what makes you happy. Going alone will help you relax and have fun, in my opinion.

7. SELFIE TIME! Once you’re happy with your hair and makeup, it’s time to go camera-crazy! Make sure you take a shot from every angle as well as a full-length shot, You may also want to take both outdoor and indoor photos, especially if you’ll be taking pics outside on your big day. The more pictures you take, the easier it will be to create the look again.

9. Ask Questions. If your stylist has any preparation tips such as when to shampoo your hair and which products to use, they should tell you at the trial. Follow their instructions and the big day should be a breeze.

10. Don’t Forget to Tip. Even if you do several trials with different stylists and makeup artists before you make your final decisions, it’s important to tip each one after every service (about 15 to 20% is appropriate for both the stylist and their assistant). Be sure to tip them after the big day too.

Look forward to seeing your foxy self at your trial run Very soon!!!