Wedding Hair Timeline: When to Book, What to Bring

Quick answer: Start looking for a wedding stylist as soon as you have your date and venue, ideally six to nine months out. Book a trial run a month or two before the wedding, finish any color and cuts a week or two ahead, and bring photos and your headpiece to the trial. Ask us about a trial and about on-location styling.

The short version

You don’t need to plan every detail the day you get engaged. You do need to book the right people early, because good stylists fill up, especially for weekends in the spring and fall. This timeline works for a bride, a mother of the bride, or a whole bridal party. Adjust it if your wedding is coming sooner.

6 to 9 months out: choose your stylist and your look

• Save photos of hairstyles you love, and also photos of the ones you don’t. Both are useful.
• Think about your dress neckline and any veil, comb or flowers. The hairstyle should work with them.
• Call or text a salon to ask about availability for your date and to ask about a trial.
• If you’d like to change your color, talk to a stylist now. Big color changes can take more than one visit.

3 to 4 months out: plan the party

Make a simple list of everyone who wants their hair done. Include the mother of the bride, the mother of the groom, bridesmaids, junior bridesmaids and flower girls. For each person, note the hair length, texture and style she has in mind. That list tells the salon how much time to set aside on the morning.

If anyone in your family would be more comfortable speaking Spanish, let us know. Aury on our team speaks Spanish.

1 to 2 months out: have the trial run

A trial is the best way to avoid surprises. You try your style, take photos from every angle, and decide what to change while there is still plenty of time. It’s also your chance to see how the style holds up over a few hours. Ask about a trial when you book, and ask what it includes.

What to bring to your trial:

• Your inspiration photos
• Your veil, comb, flowers, pins or any other hair accessory
• A photo of your dress, or the dress neckline if you can bring it
• Earrings and necklace, if you have them picked out
• Your hair clean and dry, unless your stylist tells you otherwise

2 weeks to 1 week out: color and cut

Book any color and haircut for one to two weeks before the wedding. That is long enough for a color to settle in and a cut to relax, and short enough that your hair looks fresh. If you’re changing color, please don’t try anything new at home right before the wedding. A salon can fix box dye surprises, but you won’t want to be doing it the week of your wedding. If you do, see what to do after a box-dye mistake.

The day before and the morning of

• Come with your hair clean, dry and free of heavy product, unless your stylist tells you something else.
• Wear a button-up or zip-front top, so you don’t have to pull anything over your finished hair.
• Eat breakfast and have water nearby. The morning goes by faster than anyone expects.
• Bring all your accessories in one bag, and a few bobby pins from home.
• Florida weather can be unpredictable, so tell your stylist if your ceremony is outside. A humid day can change which products and finish are best.

On-location styling

Some weddings are easier when the stylist comes to you, especially with a big party getting ready in one place. Ask about on-location styling when you call, and we will talk through what is possible for your date and venue.

Not just brides

We do updos, braids and soft waves for the whole wedding party, and we also style hair for quinceañeras and proms. Natalie on our team does bridal work and color. You can see more on our weddings page.