Your wedding morning sets the tone for your entire day. With a little planning and preparation, you can ensure your hair and makeup look flawless, last all day, and photograph beautifully. In this ultimate wedding day beauty prep guide, we’ll cover everything from setup logistics to skincare routines — all designed to help you and your bridal party look your best on your big day.
Wedding Day Beauty Setup & Logistics
Proper setup is key to a smooth and stress-free beauty schedule on your wedding day.
- Book a spacious suite with a separate bedroom and living area to allow enough space for both your bridal party and your hair and makeup artists to work comfortably.
- Request large, regular-height tables placed near natural light and electrical outlets — one table per artist.
- Chairs matter: Use a regular low chair or office chair for hairstylists, and a bar-height stool for makeup artists to ensure proper posture and comfort.
- Hotel coordination: Notify the hotel front desk to provide elevator key card access for your beauty team.
- Night before tip: Text or email your hotel room number, parking, and valet details to your hair and makeup team to avoid delays in the morning.
How to Prep Months Before Your Wedding Day for Hair and Makeup
Your long-term beauty prep directly affects how well your hair and makeup apply and last. Start early for the best results:
- Daily routine: Exfoliate and moisturise to keep your skin smooth and hydrated. Flawless makeup starts with well-prepped skin.
- Avoid sun exposure: Sunburned skin is very difficult to cover with makeup. Be diligent with sunscreen leading up to the big day.
- Bridal skincare treatments: If you’re considering dermaplaning or Hydrafacials, do a trial run months before, and schedule your final session at least one week before your wedding.
- Adjust skincare products: Stop using tretinoin, retinol, and other active ingredients one week before your wedding to prevent irritation. Focus on hydrating products instead.
Beauty Prep Checklist a Few Days Before the Wedding
In the days leading up to your wedding, final touch-ups will ensure everything is picture-perfect:
- Brow grooming: Shape your eyebrows, remove blackheads, peach fuzz, and any facial hair.
- Pack your bridal touch-up bag: Include your wedding lipstick, pressed powder, tissues, straws, blotting papers, and safety pins.
- Bridal party prep: Have your bridesmaids save hair and makeup inspiration photos that reflect their skin tone, hair colour, and features. Windy City Glam’s Instagram (@windycityglam) is a great place to start!
- Hair extensions: If you’re using clip-in extensions, wash and dry them before the first styling session and between uses.
The Night Before Your Wedding: Hair and Skin Prep
The night before your wedding is crucial for optimal hair and makeup application the next day:
- Hair prep: Double shampoo your hair to remove all oils or product buildup. Do not use any leave-in conditioners, serums, or oils. Blow dry your hair before bed and avoid sleeping on damp hair.
- Extra volume tip: Apply mousse to damp hair before blow-drying to give your style more hold and volume.
How to Arrive for Hair and Makeup on Your Wedding Day
On your wedding morning, follow these final steps to make sure your hair and makeup artist can work their magic:
- Face prep: Your skin should be freshly exfoliated, moisturized, and completely makeup-free. Avoid wearing SPF on the day of your wedding as some formulas can affect how your makeup sits and photographs.
- Hair prep: Hair should be 100% dry and freshly washed. Damp or oily hair can prevent styles from holding properly.
- Contacts first: If you wear contacts, put them in before makeup application.
- Avoid teeth brushing after makeup: Brushing your teeth after makeup risks ruining your lip products.
- Clothing: Wear a button-up shirt, zip-up, or robe to protect your hair and makeup when changing into your gown.
- Dress steaming: Always steam dresses before hair and makeup begins to avoid humidity that can frizz hair and affect makeup longevity.
Follow This Wedding Day Beauty Prep Guide for Stress-Free Glam
By following this complete wedding day beauty prep guide, you’ll give your bridal hair and makeup artist the perfect canvas to create a flawless, long-lasting look. At Windy City Glam, we want every bride to feel confident and beautiful from the first photo to the last dance. Book a call today.
