Bridal hair and makeup gigs are one of the most tedious gigs that you will ever have. You need to strive for perfection because you’re dealing with a woman’s most important day, her wedding. Photos and videos taken on that day are mementos that her family is going to see forever. And, most importantly, the bride is going to want to look her best for the groom.
Sounds like a lot of pressure? It is. This is why you need to meticulously plan the day as her makeup artist so that she doesn’t run late for the itinerary set by the event coordinator.
So, how long does wedding makeup take anyway? The answer will come to you once you’ve considered the following factors.
What kind of bridal makeup will you do?
There are two choices here – airbrush or traditional high-definition makeup. Airbrush is a loooooot faster than traditional HD makeup. Your 1 hour routine for traditional makeup is typically just a 15 minute routine with airbrush – this is one of the reasons why airbrush makeup is so expensive; you’re really getting the premium.
Are you hiring a hairstylist?
The whole routine is longer when you’re going to do the bride’s hair yourself. If you hire a hairstylist, the hairstylist can work simultaneously with you to make your job faster. If the bride is following a strict schedule like a number of photoshoots before the actual ceremony, then we suggest you hire a hairstylist. If you’re doing the whole entourage, then you’re definitely going to need a team to help you out!
Your Personal Speed
If you’re new to the industry and you’re not used to bridal gigs yet, it would be understandable if you took longer. Some makeup artists can finish a whole look in under 30 minutes while some take more than an hour. Don’t feel too pressured because that’s how it goes; you get better and faster as you go.
Our general advice would be to ask the event’s coordinator ahead of time for the day’s activities so you can plan who to hire for your team and set a timeline you can follow so that no one runs late.
So, how long does it take?
The whole preparation before the ceremony will take about 6 hours. That’s hair and makeup, photoshoots and changing from the robe to the gown or other outfits. If you factor in travelling from the hotel to where the ceremony will be held, you can assume that that’s 7 hours before she walks down the aisle. Why am I saying this? Because the bridal hair and makeup team needs to be there all throughout.
The actual time to do the bride’s makeup with hairstyling is around 1 hour and 30 minutes. But you’re going to have to follow her around the whole day for retouches. This includes the ceremony, the photoshoots, the transition to her second look for the reception and probably even during the reception if that’s included in your package.
Whew. That is indeed stressful on your part, to say the least. No wonder bridal makeup artists charge so high and rightfully so.
