The real time allowances
| Person | Minimum time | Recommended allowance |
|---|---|---|
| Bride (full bridal makeup) | 60 min | 75–90 min |
| Bridesmaid / party member | 30 min | 40–45 min |
| Mother of bride/groom | 35 min | 45 min |
| Flower girl (light makeup) | 15 min | 20 min |
| Buffer per person | , | +15 min |
The minimum times above assume everything goes smoothly: the client arrives on time, the products work perfectly on first application, and there are no adjustments or changes. In practice, always use the recommended allowances and always add a buffer.
A sample morning schedule (5-person party, 12pm ceremony)
This schedule works for one artist with one client at a time. If your party is larger than 5 people, discuss a second artist with your makeup artist, one artist working alone cannot safely complete more than 5–6 faces without the schedule becoming very tight.
Why the bride goes last
Almost universally, the bride is the final person in the chair. The reasons are practical: her makeup is freshest for the ceremony and photographs. It also means any minor issues with earlier clients (a product that needs more setting time, a client who needs a break) can be absorbed into the schedule without affecting the bride's timings.
The exception is if you're having a very early ceremony (10am or earlier), in that case, discuss the order with your artist at the trial.
What actually takes the time
Bridal makeup takes longer than everyday makeup not because the look is necessarily more complex, but because of the layers required for all-day wear:
- Skin prep covers cleanse, moisturise, and primer, and needs time to settle before base goes on.
- Base building involves foundation, concealer, and colour correction, with each layer needing a moment before the next.
- Setting uses powder and spray, and again needs time to set before the next step.
- Eyes covers brows, shadow, liner, and lashes, with lashes in particular adding time.
- Lips and final setting is often the quickest step, but the artist will check the whole look and make any final adjustments here.
Hair and makeup, which comes first?
Most makeup artists prefer to work after hair is at least partially styled or pinned up. The reason: hairspray and other styling products can settle on freshly applied makeup and affect its finish. If your hair and makeup artist are different people working simultaneously, discuss this specifically with both, they should coordinate their order.
If both are being done by the same person, they will have their own preferred method. Ask at your trial what order they work in and plan your schedule around their answer.
Add 15 minutes of buffer per person to your schedule, and do not book anything for the hour before the ceremony. That hour is for getting dressed, doing final checks, and being calm, not still in the makeup chair.
At the trial, I'll give you exact timings for your wedding morning based on your party size and ceremony time. No guessing, no last-minute panic. Start with the £49 studio trial.
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