Hair and Now

This is the time of the year when couples are busy planning their wedding details. High on the list for the bride is what her hair should look like. What about the bridesmaids? Should they all have the same styles? What if some have short hair? Or long and curly?

A bride’s thoughts regarding a common hair or makeup theme needs to be discussed at the very beginning of the wedding planning stage. Consideration of and communication with the bridal party about hair and make-up issues are critical since they can have a significant impact on the cost.

If you really dream of everyone having twisted up-do tresses, it’s important that you decide at the beginning so your attendants have a clear picture of what’s required of them and can plan accordingly. If you’re thinking about having a theme, I recommend that a common hair theme is appropriate for a formal wedding, but less important for an informal or casual wedding. Since it’s more likely a formal wedding will require a traditional, floor-length bridal attendant gown, coordinated hairstyles would probably be very appropriate.

The next obvious question is whether you take the bridal party to a salon. Do you have stylists come to you? Or do you and your friends take out the curling iron and do your own?

A growing trend is for bridal parties to visit a day spa for pre-wedding manicures, pedicures, and facials, and on the day of the wedding, to attend as a party to be pampered by experts while getting hair and makeup done with breakfast or lunch. This takes the pressure off of the bridal party so the group can relax and enjoy the auspicious occasion in a grand manner.

Some brides plan for a stylist to come to their home, church, or hotel to have their wedding hair and makeup done in a private environment. The cost of this can be higher since several stylists-including a makeup artist-may be required, and you pay for time and travel. Keep in mind that having several stylists at your home for any length of time will be more expensive than if you all went to the salon. On weekends, the cost of each stylist can be one-and-a-half to two times more. However, there are many advantages that may outweigh the pricey disadvantage, such as saving yourself travel and allowing you the comfort of your own home.

Salons that specialize in complete wedding packages, hair styling, make-up, manicures, and pedicures tend to be booked six to nine months in advance, and it’s therefore advisable that you book your wedding party at your earliest convenience. Some salons require a deposit to hold the date and time and the desired hairstylists.

One other important point is if you or your bridesmaids are planning to change your hairstyle, my advice is to do this several months ahead of time. Changing color or shortening your hair is a dramatic change, and you need be very comfortable with your look in advance of any practice sessions. If your hair is short, on the other hand, and you would like to experiment with extensions, it’s necessary to have these picked out ahead of time so you can try them when you get a practice style done.

When it comes to planning wedding party hairstyles, it’s important to be considerate, creative, and exercise good communication skills. Having seen many bridal parties of all shapes, forms, and financial needs, I’m convinced that if you work with the experts at a full-package salon, you’ll be more than delighted with the results. I’ve seen brides who want to do it all by themselves, but there’s nothing better than being pampered and taking the pressure off yourself by taking your bridal party to a salon. The key to everything, however, is to plan ahead. TPW