Wedding Hair & Makeup Timeline Calculator (And When Your Morning Should Actually Start)

How to Plan Your Wedding Morning Without Guessing

One of the first logistical questions most brides run into is deceptively simple:

What time should wedding hair and makeup actually start?

It’s a small detail that quietly determines the rhythm of the entire morning.

Your wedding hair and makeup timeline affects when your photographer begins shooting, when you get dressed, when portraits happen, and whether the morning feels relaxed or rushed.

Most timeline advice online is overly simplified. You’ll often see blanket recommendations like “start at 7 AM” or “plan an hour per person.” But those numbers only make sense once you know how many services are happening and how the beauty team structures their schedule.

To make this easier, I built two simple wedding hair and makeup timeline calculators below.

The first shows how many artists structure timelines across the industry.
The second reflects how I design timelines for my own brides.

In this guide

• Wedding Hair and Makeup Timeline Calculator
• How Long Wedding Hair and Makeup Usually Takes
• How Most Artists Structure Beauty Timelines
• The Coastal Editorial Glam™ Timeline
• Why the Bride Goes in the Middle of the Schedule
• How My Bridal Packages Structure the Morning
• Wedding Morning Timeline Tips
• FAQ


How long wedding hair and makeup usually takes

For most weddings, artists estimate about 60 minutes per service.

That usually means:

• Hair: about 1 hour
• Makeup: about 1 hour

If someone receives both services, that typically equals about two hours total.

So if five people are receiving both hair and makeup, that equals ten services.

With one artist, that can take roughly ten hours. With multiple artists, the workload is divided, which shortens the timeline and moves the start time later.

This is why calculating a wedding hair and makeup timeline early in the planning process can make the entire day feel more organized.


How most artists structure wedding beauty timelines

A common approach across the industry is to plan about one hour per service.

Using that structure:

• hair = 1 hour
• makeup = 1 hour

This method works well because it’s predictable and easy to plan around.

However, it treats every person in the chair exactly the same — whether it’s the bride or a bridesmaid.

For many weddings, that approach works perfectly fine.

But it isn’t the only way to structure the morning.

Standard Wedding Hair & Makeup Timeline

This reflects the timing many artists use: 1 hour per service for everyone.

 

The Coastal Editorial Glam™ Timeline

My wedding mornings are structured a little differently.

Instead of assigning the same time block to everyone, the schedule is designed around how the morning actually flows.

Wedding-party services are paced at about 45 minutes per service, which keeps the morning moving steadily without feeling rushed.

The bride receives a dedicated bridal beauty block of about two and a half hours.

That time allows space for:

• skin preparation
• airbrush complexion work
• structured styling for waves or updos
• finishing adjustments before getting dressed

The goal isn’t simply to move quickly.

The goal is to design a bridal beauty timeline where the entire morning stays balanced.


The Coastal Editorial Glam™ Timeline

This calculator reflects how my wedding mornings are structured inside my bridal packages.

 

Bridal Beauty Timeline Breakdown

Why the bride goes in the middle of the schedule

You’ll often hear that the bride should go either first or last in the beauty schedule.

In reality, both options create problems.

If the bride goes first, hair and makeup may sit for hours before photos begin.
If the bride goes last, even a small delay earlier in the morning can push the entire timeline behind.

Instead, I schedule the bride in the middle of the beauty timeline.

That placement creates buffer time on both sides of the bridal services so the schedule stays steady even if something unexpected happens.

It’s one of the simplest ways to keep the morning calm.


Why I book hair and makeup together

Another factor that affects the wedding hair and makeup timeline is how services are booked.

Some artists offer hair and makeup separately.

I don’t.

All of my weddings are booked as hair and makeup packages, which allows the entire beauty timeline to be designed by one team from the start.

This avoids the common issue of multiple beauty teams trying to coordinate overlapping schedules and helps ensure the final look feels cohesive in photos.


How my bridal packages structure the morning

As the bridal party grows, the beauty team grows with it so the timeline stays balanced.

My packages are structured this way:

The Spotlight
Bride + 3
Artist team: Bailee

Signature Glam
Bride + 5
Artist team: Bailee + assistant

The Pretty Committee
Bride + 7
Artist team: Bailee + assistant + additional artist

If the party is larger than eight total people, I create a custom production timeline so the morning still runs smoothly.


What happens if someone skips their service

Occasionally a bridesmaid decides not to receive services.

Within my packages, unused services convert into touch-up coverage for the bride.

That allows me to stay nearby for veil placement, lipstick refreshes, or small adjustments before portraits begin.

It’s a small detail that can make a big difference in how polished everything looks in photos.


Wedding morning timeline tips

Your ready-by time should usually be earlier than the ceremony. Most photographers prefer the bride to be fully ready 60 minutes before first looks or the ceremony begin.

With generic artists, Ii’s also helpful to think in terms of services rather than just people. Six people getting hair and makeup equals twelve services, which significantly affects the start time.

Most importantly, your wedding hair and makeup timeline often determines when the entire day begins. Once beauty timing is set, the rest of the schedule can be built around it.


Planning your wedding morning

A thoughtfully designed wedding hair and makeup timeline doesn’t just determine when beauty services start.

It determines whether the morning feels calm, organized, and enjoyable.

If you’re planning a wedding along the Southeast coast and want your bridal beauty timeline designed around your party size, location, and photography schedule, you can check availability below.

Check availability


Bridal Beauty Timeline Calculator

FAQ: Wedding Hair and Makeup Timelines

How long does wedding hair and makeup take?

For most weddings, hair and makeup typically take 45–60 minutes per service. My bridal glam often takes 2–3 hours because it includes skin preparation, styling, and finishing adjustments.

What time should bridal hair and makeup start?

The start time depends on how many people are receiving services and how many artists are working. Many weddings begin beauty services 5–7 hours before the ceremony, but the exact timing should be calculated based on the number of services and the photography schedule.

Should the bride go first or last for hair and makeup?

The correct timelines place the bride in the middle of the schedule. This creates buffer time and prevents the bridal look from sitting too long before portraits.

How many people can one hair and makeup artist handle?

Depending on the structure of the timeline, one artist can usually complete 4–8 services during a wedding morning. Larger bridal parties often require additional artists to keep the schedule balanced.

Ready for More?

Check out these other posts to make your wedding journey as easy as possible!

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March 11, 2026

What Time Should Hair and Makeup Start on Your Wedding Day?

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