Pre-wedding-season hair: booking your salon early

Book your wedding slot nine to twelve months out and your trial six months out, and confirm who’ll actually be doing the hair on the day rather than just the salon name.

With wedding hair, “too early” barely exists. Good bridal hairdressers are booked up to a year ahead for summer weekends. There are hairdressers and barbers listed across WotsItCalled, and the brides who plan ahead get the ones they want.

When to book: the realistic timeline

• 12 months out. For a peak Saturday between May and September, start now. Hairdressers are already filling next year’s diary, and a deposit secures the date.
• 9 months out. Have the first consultation: talk through the look, check availability, work out who’s doing what on the day and pay the deposit.
• 6 months out. The hair trial, which is the step people skip and regret. Treat it as a full dress rehearsal with the same hair and styling, ideally with a sample of your veil or accessories.
• 3 months out. A final confirmation call to settle the balance, running order, timings and any changes.
• 1 month out. A second trial if you’ve changed your mind or something didn’t work the first time. It’s optional, and much cheaper than finding out on the day.
• The week before. Colour refresh and trim, and nothing radical.

Trials matter: here’s what to actually do

A wedding hair trial isn’t a regular appointment. Take it seriously and you’ll dodge nearly every wedding hair horror story.

1. Bring photos. Three or four of the look you want and two or three of things you definitely don’t. Pictures get the idea across better than words.
2. Bring the accessories. Veil, tiara, comb, flowers, whatever’s going in. The style has to hold all of it.
3. Wear a similar neckline. A high-necked top at the trial against a strapless dress on the day changes everything, so match it as best you can.
4. Book the trial for the time of day you’re getting married. Light changes how your hair colour looks, and 2pm daylight and 6pm indoor lighting come out differently in photos.
5. Take photos during and after, from every angle. Then walk around for a few hours to see how it holds.
6. Ask what products they’re using. You might want one for the day, or at least know what to top up with.

You should leave the trial either confident in the plan or with a clear list of changes for the next one.

Bridal parties: questions to ask on booking

Once bridesmaids, mothers and flower girls are involved, the logistics grow. Confirm these when you book:

1. Is one person doing the hair, or a team? A big bridal party often needs two or three stylists, so get their names.
2. Where will it happen? At the salon, or at the venue or hotel? On-location work usually costs more and comes with its own requirements.
3. How long is each slot? Brides usually take 60-90 minutes and bridesmaids 30-45. Build in some slack.
4. What’s the running order? Whoever goes first will be ready three hours before the ceremony, which is fine or a problem depending on their patience.
5. What’s the price per person? Ask for a breakdown covering the bride, each bridesmaid, mothers and flower girls, not a lump sum.
6. What are the deposit and cancellation terms? Non-refundable deposits are standard for wedding work, so know where you stand.
7. Who steps in if the lead stylist is ill? Ask whether there’s a named backup.

Where to find one

The hairdressers and barbers directory lists salons across the UK, with city pages for Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds and Chester. Look for bridal work in a salon’s portfolio, because it’s a different skill from everyday cuts and colour.

What can go wrong, and how to avoid it

The horror stories exist for a reason. These are the most common wedding hair disasters, and how to sidestep them:

• The stylist calls in sick on the day. Settle the backup plan when you book. A named second stylist beats a vague “someone will come”.
• The trial looked great but the style didn’t hold on the day. Match the trial to the wedding as closely as you can: same products, same kind of night’s sleep before, and the same humidity if it’s outdoors.
• Timings overrun and the bride is last into the car. Add a 30-minute buffer, not for the hair but for the photographer, the pre-ceremony photos and a bit of calm.
• The bridal party weren’t clear on what they were paying. Send everyone the breakdown in advance so nobody’s talking money on the morning.
• An accessory doesn’t suit the finished style. Bring every single accessory to the trial.

The point isn’t to worry. Sort the small stuff early and the hair becomes one less thing to think about on the day.

The short version

• For peak summer dates, start booking 12 months out; a deposit secures the slot.
• Don’t skip the trial, and hold it at the same time of day as the wedding.
• Bring photos and accessories, and wear a neckline like your dress.
• For bridal parties, confirm the stylists, running order, per-person prices and backup plan.
• Check a salon’s portfolio for bridal work in particular.

WotsItCalled is a free UK business directory. No signup, no catch. Find the place everyone’s on about, or browse the full hairdressers and barbers directory.