Your wedding beauty timeline: what to book 12 months, 6 months, 6 weeks and 1 week before

Quick answer: Book your hair and makeup artists around 12 months before the wedding and start any skin plan or laser hair removal then too. Have your hair and makeup trial and begin a course of facials around six months out. At six weeks, finish any peels, lock in your colour plan and test anything new, including patch tests. In the final week, keep to treatments you already know: brows three to five days before, waxing two to three days before, nails and spray tan one to two days before.

Somewhere between choosing a venue and writing the guest list, beauty plans tend to arrive all at once. Who is doing the hair? When should the facials start? Is it too late for laser? Will the tan clash with the outfit?

The good news is that almost every treatment has a natural place on the calendar. Give each one the time it needs and the week of the wedding becomes calm, simple and fun, for you, your partner and everyone getting ready with you.

This timeline works for every couple and every wedding party, wherever you are in the world. Adjust it to your own date, your culture's celebrations and the treatments you love.

What couples spend on wedding beauty

Wedding beauty is a real part of the plan, and it helps to know what others set aside. In the US, The Knot's 2026 Real Weddings Study, based on 10,474 couples who married in 2025, found that 72% hired a wedding beauty professional, with hair and makeup for one person averaging around $300 before trials and tips.

In the UK, Bridebook's 2026 UK Wedding Report, drawn from around 7,000 couples, puts the average spend at £417 on hair styling and £394 on makeup. In Australia, Easy Weddings' 2025 annual report gives a national average of $895 for hair and makeup, with 83% of those surveyed hiring a professional and 84% saying a trial is a good idea.

Whatever your budget, planning early means you choose the people you love working with, rather than whoever still has the date free.

12 months before: book your team and start the long game

Popular hair stylists and makeup artists can book out a year or more ahead, especially on Saturdays and in peak wedding season, which varies from country to country. Once your date is set, this is the moment to secure them.

• Hair and makeup artists. Decide who in the wedding party wants services, then book one team for everyone. Ask how many people they can get ready in the time you have, and whether they travel to you.
• Your skin plan. Book a consultation with a qualified skin therapist. They can look at your skin, your routine and your date, then map out a course of facials that builds results slowly.
• Laser hair removal. If you would love smoother skin on the day, start now. The American Academy of Dermatology says most people need 2 to 6 sessions, usually spaced 4 to 6 weeks apart, so a year gives you plenty of room. Read our laser hair removal guide before you book.
• Hair length and condition. If you are growing your hair for a particular style, tell your stylist now. Regular trims keep ends healthy while length builds.

6 months before: trials, courses and finding what you love

Six months out is the sweet spot for testing. You still have time to change your mind, and your skin has time to respond to a course of treatment.

Hair and makeup trial

Many couples have their trial somewhere between six and three months before the day. Bring photos of looks you like, your outfit colours and, if you can, wear a top with a similar neckline. Take pictures in daylight and with flash so you can see how the look photographs.

A course of facials and peels

Monthly facials from now on let your therapist adjust your plan as the seasons change. If you are interested in skin peels, this is the time to start. The American Academy of Dermatology notes that light peels are often done as a series of 3 to 5, repeated every 2 to 5 weeks, and that a light peel can take up to a week to settle, while medium peels need 7 to 14 days. Starting early means your final peel lands well before the wedding.

Lashes and brows

If you have never had lash extensions or a lash lift, try one now so you know how it feels and how your lashes respond. The same goes for brow lamination. If you want fuller brows, ask your brow artist about growing them out and let them shape them gradually over the coming months.

Nails and massage

Strong natural nails photograph beautifully in ring shots. Regular manicures, or a builder gel overlay if your nails tend to bend or break, give them months to grow. A monthly massage is a lovely way to look after yourself while the planning ramps up.

6 weeks before: finish, test and settle

This is the point where you stop starting new things and start fine tuning what works.

• Final peel. Book your last peel around six weeks out, or whenever your therapist recommends, so any flaking has long settled.
• Final laser session. Ask your practitioner how much time to leave between your last session and the wedding, and protect treated skin from the sun.
• Hair colour plan. Confirm when your colour, toner and cut will happen. Most colourists like to colour one to two weeks before the day, so the shade has softened slightly and looks natural.
• Patch tests. Any new colour, lash tint or brow tint needs a skin test first. Anaphylaxis UK advises an allergy alert test 48 hours before colouring, every time, because sensitivity can develop even after years without a reaction.
• Spray tan trial. If you plan to tan, have a trial with your tanning artist to choose the shade and see how it develops with your outfit. Our spray tan guide explains what to expect.
• Waxing rhythm. If waxing is new to you, try it now. Then book regular appointments so your final wax falls two to three days before the wedding.

1 week before: your countdown

The final week is all about treatments you already know and trust. Here is a simple order that gives your skin time to settle.

1. Five to seven days before: a gentle, hydrating facial. Your therapist will keep it calm, with no strong exfoliation or extractions.
2. Three to seven days before: lash lift, if you are having one, so the curl has relaxed slightly.
3. Three to five days before: brow shape and tint, or brow lamination, so any redness has faded.
4. Two to three days before: lash extensions and waxing. Skin needs a day or two to calm before tan, and you will want your lashes settled.
5. One to two days before: nails, so they are fresh and chip free. Spray tan in the same window, after waxing and exfoliating. Read how to prepare for your spray tan for the full steps.
6. A few days before: a relaxing massage, ideally before your tan, so oils do not affect the colour.

Pack a small kit for the day: blotting papers, lip colour, a mini hairspray, a nail file, plasters and any medication you need. Your artists will usually bring touch up essentials too.

What to keep for after the wedding

Close to the day is the time to stay with what you know. Your skin, hair and lashes will thank you.

• New skincare actives. Starting a retinoid or strong acid in the last month can leave skin sensitive.
• A first ever treatment. First time lash extensions, waxing or peels belong in your testing months, not your final week.
• A big colour change. Save dramatic shifts for the honeymoon or beyond.
• Sunbeds and strong sun. A spray tan gives you colour without the UV, and it is gentler on freshly treated skin.
• Black henna. If your celebrations include mehndi, choose an artist who uses natural henna, which stains orange to brown. So called black henna often contains PPD, a hair dye ingredient that can cause skin reactions and make you sensitive to hair colour later.

Planning for the whole wedding party

Partners, parents, attendants and friends often want to look and feel their best too. A shared plan keeps the morning relaxed. Collect everyone's wishes early, share them with your artists, and build a schedule with a little breathing space at the end. Tell everyone the same rules for the final week, such as no new treatments and arriving with clean, dry hair if your stylist asks for it.

FAQs

How far in advance should you book wedding hair and makeup?

Around 12 months ahead is a good aim, especially for weekend dates in peak season. Many artists take bookings even earlier.

When should you have your wedding hair and makeup trial?

Many couples have it three to six months before the wedding. That leaves time for a second trial if you want to try a different look.

How long before the wedding should you get a facial?

Start a course around six months before, then have a final gentle, hydrating facial five to seven days before the day.

When should you get a spray tan before your wedding?

One to two days before, after any waxing and exfoliation. Have a trial around six weeks out to choose your shade.

How long before a wedding should you stop peels?

Most therapists plan the final peel around six weeks before, depending on the strength of the peel and how your skin responds. Ask your therapist for your own timing.

Find your wedding beauty team

The people around you on the morning matter as much as the products. Choose qualified, insured professionals you feel comfortable with and who listen to what you want. Every professional with a verified profile on our directory has had their qualifications and insurance checked. Find a verified professional near you, and explore our treatment guides to learn more about each treatment before you book.