If you’re here for tips and local (Minneapolis/St. Paul) recommendations for hair and makeup for your wedding, you’re in the right place. By the end of this post, you’ll have everything you need to get started finding a stylist (or a team of stylists) that’s the right fit for YOU. This is YOUR day, after all! I’ll also share some tips about timing and getting the most out of the hair and makeup services.
I recommend having hair and makeup booked 9-18 months out. I know, that sounds like a stretch, right? For some vendors, you can get it booked as few as 3 months out, but I do strongly recommend finding the hair and makeup artist(s) on the earlier end of wedding planning. So let’s go!
Get a trial (seriously!)
The first thing I’ll say is this: please consider taking advantage of a trial run. Getting a trial of wedding day hair and makeup is often included in a larger bridal package, or added as an à la carte option. It’s generally not free. But I can’t recommend the trial enough. It adds so much security in making sure you love the style and it gives the opportunity to provide feedback for day-of without the stress.
**Maybe most importantly, a trial ensures you don’t have any reactions to products their team uses.**
Hair and makeup vendors should provide ample opportunity for you to share any allergy concerns on your or your wedding party’s behalf, but there could be reactions you don’t even know about! It’s hard to put a price on peace of mind. And trials are pretty much always cheaper than the real thing, so it’s not like you’re paying for the up-do twice! Heck, if you time the trial for a day you plan to go to a fun or formal event anyway, it will be even more worth your while!
Finding a stylist for your wedding who meets your needs
Though cosmetology students are now officially required to get training on cutting and caring for every texture of hair in the state of Minnesota (as they should!), there is a difference between an artist having passing knowledge and an artist having significant experience with textured hair. Anyone who has textured hair doesn’t need me to say that! But if you are someone with straight hair, and you have members of your wedding party who do not, it’s good to keep experience with texture in mind for an equitable hair and makeup experience for everyone. 🙂
Speaking of equitable experiences, hair and makeup can be a lot of fun, but for some it can also be sensitive, and inclusion is paramount! Even if you yourself are not part of any LGBTQ communities, if you have any wedding party members who are, keep an eye on who vendors feature in their portfolios. Do the portfolios exclusively feature straight-appearing couples? Do they have any language on their website affirming LGBTQ communities? Those can be helpful “tells” in the decision-making process.
The timing of everything
On your wedding day, there is a lot of timing to orchestrate. I totally get it! The decision fatigue is real :).
When it comes to hair and makeup, the bride(s) should be done first. As a benchmark, four hours before the ceremony is a good place to start. This approach is for a couple reasons. One, the bride(s)’s photos will be first (as a photographer, I can’t help but think about the photos!). Second, it ensures that the wedding couple will be ready on schedule, even if some of the styling takes longer than others.
Whoever is helping the bride or brides get ready for the day should also be near the top of the list. For example, the maid(en)/celebrant of honor may want to have hair and makeup done right after the bride or at the same time, so they can be ready and available for logistics.
Want to do a first look with your whole wedding party? Start hair and makeup early enough in the day so everyone is done up and dressed before that time. Talk with your coordinator and photographer if you need help with that!
Cost of hair and makeup for a wedding in the Twin Cities
The cost of hair and makeup for your wedding depends on a few variables:
- Location: how far are you asking the stylist team to travel? Are you asking them to meet on-site, or meeting them in their salon? Travel fees are common and should be clearly stated from the get-go.
- Number of people: do you have a huge wedding party? The stylist/artist will need to bring help. The more people needed, the higher the cost, typically.
- Gratuity: some vendors include gratuity in their charges, or do so when it’s above a certain number of people in your wedding party. Especially if the artist/stylist is independent, they set their own rates, so adding a tip isn’t always necessary, but of course, it is always appreciated. Overall, 18% is industry standard.
Getting the most out of the hair and makeup investment
I already advocated for getting a trial, but please allow me this opportunity to mention it again. A trial all but diminishes any surprises! And wedding days are best when they are bad-surprise free.
Talk to your hair and makeup wedding vendor about a backup plan. This tip goes for any vendor, really. What if your artist gets covid the day before your wedding? Or what if their car breaks down? Do they know who they’d call to cover your wedding if they have a family emergency? A vendor with no backup plan is a red flag! Your job is to get married and have the best day of your life. All your hired vendors’ jobs are to ensure this perfect day happens for you.
If your wedding is outdoors, or you’re planning on getting most of your photos outdoors, consider an updo option AND a hair-down option in case there’s more wind than expected. Friends and family should consider this too.
Talk to your stylist about your goals! Many vendors are open to how much control you’d like to have over the results. Finding one you can work with easily, feels as collaborative as you’d like (or just takes charge if you don’t have strong opinions) can be a big game-changer.
If you have your gown or suit picked out, send a photo of your outfit to your hair and makeup artist! Every detail you can provide ahead of time is a good thing. A stylist/artist can do so much more when they have the canvas as clear as can be.
When vetting hair and makeup artists, look for or ask for photos of their clients toward the end of the night. It’s one thing to look amazing right after you’ve been done up, and another to have both your eyelashes at the end of the night! 😀 Many hair and makeup artists will recommend air-brush makeup as something that will last in warmer weather. Please ask questions and listen to your gut when choosing your vendors!
If you want kissing photos (cheeks, lips, etc.), consider forgoing lip color, as it will bleed onto your partner. If you want to prioritize lip color, see if you can have a makeup wipe to have ready if it’s needed.
Recommended hair and makeup wedding vendors based out of the Twin Cities
| Vendor Name | Service Area |
| 139 Hair by Heidi | Twin Cities; surrounding areas |
| Amy Rachael MUA | Twin Cities; surrounding areas; including WI |
| Ascendance Productions | All of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and other nearby states (travel fees will apply) |
| First Look, LLC | Twin Cities-based; travel options available |
| Juut Salon | In-store only, multiple locations |
| Laura B. Beauty | Within 45 miles of Minneapolis |
| MN Bridal | Twin Cities; travel options available |
| Spa Beauty Agency | Within 20 miles of downtown Minneapolis included, travel fees apply further out |
| Warpaint International | Twin Cities (by the way, all the photos in this post feature hair and makeup done by Warpaint International!) |
I am hopeful you now have a solid place to start finding the best hair and makeup artist fit for your wedding party. Do you still need to find what to wear? Check out my wedding gown and wedding suit guides! 🙂
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