The Importance of A Wedding Trial

While your dress, the venue, the florals, DJ, etc. are all crucial elements in the planning of your perfect wedding day, it's also important to take the time to plan out and trial your bridal hair and makeup. I know better than anyone how much time and energy goes into the prep leading up to your wedding day. But as a bridal hair and makeup artist, I cannot stress the importance of a bridal wedding trial enough. After all, you wouldn't book a photographer without first viewing his or her portfolio, would you?? The same should go for the hair and makeup artist(s) you use on your wedding day.

Here are just a few reasons why it's important to trial your bridal look before the big day:

It gives the bride and her artist the opportunity to get acquainted with one another. It's the perfect chance for the bride to evaluate the artist's professionalism, and also is a good gauge on how well the two will work together. This is the time when the bride can share her vision and her hair and makeup preferences, so that she feels 100% confident on her big day. It also allows the artist to get familiar with the bride's facial contours, skin texture, hair type, etc.

Trialing your bridal look takes away an unnecessary source of stress on the big day. The wedding trial allows the bride to adjust and perfect her final look beforehand. This might be finding the right foundation and/or the right foundation shade; determining whether or not the bride wants to wear false lashes; testing out the longevity of the hair and makeup; or determining how the hair and makeup compliment each other. Ironing out those details during the wedding trial allows the bride to be confident that she is going to look and feel her absolute best on her most cherished day.

If you decide you'd like to book a wedding trial, it's always smart to come prepared with a little bit of research. Whether it's sharing a board on Pinterest, bringing in magazine clippings, or taking screenshots on Instagram, coming in with a vision will help your artist visualize your final look, and is also a great icebreaker!

Testimonial from one of my brides, Jordan Duncan, on her wedding trial:

"It was super helpful to do a trial with Kristen! It really allowed me to visualize what my final look was going to end up like, and it also gave me the opportunity to tweak anything I didn't totally love. For example, after my trial, I decided against including a hair accessory and also went with lighter, more 'natural' false lashes. When it came time for my actual wedding day, I was relaxed and assured, because I knew Kristen understood my vision. And best of all, the end result was perfect!"

Jordan's Wedding Trial: