Wedding guides / Hair & Makeup

Hair & Makeup

Hair and makeup (often called 'HMU') covers styling for the couple and, often, the bridal party — usually done on-site the morning of the wedding.

R1 500 – R6 000 Per person for bride/groom; bridal party members are usually charged separately per head, which adds up for larger parties.

Why it matters

This directly affects the start time of the whole day — a rushed trial or an underestimated timeline here can delay the ceremony itself.

When it should happen

Book the artist 4–6 months out; schedule a trial run 4–6 weeks before the wedding, not on the day itself.

Questions to ask

Is a trial run included in the quote, or billed separately?
How long does the full bridal party take on the morning of, and does that fit the day's timeline?
Do they travel to the venue, and is there a callout fee?
What products do they use, and can they accommodate sensitive skin or allergies?

Mistakes to avoid

Skipping the trial run to save money, then being unhappy with the look on the day itself.
Underestimating how long a full bridal party takes, which delays the ceremony start.
Not confirming a callout fee for on-site styling until the invoice arrives.

Worth knowing

Schedule the trial as close as possible to how you'll actually look on the day (same hair length/colour, similar skincare routine) so it's a true preview, not a rough guess.