Planning a wedding in Edinburgh is brilliant — the city gives you everything from Georgian townhouses to clifftop castles as a backdrop. But when it comes to booking your bridal hair and makeup, the options can feel a bit overwhelming. Freelance artists, mobile stylists, salon-based teams — how do you choose, and when should you actually start thinking about it?
We've helped plenty of brides and bridal parties get ready at Hello Beauty in Charlotte Square, so here's a straightforward guide covering everything from timelines and trials to what to look for when booking your wedding day beauty team.
When to Start Booking
Edinburgh is one of Scotland's most popular wedding destinations, and the best hair and makeup providers book up quickly — especially for summer Saturdays between May and September.
As a general rule, start looking twelve to eighteen months before your wedding date. If you're getting married during peak season, booking even earlier isn't a bad idea. Once you've confirmed your venue and date, your beauty team should be one of the next things you lock in.
That said, if you're planning something smaller or more last-minute, don't panic. Midweek weddings and winter dates tend to have much more availability. Just get in touch and we'll let you know what's possible.
Salon-Based vs Freelance: What's the Difference?
Most bridal hair and makeup in Edinburgh falls into two categories: freelance artists who come to your venue or home, and salon-based services where you visit the salon on the morning of your wedding.
Freelance artists offer the convenience of coming to you. That's a real plus if your venue is outside Edinburgh or if you want the whole bridal party to get ready together in one room. The trade-off is that you're relying on one or two individuals — if someone falls ill on the day, cover can be harder to arrange.
Salon-based services give you a dedicated space, a full team, and all the tools and products on hand. At Hello Beauty, our salon is a two-minute walk from many of Edinburgh's top wedding venues in the New Town and West End, which makes the morning logistics simple. You get the atmosphere of a proper pampering experience rather than a rushed setup in a hotel room, and our team can handle larger bridal parties efficiently because we have multiple stations.
There's also a practical advantage to choosing a salon that does hair, makeup, and nails under one roof. Instead of coordinating three separate bookings with different providers, you can get everything done in one place. Fewer logistics, fewer things to go wrong on the morning.
What to Look for When Choosing
Beyond the obvious — checking portfolios, reading reviews, and making sure their style matches your vision — there are a few things worth paying attention to:
Trial availability. A trial appointment is non-negotiable. It's your chance to test the exact look you want, make adjustments, and arrive on your wedding day feeling confident rather than anxious. Any professional offering bridal services should include a trial as standard, typically two to three months before the wedding.
Product quality. Ask what brands they use. For makeup, you want long-wearing, photography-friendly formulas that won't budge through tears, hugs, and a full day on your feet. For hair, heat-protective products and high-hold finishing sprays matter if you're having an outdoor ceremony or a particularly enthusiastic ceilidh.
At Hello Beauty, we use Davines for hair prep and finishing, GHD professional tools for styling, K18 molecular repair treatments for pre-wedding hair conditioning, and high-performance makeup brands that are built to last through a long day and flash photography.
Communication. Your stylist and makeup artist should be easy to talk to. You'll be spending the first few hours of your wedding day with them, so a good rapport matters more than you might think. If someone makes you feel rushed or dismissive during the consultation, trust that instinct.
Reviews from actual brides. General salon reviews are useful, but look specifically for feedback from wedding clients. Bridal work requires a different skill set — it's not just about technique, it's about timing, calm energy, and understanding the pressure of the day.
Planning Your Wedding Morning Timeline
Getting the timing right is one of the most underestimated parts of wedding morning prep. Here's a rough guide to work from, which you can adjust based on your ceremony time:
Allow 60–90 minutes per person for hair and makeup combined. This is a comfortable pace that allows for adjustments without anyone feeling rushed.
The bride goes last. This way, your hair and makeup are the freshest for photos and the ceremony. Your bridesmaids and mother of the bride go first, giving your stylists time to warm up and giving you time to enjoy the morning.
Build in a 30-minute buffer. Things always take slightly longer than planned — someone changes their mind about a hairstyle, the flower delivery arrives and everyone stops to look, someone needs a second coat of hairspray after an emotional moment. A buffer prevents stress.
Factor in travel time if needed. If you're getting ready at the salon and then heading to a venue, work backwards from your ceremony time and add at least 30 minutes more than you think you'll need.
For a bride plus three bridesmaids and one mother of the bride, for example, you'd want to start roughly five to six hours before the ceremony. Your stylist can help you map this out during the consultation.
Hair Styles That Last All Day
Edinburgh weather is famously unpredictable, and many of the city's most beautiful venues involve some outdoor time — whether it's photos in the gardens at Charlotte Square or confetti on the steps of a Leith warehouse wedding.
Updos and half-up styles tend to hold up best through wind, rain, and dancing. A well-pinned updo with the right finishing products will look just as polished at midnight as it did at midday.
Loose waves and blow-dry styles look gorgeous in photos but can drop over the course of a long day, particularly in damp conditions. If you've got your heart set on a down style, your stylist can use techniques like backcombing at the root and setting sprays to build in longevity.
Braids and textured styles are having a moment and they happen to be some of the most durable options. A loose romantic braid with tendrils, or a textured low bun, gives you that relaxed bridal look while staying firmly in place.
Whatever you choose, the trial is where you'll test how well it holds. Wear it for the rest of the day after your trial and see how it looks by evening — that's the real test.
Makeup That Photographs Well
There's a difference between makeup that looks lovely in person and makeup that looks lovely in photographs. Bridal makeup needs to do both.
Foundation coverage should be slightly more than your everyday level. Camera flash can wash out lighter coverage, so a medium-to-full base with good staying power is standard for bridal work. Your artist will match the shade precisely to your skin tone in natural light.
Eyes benefit from a bit more definition than usual. Even if you're going for a natural look, slightly stronger brow definition and well-blended eyeshadow translate much better in photos. It's not about looking "done" — it's about making sure your features read clearly.
Lips should be long-wearing. Between champagne, canapés, and kissing your new spouse, your lip colour needs to stay put. A lip stain or long-wear formula with a touch of gloss on top gives you colour that lasts without the worry.
Setting spray is essential. A proper setting spray locks everything in place for twelve-plus hours. It's the final step that separates everyday makeup from bridal-standard makeup.
Nails for Your Wedding Day
Your hands will be photographed more than you'd expect — the ring exchange, cutting the cake, the first dance, all those close-up ring shots. Having your nails looking their best is worth the investment.
BIAB nails are a popular choice for brides because of their durability. A BIAB manicure can last three to four weeks, so if you get them done a few days before the wedding, they'll still look perfect through the honeymoon too.
Classic sheer pinks, soft nudes, and French-style tips remain the most popular bridal nail choices, though we've seen plenty of brides go for something more personal — a touch of glitter, a colour that matches their bouquet, or subtle nail art on the ring finger.
Booking Your Bridal Experience at Hello Beauty
Our team at Hello Beauty offers complete bridal packages covering hair, makeup, and nails for the bride and the whole bridal party. Our salon in Charlotte Square is a calm, beautifully designed space — a genuinely lovely place to spend your wedding morning.
Here's how it works:
- Get in touch to check availability for your date and discuss what you're looking for.
- Book a consultation where we'll go through styles, products, and the morning timeline.
- Come in for your trial two to three months before the wedding to perfect your look.
- On the day, arrive at the salon and let us take care of everything.
We also offer combined bridal hair and makeup packages, which can be more cost-effective than booking each service separately. Check our price list for details, or contact us for a personalised quote.
You can also explore our full range of hair styling services and makeup services, or book directly online if you already know what you need.
Hello Beauty Salon, 13 South Charlotte Street, Edinburgh EH2 4AS. Open Monday to Sunday, 10:00–19:00.
