Jessica Vegas Pro Team

Your Bridal Beauty
Prep Guide

Everything you need to know to arrive at your wedding day camera-ready, confident, and completely yourself.

A note from Jessica

Welcome, beautiful.

Your wedding day is one of the most photographed days of your life — and I want you to look back at every image and feel completely yourself. Not over-done. Not unlike you. Exactly you, on your very best day.

That magic starts long before your Pro Team arrives at your door. The preparation you put into your skin, your hair, and your general wellness in the weeks leading up to your wedding makes a genuine difference to how your makeup sits, how your hair holds, and how radiant you feel when you look in the mirror.

This guide is everything I wish every bride knew before her trial and wedding morning. It covers hair prep by texture, skin prep by concern, timing for lashes, brows, and spray tan, a week-by-week countdown, and a day-of timeline so you can hand this to your partner and say "this is what I need from you."

Read it at your own pace. Screenshot what's useful. Send the bridal party section to your girls. And when you have questions — because you will, and that is completely normal — my team and I are always just an email away.

We cannot wait to be part of your morning.

Jessica Vegas Founder, Jessica Vegas Pro Team

Your timeline

The 12-Week Prep Countdown

Use this as your master checklist. Start early — the more time your skin and hair have to settle into a routine, the better.

12 Weeks Before

Book + begin

  • Confirm your trial date
  • Start your daily SPF habit
  • Begin a consistent cleanse–tone–moisturise routine
  • Pin your hair and makeup inspo

10 Weeks Before

Hair health begins

  • Start weekly deep-conditioning treatments
  • Book a trim if needed (not a new cut)
  • Take a hair supplement if you haven't already

8 Weeks Before

Skin + hair health

  • Address any active skin concerns with a dermal therapist
  • Start weekly deep-conditioning hair treatments
  • Book a trim if needed (not a new cut)

6 Weeks Before

Trial + lock in routine

  • Hair & makeup trial (book 6–8 weeks in advance)
  • Book your spray tan trial for 2 days before this trial appointment
  • Stop trying new skincare products from here — lock in your routine
  • Final colour appointment if you're changing your hair colour

4 Weeks Before

Lock in + hydrate

  • Avoid any harsh facial treatments (peels, needling)
  • Ramp up water intake daily
  • Final colour toner or gloss if needed

3 Weeks Before

Confirm everything

  • Confirm your artist booking and timeline
  • Share the bridal party prep checklist
  • Ramp up water intake daily

2 Weeks Before

Stop all facial treatments

  • Stop ALL facial treatments — exactly 2 weeks before, no exceptions
  • Lash extensions infill (if you have them)
  • Keep your skincare simple and consistent from here

7–10 Days Before

Brows + lashes

  • All facial and brow waxing (allows redness to fully settle)
  • Lash lift — only if you will NOT be wearing false lashes
  • Prioritise sleep and hydration

2–4 Days Before

Nails + wind down

  • Nail appointment (gel or shellac — at least 24 hrs before any spray tan)
  • Avoid salty foods and alcohol (puffy skin on the day)
  • Gentle movement only — protect your nails

2–3 Days Before

Spray tan

  • Spray tan appointment — no deodorant or perfume beforehand
  • No pimple patches if you are getting a spray tan
  • Exfoliate before, wear dark loose clothing after

The Night Before

Hair + steam + pack

  • All garment steaming must be done tonight — steam and fresh hair don't mix
  • Straight or wavy: blow-dry upside down with volumising mousse, sleep in a loose high bun
  • Curly: diffuse or air-dry 100% completely before bed
  • Pack your touch-up kit, lay out your button-down top

Wedding Day

Your time to shine ✨

  • Cleanse, tone, light moisturiser only — no SPF, no primer
  • Contacts in before any makeup application begins
  • Eat breakfast or snacks while having your hair done
  • Shoes on before stepping into your dress
  • Let your Pro Team take it from here

Hair prep — straight & wavy

Straight & Wavy Hair

One of the most common questions we get: "Should I wash my hair the morning of?" The short answer is no — and there's a specific technique that makes a real difference.

Wash your hair the night before. While it's still damp, apply a volumising mousse from root to tip, then blow-dry upside down. This builds texture and root lift that holds far better than freshly washed, flat hair. Freshly washed hair is too slippery and fine to hold pins, curls, or extensions securely.

Once dry, loosely gather your hair into a high bun and sleep on it. This maintains that natural root lift overnight without creating awkward kinks at the nape. In the morning you'll have the perfect base for us to work with.

Pro tip If you use dry shampoo regularly, apply it the night before (not the morning of) so it has time to absorb properly and won't leave a white cast in photos.
  • Wash the evening before — not the morning of
  • Apply volumising mousse while damp, blow-dry upside down
  • Sleep in a loose high bun to maintain root lift
  • No heavy oils or serums overnight
  • Dry shampoo the night before if needed

Hair prep — curly

If Your Hair Is Curly

Curly hair needs moisture, definition, and patience. Here's how to set your natural texture up for a flawless result.

In the weeks before your wedding, double down on deep conditioning masks — at least once a week. Hydrated curls are manageable curls. Avoid protein overload (too many protein treatments can make curls brittle and crunchy) and focus on moisture.

The night before, stick to your curly-approved shampoo and conditioner. Apply your regular leave-in and all styling products while your hair is soaking wet — do not squeeze out excess water first. Then diffuse or air-dry until it is 100% completely dry before going to bed. Do not go to bed with wet or damp curls. Friction from a cotton pillow destroys curl pattern overnight.

Pro tip Tell us if you diffused or air-dried — it changes how we approach the style on the day. Sleep on a satin pillowcase or with a satin cap to protect your curl pattern overnight.
  • Deep condition weekly for 6+ weeks before
  • Wash with your curly-approved shampoo and conditioner
  • Apply leave-in and styling products while soaking wet
  • Diffuse or air-dry — 100% dry before bed, no exceptions
  • Satin pillowcase or cap overnight

Hair prep — waves

If Your Hair Is Wavy

Wavy hair is wonderfully versatile — it can go sleek, tousled, or beautifully romantic depending on how we prep it.

Wavy hair often has a mix of textures, which means it can behave differently from section to section. In the weeks before your wedding, use a smoothing or anti-frizz treatment once a week alongside your deep conditioner. This helps create a more even base for us to work with.

The night before: wash, condition well, and then apply a light mousse or curl cream while damp to enhance your natural wave pattern. Gently scrunch and let air-dry, or diffuse. Don't brush it out before bed — you want to preserve the wave.

Pro tip If you're going for a sleek bridal updo, wash the night before but blow-dry completely smooth. If you're going for romantic loose waves, let your natural texture lead and we'll work with it.
  • Weekly smoothing treatment for 4–6 weeks prior
  • Wash the night before
  • Light product + air-dry or diffuse for textured looks
  • Blow-dry smooth for sleek or updo styles
  • No heavy products — they weigh waves down

Hair prep — sleek

If Your Style Is Sleek

Sleek styles demand smooth, frizz-free hair. Here's how to set yourself up for glass-finish perfection.

In the weeks before your wedding, use a bonding or strengthening treatment (Olaplex, K18, or similar) weekly. Sleek styles put stress on the hair shaft with heat and tension — you want your hair in its strongest possible condition before the day.

The night before: wash with a smoothing or anti-frizz shampoo and conditioner. Blow-dry your hair as smooth as you can with a paddle brush — this is your base layer. Do not sleep on wet or damp hair; the creases will be difficult to work out in the morning. A smooth blow-dry the night before saves us 20 minutes on the day.

Pro tip Avoid silicone-heavy serums the night before — they can prevent heat styling products from bonding properly. A light argan oil or smoothing spray is fine; a heavy silicone serum is not.
  • Weekly bonding treatment for 6+ weeks prior
  • Wash the night before with a smoothing formula
  • Blow-dry smooth — do not go to bed with wet hair
  • No heavy silicone serums overnight
  • Sleep on a satin pillowcase to preserve smoothness

Skin prep

Your Skin in the Weeks Before

Makeup is only as good as what it goes on. The more we can do together to build a healthy skin base, the longer it lasts and the better it photographs.

Start a consistent routine at least 8–12 weeks before your wedding. This does not need to be expensive or complicated: a gentle cleanser, a hydrating toner, and a good moisturiser. Consistency is more powerful than any single hero product.

Lock in your routine at 6 weeks out and stop introducing anything new from that point. New products — even a vitamin C serum, retinol, or acid exfoliant — need time to adjust. Six weeks is your hard stop. Anything you haven't already been using is off the table.

Pro tip On the morning of your wedding: cleanse, tone, and apply a light moisturiser only. No SPF — it can interfere with makeup adhesion and cause flashback in flash photography. No primer either — that's our job.
  • Start your routine 8–12 weeks out and stick to it
  • No new products from 6 weeks out — lock it in
  • Stop all facial treatments exactly 2 weeks before
  • Drink 2+ litres of water daily
  • Morning of: cleanse, tone, light moisturiser only — no SPF, no primer

Brows & lashes

Timing Your Brow & Lash Appointments

Brows frame the face. Lashes open the eye. Both need careful timing so they look their best — not their freshest — on the day.

Brows: All facial and brow waxing should be completed 7–10 days before your wedding. Freshly shaped brows can look slightly red or irritated immediately after — 7–10 days allows any redness to fully settle and the hairs to soften naturally.

Lash lift: Do not get a lash lift if you plan to wear false lashes — they cannot coexist. If you will strictly not be wearing false lashes on the day, book your lash lift 1 week before the wedding. The lift looks most natural after a few days of settling.

Lash tint: Book at least 48 hours before the wedding. Freshly tinted lashes can transfer slightly to the skin above and below the eye, and we don't want that interacting with your makeup.

Pro tip If you're getting lash extensions, infill them 5–7 days before the wedding. New extensions look beautiful but shed a little more in the first few days — you want that shedding to happen before the day, not during it.
  • Brow wax / thread: 7–10 days before
  • Lash lift: 1 week before — only if NOT wearing false lashes
  • Lash lift + false lashes: cannot coexist — choose one
  • Lash tint: at least 48 hours before
  • Lash extension infill: 5–7 days before

Spray tan

Getting Your Tan Timing Right

A spray tan can look stunning in photos — but only when it's had time to develop and settle. Timing is everything.

The golden window is 2–3 days before your wedding. This gives the tan time to fully develop, any surface bronzer to be rinsed away, and the colour to oxidise to its most natural finish. A tan done the morning before or the day itself will look too dark, too orange, or transfer onto your gown.

Exfoliate all over 24 hours before your tan appointment — especially elbows, knees, ankles, and wrists where tan tends to build up and look patchy. Shave or wax at least 24 hours before the tan too, not after. Arrive with no deodorant or perfume on — both interfere with even application.

If you use pimple patches, do not wear them in the lead-up to your spray tan appointment. They leave circular marks that prevent an even, flawless application. Remove them well before attending.

Pro tip Book your spray tan trial exactly 2 days before your hair and makeup trial. This way you can see how the tan looks with your trial makeup on the same day, and adjust the shade for the wedding if needed.
  • Tan trial: 2 days before your H&M trial appointment
  • Exfoliate 24 hours before your tan appointment
  • Shave or wax before the tan, not after
  • No deodorant or perfume to your appointment
  • No pimple patches — remove well before attending
  • Tan appointment: 2–3 days before the wedding
  • Wear dark, loose clothing after

Lashes & nails

The Final Finishing Details

Strip lashes and a set of nails can elevate a whole look — and both are worth planning carefully so they're perfect on the day.

Strip lashes (if worn): We apply these as part of your makeup service — no prep needed from you. Just let us know at your trial if you'd like to try them, and we'll find a style that suits your eye shape and look.

Nails: Gel or shellac lasts the longest and photographs best. Book your nail appointment 2–4 days before the wedding — and if you're also getting a spray tan, your nails must be done at least 24 hours before that appointment.

Keep nails at a length you're comfortable with — this is a long day of putting in pins, opening champagne, and hugging people. Extremely long nails can be impractical. A classic French or a sheer nude are perennially beautiful and timelessly photogenic choices.

Pro tip Bring a nail file in your touch-up kit. A single snapped nail mid-reception can be fixed in 30 seconds if you're prepared.
  • Gel or shellac nails: 2–4 days before the wedding
  • At least 24 hours before any spray tan appointment
  • Classic French or sheer nude photograph best
  • Practical length — it's a long day
  • Strip lashes applied by us — let us know at trial

The night before

Your Evening Checklist

The night before your wedding sets the tone for everything that follows. Use this checklist to end the evening feeling calm, prepared, and genuinely excited.

All garment steaming must be completed tonight — steam and freshly styled hair are a terrible combination. Do not leave steaming for the morning. Lay out your button-down or zip-up top ready to put on.

Wash your hair and prep it for tomorrow: straight or wavy — blow-dry upside down with volumising mousse, then sleep in a loose high bun. Curly — apply products while soaking wet and diffuse or air-dry until 100% dry before bed. Do your skincare routine (your usual, nothing new) and pack your touch-up kit.

Pro tip Go to bed at a reasonable hour. Puffy, tired eyes affect how makeup sits and how you feel in those first-look photographs. Have a real dinner, limit salt and alcohol, and let tomorrow take care of itself.
  • All garment steaming — done tonight, not in the morning
  • Straight/wavy: blow-dry upside down with mousse, sleep in loose high bun
  • Curly: products on soaking wet hair, 100% dry before bed
  • Skincare routine — your usual, nothing new
  • Pack touch-up kit, lay out button-down top, charge your phone

Morning of

The Wedding Morning Order

Your runsheet will include exact start times for every member of your bridal party. Here's the general flow we work to and what we'll need from you as the bride.

We'll arrive at the agreed call time and set up while everyone gets started with breakfast and getting themselves ready. The bride is almost always last in the chair — this keeps your look fresh for the ceremony and allows us to manage the timeline without rushing you.

Before anyone sits in the chair: put your contact lenses in. Eyes water when you first put lenses in, and watering eyes will ruin a freshly applied makeup base. Contacts go in before a single brush touches your face.

What to wear: a button-down shirt, zip-up hoodie, or anything you can step out of without pulling over your head. When it comes time to dress, put your shoes on before you step into your gown — it's much easier and protects the hem. Share both rules with your bridesmaids.

Pro tip Eat your breakfast or snacks while you're having your hair done — not after makeup is finished. Once makeup is on, eating becomes a careful operation. Use the hair chair time to fuel up properly.
  • Cleanse, tone, light moisturiser only — no SPF, no primer
  • Contacts in before any makeup application begins
  • Eat breakfast or snacks during the hair chair — not after
  • Wear a button-down top (not a pullover)
  • Shoes on before stepping into your dress
  • Bridesmaids in chair first, bride last
  • Natural light preferred — face it, don't sit with back to it

Your trial

Making the Most of Your Trial

Your trial is your creative rehearsal — a chance to experiment, refine, and fall in love with your look before the wedding day.

Come with clean hair (washed the night before, not the morning of) and a freshly moisturised face — just as you would on the day. Bring any accessories you're wearing in your hair (tiara, vine, clip) as these affect how we dress the style.

Bring your inspo images — as many as you like. Don't edit yourself here. Show us what you love even if you think it's too much, too simple, or not quite you — that conversation is exactly how we find the perfect balance.

The trial is a two-way conversation. If something doesn't feel right — the liner feels too heavy, the volume is not quite enough — say so. We would far rather adjust at the trial than hear it on the morning.

Pro tip Photograph your trial look in natural light — outside or near a window — and in the evening with artificial light. Wedding receptions use both, and knowing how your makeup photographs in each setting is genuinely useful information.
  • Hair washed the night before the trial
  • Freshly moisturised, bare face
  • Bring all hair accessories you'll wear on the day
  • Bring inspo images — don't self-edit
  • Speak up if anything doesn't feel right
  • Photograph in natural and artificial light after

Bridal party

Prepping Your People

Your bridal party are your morning crew, and a little prep goes a long way to keeping everything running smoothly.

Share this guide with your bridesmaids — especially the hair wash timing and the "button-down top" rule. The most common cause of delays on a wedding morning is a bridesmaid arriving with wet hair or getting changed and pulling mascara all over her face.

Ask your bridesmaids to arrive with clean, dry hair and a bare, moisturised face. No foundation, no mascara — it all has to come off anyway, and starting fresh is always faster. They should wear a button-down or zip-up from the start.

Let them know what to expect in terms of the order. Their session will typically run 45–60 minutes each (hair and makeup together). Sitting still and being patient is their one job — wine helps.

Pro tip Appoint one person in your party as the "time-keeper" — someone whose role is to keep everyone on track without it being you. You should not be worrying about the timeline on your morning. That's our job and theirs — not yours.
  • Share this guide with your bridal party
  • Bridesmaids: dry hair, bare moisturised face
  • Everyone in button-down or zip-up from the start
  • Nominate a time-keeper — not the bride
  • 45–60 minutes each for hair and makeup combined

Touch-up kit

What to Pack for the Day

Your makeup is designed to last — but a small touch-up kit gives you confidence and independence from the ceremony through to the last dance.

We'll set the look to be as long-lasting as possible, but twelve hours of celebrating, happy tears, and hot lights will always take a toll. A small clutch kit with a few key products means you can refresh confidently without undoing the whole look.

The bride receives a full-size lipstick from us. Bridesmaids, mums, and guests will need to bring their own lip products for touch-ups throughout the day — the team has limited sample sizes and these are for the bride's use.

Keep your kit small — this goes in a clutch, not a makeup bag. If you're unsure which products we used, ask on the morning and we'll note them for you.

Pro tip Pack straws — an absolute lifesaver for staying hydrated or drinking champagne without smudging carefully applied lip colour. Also blot before you powder: a blotting paper followed by a light veil of translucent powder is far more flattering than powder over dewy skin.
  • Your exact lip colour (note it on the morning)
  • Straws — essential for drinking without ruining lip colour
  • Blotting papers
  • Translucent loose powder + puff or brush
  • Travel-size hairspray
  • Bobby pins in your hair colour
  • Wide-tooth comb
  • Eye drops (Systane Ultra recommended)
  • Breath mints — not gum (it pulls at lips during photos)

Common questions

Frequently Asked

When should I wash my hair before the wedding?
The night before, not the morning of. For straight or wavy hair: wash, apply a volumising mousse, blow-dry upside down for root lift, then sleep in a loose high bun. For curly hair: wash with your curly-approved products, apply styling products while soaking wet, and diffuse or air-dry until 100% dry before bed. Day-old hair holds pins, style, and product far better than freshly washed hair.
Should I arrive to my trial wearing makeup?
No — please arrive with a bare, freshly moisturised face. Any existing makeup has to come off before we can start, and this adds time to your session. If you're coming straight from work or an event, bring makeup remover wipes and clean up in the car before you come in. A bare face means we have the full time for your actual trial look.
I have sensitive skin or known allergies. What should I tell you?
Please disclose any known allergies, sensitivities, skin conditions, or recent cosmetic treatments at the time of booking and at least 14 days before your service date — not just at the trial. We use professional-grade products and can work around most sensitivities, but we need time to check our kit and source alternatives if needed. If you have a known allergy to a specific ingredient (latex, fragrance, specific preservatives), email us as soon as possible. Under our Terms, we are not liable for adverse reactions where relevant conditions were not disclosed in advance — so the earlier we know, the better prepared we can be.
How long will my makeup last through the day and evening?
Our bridal looks are built for maximum staying power — we use primer, multiple setting layers, and longevity techniques as standard. Most brides find very little intervention is needed throughout the day, and a light blot through the reception is usually all that's needed. That said, wear time is affected by factors outside our control once services are complete — including heat, humidity, perspiration, tears, skin oils, and physical contact — so we cannot guarantee a specific number of hours. We design every look to go the distance. Lip colour typically needs the most attention, especially after eating and drinking — that's what your touch-up kit is for.
Can I change my mind about my look on the wedding morning?
Minor adjustments on the morning — a slightly different lip shade, a few more curls, a softer eye — are part of what the morning is for, and absolutely fine. Major changes are different. Switching from an updo to full loose hair, or a completely different makeup direction, affects the entire timeline — and if the agreed finish time is exceeded as a result, overtime charges apply ($15 per 15-minute block, per artist). Major changes on the day may also simply not be achievable within the scheduled time. If you're having second thoughts after your trial, please contact us before the wedding day. The earlier we know, the more we can plan around it — same-day major changes can mean something has to give on the timeline.
What happens if we're running late on the morning?
We build buffer time into every runsheet so small delays don't cascade. That said, significant delays do have real consequences. If things run more than 20–30 minutes behind, bridesmaids' looks may need to be simplified to protect the schedule. If we run past the agreed finish time due to circumstances outside our control — late arrivals, unprepared hair or skin, or bridal party delays — overtime charges apply ($15 per 15-minute block, per artist). The bride's time in the chair is always prioritised, but we cannot guarantee the full scope of all services if the morning runs substantially behind through no fault of ours. We are not responsible for a simplified or reduced outcome caused by late arrivals or unpreparedness. Communicate early — the more notice we have, the more options we have to manage it.
Do I need to tip my makeup artist?
No tips, please — truly! The best way to show your appreciation is a 5-star Google review or a shout-out on your socials. For a small business like ours, that means everything. It helps other brides find us and lets our team know their work is loved. If you want to do something kind, that is the thing.
Should I wear SPF on the morning of my wedding?
No — skip SPF on the morning of your wedding. SPF can interfere with makeup adhesion and cause flashback in flash photography, appearing as a white cast in images. Simply cleanse, tone, and apply a light moisturiser only. No SPF, no primer — we take it from there.
What if I cry during the ceremony?
We make this easy for you. Every bridal look we create uses waterproof mascara and waterproof liner as standard — you can cry freely without worrying about smudging. If your mascara or eyeliner does migrate, a quick gentle blot with a cotton tip below the lash line is all you need. Your concealer can refresh any redness around the eyes before photographs. This is a moment worth feeling fully — we have you covered.

You've got this

We'll be there for every moment of your morning.

You are in the very best of hands. Your Pro Team have prepared for this — and now, so have you. Head back to your BridalHub for your runsheet, timeline, and everything else leading up to the day.

Back to your BridalHub