Photo by Andrea Camarena; Hair and Makeup by Caroline Blanchard

As the mother of the bride or groom, your role in your child's wedding is heavily dictated by their personal needs. Some couples may want their moms to help organize their ceremony and reception, while others may only desire emotional support throughout the wedding-planning process. However, there is one task all matriarchs are expected to do on the big day—that being, pose for photos. This should come as no surprise, of course, as you've likely already started shopping (or bought!) your mother-of-the-bride or -groom dress for these all-important pictures. But have you thought about your makeup look? Do you know how you'd like to style your hair for the big day? Depending on your answers, you may be inclined to ask, "Should mothers of the bride and groom book a hair and makeup trial?"

The short answer: It depends. Though pre-wedding trials are helpful, shares Amy Conway, a Bobbi Brown global pro artist, there isn't a hard-and-fast rule that dictates whether or not a mom should book one. "Although having a trial is helpful, it is still such a luxury, so if it's budget dependent, it's okay," she explains. Ultimately, the decision lies in your hands, but we did ask Conway and several other experts to explain the circumstances in which a hair and makeup trial would be appropriate.

Meet the Expert

• Amy Conway is a Bobbi Brown global pro artist and a bridal beauty expert based in the UK.

• Trista Evans is a professional makeup artist based in ​​Whatcom County, Washington.

• Lishma Patel is a celebrity and bridal makeup artist who works with brides worldwide.

Should Mothers of the Bride and Groom Book Their Own Hair and Makeup Team?

Should Mothers of the Bride and Groom Schedule a Hair and Makeup Trial?

Booking a hair and makeup trial as the mother of the bride or groom strictly depends on an individual's wants and needs. As such, Conway shares that moms should consider several factors when trying to decide if this pre-wedding service is right for them.

"I think it's important to think about how you would like to look on the day. Is it very close to your everyday? Or are you looking to try something a little different?" she asks. "If the look is something new, like maybe a smokey eye, when all you are used to wearing is mascara day to day, then it's important to trial the look first before you decide to try it for the first time on the day."

Continue by asking yourself these two questions: "Do I have a concrete idea of the glam I want for the big day?" "Am I able to communicate my preferences to the artist the morning of the wedding?" If you answered "no" to one or both of the above queries, you should consider scheduling a trial. “If the mothers are undecided as to how they would like their hair and makeup done, they would probably benefit from the artist's expertise provided during a trial,” shares professional makeup artist Trista Evans.

Photo by Collins Nai

The Pros of Having a Mother-of-the-Bride or -Groom Beauty Trial

"A huge pro of having a trial is so [moms] can really see how their makeup will look against the outfit, and to even help choose a lipstick shade against the dress color," explains Conway. "I have many people bring a swatch of the material that is in their outfit, which is a great way to see how it looks." Plus, given that these pre-wedding services are typically 60 to 90 minutes long, hair and makeup trials give you the freedom to experiment and even learn from your artist; compared to the 30 to 45 minutes you have on the actual wedding day. “On the day of the wedding, the artist is on a very tight timeline and will not have time to change your look,” adds Evans. “The bride is the artist’s main focus.”

Another reason to consider testing out your glam? During a trial, you may find out that you need to book another artist, saving you a lot of stress on the big day. "You may also learn that the artist is not a good fit for you,” says Evans. “If this is the case, you may decide to seek out a different artist for yourself.” Conway adds, "I love the peace of mind it can give once you have had a trial—I find the mothers can sit back and relax and know they are going to absolutely love the finished look."

The Cons of Having a Mother-of-the-Bride or -Groom Beauty Trial

If you’re trying to save money, a beauty trial is an added expense to your budget, which is a major con for many individuals. Additionally, a trial will be another task you'll need to add to your already busy pre-wedding checklist. So if you know what you want, or you have a very simple beauty look in mind, you can probably skip it (just be sure to show up on the wedding day with photos of what you like and/or want—preferably from the artist’s own portfolio).

What to Know When Booking a Mother-of-the-Bride or -Groom Hair and Makeup Trial

Have you decided to move forward with a hair and makeup trial? Here are the top tips to know before making your appointment.

Confirm who's responsible for paying.

"If the mother of the bride or groom opts for a hair and makeup trial, it is right that she covers the cost, as she is the one requesting the trial," advises celebrity makeup artist Lishma Patel. However, if your child has requested that you have a trial, they should be expected to pay for the fees (unless you choose to cover this expense, of course).

Find a reputable professional.

Always evaluate the experience of the beauty artist you're booking, and assess if they’ve worked on women with your particular facial features, skin tone, and hair type. “Go to the artist’s website and social media to view pictures of their work,” says Evans. “Characteristics to compare are age, skin and hair color, length and texture of hair, and face structure.” If an artist has a ton of examples of women who look like you, a trial may not be needed as you can expect similar results to what you see.

Schedule your appointment three months before the wedding.

Evans recommends scheduling an appointment three months or less in advance. This is due to the fact that you'll want your natural hair and skin to be exactly how it will look on the day of the wedding. Also, “schedule your trial in the morning so you can see how long it lasts, and on a day you have an occasion to wear your look,” she advises. 

Research beauty inspiration before your appointment.

"Mothers should conduct thorough research and seek inspiration online," advises Patel, who further adds that moms should "consider their individual hair characteristics—such as color, thickness, length, and texture—when evaluating hairstyle options," she notes. "A hairstyle inspiration pictured on thick, curly hair may not translate the same way on fine, straight hair."

"Similarly, when exploring makeup looks, it is important to account for skin type, color, texture, and unique features," Patel continues. "Since makeup can appear differently on various skin tones, it is advisable to select images that closely match your skin type to better gauge how the makeup will look on you."

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