A preview, which some stylists call a trial, is an unhurried hour where we build your wedding hair before the wedding. We try the look, change what needs changing, photograph it from every angle, and write down exactly how it was done. On the wedding morning I am recreating something we already perfected, not inventing it under a clock.
Previews are optional and most of my brides choose one. On their own they are $295. Bundled with your wedding day they are $649 for both, which saves a little money and, more importantly, removes every unknown from the morning. The pricing guide has the full price list.
What happens at a preview
We talk first
Your inspiration photos, your dress, your veil or florals, how you usually wear your hair, and what you want to feel like in the photos. Ten minutes of this saves an hour of guessing.
I build the style
A full set, the same way I would on the wedding day. If we are deciding between two looks, I can usually show you the second as a variation of the first rather than starting over.
We adjust
Looser here, more height there, the part moved, a face framing piece pinned back. This is the whole point of the preview. Say what you are thinking, even if it feels picky.
We photograph and take notes
Front, sides, back, and with the veil in. I write down the products, the pin placement, and the timing so the wedding morning is a repeat, not a rebuild.
When to schedule it
Destination brides: the day before the wedding, once you have arrived in Sedona and settled in. Your hair is in its real state, the weather is the real weather, and the look is fresh in both our minds for the morning. This is how most of my previews happen.
Brides with a longer lead time: six to twelve weeks before the wedding is ideal. Close enough that your hair length and color are what they will be on the day, far enough that we can add extensions or change a plan if we need to.
If a preview is not practical: we plan together from photos and a call. I have styled plenty of brides without a preview and it works. The preview simply makes the morning calmer.
Where it happens
Previews are on location, like everything I do. For destination brides that means your hotel, resort, or vacation rental in Sedona. All I need is a chair, a mirror if there is one, good light, and an outlet. If you are getting married at a resort like L’Auberge or Enchantment, a preview in your room the day before is also a quiet hour to yourself in the middle of a busy week.
How to prepare
Clean, completely dry hair
Washed the night before or the morning of, with no leave in product, and fully dry. Exactly how I will ask for it on the wedding day, so the preview is a true test.
Bring your veil and accessories
The veil, comb, pins, flowers, or anything else you plan to wear. Placing a veil changes the style, and practicing it means it comes out cleanly for the reception.
Bring your extensions, or ask about them
If you wear extensions, bring them. If you have fine hair or want Hollywood waves and do not have extensions, tell me ahead of time so we can talk through options. The extensions guide explains when they help and how to bring your own.
Wear a top near your neckline
A white or light top with a similar neckline to your dress makes the photos useful. Bring a photo of the dress too. The back of the dress often decides the back of the hair.
After the preview
Keep the style in for the rest of the day. Go outside into real Sedona air. Have dinner. Sleep on it if the wedding is not tomorrow. Notice what you touch, what loosens, and what you stopped thinking about. That is the information we use to finalize the plan, and it is why I like a spring preview to end with a walk outdoors. This guide explains what the wind and the dry air will do to each style.
Send me any notes the next day. Small changes are easy. Big changes are easy too, that is what the preview is for.
Common questions about previews
How long does a preview take?
About an hour, sometimes a little more if we are comparing two looks. It is unhurried on purpose.
Can my mom or maid of honor come?
Yes. One or two people whose opinion you trust is helpful. A crowd is not. Bring the person who will tell you the truth.
Can I book a preview before I book the wedding?
Yes. A preview on its own is $295. If you book the wedding afterward, we can talk about applying the package rate.
Do bridesmaids get a preview?
Usually not, and they do not need one. On the wedding morning I style each attendant from a photo or two and a short chat, and the schedule is built with that in mind.
Tell me your date, where you are staying, and the look you have in mind. I respond within 48 hours with a time for your preview.