Journal · Bridal
Hair extensions for your wedding: when to start and what to choose
· 4 min read
A wedding is the one appointment with a fixed date. How to plan extensions backwards from it.
In this article
Instead of booking when you're ready, you work backwards from the day, leaving room for every step to happen once and for nothing to be rushed.
Charlotte Lily has spent more than a decade in beauty, bridal and fashion, and the advice here comes from that: think of extensions as part of the whole look, planned with everything else, not added at the end.
Start earlier than you think
Fitted extensions take several steps, each with its own wait:
- A consultation, where we match your shade and agree a method.
- Ordering your hair, in your shade and length.
- Your fitting, once the hair arrives.
- Time to live with them, so they feel like your own hair by the day.
- A trial, with your wedding hair styled in.
Leave room for all five, and then some. Book your consultation well ahead of the date. We'll work out the timing with you from there, around your trial and your other appointments.
Clip-ins for the day, or a fitted method for the season
There are two ways to approach it, and they suit different brides.
Clip-ins, for the day itself
If you want extra length or volume for the wedding and not much after, a clip-in set or a wrap ponytail is often the simplest answer. They go in on the morning, come out at night, and need no salon visits.
Clip-ins work best when they're placed by whoever is styling your hair on the day, so they're set where the style needs them. Bring them to your trial.
A fitted method, for the months around it
If there are engagement photos, a hens' weekend and a honeymoon as well as the wedding, a fitted method means you have the length for all of it without thinking about it each morning.
- Keratin bonds move freely and can be worn up, which suits brides planning an updo.
- Tape-ins sit flat and suit finer hair, and are best for styles worn down or half up.
- Wefts give the most volume for thicker hair.
We've compared them in more detail in which method suits you. Your consultation settles which is right for your hair and your style.
Time the fitting around the day
Fit extensions too close to the wedding and they'll still feel new. Fit them too far ahead and tape-ins or wefts may need a move-up just before the day. Tape-ins and wefts are moved up every six to eight weeks, and keratin bonds last three to four months, so we time the fitting so they're at their best on the day and not mid-cycle.
If you have extensions already, tell us your date. We'll plan your move-ups so one falls in the right window.
The trial
Wear your extensions to your hair trial. Your stylist needs to see how much hair they're working with, where the attachments sit, and how the lengths behave in the style you've chosen. A style designed without the extensions in can look quite different with them.
Bring photos of the dress neckline and any veil or accessories, as they all change where the hair sits.
The bridal party
If bridesmaids or family would like extensions for the day, clip-ins are usually the practical choice, matched to each person's shade. Talk to us early if you'd like several people seen, so we can find consultation times that work.
On the day and after
- On the morning, come with hair washed and fully dried the day before, unless your stylist asks otherwise.
- Pack a soft brush, and brush from the ends up between photos.
- After the wedding, take your style down gently, section by section, removing pins before brushing.
- On the honeymoon, braid your hair before swimming and rinse with fresh water afterwards. Our aftercare guide covers salt water, chlorine and heat.
Begin with a consultation
The earlier you come in, the more choice you have. Book a consultation in our New Farm salon online, or call 0431 258 149 to talk through your date.