Though I was married in the aughts, I have a few vivid memories of my wedding weekend. In particular, I remember being in a salon in Philadelphia with my mom, my bridesmaids, my future mother-in-law, and my partner’s sister, grandmother and cousins. We had joined together early in the day for mimosas and bagels, and the salon owner’s poodle-breed patiently begged my husband’s grandmother for a dollop of cream cheese. It was a time of joy and connection – just us girls, celebrating for a few hours in comfy clothes before the big show.
Wedding beauty is clearly an important part of any celebration. Everyone wants to look and feel their best, and those pictures will likely hang in houses or linger in photo albums for generations to come. But wedding beauty is also an opportunity to bring out the beauty within. It’s not just a little makeup or hairspray, it is an opportunity to celebrate the beauty of your love and the joining of your families and people.
Several salon professionals provided advice for brides-to-be. First, prospective clients should plan ahead, especially if you’re trying to accommodate a large group – six months is a good guideline. You’ll want to do a count of how many people in your wedding party and family will be wanting work done on your wedding day. You also want to leave yourself enough time to plan for your look and have a trial run close to the event.
And think about what services your salon offers – BJ Grand Salon & Spa, which has Springfield locations at 3300 Robbins Road and 3055 Professional Drive, offers everything in-house, including massage, skin care, nail care, hair care, spray tans and makeup. Getting a list of what services everyone is interested in allows your salon pros to ensure they have all the staffing you require.
Lastly, decide where you’ll be working on the day of the wedding. Both BJ Grand Salon and Willow & Birch Salon, 521 E. Washington offer in-salon or on-site wedding prep, meaning they can come to you at your hotel, home or venue, and it is important to iron out those details early.
As far as choosing your look, Willow & Birch owner Jessica Kocurek said that clients should make beauty selections based on their own personalities, not necessarily what is currently popular. Timeless looks last a lifetime, she noted, and some people regret being on-trend. She recommends that you aim for “looking like you, just a little bit more put together.”
Shareen Crawford, owner of BJ Grand Salon & Spa, and Annie Conrad, salon manager at BJ Grand South, agree that 2026’s bride is seeking a polished glam. This includes soft, romantic styles for hair and a focus on pre-wedding skin care so that skin looks its best on the big day. Many brides are building in facials, peels and nails leading up to the wedding and that care and pre-planning allows them to have a more natural makeup look on the day itself.
Kocurek of Willow and Birch added that minimalist and effortless looks are trending right now. She is noticing lots of finished styles, such as French twists, paired with fresher faces. Rather than layered makeup looks, many brides want their wedding day skin to be their best skin ever, and are interested in skin care packages to ensure they are putting their best face forward.
No matter what look you ultimately land on, the salon professionals recommend that you focus on the experience as a whole – there is a lot to love. Conrad of BJ Grand said she enjoys the initial intake process, including asking the bride questions about her vision for the day and then bringing that vision to life. Crawford said she loves the day itself, seeing the bride with her mother, or mother of the groom, and other relatives.
Kocurek said her favorite part of wedding beauty is the people who are just excited to be in love and get married. “It’s not the hair, it’s not the flowers, it’s not the dress,” she said. “It’s about the life you are starting with someone else, so select the people that will make that process stress-free and will support you in your joy.”
Pamela Savage is a freelance writer in Springfield.
This article appears in February 12-18, 2026.
