Queenstown wedding hair from Auckland, Christchurch or overseas: how to book it

Updated November 2026. Service prices are from our live price list and are confirmed at your consultation.

Most couples who marry in Queenstown don't live here. The venue's booked from Auckland, the dress fitting's in Christchurch, and half the guests are flying in from Australia. Hair is easy to sort from a distance once you get the order right.

This guide is about the logistics. For trial prep, wind and what to bring, read our wedding hair Queenstown guide.

When should I book wedding hair if I live out of town?

Straight after the venue. Summer dates fill six months out, and a lot of our wedding enquiries come from people who've never been up our stairs. Email or call with your date, where the ceremony is and how many people need hair done. We'll come back with availability and a quote.

The salon is open Monday to Friday and closed on weekends and public holidays. If your wedding falls on a weekend, raise it in your first message so we can talk through your date before you commit to anything else.

What to send us before you arrive

Photos save time on both sides. Before your trial, send:

• Your hair as it is now, front and back, taken in daylight.
• The dress, especially the neckline and back.
• Your veil, comb or hair pieces, and where you think they'll sit.
• A few looks you like, and any you definitely don't.
• Your colour history, and whether you wear extensions and what type.

Bring the veil and hair pieces in your carry-on, not your checked bag. You'll want them at the trial and you won't want them crushed.

The morning: our salon or your venue

Wedding hair is done in our salon upstairs at Level 1, 22 The Mall, in the middle of town. If you're staying in central Queenstown, coming to us is usually the simplest morning. Parking in town is metered and limited, so a short walk or a lift beats hunting for a park with a dress bag.

Venues spread right around the Wakatipu. If you're getting ready out of town, travel to your venue is available. Tell us the address and timings when you enquire and it goes into your quote, so you see the full cost before you book.

Flights, weather and buffer days

Queenstown Airport has direct flights from Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington, plus flights from Australia. Weather can delay arrivals, more so in winter. Land at least a day or two before your trial, and treat the wedding-week trial as a fixed appointment you fly in for, not something you squeeze in off the plane.

Trial on a planning trip or in the days before: compared

Both work. They suit different couples, so here they are side by side with the rest of the menu you'll be booking from.

Prices are from our live price list and confirmed in your quote. Travel to your venue and extension placement are quoted for your day.

Which to choose

If you can get down once before the wedding: book the trial on that trip. You fly home with photos and time to change your mind.

If you're only here for the week: book the trial two or three weekdays out, send photos first, and talk it through on the phone so the appointment is a check rather than a first attempt.

If you need colour: have it done one to two weeks before the day, at home with your own colourist if that's where you'll be, and send us a photo of the result. Don't change colour in wedding week.

If you wear or want extensions: tell us the type if they're fitted at home, because placing and curling them is extra. If you'd like them fitted here, start with a free consultation on an earlier trip. Prices are on our hair extensions page.

For your carry-on: travel sizes keep your hair on track away from your own bathroom. Two ways, choose by budget: the Kérastase Nutritive Travel Duo ($29.95) covers shampoo and heat protection, or the Gloss Absolu Travel Trio ($42.95) if shine is the priority.

What it costs, how long it takes and how to book

Bride $165 (1 hr 30), trial $140 (1 hr 15), bridesmaids and guests $125 (1 hr). See the wedding hair page, the bridal packages and wedding hair in Queenstown for what's included.

Call 03 441 8555 to check your date, or book a trial online once your travel is sorted.

Aftercare: what we'd send you home with

Travel sizes for your carry-on, plus two full sizes we use on wedding mornings.

• Kérastase Nutritive Travel Duo (Bain Satin Riche 30ml + Nectar Thermique 30ml), $29.95
• Kérastase Gloss Absolu Travel Trio, $42.95
• Kérastase Première Travel Duo 80ml + 30ml, $31.95
• Kérastase Blond Absolu Cicaflash 30ml Travel Size, $12.95
• Kérastase Genesis Defense Thermique 150ml, $70.56
• Kérastase Fresh Affair Dry Shampoo 150g, $58.80

Why book and buy with Crew

We're Queenstown stylists, upstairs at Level 1, 22 The Mall, and the haircare we sell is genuine salon stock bought direct from the brands' New Zealand distributors. Free NZ shipping on orders over $75. Book online any time, or call 03 441 8555.

Frequently asked questions

Can I do a wedding hair trial over video?

A trial needs to happen in the chair, because the point is to see how your hair holds and how long it takes. What you can do from home is send photos of your hair, dress and veil, and talk the look through with us on the phone. Then book the 1 hr 15 trial for a planning trip or the days before.

Do you travel to wedding venues around Queenstown?

Yes, travel to your venue is available. Wedding hair is usually done in our salon at Level 1, 22 The Mall, and travel is added to your personalised quote once we know the venue, the timings and how many people need hair done. You'll see the full cost before you book.

Are you open on Saturdays for weddings?

The salon's regular hours are Monday to Wednesday 9am to 5pm, Thursday 9am to 8pm and Friday 9am to 5pm, closed on weekends and public holidays. If your wedding is on a weekend, talk to us about your date when you first enquire and we'll tell you honestly what we can do.

Can the groom get a haircut in Queenstown before the wedding?

Yes. Book a men's cut refresh ($77, 45 minutes) in our Barber-zone. Ideally it's a week before the wedding so it settles, but if he's flying in, a few days out still works. A men's blow-dry and styling on the morning is $50. Weekday times are the easiest to get.

What happens if my flight's delayed and I miss my trial?

Call us on 03 441 8555 as soon as you know. We'll look for the next weekday time before the wedding. It's the main reason we suggest landing a day or two before your trial, especially in winter, when Queenstown weather can hold up arrivals.

How many people can you do on the wedding morning?

It depends on your timings rather than a set number. The bride takes about an hour and a half and each bridesmaid, mum or guest about an hour, so we work back from when you need to leave. Send us the full list when you enquire and we'll tell you what fits.

Should I get my colour done at home or in Queenstown?

Wherever you can book it one to two weeks before the wedding. If you're still at home then, your own colourist is the right person. Send us a photo of the result so we plan the styling around it. If you arrive early, a toner with us (from $50) freshens the tone before the trial.

Keep reading

• Wedding hair Queenstown: trials, timing and prices for 2026/27
• Hair extensions Queenstown: cost, methods and what to expect
• Winter Hair Care in Central Otago
• Weddings