CREW · JOURNAL

Wedding hair Queenstown: trials, timing and prices for 2026/27

Wedding hair Queenstown prices at Crew: bride $165, trial $140, bridesmaids $125. When to book, trial prep, wind, extensions and colour timing.

7 June 2026

Short answer: Booking wedding hair Queenstown-side? At Crew Stylists the bride is $165 (about 1 hr 30), a bridal trial is $140 (1 hr 15) and bridesmaids, mums and guests are $125. Summer dates fill six months out, so lock in the day first, then book the trial four to eight weeks before. Veil and fascinator placement is included. More on our wedding hair page.

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

Hair is often one of the last things booked, after the venue, the photographer and the dress. Hair is the last thing done on the day, but it's one of the first things worth booking, because summer dates go early.

Here's how we plan a Queenstown wedding morning, what each part costs on our current price list, and what to bring to your trial.

Should I book a wedding hair trial?

We'd say yes. The trial is where we test the look on your own hair with your veil, clips or flowers in, see how it holds and time it properly. Aim for four to eight weeks before the wedding. That leaves room to change direction if the first version isn't quite you, and to fit colour or a trim around it.

Trial day prep

Wash your hair the night before, not that morning. Second-day hair holds pins better.
Bring the veil, fascinator or hair pieces if you have them. A photo of the dress neckline helps too.
Wear a button-up top, so you can change without pulling anything over the finished style.
Bring a few pictures you like, and a couple you don't. You don't need a fixed look. We'll work from your hair, the dress and how long your day runs.

Take photos before you leave, and keep it in for the rest of the day if you can. How it looks at 9pm tells you more than the mirror at the salon does.

How far ahead should I book wedding hair in Queenstown?

Summer dates fill six months out. If you're getting married between spring and autumn, get in touch as soon as you have a date and a rough head count. We'll come back with availability and a quote, then you book the trial.

Check one thing early. The salon is open Monday to Friday and closed on weekends and public holidays. If your wedding is on a weekend, talk to us about your date before you plan the rest of the morning around it.

Planning the wedding morning

The bride's hair takes about an hour and a half, and each bridesmaid or mum about an hour. With a party of four that's a full morning, so we write a running sheet working back from when you need to leave. Brides often go last so their hair is freshest for photos.

Wedding hair is done in our downtown salon on Level 1, 22 The Mall. Travel to your venue is available. Ask when you enquire and it goes into your quote.

The small things we fuss over: anchor pins set where the veil sits, a soft hold spray instead of a stiff one, and placement that lasts through speeches and a lot of hugging. You'll leave with a few spare pins to hand to a bridesmaid. If the bridal party wants nails done as well, our guide to BIAB, gel polish and manicures in Queenstown explains which to book and when.

Wind, weather and outdoor photos

Queenstown weather turns quickly, and lakeside or mountain photos catch the wind. Tell us at the trial where the ceremony is and how long you'll be outside, and we'll build in more grip where the wind tends to pull. Half-up styles and low buns cope better than loose waves on a gusty day. If you love loose waves, we'll set them firmer and agree a backup.

Extensions and colour before the day

Extensions are great for fuller updos and long curls. If you already wear them, tell us at the trial so we practise with them in. Placing and curling them is charged as an extra. If you don't have them yet, book a free consultation well before the trial so they're colour-matched and settled by then. Prices are on our hair extensions page.

Book colour one to two weeks before the day, so the tone settles and there's room to adjust. Don't try a brand-new colour in wedding week. A toner at that appointment adds shine for photos, and a trim four to six weeks out tidies the ends without looking freshly cut.

How much is wedding hair in Queenstown?

Here's our live wedding menu side by side. These are starting prices, confirmed when we quote your day.

Service	Who it's for	Time	Price
Wedding hair	The bride, on the morning	1 hr 30 min	$165
Wedding hair trial	The bride, four to eight weeks out	1 hr 15 min	$140
Special occasion hair	Bridesmaids, mums and guests	1 hr	$125
Wash & blow-dry with extensions	Anyone wearing extensions	1 hr 15 min	$112
Toner, short to long	Colour refresh one to two weeks out	15 to 30 min	$50 to $75
Men's blow-dry & styling	Groom and groomsmen	30 min	$50
Men's cut refresh	Groom, about a week before	45 min	$77

Placing your veil or fascinator is included in the bridal price. Our bridal packages include the trial, and anything extra is written into your personalised quote, so nothing new turns up on the morning. The detail is on our bridal packages page.

What to choose for your hair before the wedding

If your style needs to hold through wind and a long evening: book the trial with your veil in, and use a heat protectant before any curling. We use Kérastase Genesis Défense Thermique ($70.56).

If your hair is dry or coloured: start a weekly mask a month out. There are two ways to do it, so choose by budget. Kérastase Nutritive Masquintense ($83.16) is the richer treat. Pureology Hydrate Sheer Conditioner ($58.08) is the lighter everyday option for fine, coloured hair.

If you want more shine in photos: a drop of Elixir Ultime L'Huile Originale ($105.00) through the ends on the morning is plenty.

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

Bride $165 (1 hr 30), trial $140 (1 hr 15), bridesmaids, mums and guests $125 (1 hr). Extras like extension placement or travel to your venue go into your quote. More planning detail is on our Queenstown wedding hair page.

To check your date, call 03 441 8555. Once you know your timing you can book your trial online any time. We're open Monday to Wednesday 9am to 5pm, Thursday 9am to 8pm and Friday 9am to 5pm.

Aftercare: what we'd send you home with

What we'd put in your bag for the weeks before and the day itself.

Kérastase Genesis Defense Thermique 150ml, $70.56
Kérastase Elixir Ultime L'Huile Originale 75ml, $105.00
Kérastase Gloss Absolu Bain 250ml, $57.12
Kérastase Fresh Affair Dry Shampoo 150g, $58.80
Kérastase Nutritive Masquintense 200ml, $83.16
Pureology Hydrate Sheer Conditioner, $58.08

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 you style the groom and groomsmen too?

Yes. There's no separate groom package. The groom and groomsmen book from our men's menu: a men's blow-dry and styling is $50 (30 minutes) and a men's cut refresh is $77 (45 minutes) in the Barber-zone. If he wants a cut, book it about a week before the wedding so it settles and doesn't look freshly clipped. See our men's hair page.

What should I wear on the wedding morning?

A button-up or zip-front top, so you can get into your dress without pulling anything over your head. Come with clean, dry hair unless we've asked for something different at the trial, and bring the veil, clips or flowers. Have a proper breakfast before you come in. It's a long morning and you'll want the energy later.

Can my bridesmaids all have different hairstyles?

Yes. Lots of bridal parties go for a mix that suits each person's hair length and dress, tied together with one common detail like a side part or the same accessory. Each bridesmaid is $125 and takes about an hour. Send us photos before the day so we can plan the order and timing for each style.

How do I keep my hair in place through the reception?

We pin and set it to last, so mostly it's about leaving it alone. Hand a bridesmaid the spare pins and a small hairspray for her bag. If a curl drops, twist it round your finger and pin it back in rather than brushing it out. Brushing undoes the set and makes the curl fall faster.

Is the bridal trial included in a package?

Our bridal packages include a complete trial. If you're only booking the trial, it's $140 and takes about 1 hr 15. Your personalised quote makes it clear which applies. Either way, book the trial four to eight weeks before the wedding so there's time to adjust the look.

Do mums and flower girls book the same way?

Mums and other guests book special occasion hair at $125. Flower girls and anyone else in the party go into the personalised quote we put together for your wedding, along with any extras. Tell us everyone who needs hair done when you first enquire, so we can plan the running sheet and the quote in one go.

Can I wear extensions for my wedding?

Yes, and they work well for fuller updos and long curls. Tell us at the trial so we practise with them in, because placing and curling extensions is an extra charge. If you'd like new ones for the day, book a free 15-minute extensions consultation well ahead so they're matched and settled before the trial.

How early should the bridal party start on the wedding morning?

Work back from when everyone needs to be dressed. Allow 45 to 60 minutes per person plus half an hour of buffer. The first person usually starts three to five hours before the ceremony, depending on the size of the party. Send us your numbers and we'll set the timings.

Can wedding guests book hair on the morning of a wedding?

Yes. Guests, mums and grandmothers often book a blow-dry or occasion hair on the morning, or the day before. Summer Saturdays fill early, so book as soon as you know you're going, and tell us when you need to leave.