Most brides ask me the same question, usually with a little anxiety: is it too early, or already too late?
The honest answer: earlier than you think
For a Saturday between May and September in Provence, the best dates go twelve to eighteen months ahead. I take a small number of weddings each season, and one wedding per day, so once a date is gone, it's gone.
Why the summer Saturdays fill first
They're the dates everyone wants. If your wedding falls between June and September on a Saturday, treat your makeup artist like your photographer or your venue: book early, not last.
What actually secures a date
Not an email, and not a good conversation. A date is only held once the signed quote and deposit are in. Until then it stays open, and I book on a first-deposit basis. It isn't about pressure, it's simply the only fair way to treat everyone.
If your numbers aren't final
They rarely are, and that's not a reason to wait. Secure your date with the people you're sure about, and we add guests later as things firm up. The date is the part that can't be recovered.
If your wedding is further out
I open the following year's dates each September. If you're planning for 2028, get in touch and I'll come back to you when the calendar opens.
Book the date, then take your time with everything else.
Beauty is actually the easy part.
