updated 1:39 p.m. ET Oct. 15, 2008

When Leigh-Ann Drew, of Minneapolis, was planning her wedding in her parents' hometown of Houston, she left no detail to chance — especially her hair. On the recommendation of her wedding planner, Leigh-Ann booked an appointment a year in advance for a consultation with hairstylist Jim Robeson of the Norris of Houston Salon and Spa. After some discussion of Leigh-Ann's dress (a strapless, ivory duchesse satin gown by Kenneth Pool embroidered with Austrian crystals and pearls), bride and stylist envisioned a romantic look. Leigh-Ann flew home with an order to put a moratorium on haircuts (“That was hard,” she says); six months later, she returned to Houston for her hair trial with Robeson. Following the result, an updo with lots of loose curls, Leigh-Ann consulted her wedding coordinator, who thought a modified, more defined version would best complement her dress. Leigh-Ann returned to Robeson's chair for a second trial. Bride, stylist and wedding coordinator were thrilled with the elegant result. Robeson took photos and notes to ensure a perfect re-creation on the wedding day.

So, was all the preparation worth it? “For me, it was priceless,” says Leigh-Ann, who also had her hair and makeup professionally done for her rehearsal luncheon, and hired two more stylists (plus two makeup artists) for her bridal party, mother, mother-in-law and grandmothers.

A "heightened awareness" among brides
If you think you've been obsessing about your hair and makeup, rest assured: You're not alone. No longer content to simply hire a stylist and makeup artist for the big day and cross the task from their lists, brides are interviewing and consulting with beauty pros months — occasionally, years — before their nuptials. By forming a close bond with their beauty team, brides hope to resolve ahead of time such questions as, Should I grow out my hair for the wedding? How do I want my makeup to appear? And perhaps most important of all: How will I look in my pictures?

For their part, beauty pros report they're pleased with the growing trend of bridal clients starting a dialogue with them that can take place over several phone calls and meetings before the wedding day. Salons and independent artists are responding by providing more customized services, and increasingly, offering their expertise for the other events surrounding the wedding, from the bridesmaids' luncheon to the send-off brunch. “Our wedding business has definitely grown recently,” says Patti Schulte, wedding coordinator for Joseph Cozza Salons in San Francisco. “I think with the greater focus today on celebrities, there is a heightened awareness among brides of the detail that goes into hair and makeup. They also see there's no longer such a thing as 'bridal hair,' and that there's such a range of modern styles to choose from.”

In the past, brides may have simply booked a stylist for their wedding date; now they're as likely to have as much forethought about their hair as for their dress. “When a bride calls the salon, I get all the information I need: the date, what she's looking for, what the whole wedding is about, what colors she's using, what her dress is like,” says Schulte. Brides and pros are then paired by personality, style and budget. “All of our stylists are amazing, but if I know from our conversation that this bride has very naturally curly hair and this particular stylist is just wonderful with curls, I'll match them up,” says Schulte. The bride then comes in for a complimentary consultation, and is encouraged to bring as many visual cues as she can, from a sketch of her dress to the headpiece or veil she'll be wearing to the flowers she's chosen. Four to eight weeks prior to the event is a trial ($85), followed by the wedding day itself ($125 for in-salon services; $175 per hour on location, with travel time, plus 20 percent gratuity).

Some brides, on the other hand, will entrust wedding-day hair to no one but the stylist who's been trimming her tresses since her single days — no matter where the wedding. For some lucky pros, that means packing their brushes and their passports, travel expenses paid. “I've done weddings in the Caribbean, Italy, Mexico, New York,” says Jessica Tingley, a senior stylist at Frederic Fekkai in Beverly Hills, who says she's also frequently been flown to Napa Valley, a popular destination for Los Angeles brides. Known around the tony Rodeo Drive salon for her range of elegant styles, Tingley may be just as sought-after for her people skills, which go a long way toward easing wedding-day jitters. “I'm usually a good person to calm the bride, especially when she's far from home, because I'm sort of the neutral party there,” says Tingley.

MORE FROM TODAY WEDDINGS

TODAY Weddings Section Front

Brides celebrates 75 years of 'I dos' Naughty tricks to heat up the honeymoon You're engaged. Now what? ‘Will you marry me?’ goes extreme Share your special or funny proposal stories! The truth about wedding scams Q&A with top L.A. wedding planner The 'write' words: How to thank your wedding guests Across the miles: Out-of-state weddings ‘I do’ again: Getting hitched twice TODAY Weddings Section Front   Add TODAY Weddings headlines to your news reader: