Curly hair - wedding day prep

I'm hoping to get some suggestions. I have very curly hair (3b) that is fairly unpredictable. I'm working on learning how to treat it, but most mornings, I end up conditioning and pulling it back in a bun.

I just made an appointment to get my hair trial done for my wedding, and I asked the stylist (who I've never been to - I don't live in the same state where I'm getting married) how my hair should be when I come in - should I wet and condition as I normally would? Come in dry and frizzy from sleeping on it all night?

She said that I should wake up, and run a wet comb through my hair. Well, that might work for some, but if I'm going to be wearing my hair curly, I can't comb it at all! The curls break apart and frizz ensues. Plus, the top of my head would remain flat and frizzy, and never get curly. But she doesn't want me wetting down my hair in the shower before the appointment - she says if I do, she won't be able to style it (my plan is a messy updo - natural curls, but off my neck).

The wedding is at 10am, so if I want to wet/condition and then let it air dry before the appointment, I'd be getting up at 5am, and blow drying is out of the question (as is straightening and then curling).

Any ideas??

I have shoulder length thick curly hair that I cannot comb if I am keeping it curly, although it doesn't sound as tight as yours  - perhaps you are better off........  here's my routine;

I have to wash and condition it in the shower - rinse well, sqeeze out and wrap in a towel to soak up moisture.  After about 15 mintures I take it out of the towel and spray hydrating leave in conditioner and scrunch through my hair aiming for even coverage.

Then I use a small amount of serum and scrunch into the ends and up to about half way up my hair.

Then a curling settling lotion to hold the curls - spray all over evenly and scrunch.

Then  I dry, with a hairdryer, on a low heat about 30cms away from my hair, scrunching all the time and not letting the hairdryer take control and blow my hair everywhere.

Once it is 80% dry I seperate gently with my fingers, spray setting lotion on again and scrunch and set with hairspray.

I know this sounds like loads of effort but actually takes me 10 - 15 minutes less than it does to straigten it all.

I am having a natural curly up-do too.

I wonder - could you spray your bed head hair with a leave in condioner when you get up to loosen the curls a bit?  Or ask your hairdresser about ragging your curls the night before to stop them becoming messy in your sleep.

Let me know what works for you - I really am interested in any time saving opportunities!!  :o)

Good Luck.

Thanks for your suggestions, sunny...

I'm still trying to decide what makes the most sense for the trial - I'm thinking that I'll just wake up early and do my hair as usual (similar to you, except no dryer) and just show up with it still damp. Then we can discuss what makes the most sense for the day of.

I hadn't thought about ragging my curls - how Little Women of you! Never done it before, but I'm sure the internet would have ideas.

I'll report back when I have my trial (next month - I'm a planner/worrier)...