Questions to ask a wedding hair and makeup artist
What to ask before booking wedding hair and makeup: the trial, timing for the whole party, products and skin, travel fees, and how long the look needs to last.
The short version
- Book a trial, ideally on a day you can wear the look out, and take photos in daylight and with a flash.
- Work the morning out together: how long per person, how many artists, and who goes last.
- Ask about products for your skin type, allergies, and touch-ups for a long day.
- Check travel fees, the deposit, and what happens if the artist is ill.
Before booking a wedding hair and makeup artist, ask about the trial, the timing for everyone they will be getting ready, the products they use and how long the look will last. The morning of the wedding runs on their schedule, so the timing questions matter as much as the portfolio.
Questions about the trial
- Is a trial included, and how long does it take?
- Can we do it close to an event, so I can see the look last for hours?
- Can I bring pictures, my dress fabric and my accessories?
- How many changes can we make on the day itself?
Take photos at the trial in daylight and with a camera flash. Makeup that looks right in a mirror can look flat or shiny in photos, and the trial is the time to fix it.
Questions about the morning
- How long do you need per person for hair and for makeup?
- Will you bring an assistant if several people are getting ready?
- What time would you start, and who should go first and last?
- How much space and light do you need, and do you need power outlets near a window?
Work backwards from when you need to be dressed, and add a buffer. The person getting married usually goes last, so their look is freshest for the photos, and the photographer should know the timing too.
Questions about products and skin
- Which products do you use, and do you have options for sensitive or allergy-prone skin?
- Is the makeup long-wearing and suitable for heat, tears and dancing?
- Do you leave a touch-up kit, or offer to stay for the ceremony and photos?
Questions about money
- What is the price per person, and is there a minimum?
- Are there travel fees or an early-start charge?
- What is the deposit, and what is the cancellation policy?
- Who replaces you if you are ill?
The person getting married goes last in the chair. Everything else on the morning is planned around that.
Common questions
What should you ask a wedding makeup artist?
Ask whether a trial is included, how long each person takes, whether they bring an assistant, what time they would start, which products they use for your skin type, how long the look lasts, and about travel fees and cancellations.
When should you do a wedding hair and makeup trial?
Usually one to three months before the wedding, ideally on a day you can wear the look for several hours and see it in photos.
Who goes last for hair and makeup on the wedding morning?
Usually the person getting married, so their look is freshest for the ceremony and the photos.
Plan it all in one place
A seating chart, a budget and a checklist that follow your guests' replies, alongside your invitation.
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