The process of booking a wedding makeup artist can be quite the exciting experience for some, while for others, it can be very daunting. Many of today’s brides aren’t very big makeup wearers and are worried about looking too overdone up. Therefore, it’s very important for the bride to do their homework before just booking any makeup artist.
New England Professional Makeup Artist, Nancy Gorman of Makeup by Nancy gives her thoughts on what she feels every bride should know while starting the process of booking a makeup artist. Photo Credit: Ebacher Photography
1. Do your research Even if a makeup artist is referred to you by a friend and/or another wedding pro, you want to do your due diligence and make sure he/she is the right one for you. Be sure to read reviews, look at their website and portfolio. Make sure that their style is something you like and resonate with.
2. Book a consult Make sure they offer a pre-wedding consult prior to booking as an option. The last thing you want to do is book an artist without trying them out first. Think about it, would you purchase a car without giving it a test drive?
One of our fabulous brides, Colleen getting even more gorgeous on her wedding day! Photo credit: Casey Durgin Photography
3. Personality Check You will be spending the hours right before your wedding with your beauty team. You want to be sure you have a good relationship with your makeup artist. This doesn’t mean we need to become best friends, not that it hasn’t happened before, as I have become super good friends with many of my past brides and bridal parties. Having a sense of comfort with your beauty team during a nervous time right before your wedding is super helpful since they will help soothe your nerves and get you through them right up until you put your gown on.
4. Written Agreement Never book a wedding vendor based on a verbal agreement. Be sure there is a contract in place and you read all the small print. You want to have a full understanding of all the terms and conditions, as well as if there are any hidden fees.
5. Quality Check Find out what products are used, have an awareness ahead of time of any sensitivities you may have to something. This is also why it’s good to have a pre-wedding consult, so that you will know ahead of time if something irritates your skin or eyes. You certainly don’t want to be itchy on your wedding day! If the artist uses professional grade makeup, most irritations can be avoided.
Always get proof of education! Nowadays, anyone can learn to be a makeup artist just by watching YouTube, but there’s SO much more to learn than what you see in a video. For example, what makeup is suitable for wedding photography and how to correctly apply makeup for black and white photography.
There is so much to consider, hopefully, this is a helpful step in the right direction for you. Happy Wedding Planning!