The Ultimate Guide to Booking Wedding Hair & Makeup 

You’re making a list. You’re checking it twice. Trying to figure out when you should book vendors for your wedding day. If I had to guess, hair and makeup would be closer to the bottom of your list. More than likely you have been told by your planner, friends, or blogs that you can start looking for hair and makeup artists for your wedding day about 3 months out. Coming from a beauty concierge, if you wait till the last minute to book your wedding hair and makeup, you are going to feel overwhelmed. Follow these quick tips, and you will be gliding into your wedding day stress free instead of wanting to pull your hair out.

Make a plan

Prior to looking for hair and makeup artists for your wedding day, think about what you are looking for experience wise. Every hair and/or makeup artist has a different style (natural, glam, minimalist, etc.) and so prior to contacting hair and makeup artists, do some soul searching and figure out what you are looking for. If you go with an artist that does one style beautifully, it isn’t a guarantee that they can do the style you are looking for. Your wedding hair and makeup isn’t an instance in which you should try to fit a square peg into a round hole.

If you need some help in figuring out what hair and makeup look is right for you, you can venture into Pinterest or Instagram, but take these tips with you, that way you don’t feel overwhelmed or get sucked into a black hole.

Figure out your budget

One of the number one aspects of booking hair and makeup artists for my brides is determining their budget for hair and makeup. Pricing ranges amongst the artists, so the experience you are looking for, along with the style, location, etc. factors into the pricing. Prior to reaching out to an artist figure out what you are comfortable spending, and keep in mind that you get what you pay for. These moments will be immortalized in film for years to come, and you want to love the way you look. It’s worth the investment to have your hair and makeup done right so you don’t have to stress about your photos or how you look in person.

Pricing varies based on where you are located, but to give you an idea:

 

Ex: San Diego:

Bride Hair + Makeup: $300 – $500

Bridal Party Hair + Makeup: $150 – $250

Bridal Hair + Makeup Trial: $160 – $300

The pricing of a hair and makeup artist is reflective of their experience, dependability, and professionalism.

 

Do a Trial

Yes I know a trial is an extra expense, and weddings can be expensive in general, but trust me it’s worth it. Since beauty is such a personal experience and is often the start of your wedding day, you want to be sure you vibe with the artist and you are on the same page with the look you are wanting. You don’t want to leave your hair and makeup look up to chance on the day of, and a trial allows you to try out some styles with a hair and makeup artist to see if they can achieve the exact look and feel you want.

The sooner you do a trial, the better. Especially if you want to do a trial prior to booking the hair and makeup artist. Plan for a trial at least 3-6 months out, that way you can test out the styles with the artist, see if its a good fit, and if it’s not, you have time to try someone else or a different style without feeling pressured.

Ultimately, it’s entirely up to you on doing a trial, but as a beauty concierge, I am a huge proponent of them, as part of your beauty experience is how you vibe with the artist. You want personalities to match and feel at ease and relaxed on your wedding day. Doing a trial is like going on a first date, you have to see if it’s someone you want around you and your gals on the happiest day of your life. They should add to the experience, not detract.

 

Booking your team

After you’ve done a trial, it’s time to book your artist(s). I have some quick tips to make sure you are secured for your wedding day and not stressing.

• Put a deposit down. If they don’t require a deposit, this is a red flag, as they might take a job that offers more money since they weren’t locked down. Insist on a deposit if you really love the artist.
• Sign a contract. Same scenario with the deposit. Make sure they have a contract for you to sign that details the services being delivered, the date, etc.
• Book promptly after your trial. Most artists will only hold a wedding date 5-7 days after a trial has been completed. After the interim period is over, if someone offers to book them, then there is nothing you can do about it. If you loved them, book them, and don’t lose the chance to have them for your wedding day.

If you need any other tips, I’ve got you covered with some of the frequently asked questions I get as a beauty concierge.

Ultimately hair and makeup for your wedding day is just as important as your photography and planner. It sets the day of your wedding off right and allows you to feel your best without stress or worry. Plus you will look your best in your photos and feel like the ultimate chic bride.

If you have any beauty related questions, don’t hesitate to reach out. Would be happy to help any way that I can!

Xoxo,

Katelyn

Elwynn + Cass

www.elwynnandcass.com

Instagram: @elwynnandcass

Featured in: Medium.com, Foundr.com, NY Times, Style Me Pretty, Wedding Chicks, Magnolia Rouge, Green Wedding Shoes, Aisle Society  The Perfect Palette, Southern California Bride Blog, etc.