As a professional makeup artist, I work almost exclusively with brides. In many conversations with young women planning Their Day, I often hear an obvious lack of knowledge about what they should be discussing with me. I find they really have no idea what questions to ask….or what answers they ought to be getting.
If you choose me to provide your makeup services the day of your wedding I will likely be spending several hours with you and your bridal party. It also means that the results of my work will be the focal point of about 80% of the photos taken that day. So trust and confidence in your makeup artist is very important, wouldn’t you agree?
You should book an artist you feel comfortable with, that you communicate easily with and who you naturally find yourself trusting. As a makeup artist my first priority is to provide beautiful makeup in the style you want, but also offer some moral support, help to boost your confidence and soothe your raw nerves in those last hours before you walk down the aisle.
Here is a list of questions that may help you feel confident that you’re hiring a professional who will provide the level of services you deserve on Your Day.
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My wedding is on a Saturday and the services that I need are less than the weekend minimum to book. Can I still hire you?
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Depending on your wedding date, you can still hire me. Please call or email me for further information.
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What methods of payment do you accept?
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I accept cash, personal/cashier checks, and money orders.
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How do I keep my makeup fresh for the whole day? How will the product wear? What about color-matched products to touch up with?
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I use 8-hour wear products and provide the bride with her chosen lip product for reapplication throughout the day. I also provide additional touch-up services, for an additional fee, for brides who need extra attention after the ceremony.
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How many events will you work on my wedding day?
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This is often an overlooked, yet crucial, question to ask before booking. If preparations on The Day don’t go quite as planned and run late, you need to know that your makeup artist will not be leaving before all the bridesmaids are done, just because she has another wedding that day. You also want to ensure you won’t be the third bridal party I’ve worked for that day and arriving at your venue with dirty equipment and physically tired. By booking only one wedding a day, it allows me to give you and your bridal party my full attention, best work, and allows me to stay until the job is done, regardless of delays. Keep in mind, though, that this is why I have a minimum booking requirement on weekends and for in-demand dates. Smaller bridal parties may need to recruit additional family members to have services in order to make that minimum, or pay the difference.
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On my wedding day, do I come to you, or do you travel to my venue (or where I’m getting dressed)?
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I provide on-location services and will be coming to you on your Wedding Day. Not only does it take traveling stress off your shoulders and makes the production of doing makeup for an entire bridal party a streamlined and timely process.
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What happens at the Trial Run or Preview Session? Do I come to you for this appointment? How much is the Trial or is it included in your services? How long will the Trial Run take? What is included in the Trial Run?
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The Trial Run, or Preview Session, is so important to ensure that the makeup I provide on Your Day is everything that you want. This session is when we’ll work together to create the look you’ve been dreaming about. Generally I come to you for this, but you can chose to come to me as well. The Trial Run is included in your bridal package. Most Trial Runs take about an hour and you will receive a complete makeup application and will see exactly what you’ll look like on Your Day. I always encourage brides-to-be to schedule their Trial Runs before an important event or a date with your fiancé, because you’ll look amazing and get more for your money!
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Do you charge a travel or location fee? How far do you travel for that fee? What other travel-related expenses will I need to cover? What will be the total cost of the services I want?
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As an on-location makeup artist, I do have a “location fee” for all travel greater than 30 miles from the zip code 94501 for the Trial Run and Wedding Day, which is outlined on my Menu page. Other travel-related expenses you will also need to cover are parking fees (including valet) if services are rendered at a hotel or any other similarly situated venue. The total cost of the services is calculated in your contract and will be very clear. The contract also includes rates for any additional services that may arise on your actual Wedding Day.
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I have skin allergies or severe acne. Can you work with me? Do you airbrush? Can you contour my face? How about covering blemishes or my tattoo? Do you apply false lashes?
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I’ve worked with women of all skin types and will provide the right products to deal with special needs. I do not use an airbrush machine but do employ a special technique, which provides an airbrushed look, which covers just about everything including acne and tattoos. Contouring is what sets a professional apart from the average makeup user. I always counter to minimize what you don’t like and maximize what you do like about your features. I am a lash fan and recommend them for everyone! They are included in the price and are always customized to fit each woman’s features and desired look.
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What kinds/brands of products do you use? Is this makeup good for pictures or photography?
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I use primarily M.A.C. products. This is not just because I am a M.A.C. trained and certified makeup artist, but because in all my years of applying makeup I haven’t found a brand of professional makeup products that hold up better including in photos and on video. If you prefer to use your own makeup, I am happy to discuss this option during your Trial Run.
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Can you duplicate a makeup look from pictures in a magazine?
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I always encourage clients to provide pictures of what look they are hoping to achieve. Just be sure the picture you provide is of a woman with similar bone structure and skin tone as yourself. Eye makeup styles that look great on large, almond-shaped eyes like Madonna’s will not look the same on smaller, round eyes like Katie Couric. Although exact duplication is unattainable, during your Trial Run we will work together to create the look you desire for your special day.
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How do I book you for my wedding date? Do you require a deposit? What about a contract?
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You can call me at 510-590-7405 or email me at carolyn@cmsmakeupartist.com to discuss your needs and verify availability of your date. A well-written contract will be emailed to you with a list of services that will be provided to each member of your bridal party, a schedule of appointment times, and the required deposit. There will also be provisions made for unusual or unforeseen events like cancellation of the contract or illness on the wedding day. Only after a signed contract and full deposit are received will your date be calendared and therefor confirmed.
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How many weddings have you done? Do you normally work with brides?
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I have done hundreds of weddings in the last 5 years. In addition to this I have done almost as many trial runs and engagement shoots. Working with brides almost exclusively during wedding season helps me understand their needs better than an artist who only works with runway models or for print advertising. In addition to providing beautiful makeup in the style requested, being a bridal makeup artist means I am mobile, and able to work with unpredictable lighting and space in the various settings I find myself (hotel rooms or wedding venue dressing rooms), adhere to a tight schedule, and remain calm, relaxed and supportive for nervous brides experiencing the occasional pre-ceremony meltdown.
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What do you charge?
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You can find a complete list of prices by clicking here.
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Will it be YOU at my wedding or another artist? What happens if you can’t make it on my day?
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I will be doing a Trial Run, or Preview Session, before Your Day and will also be the same artist who does your makeup on Your Wedding Day. Although I do employ assistants when working with larger bridal parties, I am the makeup artist who will be creating and applying the look we created especially for you on Your Day. If for some reason I am unable to make it the day of your wedding, I will work to find a replacement makeup artist. I have never missed a wedding yet and don't plan on it!
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What size of bridal party do you accommodate? How long will it take to get makeup for my bridal party of
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I’ve had bridal parties as large as 10. Accommodating parties of all sizes is no problem with the right planning and preparation. If your ceremony is at 11:00 AM and you have 8 attendants, be prepared to be out of bed early that day. Generally I will need a minimum of 30 minutes with each attendant, and at least 1 hour with the bride. Making sure you carefully plan enough time for yourself and your party on the wedding day is essential so that preparations are not rushed and everyone gets the results they expect.