Make Sure To Ask Your Wedding Makeup Artist These Questions

There's no better feeling than being in love, especially when the love of your life has gotten down on one knee to pop the question. Engagements are a cause for celebration, but the work begins soon after the champagne's been poured and the ring photo has been posted to Instagram. For brides-to-be, perfecting every detail of the big day can be a daunting task. From the seating chart and menu selection to finding the dress of your dreams, there's no shortage of decisions to make leading up to your walk down the aisle. 

Once you've perfected the party planning, though, it's time to focus on the most important part of the day — feeling your very best. Confidence is key when you're approaching the altar with the love of your life; making sure that your glam squad is on board with your vision can help you feel beautiful, confident, and ready to say "I do."

Your makeup artist is one of the last people you'll work with directly on your wedding day, so you want to put some extra thought into who you select for the job. Be sure to schedule time to meet with potential artists beforehand to see who you're most comfortable with. Most artists will go through a trial with you (via Wedding Wire). Once you get one-on-one time with an artist, there are a few things you can ask in order to gauge which option best suits your needs (via Vogue).

"Does the day work for you?" At the absolute minimum, your makeup artist needs to be able to accommodate your requirements for your wedding day. Before meeting with the artist for a consultation, have them check their schedule for your date (via Wedding Wire). Figure out if you're willing to travel to a salon or if you'd prefer your artist to come to you. If you're having a destination wedding, you may need to seek out an artist in the city your wedding will take place in. Not every makeup artist will travel, so this will be an important detail to hash out before you make any commitments. Ojas Rajani, a celebrity makeup artist, actually prefers destination weddings, as they allow her to work closely with the bride and have an on-site work station (via Vogue).

"What will this cost?" Once you've established that a makeup artist's schedule aligns with the day of your nuptials, you'll need to talk budget. The average cost of a wedding in the U.S. was around $28,000 in 2021 (via The Knot). According to Wedding Wire, the average bride spends around $300 on hair and makeup alone. You don't want a surprisingly large beauty bill on the morning of your big day to add extra stress. Have your artist clarify their base prices. A contract can make you aware of add-ons like lashes, which sneak up on you if you're not careful.

"Can you work with my skin's needs?" Everyone's skin is different, and it's important that your wedding makeup artist understands how the products that they use will work with your skin type. Do you care about vegan makeup and animal testing? Is your skin sensitive to anything? These are great topics to bring up when you're consulting with a potential artist (via Wedding Wire). Nothing will ruin your walk down the aisle quite like a surprise rash or breakout hiding behind your veil. Oftentimes makeup artists will allow you to bring your own products, so be sure to bring up anything that you'd prefer to supply yourself (via The Knot). Additionally, voice any concerns you may have about how your makeup will look on camera and how it will hold up against tears of joy, cake smearing, and sipping champagne all night.

"Can you bring my vision to life?" Once you've established that your makeup will feel good, you can really dive into how you want it to look. Do you want a traditional wedding look? Be sure to ask your makeup artist if wedding glam is their expertise. Looking for something a little more contemporary? Ask to see a portfolio of edgier looks. You can also show reference photos of what you'd like to see. Or, if you find an artist you trust, ask them what they think would best suit you.

Finding a wedding makeup artist that checks every box of your list of wants can feel like hitting the jackpot. Your budget, comfort, and confidence should all be non-negotiable factors as your wedding planning comes to a close, and the right artist will help you achieve all three. Don't be afraid to ask for everything you want, and, in case you don't find it right away, be sure to give yourself some time to look around. After you've booked your artist, you can ask if they'll be willing to accommodate bridesmaids as well; they may even provide a group discount. You can also ask for references to see what others have thought of their work (via The Knot).

While your husband-to-be will love you even if you walk down the aisle in clown makeup, a great wedding-day look will ensure that you're happy to pull out your wedding album and look back fondly on the day for years to come