Do’s and Don’ts of Booking Hair and Makeup Artists
Originals Wedding Planning
As many vendors know, hair and makeup is typically the first aspect of the wedding day and sets the day off. With this in mind, you want to make sure your couple has a hairstylist and makeup artist that is not only best suited to their needs, but also one that helps with the experience leading up to the wedding day. Hair and makeup can be a completely different ballgame if you don’t specialize in it, so here are some do’s and don’ts to keep in mind to help navigate the process with clients.
Beginning the Search
DO start contacting hairstylists and makeup artists at least 6-9 months out from the wedding day. I recommend nine months at least, as the best artists often book up to a year in advance, and you want your clients to have the best options.
DO look through portfolio images, and if you don’t see a look your client is wanting at least five times, then it may not be the artist’s strong suit. If your client is still set on a particular artist and you don’t see at least five looks that are similar to what they are wanting, ask the artist to send you some examples.
DON’T rely solely on Instagram images. If there are very few images of other people on the artist’s feed (i.e. only photos of makeup on themselves), that person may not be a professional makeup artist. This artist might be great at doing her own features, but may not be seasoned in important details such as working with other skin tones, wedding day timing, etc.
Prior to Booking
DO pay attention to the timing of the artist’s correspondence. Weekends notwithstanding, if it takes more than two days to get a response, that doesn’t spell well for future correspondence (especially as it gets closer to the wedding day).
DON’T book (or at least take extreme caution) with an artist that doesn’t require a deposit or contract, or that charges below-average pricing in the area. These are red flags and may indicate an artist may not be as experienced or may flake on a client.
DO make sure the hairstylist and makeup artist has a professional license and proper insurance. This will help you avoid any issues down the line with venues not allowing the artists on property, as the artists should have the proper licensing up front.
Leading Up to the Wedding Day
DO have the artist(s) draft a timeline for the beauty services for the wedding day. They know their timing best, so make sure they create a timeline and send it to you for approval at least one month before the wedding day.
DO send any product allergies, concerns, etc., to the artists prior to the wedding day so they can properly prepare for the services and make sure it’s a seamless experience.
In my experience as a beauty concierge, these are the main things to watch out for and to ensure your client has a smooth and seamless experience when it comes to hair and makeup. The most important aspect is communication. Don’t be afraid to ask for more photos, information, etc., and let the artists know if you need something. They want to make it seamless for the client, so the more information the better.
