5 Things I Wish Every Bride Knew Before Booking a Bridal Makeup Artist
- 2 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 20 hours ago
Choosing your bridal makeup artist can feel like a surprisingly big decision. You're not just choosing someone who can apply makeup - you're choosing someone you'll spend part of one of the most important mornings of your life with.
There are portfolios to scroll through, Instagram posts to save, reviews to read, prices to compare and a whole list of questions you might not even know you need to ask.
After more than eight years working in makeup and specialising in weddings, there are a few things I wish every bride knew before booking their bridal makeup artist.
Photography by Dani B Photography
Choose an artist whose portfolio actually reflects the makeup you want.
It sounds obvious, but this is one of the most important things to look at.
Rather than choosing an artist simply because you like their Instagram feed, look closely at their bridal makeup portfolio.
Do you consistently like the makeup they're creating?
Look at the skin. The eyes. The lashes. The level of definition. How natural or glam the overall look is. If you find yourself saving lots of their work and thinking "I would actually wear that," that's a much better sign than simply liking their branding or having one photo you love. And don't be afraid to look for an artist whose portfolio includes features similar to yours. If you have monolids, hooded eyes, textured skin or a particular makeup style you usually wear, seeing how the artist works with those features can give you a much better idea of what to expect.
Your artist's portfolio is essentially a preview of the style they're most comfortable creating - so make sure it's a style you genuinely love.
Don't choose your makeup based entirely on what looks good in a photo.
Your wedding photos are important, but you are going to experience your wedding in real life. You're going to be talking to your friends, hugging your family, eating, laughing, dancing and looking in the mirror throughout the day.
So your makeup needs to feel good on you, not just look impressive in a photo.
This is particularly important when you're deciding how much makeup you want. If you usually love natural makeup, you don't necessarily need to suddenly become a full-glam bride because you've seen a heavily edited bridal photo on Pinterest.
Your wedding makeup can be an elevated version of what already makes you feel confident.
For me, bridal makeup is about enhancing the features you already love, rather than transforming into a different version of yourself.
Your bridal trial isn't just about deciding whether you "like the makeup"
A bridal trial is an opportunity to work things out together.
It's a chance to talk through your wedding, your dress, your hairstyle, your accessories and what you want to feel like on the day. You also get to see how the makeup feels as you actually go about your day. If you are wanting to know when to book or what that timeline looks like - head over to my other blog, Perth Bridal Makeup Timeline, to know more.
If possible, I'd recommend planning something fun afterwards - maybe it's dinner, drinks with your girlfriends or your bridal shower - rather than going straight home and washing everything off. You'll get to see how the makeup wears over several hours, how you feel with it on and whether there's anything you'd like to adjust.
It's also worth doing your usual grooming beforehand. If you're planning to shape your brows, trim your hair or have face-framing pieces cut before your wedding, doing this before your trial can help you see the complete look.
Think of your trial as a mini practice run, rather than simply a makeup appointment.
Photography by Dani B Photography
Ask about the wedding morning logistics, not just the makeup.
One thing that can make a huge difference to your wedding morning is having an artist who understands timing and wedding-day logistics.
Ask your makeup artist:
How long will each service take?
What time will you need to start?
How many people can you accommodate?
Will you bring an additional artist if needed?
How much setup space do you need?
What happens if the schedule runs behind?
When will the bride's makeup be completed?
Do you offer touch-ups?
What happens if the getting-ready location changes?
Your makeup artist is one part of a much bigger wedding morning, so communication and timing matter. A good artist should be able to work with your wedding schedule and communicate clearly about what needs to happen before the day. I also have a separate blog about how many people can one makeup artist realistically can do on a wedding morning.
5. You should feel comfortable with the person you've booked.
This one is easy to overlook.
You're not just booking a makeup service. Your makeup artist may be with you for several hours while you're getting ready, potentially during one of the most emotional mornings of your life.
So pay attention to how you feel when you communicate with them.
Do they answer your questions clearly?
Do you feel comfortable telling them what you do and don't like?
Do they listen to what you're asking for?
Do you trust their judgement?
For me, the relationship is a big part of the experience. I want my brides to feel like they can tell me what they're thinking, whether that's "I love this" or "I'm not sure about that."
You don't need to know exactly what you want before you book your artist. You just need to feel comfortable working it out together.
Photography by Dani B Photography
Imen's Final Thoughts
There is a lot of pressure around bridal makeup to find the perfect look.
But I don't think your wedding makeup needs to be the most dramatic makeup you've ever worn or the makeup that photographs perfectly under a studio light. If anything, the happiest brides I've had in my chair is when they tell me they felt like themselves, the makeup suited their style and they had the most amazing time celebrating their big day.
It should feel like you.
The best place to start is by thinking about the features you already love, what you are comfortable wearing and what you want to feel when you look in the mirror on your wedding morning.
From there, your makeup artist can help you build the look - feeling like yourself is always the most important thing.
Thinking about your bridal makeup?
If you are looking for a Perth bridal makeup artist specialising in natural, elevated bridal makeup and hair, I'd love to chat further about your wedding!
The beautiful photos featured were a wonderful collaboration of the following local vendors:
Photography: Dani B Photography
Makeup and Hair: Imen Chow Makeup
Model: Alannah Reberger
Veil: Halo & Lace Veil
Dress: Zoo Bridal
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