Make-up artists

If you decide your budget will stretch to a make-up artist, how much can you spend? This will determine whether you need to look locally or can bring in a name.Most of the top make-up artists are represented by agents. Such agencies provide for red carpet events, photo-shoots, catwalk shows, fil and television.They will do weddings, but expect to pay several hundred euros in addition to travel time and expenses. Therefore, only investigate this route if you really are prepared to part with a large amount of money.

If you are looking for a local make-up artist where do you start? Get a recommendation from your friends, local hairdressers and at make-up counters. Your photographer also know whose work photographs well. Your photographer will have been to many weddings and know when they have seen a good make-up artist. Therefore, word of mouth is your number one way to find a make-up artist.

When you think you have found someone, what should you be considering and what questions should you ask? It must be someone you can establish a rapport with and you must feel you can communicate what you want to him or her and be able to trust his or her advice. First ask to see a portfolio and references from other brides. You want to know they have done weddings before and that the make-up looked not only good, but good in the photographs as well. Therefore whoever you approach, ask to see eveidence of their work in the form of photographs of real brides. If you like the artist and their work, start negotiating a fee. The cost will depend on how far they have to travel and how many people they'll be making-up on the day. Ask if the fee includes a rehearsal, because you should expect a full make-up trial before the day and that could include a make-up lesson. You can also expect skin-care advice. In some respects the trial run is as important as the day itself. It's when you make the decisions.

If you will be made-up in the salon on your wedding day, have a make-up trial when you go for your hair rehearsal (the salon is likely to advice this). As with hair, whether at the salon or with an idependent make-up artist, a couple of weeks before the wedding is a good time for a rehearseal. Your skin colour and condition won't change too much in this time. Wear clothes similar in colour to your wedding outfit and advise your make-up artist if you will be in the sun before the wedding or are planning a fake-tan. It's a trial that you will need to make decisions, so ensure that you are happy with the choices you have made and speak up if not.

Go through the timings with the make-up artists at the trial, especially if you are at the salon. Check that your hairdresser and make-up artist have liaised and scheduled those timings to work on the day. Also double-check that you have allowed yourself sufficient time to travel (if necessary) and to get dressed. As we've stated elsewhere, always over-estimate how long things will take.