“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.