How do you choose the right makeup artist for your wedding?

A wedding makeup artist can ensure a flawless look on your big day. Finding the perfect person isn’t all about price, though. Here are tips for choosing the right makeup artist for your wedding:

Research before reaching out. Wedding makeup artists should have an online presence with portfolios of their work. Find someone with an aesthetic you love.
Read reviews. You want a wedding makeup artist who’ll be on time, do beautiful work, and add a positive vibe to your day. Pay attention if previous clients report bad experiences with a makeup artist.
Consider skin tones. If your bridal party has a range of skin tones, make sure your wedding makeup artist and assistants are experienced and talented working with everyone.
Is your top pick available on your date? If so, put down a deposit to secure their services.
Confirm rates and payment. Clearly discuss prices and payment plans, and sign a detailed contract so there are no surprises on your wedding day.

Do I need a makeup artist for my wedding?

There are no rules around your wedding day, and that means it’s your choice whether to have a wedding makeup artist. If you’re on the fence about hiring a wedding makeup artist, consider the pros and cons. Some women decide against a wedding makeup artist to save money. The national average cost for a wedding makeup artist is $70-$100, which is an expense some women prefer to do without. Other women just don’t love wearing makeup. Some brides have friends or family members who are talented makeup artists willing to provide their services. If you choose not to have a wedding makeup artist, be sure to do at least two trial runs of your makeup look well before the wedding day to avoid any morning-of panic.

On the other hand, a wedding makeup artist can make the bride feel pampered and confident, giving her a flawless, fabulous look for the ceremony and reception and in wedding photos. For brides who are uncomfortable with heavy makeup, many wedding makeup artists usually excel at the natural look. Many brides consider wedding makeup part of the ritual and tradition of the ceremony, a shared experience with the entire bridal party. Ultimately your choice of whether to hire a wedding makeup artist should be based on what will make you feel most confident and happy.

How much do wedding makeup artists cost?

A wedding means love, celebration and tons of wedding photos. Professional wedding makeup artists have you looking your best on your big day and forever after in your wedding photos. The national average cost for a wedding makeup artist is $70-$100, although this price can increase based on your location, the extent of the makeup services and the reputation of the makeup artist. Most wedding makeup artists offer discounts to brides who book group services for their maids, mothers and flower girls at the same time. Wedding makeup artists who also do wedding hair usually offer package rates for hair and makeup combos. Here are some examples of average wedding makeup pricing:

Bridal makeup: $85-$125. Pricing often includes full face, eyes, lips, brows and false eyelashes. Airbrush makeup may be an additional $20 or more.
Bridal hair and makeup: $150-$200.
Bridesmaid and bridal party makeup: $50-$100 per person.
Bridesmaid hair and makeup: $100-$150.
Flower girl makeup: $25-$35.
Trial sessions: $60-$120, depending on the makeup artist. Some charge their full rate and others charge a partial rate for trial makeup services.
Hourly rates to stay on and keep makeup touched up throughout reception: $35-$75 per hour.
Travel fees: 50 cents to $1 per additional mile beyond a set radius — such as 50 miles.

How much should you tip a wedding makeup artist?

Wedding makeup artists ensure you and your bridal party are looking your best bright and early on your wedding day. Tipping a wedding makeup artist for their hard work is standard practice, and is also greatly appreciated. A tip of 15 percent to 20 percent of the total bill is appropriate. You may consider tipping extra if the makeup artist or someone on their team went above and beyond — for example, squeezing in Aunt Martha at the last second or redoing a flower girl’s hair free of charge after she dunked it in the fountain.

A gratuity is a reflection of a job well done, so if the wedding makeup artist was late, did a shoddy job or didn’t provide all the services you negotiated, you are not required to tip. Talk with your wedding makeup artist prior to the event to ask how they prefer payment and gratuity to be handled. Can you pay by credit card the day of the event and include a tip then? Do you need to pay in cash the day of the event? Find out ahead of time how to manage payment for services so you can be prepared with cash or credit cards as needed. Even better, delegate the task of payment to someone in your bridal party so you can just enjoy your day.

Janet S.

Verified review

My friend was having Mayra do her makeup for a business video, and I tagged along, and got my makeup done too (since it was my birthday). What a treat! Mayra made me look great--like myself but way better. She was (as others have said) super relaxed and personable. But she's also incredibly knowledgeable about makeup--about which products are best for your skin, about how to make you look like you're glowing from within (isn't that what we all want) and how to use makeup for different purposes (stage, film, a social event, business). Too many makeup artists are one trick ponies, who only do the kind of makeup they themselves wear--not Mayra. She really listens to her clients and helps them achieve their goals. From now on I plan to book Mayra for all of my speaking events and social events. I'm hoping she will still have time for me, since she's so in demand!

Heather H.

Chantelle was the makeup artist for my wedding November 22, 2015. She was prompt, professional, warm, and most of all - made me look better than I ever have before. Her techniques are unbelievable! From contouring, to the individual lashes, my wedding day makeup looked AMAZING! Somehow she made me look like myself, but more glamorous. I would highly recommend her for special occasions, or for any time you want your makeup professionally done by a consummate professional.

Mayra S.

I have to say it was my first time looking for a makeup artist on the internet and I was worried I would be disappointed . To my surprise and pleasure, Teresa was a blessing . I hired her for a Quincenera I was attending and she was so professional and caring . I felt like a friend who really cared about how i looked and felt was helping eat ready . I am a stay at home mom and I wanted to feel amazing that day and she did just that. her work is not only perfection but she really cares about how you want to look and feel . a great artist . Thanks again and I am looking forward to our next event . ..

Rajpreet C.

Anne was fantastic. I've worked with almost a dozen makeup artists and she was most definitely the best. I showed her a picture of how I'd like my makeup and she did a phenomenal job so quickly. The makeup lasted all throughout the day and night and I received so many compliments. I will certainly be requesting her service again. If I could choose one word to describe her work- FLAWLESS!

Sydney A.

Can you rate someone 50 stars?? I have never been genuinely satisfied with getting my hair and makeup done before, and Liv is the first to make it happen for me. It was so nice to not have to awkwardly tell her I loved it when I was crying inside, I truly felt beautiful. Trying to find someone willing to show up at 5:30 on a Saturday morning was tough, and when she called to confirm she was super happy and excited, which made me even more excited for our appointment!! She was so nice, so peppy for the hour of the day, and listened to my preferences while giving her professional input to make sure everything came out perfect. Hands down the most amazing hair and makeup artist I’ve ever met!!!! Ask her about her cat Marvin if you need a good laugh. You cannot go wrong with her she is all around perfection

Elisa B.

Professional & did a beautiful job with my makeup. It was glam but not overly done so I still looked like myself. Went perfectly with my dress! She was so easy to get along with & easy to communicate with electronically. Would work with her again & highly recommend.

Sheila G.

Susan is an outstanding Makeup artists , she listens to you and then does her magic . She is so passionate and constantly going to classes and learning new tricks . She is my go to makeup artists .

Angelie H.

Farrah was amazing to work with, I hired her to provide hair styling on a photoshoot and Farrah was a joy to have around. As a makeup artist in the community, I can vouch that Farrah is trustworthy, cares about the clients needs and is extremely professional. The hair styling was beautiful, and the guest was blown away with Farrah's talent. Would work with her again.

Haley H.

Great makeup artist! Jennifer came to my house and was super flexible with timing. My makeup looked so amazing and perfect. I definitely recommend her for any makeup or hair needs. She knows what she's doing and was really good at nailing the exact look I wanted!

Henrietta R.

Hazel is a professional makeup artist and superb hair stylist. Listens very well to what you want to achieve and talks you through each step she performs on you. I was very satisfied with my results and received many compliments. I definitely will use Hazel again.

Nicole P.

As a former magazine beauty editor and now on-air beauty expert, I've worked with tons of makeup artists over the years. I met Liv when she did my makeup for my sister-in-law's Napa wedding, and since then, she's been one of my favorites. I loved how she made my skin look flawless and glowy without caking on the product. She chose beautiful neutral shadows that magically made my eyes appear bluer and bigger than ever. I highly recommend Liv. She'll make you look like the prettiest version of yourself.

Irene M.

Jelise was AMAZING! She is a sweetheart and did a great job with my makeup for a video shoot that I did with my band! I am hiring her again for our next video shoot because of how great of a makeup artist and person she is. She was punctual, nice, did a great job for my hair and makeup, and was even talkative (in a good way so there were no awkward silences)! We were happy with her work. Jelise, you are awesome!

Lupe C.

Loved Carina and her skills, I got exactly what I wanted a beautiful old Hollywood vintage style ! She is a local San Francisco makeup artist that has worked with many celebrities. So happy we chose her for our event. She was super attentive! Definitely recommend her!

E. M.

I was searching for a local makeup artist who uses natural beauty products, and could come to my home. Tessa fit the bill. She was both pleasant and professional. As a mature client, I was especially happy with her ability to make my under eye circles much less noticeable while not piling on a ton of makeup. I am learning how apply makeup, but think it it well worth the price to have an expert such as Tessa complete a look from time to time.

Thy P.

Lexi was very easy and pleasant to work with. She managed to make me look the way I wanted to look. Unlike other makeup artists that I've used, Lexi actually took the time to listen to how I wanted my makeup done, and my partner and friends/family agreed that it looked good on me.

Remi J.

The best makeup artist in the bay area. She come prepared with her professional chair, light and a huge kit with all different type of lashes. She is the BEST hire her you won't regret it

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