Eight questions to ask a make-up artist before you book
The questions that prevent the arguments: timing, products, who else is being made up, and what happens if plans change.
Last updated 19 August 2026
Most bad wedding-morning stories are about something nobody asked. These eight take ten minutes and settle almost all of it.
- What time will you arrive, and how long do you need? Bridal setup usually starts well before the slot, and the answer tells you whether they have thought about your day or their diary.
- Who else are you making up, and what does each person cost? Mother, sisters and bridesmaids are priced separately almost everywhere.
- Do you have another booking that day? An artist with a second job after yours is an artist watching the clock.
- What products do you use, and have you worked with skin like mine? Ask before the trial, not on the day.
- Is a trial included, and when would we do it? Six to eight weeks before is the usual answer.
- What happens if I need to move the date? Every artist has a cancellation policy; read it before you pay rather than after.
- Are you bringing an assistant? For a large party the honest answer is usually yes, and it changes the timings.
- How do you want to be paid, and when? A quote that names the amount, the timing and the method is a quote you can hold somebody to.
And one for yourself
Look at photographs of the artist’s work on somebody with your skin tone, not just their best photograph. It is the single most useful thing you can do in five minutes, and it is why reviews with pictures are worth more than reviews without.