It’s the start of a new year, and for many engaged couples January marks the start of some serious wedding planning! Now that the busy Christmas period is over, it’s full steam ahead as brides and grooms begin researching and booking suppliers for their upcoming wedding. But where on earth do you start?
There are so many suppliers out there when it comes to weddings, not just in the hair and beauty field, but everywhere! From photographers to venues, bands and florists, there are literally thousands upon thousands, so it’s no surprise if you end up feeling a little bit daunted by what’s on offer.
In this blog post I give my expert advice on finding the perfect hair and make-up artist for you and your bridal party.
Hair and make-up by Sarah-Lou
First up, it’s great to go with recommendations. Have any of your friends, colleagues or relations been married recently? Ask them who did their hair and make-up, what they thought of them, and do they have any photos they could show you? Or alternatively, have a look at various online wedding directories, such as The Glasgow Girls Wedding Guide/Edinburgh Brides or the Scottish Wedding Directory. You should also have a look on Facebook groups and ask for recommendations there – two groups that are definitely worth a look are Facebay Weddings and Blushing Brides Scotland. These groups are awash with brides-to-be and newly married brides who are more than willing to share tips and advice on suppliers.
Once you’ve drawn up a shortlist of potential hair and make-up artists, you should begin researching their work and looking at their websites and social media pages. It’s amazing the amount of information you can get online these days – from pictures of previous work to pricing information and reviews/testimonials from previous brides (both good and bad) – so this is a great starting point to get a feel for each hair and make-up artist’s style of work and capabilities.
You can then contact each supplier with as much detail as possible, i.e. the date you are getting married, location, and how many there are likely to be for hair and make-up. Giving this information will ensure that your chosen suppliers can get back to you quickly with a realistic quote and further details, providing of course they are free on your date.
Based on the responses you have received, you can now draw up a shortlist of the ones who are available on your date and who fit within your budget, and then look at these ones in more detail to help you find someone that you feel completely comfortable with.
Don’t be afraid to ask as many questions as you want – all good hair and make-up artists will be more than happy to answer your questions (no matter how silly you think they are!), and will happily offer their expert opinions and advice on what is realistic and what can/can’t be achieved.
Now for the finer details; as a very minimum you should expect your supplier to be both qualified and insured, and they should have no hesitation in providing you with further information on this. If in doubt, ask to see insurance certificates etc.
Hair and make-up by Sarah-Lou
All good suppliers will issue a contract upon booking and receipts for all payments made. A contract can often seem a bit formal and might put some people off, but it’s there to protect you both and will ensure everyone is clear on what is being delivered, who is responsible for what, and when payment is expected (very important for budgeting!). Once again, if you have any questions at all, just speak to your supplier and they will be more than happy to help!
Once you’ve chosen and booked your hair and make-up artist you can then get down to the fun stuff like choosing hair and make-up styles, booking trials and going shopping for hair accessories!
Choosing a hair and make-up artist should be an enjoyable part of your wedding planning. It doesn’t have to be a stressful experience, and if you follow the above as a guide then there’s no reason at all why you can’t find the perfect supplier for you!