how to choose a wedding hair and makeup artist: what to ask before you book.

Of all the suppliers you book, your hair and makeup artist is the one you spend the most time with on the day. They arrive first, often before it is light, and they set the pace for everything that follows. If they run forty minutes behind, so does the ceremony.

That makes choosing one about more than a nice portfolio. Here is what to look for, what to ask, and how to plan the morning so it runs on time.

What couples spend

Bridebook puts the average UK spend on wedding hair and makeup at £811 in 2026, made up of roughly £394 for makeup and £417 for hair. That figure is for the couple, and it often includes trials and extras like nails or tanning.

The bigger variable is everyone else. If your artist is also doing two bridesmaids, a mother of the bride and a flower girl, the bill grows quickly. Decide early who you are paying for and who is paying for themselves, and tell people before the quote arrives. Our guide to who pays for what is a useful starting point for that conversation.

Start with style, then check the work

Every artist has a look they do best. Some are known for soft, natural skin, others for full glam or for hair that lasts through a ceilidh. Look at their portfolio and ask yourself whether you would be happy if they did exactly that on you.

Then look past the polished shots:

• Ask to see real weddings, not just styled shoots. Styled shoots have perfect light and no time pressure.
• Look for photos taken late in the day. Makeup that still looks good at the first dance is the real test.
• Check they have worked on skin and hair like yours. If you have very fine hair, curls, or a skin tone that is not well represented in their portfolio, ask directly.

If you have already booked a photographer, ask who they enjoy working with. They see a lot of wedding mornings, and they know who keeps to time.

What to ask before you book

Book a short call and go through these:

• How many people can you do, and how long does each take? Most artists allow somewhere between 45 minutes and an hour per person for hair or makeup, longer for the couple.
• Will you bring an assistant or a second artist? For a big wedding party, two people working side by side can save hours.
• What is included in the price? Lashes, a touch-up kit, travel and parking are often extras.
• Do you charge for an early start? Many add a fee for anything before 7am.
• Will you stay for touch-ups? Some stay until after the ceremony, some leave once the last person is done.
• What happens if you are ill? Ask whether they have a backup artist they trust, and whether that is written into the contract.
• What are the deposit and cancellation terms? Our guide to deposits and supplier contracts covers what to look for.

Get everything in writing, including the start time, the number of people and the finish time.

Do you need a trial?

A trial is the only way to see how a look works on you before the day, and most artists recommend one. Book it a few months out, wear something with a similar neckline to your outfit, and take photos in daylight and with flash. If you can, plan it for a day when you are going out in the evening, so you can see how it lasts.

Some couples skip the trial to save money, and that can work if you know the artist well. Our guide to hair and makeup trials goes through the pros and cons in more detail.

When to book

Popular artists get booked up a long way ahead, particularly for Saturdays between May and September. Once you have a date and a venue, start looking. Engagements over Christmas mean January is a busy month for enquiries, so if you are planning a 2027 wedding, getting in touch over the winter gives you the widest choice.

For a winter wedding this year, ask about availability now. December is busy with Christmas parties, and some artists take bookings for both.

Build the getting-ready schedule backwards

This is where most mornings go wrong. Start with the time you need to leave for the ceremony, then work back:

1. Allow 30 minutes before leaving for getting dressed, photos and a moment to breathe.
2. The couple goes last or second to last, so their makeup is freshest for the ceremony.
3. Fit everyone else in before that, at the artist's timing per person, plus a little slack.
4. Build in a 15 minute buffer for the inevitable late arrival or tricky curl.

For a 2pm ceremony with six people to get ready, that can easily mean a 7am start. That is normal, and it is much better than rushing. Share the finished schedule with everyone in the wedding party so they know exactly when to sit down, and make sure the room has good light, plenty of plug sockets and somewhere to put a coffee down. Our wedding morning timeline has a worked example.

Keep it all in one place

Your hair and makeup artist adds a handful of details to the plan: the trial date, the deposit, the start time, and who is in the chair when. Build The Day keeps your suppliers, budget and day-of schedule together, so the wedding party can see their slot without asking you. It is free to start.

Then send that first enquiry. The good artists answer quickly, and the best dates go first.