Hi Friends!

I have a super special GUEST BLOGGER today!  Mrs. Livia Pope, CEO of All Dolled Up LLC in Austin, TX, is sharing her tips and tricks for booking your hair and makeup professionals for your wedding.  She is a great team member to have on your wedding day and I love working with her!  Livia has done my hair and make-up on more than one occasion and has helped several of my brides achieve their wedding day look!  She is the mastermind stylist and she, with her team, worked their beauty magic with our model brides in all the photos in this post, which were shot at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Austin.

TIPS FOR BOOKING HAIR AND MAKEUP FOR YOUR WEDDING

By Livia Pope

Makeup and hair is as important as a bride’s dress on her wedding day, so here are some tips to ensure it all goes smoothly.

1. Free Consultation; Paid Trial. Most hair and makeup companies offer free consultations and then a paid trial.  Find someone you like and trust! Think about it, they will be literally in your face on the most special day of your life thus far. Personality and demeanor are just as important as skill; you need someone that can keep their smile during stressful and hectic situations. They should spend some time with you looking at your hair, styles you love, details of your wedding, and only then should they give you their best advice.  If you’ve found a good fit, book your paid trial. And if you really feel confident, book your date. If you don’t feel like it’s a good fit, move on until you find someone you like and trust — someone who will make you feel important and beautiful on your wedding day — which of course lives on forever in pictures and memories.  A free consultation is an industry standard, and more than that… industry advised.
2. Hire a professional. There are stylists at almost every price point; the more experienced being the more expensive. Hiring a professional is important though, because when you work with friends you can’t always speak up and get the look you want.  Ask about your party’s needs and time requirements. You want to make sure your stylist can finish your party within the time requirements of your venue and wedding start time. Don’t feel timid about speaking your mind about things you would like or want changed — you are the client. Bring photos of the front/back of hairstyles and makeup to get the look that you want.  If you simply don’t have it in your budget, never feel shamed into thinking DIY-ing your hair and makeup isn’t an option.  But don’t forget, it is your face… it might be worth having a smaller bouquet, or cutting things from other areas.
3. The bride’s package is more expensive (but probably not why you think). If you’re looking to get your ladies all dolled up as well, expect their pricing to be about half of what your package costs. This isn’t an exploitation of wedding costs like many believe. It’s because your stylist will take twice as much time and care to make your hair and makeup perfect (this will be the day you will have more photos taken of you than any other day in your life). The bridal package should also include your makeup blending for your décolletage, back and arms — that’s a lot more “product” to make you look perfect. Make sure they are using airbrush makeup to ensure it doesn’t rub off on your dress or guests at the wedding. Your stylist will also be catering to your emotional needs as well, making sure you not only look great, but you feel the prettiest you’ve ever felt.  Maybe she’ll refill your champagne, rub achy shoulders, or give you a pep talk when one of your bridesmaids starts stressing you out. Most people thing that the bride is the most emotionally draining person to work with on the wedding day. Wrong, it’s rarely the bride. It’s almost always a mom or bridesmaid.
4. Travel pricing. Here is the truth: No one wants to go to a salon on a wedding day. Imagine getting 4-10 people to and from the salon in the few hours before your wedding… traffic, coffee stops, flat tires, etc. If you need a stylist to come to you (early morning wedding, remote wedding, you’d just prefer it that way) expect to pay as much as double their normal in-salon price, plus mileage for the stylist. As a business owner, my advice is this: instead of thinking of it as a huge markup, think of the price you get in-salon as a markdown because all the overhead and logistics and travel are otherwise taken care of.  Most companies charge $1 a mile round trip.
5. Package pricing. Why hire two companies when you can hire one for both hair and makeup? Some companies will give you better package pricing for both hair and makeup — and when you have a larger party. It doesn’t hurt to ask!
6. Book in advance. For some reason, a lot of brides leave hair and makeup services as one of the last vendors to book. Bad idea! Just like photographers and venues, the real “talent” gets scooped up first. Also, booking in advance gives you more choices for payment options and preparation. Most companies will contract with the bride (or one person) and take payments just from that person. So if you have others paying for their services separately, you’ll have more time to collect payments. Don’t wait until after your wedding — you may not get paid back.
7. Book your trial for a special occasion. As soon as you know the styles that you would like to try, book your trial! It’s suggested that you choose to do your trial on a special occasion such as bridal portraits, engagement photos, boudoir, rehearsal dinner, bachelorette party, bridal shower, etc, so that you can wear your look someplace so that way you can really “test” your look. As opposed to traditional makeup that reflects light (think hard, white reflection), airbrush makeup absorbs it, yielding a flawless, beautiful glow that looks best in photos.
8. Look like yourself, just enhanced.  Your stylist should be able to make recommendations based off of the photos you show her for the look you want for you wedding day. If you normally wear your makeup dramatic with heavy coverage you may want to try a little bit lighter. If you barely ever wear makeup, you may want to try a little more enhanced look for your wedding day.  But that is what the trial is for, and if you want to try a few looks opt for a longer trial.
9. Make sure you have a contract and receipts for payments made. If the company you hire is professional they will have a contract with specific details for what you are paying them for, the amount of time, the stylist, and location. Be wary of those who don’t because this not only protects them, but you as well.
10. To pay for bridesmaids or not to pay.  Brides shouldn’t feel obligated to pay for the bridesmaids. Many times, the bride makes the arrangements and the attendants will pay her back. Or some brides like to offer it as a gift, as it does enhance the quality of your photos that you keep forever.

Livia Pope is the co-founder and CEO of All Dolled Up LLC in Austin, Texas. She has been an airbrush makeup expert and bridal consultant since 2010.

Thank you, Livia, for sharing your tips for brides-to-be!  If you want more information from Livia, check her out at www.AllDolledUpATX.com!

– Mylah Renae

www.Eureka-Photography.com