Q. Why do I need to hire a professional makeup artist for my wedding or event?
You're hiring a professional photographer for your photos, a professional baker for your cake, a professional florist for your flowers, and a professional hairstylist for your hair, so why wouldn't you hire a professional makeup artist for your makeup, too? A professional makeup artist not only ensures that your makeup will last all day and night, but that it will photograph beautifully in all lighting conditions as well. From the appropriate products down to the specific colours, a professional makeup artist customizes everything to you and your wedding vision. Your photos are going to last a lifetime, and you want to make sure that your makeup looks flawless, and an experienced professional knows just how to do that.
Q. How far in advance should I book my date?
Since I’m mobile and I provide makeup services on-site wherever they’re needed, there really isn't a typical “wedding season”. That said, I do recommend that you secure your date as soon as possible. The recommended booking timeframe is 10-12 months prior to your wedding, but 12+ months in advance is now becoming the norm.
Did you plan for everything EXCEPT your makeup artist? Don't worry! It's never too late to book either, so there just miiight be an opening in my books for you!
Q. How do I secure my wedding date?
Services are contracted on a first come, first secured basis. In order to secure your date, a signed agreement and retainer* (50% of the Full Agreement Amount) are required. Services booked within 4 weeks of the wedding date require payment in full. Once I receive the signed agreement and retainer*, your date is secured. It’s that easy!
*The retainer is non-refundable and non-transferrable to another date or service.
Inquiries and previews alone will not secure your date, and due to the demand of my services, I am unable to inform someone when other inquiries are made about their date. In order to lock in my services, I recommend securing your date as soon as possible!
Q. Can you accommodate my entire party?
Absolutely! Mothers, grandmothers, and important guests too! Whether your wedding party is large or small, I can accommodate everyone! While I am a one-woman operation, if needed, additional makeup artists can be brought on (for an additional fee) so that everyone can be included!
Q. Do you have a booking minimum?
All weddings require a Bride +4 (or rate equivalent) minimum booking.
For weddings where additional artists are required, an additional +5 (or rate equivalent) minimum booking, per additional artist, is required.
Q. Do you provide your services on-site?
Absolutely!
My services are 100% mobile! Whether you are wanting makeup services provided at your home, hotel, or the venue itself, ALL my services are provided on-site. I travel to you to any location, saving you the headache of dealing with traffic and the hassle of driving from one location to another on your wedding day. Plus, hiring a professional that brings the beauty services to you offers you the luxury of spending the day relaxing with family and friends, and who doesn't want to be pampered on their special day!?
Do you offer a makeup preview?
Previews are required for all brides. Nothing would be more stressful for the bride (and your artist) than showing up on the day of your wedding and having a miscommunication between the look that you envisioned and the look that your artist creates. Or drawing a complete blank and not even having a look in mind at all!
When is the best time to schedule my preview?
All previews are scheduled 1-3 months out from the wedding day. This is the best timing for a preview, as your skin is generally in the same condition as it will be on your wedding day (save for some maintenance esthetic procedures and skin prep), your hair is usually the same colour and length (barring any rash decisions made right before the big day), and for the most part, the weather is about the same, give or take a few degrees (or 20-40 degrees if you’re in Indiana, lol) as your wedding day.
All this to say-we want to create a bridal look when as many conditions as possible are working in your favour!
What happens during the preview?
During the 2hr preview, we will discuss the details of your wedding, including what you’re wearing, your hairstyle, bridesmaids’/bridesmens’ and groomsmaids’/groomsmens’ attire, flowers, wedding colours, and overall wedding vision, as all of these details tie into your makeup look. Any skin issues or allergies that you may have will also be addressed, as they will influence the products that will be used.
Then comes the fun part-your bridal makeup look! Inspirational photos of looks that you like, and don't like, are highly recommended, and will help to communicate ideas about your look. Some great places to look for inspirational photos are here in my gallery, other bridal artists’ websites that share the same aesthetic as myself, bridal magazines, and celebrity red carpet looks. Many images found on Instagram and Pinterest are heavily filtered and photoshopped, and some are even computer-generated, so do keep that in mind if using Insta and Pinterest as a source of inspiration.
Once your bridal look has been finalized, we will discuss what you have in mind for your wedding party in the way of makeup as well. Of course we want everyone to feel comfortable in the makeup they’ll be wearing, but it’s important to make sure that their makeup looks are cohesive with your look, each other’s look, and the overall vision of your day.
Can I bring my bridal party with me to my preview?
Although you're welcome to bring someone along to your preview, I do limit it to one additional person. It's essential to have a supportive team whose opinions you value during this special time. However, too many opinions can sometimes overshadow what YOU like and want for your wedding day. My main goal is to help bring your vision to life, which means prioritizing your preferences over the suggestions and opinions of others.
Does everyone getting makeup done have to have a preview?
A preview is entirely optional for those in your party. During your preview appointment, we will discuss your party’s makeup looks. However, if any member of your party has particular concerns, makeup sensitivities/allergies, or is undecided about whether to have their makeup professionally done, they are welcome to schedule a preview appointment to address these concerns.
Please don't hesitate to ask me any questions about the process when booking your preview.
My venue has a bridal suite. Can we get ready there the morning of the wedding?
Absolutely! One of the benefits of booking my services for your wedding is that I travel to you on the big day!
It’s worth noting, however, that some venues may not open their bridal suites until 9am or later. This could potentially impact the prep time, especially if you have a larger bridal party receiving services. If scheduling permits, additional artists may be subcontracted (at a fee) to expedite the timeline and allow for everyone to get ready together at the venue.
Aside from that consideration, as long as the bridal suite offers sufficient space for each artist, plenty of table space, and accessibility to the bridal suite either on the main level or via elevator access (we bring a lot of stuff!), then we're good to go!
Should you have any inquiries about your venue's bridal suite, please don't hesitate to ask!
Where do you recommend getting ready if the venue isn’t the best option?
While the venue is an ideal location for many reasons, here are some other options to consider:
Nearby Hotels: You could explore nearby hotels that offer bridal suites or conference rooms. These spaces typically offer privacy, ample room, and plenty of table space for makeup prep. There's usually a few options conveniently located near the venue.
Private Residence: If you, a family member, or a friend lives nearby, it's worth considering using that location for getting ready. The familiarity of a home setting often provides plenty of space for everyone to get ready comfortably and adds a personal touch to your special day.
Airbnb: Another option is an Airbnb. This choice provides the cozy comfort of getting ready at home without actually being at your own residence. Many brides are now embracing the inviting feeling an Airbnb offers, allowing for a comfortable prep space.
Feel free to consider these alternatives if the venue doesn't quite meet the needs for getting ready on your big day.
As the bride, do I go first or last for makeup?
Neither actually! I like to schedule the bride near the end of the timeline, but not last.
But don’t worry, there’s a method to my madness that I’ve fine-tuned over the course of nearly two decades of working in bridal beauty.
At the time of booking, I’ll curate a custom timeline for makeup services for the day-of, taking into account all the day’s important details: getting dressed, coordinating first looks and group photos, the location and time of the ceremony, requested touch-up services, accounting for any necessary travel, and addressing any other important day-of responsibilities.
Then the finalized timeline will be sent out one month prior to the wedding day.
How long will services take?
The timeline for your day will look something like this:
Your artist(s) will arrive 30mins before the scheduled services to set up and prepare for the day’s events. Brides are allotted 1.5hrs for makeup while each attendant receives 1hr. There’s a 10min break between each service for thorough disinfection and station resetting. Additionally, a small buffer time is included at the end of services for final touches.
If photos are planned before the ceremony, makeup services will be completed 2hrs beforehand. Alternatively, if the ceremony precedes the photos, makeup services will be completed 3hrs before the ceremony.
Although this may seem like too much time between makeup and photos/the ceremony, it allows for flexibility for any potential delays, unexpected changes, or adjustments to the day's schedule, such as excited loved ones popping in with congratulations, vendors with wedding morning drop-offs, and those last minute questions that only seem to pop up when you’re having your moment in the makeup chair. Remember that method to my madness I mentioned earlier? Trust me! You’ll be wishing you had more than enough time than not enough as your wedding day flies by!
Ok, but will my makeup last all day?
Due to the carefully selected professional products I use, and skin prep based on one’s skin type, your makeup is sure to last from your bridal portraits through to the night’s final dance with your new Mr. or Mrs.!
What can I do to help prepare the makeup prep location for the day-of?
To ensure a well-prepped location prior to arrival, the designated location should be:
quite spacious,
open and free from any clutter or traffic,
well-lit with an abundance of natural light; however, professional lighting can be utilized if natural light is unavailable.
equipped with electrical outlets.
Additionally, if possible, having tall chairs/bar stools, along with plenty of table/counter space for each artist, would be greatly appreciated! In cases where prep occurs in a hotel or the venue itself, requesting tall chairs from the staff the night prior or the morning of is usually possible.
Do you do airbrush foundation?
At this time, I only offer traditional makeup services.
As with any application, airbrush is just another tool, like a sponge or a brush. When applied properly, you honestly can’t tell the difference between airbrush or traditionally applied makeup. What’s important is the type and quality of foundation used and the skill and talent of the artist applying it. After that, the rest comes down to the artist’s preferred application technique and formula of the product.
Over the years, traditional foundations (hand-applied with a brush or sponge) have come a long way in terms of wear time, finish, and coverage. And with all the options to customize traditional makeup to suit one’s needs, there’s really nothing traditional makeup can’t do!
Do you offer tattoo coverups?
Not at this time, no.
I’m sensitive/allergic to certain ingredients. Can I still get my makeup done?
Sure! Just let me know what specific ingredients you’re sensitive/allergic to so I can avoid using any products containing those ingredients during your appointment.
If you’re unsure of a certain ingredient or product that you react to, you can schedule an appointment with me to do a test patch if needed, or request allergy testing through your medical care provider.
Well, you can just use my makeup, right?
I bring all the makeup with me, so all you need to bring is yourself! I am trained and experienced in custom-matching every client to the right foundation shade, so you get that perfect match each and every time. My professional products are also flash photography-friendly, so you never have to worry about how your photos will turn out. Also, my clients’ safety is of the utmost importance! I follow all proper sanitation and disinfection procedures prior to and during every makeup application. By using only the products I bring, I can ensure the safety of my clients, artists, and myself.
Can I just get my eyes done?
Erin Nay Makeup Artistry does not offer partial services such as eyes-only or foundation-only. Makeup looks should be complete and cohesive with the overall vision that you have in mind for your special day. By providing full makeup services, this ensures that your makeup, and your wedding party's makeup, not only wears beautifully all day and night, but looks and photographs its best!
What brands do you carry in your kit?
I use a combination of high-end and professional skin prep and makeup brands such as Sonia Roselli Beauty, Senna, Make Up For Ever, Viseart, RCMA, Makeup Atelier, NARS, Caudalíe, Ben Nye, BECCA, Kiehl’s, Stila, Bioderma, MAC, Laura Mercier, Pat McGrath, Charlotte Tilbury, and Face Atelier, just to name a few.
No one brand has the best products for everyone and every purpose, so I buy from multiple brands to achieve the desired results that my clients and myself are looking for.
Do you do hair too?
As a licensed esthetician who specializes in makeup artistry, I’m unable to provide hair services. I do, however, work closely with a few local licensed hairstylists who, if needed, provide their services on-site as well. Once you have secured your date with me, I’d be more than happy to provide you with the names of these highly trusted and talented hairstylists.
Do you only do makeup for weddings?
While I specialize in bridal beauty, my services are available for all of your makeup needs. Erin Nay Makeup Artistry also provides makeup services for other wedding-related events such as engagement portraits, bridal showers, and bachelorette parties, other special events such as semi-formal/prom, anniversaries, and holiday parties, any and all types of photography such as boudoir, maternity, family, and senior portraits, personal makeup lessons, everyday beauty makeup, and the occasional commercial shoot.
Have a question I didn’t answer? Feel free to reach out and I’ll be more than happy to help!
~ All artists working under Erin Nay Makeup Artistry are fully licensed by the Indiana State Board of Cosmetology, as required by law. ~