Hair & makeup

Wedding hair & makeup contract: what to check before you sign

Hair and makeup happens against a hard clock on the morning of the wedding, often for a whole group of people. The contract is where the trial, the per-person prices, the travel and early-start fees, and the timeline get nailed down — the things that decide whether the morning runs calm or chaotic. Here's the checklist, written for the couple.

1. Who actually does your hair and makeup

If you booked a studio or a lead artist whose work you loved, confirm the contract names the specific artist doing your look — not just "an artist from our team". Larger companies often send assistants for the wedding party, which is normal, but you want to know who's assigned to you and what happens if your artist is sick on the day.

2. The trial — what's included

Confirm whether a trial run is included or extra, how many looks you can try, and where it happens. The trial is your chance to lock in the style, so check whether changing your mind on the day (a different style than the trial) is fine or triggers more time. If the trial isn't included in the package price, get that cost in writing now.

"Is a trial included, how many looks can I try, and what if I want to tweak the style on the wedding day?"

3. Per-person pricing and the party

Wedding hair and makeup is usually priced per person and per service — bride, bridesmaids, mothers, plus hair and makeup as separate line items. Confirm the headcount, who's paying for whom, and the price for add-ons like extensions, airbrush, lashes, or a touch-up kit. Pin down what happens if someone adds or drops close to the day, and whether there's a deadline to finalise numbers.

4. Travel, early-start and minimums

On-location work usually adds fees the base price hides: a travel/mileage charge, a minimum number of services to book the artist for the day, and — importantly — an early-start fee if anyone needs to be ready before a set hour (sunrise ceremonies and big parties often do). Parking and accommodation for distant or very early weddings can appear too. Ask for an all-in quote that includes these.

5. The morning timeline

This is what protects your wedding morning. The contract or an attached schedule should set the arrival time, the order of services, and the finish time, with enough buffer before photos and the ceremony. Confirm how many artists are coming — one artist doing eight faces takes far longer than two — and what the remedy is if they run late. A realistic, written timeline is worth more than any discount.

6. Deposit and cancellation

Expect a non-refundable deposit to hold the date and a balance due before or on the day. Check the cancellation and rescheduling terms, what happens if your headcount drops below a stated minimum, and the policy if the artist has to cancel — ideally a guaranteed replacement, not just a refund. See our cancellation guide for the full picture.