Booking a Makeup Artist for a Destination Wedding

For a destination wedding, many brides choose to bring their own artist rather than book someone they have never met. You get a look designed with you at home, and a familiar face on the wedding morning. Here is how to plan it.

Decide early

Travel dates block out more than the wedding day, so artists who travel tend to book these dates well in advance. Inquire as soon as your destination and date are set, and mention any welcome dinners or day-after events where you might want glam.

What to ask

• Which dates will they need to travel, and how is travel arranged?
• Can they do your bridal party, or will they bring an assistant?
• Can the trial happen before you leave, at home?
• What do they need on site: a table, natural light, power adapters?

Do your trial at home

A trial before you travel means your look is decided before you pack. Bring photos of your venue and the time of day you will be photographed, because golden-hour light on the Amalfi Coast calls for a different finish from an indoor ballroom.

Plan for the climate

Heat, humidity and sea air test any makeup. Ask your artist about long-wear and water-resistant products, and about hairstyles that hold in humidity. Updos and structured waves usually last better than loose curls in damp air.

Build in buffer time

Abroad, things move at a different pace. Allow extra time on the wedding morning for setup, a slower start or a change of plan, and agree on a getting-ready location with good light.

Keep a touch-up kit

Ask your artist to put together your lipstick, liner and blotting papers so you can refresh between the ceremony and the reception.

The Hollywood Bride travels for weddings across the US and abroad. See our destination weddings page or check your date.

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