+ What is your booking process?

Firstly, I like to arrange a quick no obligation chat on the phone when it’s convenient for you. I totally understand phone calls with someone you don’t know can be super daunting but the reason I do this step is because having your makeup done is such a personal experience. Arranging your wedding makeup should be so much more than a simple deposit and then “see you 3 months before the wedding for your trial”. Whoever you choose to do your makeup must be someone who you can envisage being a part of your wedding morning, someone who is a positive soul and trust that your bridal party will be looked after too. Every person I have spoken to has found the call really valuable and given them confidence to understand the booking process, ask questions and to gain knowledge and expertise in how I can help to create the best wedding makeup experience before continuing with the booking.

+ What deposit do you require?

I take a 15% deposit of your total booking to save the date which is deducted from the total. I request half of teh remaining balance after the trial and then the final half a couple of weeks before your wedding day.

+ When should I potentially book a Makeup Artist?

If there is a makeup artist you love, I would highly recommend reaching out at least 10 - 14 months in advance as they get can get booked up early. There's nothing to lose just dropping them a quick email or message and go from there!

+ How do I choose the best Makeup Artist for me?

In my opinion there are three main rules when choosing your makeup artist. 1) Their style of work - go through their gallery and check their Instagram or Facebook too. If you like the style of makeup and they represent themselves well on all platforms that's a great start. 2) Communication - you really do want someone on your wedding day who cares about you and your wedding plans. It's important that they communicate well with you from the start so you can feel reassured and confident about their makeup and their persona. 3) Testimonials - I think this is so incredibly important! Reviews are written by brides who have already gone through the same process with your makeup artist and if they have great comments to make then it's likely you will too! Aside from this, go with your gut feeling! Another great tip is to ask your friends if they know anyone. You might have a colleague or a family member who has recently got married, ask them who they used and if they would recommend them.

+ When does the trial happen?

The best timescale to do trials is around 2 - 3 months before the wedding day. At that stage you will know the finer details and will have had decided on flowers, bridesmaid’s dresses and started to get some ideas about the hair styling too and maybe have some ideas in place for what you want. You don't need all the answers, especially if you don't wear any makeup day to day or don't feel confident with it as it's my job to help you with this!

+ Can I have a trial before I commit to the booking?

Hopefully from the initial conversations we have you should feel confident and comfortable that I will be able to deliver what you are looking for regardless to how much makeup you do or don't wear. If you are still unsure for any reasons what-so-ever I am more than happy if you wish to have your trial before you decide to commit to the booking. Sometimes it's just for peace of mind to know you are doing the right thing or you may want to feel what it's like to wear more makeup as what you feel like on your wedding day is super important to me! If you do choose to have a trial before then I deduct the cost from the package, so you are not paying extra unless you do decide to have another trial closer to the wedding. Any questions please don't hesitate to ask.

+ What should I expect at the trial?

Firstly, I always recommend bringing someone who's opinion you trust at the trail so they can help advise and reassure if there is anything you are not sure of. It's important that you also wear your everyday makeup so I can see what you are comfortable with and go from there. I want you to still look like you but at your very best, so this is very important! Initially we sit and discuss your wedding morning, we go through what's going to happen and about timings etc, so you know exactly what to expect. Any good makeup artist will take out all the stress of your wedding morning and plan it all for you, so you don't have to think about it! We will also discuss your bridal party and talk through their makeup and discuss a look you will be happy with! The trial is just as important than your big day so I like to make sure we nail it so you can feel confident and excited for the wedding morning plans. It's important that you wear your makeup for the whole day, or for as long as you can so you can see how it looks in different times of the day and how your skin felt. I prefer not to overload with products so it's great to learn if you needed anything additional to help your makeup look amazing all day. You shouldn't have to do too much maintain your makeup aside from a quick lipstick top up.

+ Do I need to bring anything to the trial?

You're welcome to bring images of your wedding dress and flower ideas and even what you bridesmaids will be wearing so we can get an overall picture of what everyone will look like. It always helps to know the style of your wedding dress as this also determines the wedding makeup and how much you can wear.

+ What if I am not entirely happy with the trial?

I always do what I can to ensure we nail it on the first go. If you wear your everyday makeup to the trial, then usually it's straight forward! You shouldn't feel unsure about the makeup even though initially it can feel like you are wearing more than you wanted. You must remember that your wedding makeup will be more than your everyday makeup and it has to look great in pictures not to mention last from 11am to 12pm at night! The changes you want should be easy to do on the wedding morning however If once we have done the trial you are not entirely convinced, we can arrange a second trial. I am very approachable and easy to talk to so If you weren’t happy it's important to assure you that it's only makeup and it can be altered to suit your requirements! Whatever the concern, there is always an answer to the problem.

+ Can you travel to me for the trial?

I am more than happy to travel to the best location to you up to 15 miles of B5 4AJ (30 miles round trip). My travel charge is 50p per mile and is added onto the invoice. If it exceeds 15miles then I ask if you can come to me in Birmingham City Centre. As I have clients that are based further than the Midlands, this can be a more cost effective and easier way and as I live about a 5 minute walk from the train station and a stone’s throw of all the shops, bars and restaurants.

+ Do you do trials on the weekend?

Altough I don't have set days when I do trials, it may not be possible to accomodate a weekend especially in peak season May - September when I am usually fully booked on weekends. If there are any concerns with this, please let me know in the initial conversation and we can discuss the best options

+ Can my Bridesmaids or Mother of Bride have a trial? And if so, when?

I am more than happy to do trails for anyone who wishes to have one. I find that there are many reasons why others may want their trails doing! More often than none it’s because they are unsure if it's for them, or they don't feel comfortable with having their makeup done, or it could be the total opposite and love makeup and are curious to see what my makeup feels like and feel confident that they know what they will be getting on the day. Whatever the reason, I am happy to discuss! Additional trials are charged at the current rate on my packages and prices page, and Ideally we do this on the same day as the brides trial or even at my apartment in the city centre. The service I provide is about you and working around yours and your bridal parties needs to any questions around this, please don't hesitate to get in touch!

+ What can the bridesmaids expect without having a trial?

Be rest assured, your bridesmaids will be looked after! I hear all the time how makeup artists just focus on the bride and don't think too much about the Maids or Mother but for me that's not the case. I go out of my way to make sure everyone's comfort zones are considered whether they wear a lot of makeup or not. I tend to create a look that's adaptable to each person’s needs using the same colours/tones, so everyone looks polished and like a bridal "party". As there tends to be time constraints it's not always possible to do a different look on everyone but what I do make sure is that everyone’s needs are met and everyone feels comfortable and confident.

+ Can you recommend anyone for hair?

I have several hair stylists that I have worked with before and really admire and trust. They are based in different areas so definitely ask me for recommendations and I shall do my best to match you to the right stylist for you!

+ What can I expect on the day of my wedding?

I make sure that all of this is discussed at the trial and over the phone so you know what to expect! The idea is that you should have nothing to plan what-so-ever and the professionals you hire will do all of this for you so all you are required to do is basically turn up and relax with your close ones and enjoy your morning! I have a page on my website that goes through the wedding trial and day so feel free to find out more https://makeupbyharper.com/bridaltrialandweddingday

+ How long does it take for each person to have their makeup done on the morning of the wedding?

I send over a schedule about 2 weeks before your wedding day with all the timings so you can feel confident that it will run smoothly. I plan 45 minutes for the bride and between 30 - 45 minutes per bridesmaid/mother of bride.

+ Is it better to have hair or Makeup done first on my wedding morning?

Most brides tend to like to have their makeup done last or as close as they can do to the time of getting married and most of the time this works the best. The bride's makeup tends to be second from last in the schedule and by this time it's likely to already have had their hair done. Regarding the rest of the bridal party, it is of course impossible for everyone's hair to be done before I can start makeup so it's a matter of alternating which tends to work. For bigger bridal party’s I may ask for the hairstylists email so I can liaise with them directly to take the stress and hassle away from you having to do so!

+ I don't know exactly how many people I want to book for, can I add more bridesmaids later?

Of course! I am completely flexible about adding more people and I totally understand that the time you book may be a year or more before the wedding date and it might be too soon to say for definite who would like their makeup doing. I also find that people often change their minds if they initally don't think it's for them especially when they see the brides makeup! Please note that in peak season (May – September and December) and weekends, I only accept package bookings so if you do reduce then the minimum package must be met and unfortunately any reductions to packages can’t be made less than 8 weeks before the wedding.

+ What happens if on the day we would like to add an extra person?

Sometimes this is doable depending on time constraints however if there is already a large bridal party to attend to then of course, they take priority. I do my upmost to make sure I can be adaptable as long as there is enough time to be able to help everyone. Please note that any additional people on the day is charged at the current price reflected on my website which may be different from the time of booking and must be paid via bank transfer on the same morning.

+ What is Vegan Friendly Makeup?

My makeup has all been heavily researched to make sure it's not only the best for the job but also as ethical as it can be. All my makeup is cruelty free and mostly vegan friendly. This means that there is no animal derived products in the ingredients which is great for anyone who suffers from sensitive and problematic skin like rosacea and acne.

+ What Brands do you use?

My Brands are all cruelty free and I use premium well-known brands such as Charlotte Tilbury, Violette Voss, Tarte Cosmetics, Urban Decay, Illamasqua to name but a few. For more info on my brands, please follow the link below

https://makeupbyharper.com/crueltyfreemakeup

+ Does the makeup you use last all day?

This is one of the most common questions I get asked when people read "vegan friendly makeup". I cannot express enough that just because it is "vegan friendly" it doesn't mean that it's lacking in something which will alter its performance, in fact it’s the total opposite! It's not only much better for your skin and free from parabens and nasty things but it's also still well-known and luxury brands that I use and swear by.

The way to show what others have to say is to read my testimonials! I rely heavily on my bride’s feedback because frankly without them I would never know for sure. I have used my makeup in the height of winter and the hottest days through summer and abroad on destination weddings, so I know that they last all day and night regardless to the weather and circumstances. One of the main things people feedback on is that the makeup lasted all day and night and still looked fabulous in the late hours of dancing!

The trial is also the best way to see how well the makeup lasts as I highly recommend you wear it for a full day and feedback anything you may have noticed so we can minimise any issues for the big day. It’s highly unlikely that you will need to tweak or spend time on your wedding day with your makeup aside from having to pop on some more lipstick.

For all of my testimonials please follow the link below

https://makeupbyharper.com/testimonials

+ Do you cater for all skin tones?

I have done over 300 weddings, fashion shows, portfolio shoots and travelled the country working with differemt women from different cultures and ethnicities. I have been in industry for over 6 years including working on various counters before becoming fully freelance so please be rest assured that I can come to any event with my kit and be fully prepared for different skin tones and skin types!

+ Can you recommend skin care products?

I can recommend tips and tricks and sometimes oils and moisturisers that help different skin types but it's important to mention that I am not a skin specialist or a trained dermatologist so if there are bigger skin concerns, I highly recommend seeing a professional!