12 Questions to Ask a Bridal Makeup Artist Before You Book

This is the most important question, because 'bridal makeup' means different things to different artists. Ask whether hair, draping, lashes and accessories are part of the price or charged as extras.

With me, everything for the bridal look is included, from the consultation and skin prep to hair, draping and touch-ups; the full list is on the bridal makeup page. I do makeup, hair styling and saree draping. I don't do facials, waxing or threading; those are parlour services, so book them separately and well before the wedding week.

A trial lets you see the look on your own skin and check how it photographs. Mine takes about two hours and is booked separately. Book it once your outfit is final, usually one to three months before the wedding; one trial is enough.

My honest advice: book a trial even if it costs extra. Skipping or rushing it is one of the three mistakes I see brides make most often, and it's the hardest one to fix on the day.

Experience shows in timing, in how the makeup holds up over a long day, and in staying calm when the schedule slips. I've been doing bridal makeup in Pune for over five years.

Look for real clients, not only styled shoots, and check that the photos show the kind of look you want. You can see mine in the portfolio, the bridal gallery on the bridal makeup page and on Instagram.

A word on reference photos, yours and everyone's: most bridal pictures online are heavily filtered. A good artist will match the look you love, but your skin will still look like skin, and that's what you want in photos you'll keep for life.

Professional products photograph better and last longer, and they matter even more if your skin is sensitive. I use professional brands including MAC, Laura Mercier, Fenty Beauty, NARS, Huda Beauty, Benefit, Too Faced, Sheglam and Rare Beauty, matched to your skin type and tone on the day.

Many artists offer more than one level, so ask what actually changes between them. My bridal makeup comes in two levels, HD and luxury, and I'll tell you which one suits your functions and your photographer, rather than the more expensive one by default.

The answer you want to hear is 'the one that matches your neck'. A shade that's too light is the most common bridal mistake I see. It looks grey next to a warmer neck and hands, especially under flash.

I'll tell you this even if you ask for something lighter: don't pick the shade that makes you look fairer. Pick the one that matches you.

You need this to plan your day. I arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled start, and the bridal look takes around three hours, depending on the style. Read more in how long bridal makeup takes.

Ask, because some artists leave the moment the look is done. I stay for around 30 minutes after the look is finished, longer if it's arranged beforehand, and I always stay when there's a change of look.

Booking one team for the bride and the family keeps the looks consistent and the day simpler. I do the bride, and my team of seven to eight people does the family, around 15 to 20 looks for one event at about an hour per person. Each person can choose Basic, HD or Luxi. See family and siders makeup.

Ask for the family list to be fixed when you book. Relatives added on the day are hard to fit in without rushing someone, the bride included.

Yes, anywhere in Pune. Travel within the city is charged by distance and shown in your quote. For weddings outside Pune, such as in Lonavala, Mahabaleshwar or Mumbai, the family looks after my travel and stay instead.

Always ask about the advance and the rescheduling policy before you pay anything. With me, a 50% advance confirms your date, by UPI or cash, and the balance is due before the session begins. The advance is non-refundable, but the booking can be moved to a new date, subject to availability.

For a wedding between October and February, book six to nine months ahead, because that's when dates go first. I also take same-week bookings when the date and time are free.

Start with a clean, makeup-free face, and tell me in advance about any skin condition or allergy. Bring your outfit, jewellery and reference photos to the consultation, and avoid trying new skin treatments in the wedding week.