Find a Wedding Makeup Artist near you
The average rating for Bark Wedding Makeup Artists is 4.93, based on 119,924 reviews
5/5
based on 119,924 reviews
Looking for a special look for your big day? Read our handy guide to find out how much your makeup artist will charge for their services.
Your wedding is the biggest day of your life and all eyes will be on you. Not only does your makeup need to look good in person and last all day, but also photograph beautifully too.
Stunning wedding makeup isn’t easy to perfect especially with the nerves of the day, which is why most brides opt for a makeup artist to apply their bridal makeup instead. As well as applying your makeup, they are there to calm and reassure you, and their presence will set the tone for the rest of the day.
Wedding makeup usually starts with a trial, which will give the makeup artist the chance to select the right products, and ensure you are happy with the finished look. This includes matching products to your skin tone, as well as creating the kind of look you had in mind such as natural, soft glam or even a vintage look.
On the day, they will travel to your venue and apply the makeup while you are getting ready. The service may also include makeup for the mother of the bride and your bridesmaids too.
The cost of wedding makeup ranges between £200 and £450 on average, including the price of a trial.
Although you can opt not to have a trial, it’s highly recommended to ensure you’ll be happy with the makeup. Plus it gives the makeup artist a chance to plan out their look so that they come prepared on the day. Some makeup artists will also insist on a trial, which may be priced separately.
| Average cost | £280 |
| Minimum cost | £200 |
| Maximum cost | £450 |
The cost of wedding makeup varies depending on several factors, including:
Experience of makeup artist
Number of people
Makeup style
Touch-ups
Your wedding date
Brand of makeup used
Location
Makeup artists vary in expertise, from those who are newly graduated from beauty college, through to those with decades of experience. Though this flexibility does mean that it’s a lot easier to manage the budget, especially if you’re on a tight one.
| Level of experience | Highest average price | Lowest average price |
| Graduate | £120 | £50 |
| Standard | £300 | £150 |
| Highly experienced | £450 | £250 |
Graduate makeup artists may charge as little as £50 for wedding makeup, though won’t have as much experience in product application or the running order of the day. So it’s important that if you do opt for a lesser experienced makeup artist, that they can deliver exactly what you had in mind. Meeting them in person and checking out their portfolio is always a sensible idea.
On the other end of the scale, expert wedding makeup artists can charge anywhere up to £450 and above. Such professionals will have an extremely impressive portfolio, with potentially hundreds of weddings under their belt.
Wedding makeup can involve just the bride or the mother of the bride and the bridesmaids. Most makeup artists will offer a package to cover the different options which will help manage the costs. For large bridal parties, your makeup artist may require an assistant, or you may have to hire additional makeup artists which will bump up the cost.
Some brides prefer a natural makeup look on their big day, and others want full-on glam. The makeup style may affect the cost, as some makeup looks require far fewer products than others. Plus, some looks take much more time to complete.
Even with the best primer and setting spray in the world, your wedding makeup may require touch-ups throughout the day, especially as you move into the evening reception. Your makeup artist may offer touch-ups as part of their service at an extra cost.
Brides who have more than one wedding dress may also choose a different makeup look for each outfit. In which case, you’ll need to hire your makeup artist for the full day, rather than a couple of hours.
Similar to other wedding providers such as venues, there are certain times of the year when makeup artists are busier than others. This even applies to the days of the week, with Fridays and Saturdays being the most common days when people get married.
If you are looking to save money, then choosing an off-peak season or day of the week is the way to go. On the flip side, your makeup artist may charge a premium if you book them during their busiest period.
The quality of makeup varies significantly from regular drugstore makeup to designer brands. Makeup artists have to purchase a lot of products and tools for their kit. If their kit is completely high end, their services are likely to cost more than someone who only uses basic products.
Some makeup artists may also be affiliated with certain brands, including having been trained by them. Such courses can cost thousands of pounds to attend, which will likely make their services more expensive.
On rare occasions, you may also require or request products that aren’t part of your makeup artist’s standard kit. If so, the purchase cost will be passed onto you.
The location will impact the cost of any service you wish to hire, and makeup artists are no exception.
The North East typically has the cheapest prices across the UK, averaging at £200 for a makeup trial and wedding day makeup.
London is the most expensive area, averaging at £450.
| Location | Average wedding makeup cost |
| Midlands | £220 |
| London | £450 |
| North East | £200 |
| North West | £250 |
| South West | £300 |
Though when you consider all the other factors, it’s possible to find wedding makeup artists that charge above and below the average costs for their location.
Few of us are confident makeup artists, especially when it comes to bridal makeup which needs to photograph well and last all day. Given you will look back on your wedding photographs for the rest of your life, it’s essential that you’re happy with how you look. Plus on your big day, you want things to be as seamless as possible. Having someone take care of your makeup will relieve a lot of stress, and will ensure you get exactly what you had in mind.
Find the best professional for the job on Bark today.
The average rating for Bark Wedding Makeup Artists is 4.93, based on 119,924 reviews
5/5
based on 119,924 reviews
