Checklist: 10 Questions for Your Stylist (Trials, Travel Fees, and Touch-up Kits)
The hair and makeup team has one of the most logistically complex roles in the wedding day. They are working against a fixed timeline, often with multiple people, in a space that may not be optimally set up for their work. Asking the right questions before booking ensures that the logistics are understood and planned for, not discovered on the day.
The Questions
1. How many people can your team service in the time available, and what is your recommended schedule? Ask the stylist to calculate the schedule based on your actual wedding party size, the number of people getting both hair and makeup, and your ceremony time. A schedule provided by the professional is more reliable than one estimated by the couple.
2. Will you personally be doing our hair and makeup, or will an assistant or associate be involved? If you booked based on a specific artist's portfolio, confirm in writing who will be there on the day. Multi-artist teams are common and efficient, but the couple should know in advance who is doing what.
3. Do you charge for a trial, and what does the trial include? Trials are strongly recommended for the couple at minimum. Confirm whether the trial takes place at the stylist's studio or if they come to you, how long it runs, whether the full look is completed or just sampled, and whether the trial fee is applied toward the wedding balance.
4. What is your travel fee structure? Most stylists charge a travel fee for on-location services. The fee structure varies: some charge a flat rate, others charge per mile or per hour of travel. For destinations outside the stylist's standard area, confirm the travel fee before comparing quotes.
5. What do you need from the venue in terms of setup? Professional stylists require adequate lighting, a power source for tools, and enough table or counter space to set up their kit. If your getting-ready space has limited natural light, ask how they handle this and whether they bring portable lighting.
6. Do you provide a touch-up kit, and what does it include? A touch-up kit for the couple, left after the stylist departs, allows for product reapplication throughout the day. Confirm whether this is included in the package or an add-on, and what products it contains.
7. What is your policy on additions to the party on the day of the wedding? Last-minute additions to the hair and makeup schedule, such as a family member who decides they want services on the day, can disrupt a tightly planned timeline. Confirm the policy for additions and any associated fees.
8. How do you handle it when the timeline runs behind? Ask directly. A professional stylist should have a clear approach, whether that involves prioritizing the couple, adjusting service scope, or working faster in specific ways. Understanding this in advance sets expectations.
9. What are your product preferences, and are there products I should avoid using on my skin the morning of the wedding? Some stylists prefer a specific primer or preparation. Some have products they work against. Knowing this in advance prevents a trial result from not being replicable on the wedding day because of different skin preparation.
10. What are your payment and cancellation terms? Understand the deposit amount, when the balance is due, and the cancellation policy in the event of illness or emergency on either side.
A Note on Trials
Schedule the trial at least four to six weeks before the wedding, not immediately before it. This gives time to refine the look, request adjustments, or switch direction if needed. A trial that takes place too close to the wedding leaves no room for iteration.
Photograph the result of the trial from multiple angles in natural light and in low light if possible. These images are the reference for the wedding day, both for the stylist and for your own confirmation that the look is what you intended.
Use the Vendor Manager in The Planned Wedding to track your stylist's contract, trial date, and payment schedule. Open the app.