Find a Wedding Makeup Artist near you
The average rating for Bark Wedding Makeup Artists is 4.89, based on 194,907 reviews
5/5
based on 194,907 reviews
Need makeup application for your wedding day but not sure of the cost? 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 it must photograph beautifully too.
Exquisite wedding makeup isn’t easy to achieve yourself, especially with the nerves of the day. That’s why most brides hire a professional 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 includes 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, the makeup artist will travel to your location and apply the makeup while you are getting ready. The service may also include makeup for the wider bridal party too, including your maid of honor and bridesmaids.
The cost of wedding makeup ranges between $250 and $600 on average.
Although you can opt not to have a trial which will be cheaper, 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 | $400 |
| Minimum cost | $250 |
| Maximum cost | $600 |
Though these are the average costs, wedding makeup artists are free to command any rate they choose. Expect to pay more for in-demand makeup artists, especially those who are most experienced.
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 school, through to those with decades of experience. The level of experience your makeup artist has will affect how much they charge.
| Level of experience | Highest average price | Lowest average price |
| Newly graduated | $160 | $70 |
| Standard | $410 | $200 |
| Highly experienced | $600 | $340 |
Newly graduated makeup artists may charge as little as $70 for wedding makeup, though won’t have as much experience in product application or the running order of the day.
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 good idea.
On the other end of the scale, expert wedding makeup artists can charge anywhere up to $600 and above. Such professionals will have an extremely impressive portfolio, with potentially hundreds of weddings under their belt.
Beyond this, makeup artists with celebrity or red carpet experience may charge thousands of dollars to apply your wedding makeup. So there is flexibility across the board depending on your budget.
Wedding makeup can involve just the bride or the wider bridal party. Most makeup artists will offer a package deal 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. For example, individual lashes will take far longer to apply than just a regular coat of mascara or even strip lashes.
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 just 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.
Makeup varies significantly in quality 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 dollars 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.
Wisconsin typically has the cheapest prices across the US, averaging at $270 for a makeup trial and wedding day makeup.
California is the most expensive area, averaging at $500, with New York not far behind at $400.
| Location | Average wedding makeup cost |
| California | $500 |
| Texas | $385 |
| New York | $400 |
| Wisconsin | $270 |
| Colorado | $335 |
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.
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. Few of us are confident makeup artists, especially when it comes to bridal makeup which needs to photograph well and last all day. Plus on your wedding 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 4.89, based on 194,907 reviews
5/5
based on 194,907 reviews
