Book your bridal makeup trial four to eight weeks before the wedding, after your first outfit fitting. Bring your dupatta or outfit, jewellery photos, a few reference looks, and arrive with a clean face and dry hair. Ask about timings, lashes, dupatta setting, touch-ups and whether HD or airbrush suits your day.
When to book your trial
Four to eight weeks before the wedding is the sweet spot. Earlier than that and your skin, hair colour or even your outfit may change; later and there is little time to adjust if something does not feel right. If your outfit is being stitched or altered, book the trial after your first fitting, so you can bring the real fabric and see the colours together.
Our bridal trial takes about 90 minutes and costs $100, credited to your bill if you book bridal makeup with us. Book it on a day you have plans afterwards. Wearing the makeup for a few hours, to dinner or a family event, tells you more about how it lasts than any mirror.
What to bring
- Your dupatta, or the outfit itself if it is ready. At minimum, a fabric swatch and clear daylight photos.
- Your jewellery, or photos of it: maang tikka, passa or jhoomar, nath, earrings, necklace sets.
- Three to five photos of makeup you love, and one or two you definitely do not. The second set is often more useful.
- Photos of your hair plan and any hair pieces or extensions you will wear.
- A top with a similar neckline and colour to your blouse, so you can judge the look properly.
- Any skin care you use daily, or at least a list. Your artist needs to know about retinoids and acids.
- One trusted person. A mum, sister or friend who will be honest. A crowd makes decisions harder.
HD or airbrush: decide at the trial
Both are offered at our Newton studio and both can look beautiful. The difference is in how they are applied and how they wear over a long day.
| HD makeup | Airbrush makeup | |
|---|---|---|
| Application | Brushes and sponges, built up in layers | Sprayed on in thin, even layers |
| Finish up close | Natural and skin-like | Smooth and even |
| Heat, long hours, flash | Good when well set | Holds up longer |
| Bridal makeup and hair | $450 | $550 |
Many brides choose airbrush for a long ceremony day, a warm hall or lots of flash photography, and HD for a reception or second look. If you are unsure, ask your artist to do half your face each way at the trial and take photos of both.
Questions to ask your artist
- How long will makeup and hair take on the day, and what time should I be in the chair?
- Do you come to me, or do I come to the studio? What do you need in the room?
- Which lashes will you use, and are they comfortable for ten hours?
- How will my dupatta be set, and will it stay through the ceremony and the photos?
- Will my jewellery sit properly with this hairstyle?
- What is in the touch-up kit, and who will carry it?
- If I change for the reception, what changes, how long does it take, and what does it cost?
- Who else is booked with you that day, and will there be a second artist for my family?
- What is the deposit, and what happens if the date moves?
At our studio, a 30% deposit holds your date and is refundable until 60 days before the wedding. Dupatta setting and a touch-up kit are included with bridal makeup; a reception or second look is $300.
During the trial
- Talk early. If the base looks too light or too heavy, say so at the start, not at the end.
- Check the shade in daylight by a window, under indoor light, and with your phone's flash.
- Look at the photos, not just the mirror. Cameras flatten makeup, which is why bridal looks are built a little stronger.
- Sit in the dupatta for a while. Is it heavy? Does it pull your hair? Better to find out now.
- Make notes or ask the artist to. Lip colour, lash style and hair accessories are easy to forget by the wedding.
After the trial
Wear the look for at least three or four hours. Check how it looks after eating, in a warm room, and at the end of the evening. Notice whether your skin felt comfortable, whether the lashes bothered you, and whether the base creased or faded anywhere.
Send your artist honest feedback within a day or two, with photos. Small changes such as a softer lip, a warmer base or a different lash are normal and easy. If you want a very different direction, ask whether a second short trial is possible.
Different weddings, different looks
If you have several events, plan them at the trial too. A morning Anand Karaj under a covered head, an evening of pheras, a nikkah followed by a walima, a sangeet or jaggo night, and a reception can all suit different intensities and hairstyles. You do not need a full trial for each, but you should agree on the plan for each one with your artist.
Questions
How far before the wedding should I do my makeup trial?
Four to eight weeks before, after your first outfit fitting, so the look can be planned with the real fabric and jewellery.
How much is a bridal makeup trial in Surrey?
At Glam & Seam the trial is $100 and takes about 90 minutes. It is credited to your bill if you book bridal makeup with us.
Should I wear my outfit to the trial?
Bring the dupatta or the outfit if you can, or at least a swatch and daylight photos. Wear a top with a similar neckline.
Is airbrush better than HD makeup for a bride?
Neither is better for everyone. Airbrush tends to hold up longer in heat and flash; HD looks very natural up close. The trial is the place to compare.
Can I change my mind after the trial?
Yes. Small changes are normal. Tell your artist within a day or two, with photos, while the details are fresh.
Should I bring my mum to the trial?
Bring one or two people whose opinion you trust. More than that usually makes it harder to decide.