Did your MUA make you sign a contract and pay for their services before your trial?

Contract and a deposit. I'm going for a second opinion with another artist. It pisses me off I'll probably lose the deposit, but I just don't know if I loved the way she did my makeup.

Nope, that's odd. I signed a contract and gave a deposit only after the trial and I was sure that I loved her work.

When I signed the contract, I had to send in my check for both my hair and makeup for the wedding day.

I signed beforehand but it was because i already know her personally and all that so there was no second guessing who i would go to for the day. but i do know that i could of had the trial and all that first before giving the money

I signed the contract and gave a 50% deposit. The remainder will be due the day of the wedding.

I signed my contract after I did the trial. I did however, pay 100% of her regular fee for the trial. I then had to make a 50% deposit for the wedding day stuff (all the BM's, hair, etc.)

I know some caterers that only did a tasting after a deposit was made.

I paid a deposit to hold my trial date. His shop is super high demand they are booking into 2016 and sometimes people would do "no shows" on weekends causing him to lose business he's turned away. So he had to have all clients now put a deposit down to protect himself.

I didn't have a contract but I gave a 50% deposit to secure my date.

Contract and deposit. The contract pretty much just outlined what we expected of her and then a few things to "protect" her like saying if she dies or there is a hurricane or some legit reason where she can't make it then we can't sue her. It also said that if she arrived on time but no one else did and she was just standing there waiting there for us to get there then she would get paid an hourly rate for that time. I thought it was pretty standard stuff..

I did the trial first, and then the MUA artist asked if I'd change anything and if I'd like to hire her. Then I gave her my money and signed the contract.

Signing first seems suspicious... like, what an vendor would do when they aren't good but want to lock you in.

They want me to sign a contract and pay the entire amount for my wedding day makeup which is $120. Not sure why we can't just do everything at the time of my trial which is next week. I booked it over a month ago and they just called me today about it saying their policy changed which I guess may be true...I know they are really good, but I'm a little nervous to do this. I do feel better knowing that some of you have had to do this...

I paid a 25% deposit to secure her for my date. My trail isn't for another month. I did talk to three of her past brides and they all gave her raving reviews so I wasn't concerned about signing the contract before the trail. I also didn't want to do the trail a year before my wedding.

I hired mine for the entire bridal party hair and makeup as well as mine. I had to give her 50% deposit for my services but not the bridal party. That being said she said if I wasn't happy after the trial that she would give me part of the deposit back and just charge me for a normal consultation. Also nooooooooo never sign a contract with a vendor before you see their work. WAY too many wedding horror stories started that way in my family!

I paid a deposit and signed a contract. It seemed normal to me. Why would she hold my date and miss other business without a contract?

I also paid a deposit and a signed a contract (she has to hold your wedding date somehow).My deposit was 50%. Most good MUA/Hair stylists will have a website or portfolio for you to look at of past brides and events. Its extremely normal in my area to do this. My trial was a month before my wedding.

I did my trial prior to signing my contract or paying my deposit. In fact, my salon wouldn't let me finalize my contract until after my trial. It doesn't seem right for you to lock yourself in to a vendor until you know whether or not you will like their services.

@ Kari- who are you using? I'm in Lancaster too. I'm using blush beautiful.

My MUA is $150, including a trial. Or you can get a trial for $75 and if you decide to book her, when you sign the contract, that $75 trial becomes your deposit. The rest payable day-of.

I paid a deposit ($200) and signed a contract. It makes me nervous because who knows if I will like her work (my trial is next week) but I felt this was the norm when I was searching for an artist.