Makeup Artist Etiquette

Many makeup artists/hair stylists have a clause in their contract that they are the only artist allowed. If you need more than one, talk with the stylist you prefer and have him/her provide an assistant.

My MUA has a minimum number of 4 people before she will travel for a wedding, so that is also something to consider.

Agree with going to the chapel, it might not even be allowed. There's no need for everyone to be there the whole time; you can always have them come in at different points throughout the day. Although many people don't mind hanging out together all day as long as there is plenty of food to snack on, water to drink, and music playing or something to do.

I would talk to the makeup artist about it. I found a girl I really loved, so I booked her. She is bringing another artist (for an additional $200) and an assistant. The artist & assistant work for her. That way all girls will get done in the time and more will go on at once. I'm also catering lunch in & a mimosa bar for the girls and having music playing so we aren't as bored. I found a chair masseuse who will come in and give the girls chair massages while they wait, too!

We got our hair done at a salon (3 people, including me, went to one person over 3 hours, and 1 person went to another at the same time as my appointment) and 3 of us had one makeup artist come to the house. I think it really depends on how you book things and what their contracts say.

Most HMUAs will bring extra people to help do the bridal party. I would ask.

Yes, I would just hire them from the same salon or company. I think it would get sticky if you hired two independent people, as PP said they may have it in their contract that is not allowed.

Speak to the stylist about it. I ended up going with a company that did both hair and make up. We had two stylists to do 2 girls make up and 6 girls hair. One stylist did my 4 bridesmaids hair and the other did make up and hair for me and my mom. It was all done in about 4 hours and we had plenty of breakfast and lunch food and music playing.

Like others have said, sometimes you can have an assistant come with her, however I would say that depends on how many BMs/others are getting their makeup done

I would first ask your HMUA if they have a team or partner that they bring to wedding parties - someone with experience doing wedding HMU should because there's no way for one person to do all of those people. We have 7 of us to get ready, so my HMUA is bringing 2 other people and it's still going to take 4 hours. So if they say there's no assistant(s) they can bring, then I think it would be fine to go ahead and book another one.

Generally, I think hiring two separate entities (be it salons/independents/etc) is frowned upon. Talk to your choices about how many artists will be there, and add that as pro or con for each choice while you are evaluating them. (For example, if one is an independent, and can only promise/provide their individual services, that would be a con. But if a salon can provide a second person for a fee smaller than hiring a second choice, that would be a pro.)

I would definitely hire them as one or 2 groups - it would be ok to hire a salon that sends 2 or 3 people but just does hair and another that sends a couple people and just does make up. If they only do one or the other at their company they will expect you to hire another company to do the other (and might have some ideas of people they worked with in the past and work well with). Also if you want a consistent look hiring multiple people from the same service is more likely to get you that as they will be used to working together to do just that.