The core questions
1. Are you available on [my wedding date]?
Lead with this. There's no point in a deeper conversation if the date is taken. A clear yes/no is the right answer. "Probably" or "I'll get back to you" is a sign the artist isn't tracking her calendar tightly.
2. What's included in the bridal application?
Listen for: skincare prep, custom-blended foundation, brows, full eye look, lashes (included or extra?), lips, touch-up kit. The list should be specific.
Yellow flag: Vague "everything you'd expect" answers.
3. How much does it cost? What's the structure?
Listen for: Bride rate, party member rate, travel structure, booking fee, payment terms.
Get all of this in writing. Verbal pricing is a red flag.
4. Is the booking fee included in the day-of total?
Almost always no. The booking fee secures the date; the wedding-day total is paid separately. Confirm in writing.
5. What's your cancellation policy?
Listen for: A tiered structure based on notice given. Industry standard is roughly:
- 90+ days: booking fee forfeited
- 60-89 days: 25% of services
- 30-59 days: 50% of services
- Less than 14 days: 100% of services
6. Do you recommend a trial for me?
The right answer is conditional — "based on your situation (first-time MUA client, sensitive skin, specific vision), yes" or "based on your situation (experienced client, simple look), it's optional." A blanket hard-sell of a trial without asking questions about you is a yellow flag.
7. What's your typical wedding-morning timeline?
Listen for: A clear sequence (e.g., "I arrive 30 min before the first application, bride goes first or last depending on photographer's first-look schedule, each application is 45-60 min, I leave when the bride is ready"). The artist should be able to recite this from memory.
8. How long does the bride's application take? Each party member?
Listen for: 60-75 minutes for the bride, 35-45 minutes for party members. Faster than that is usually rushing; significantly slower is poor pacing.
9. What products and brands do you use?
Listen for: Specific brand names. Professional kit brands include MAC Pro, Make Up For Ever, Charlotte Tilbury, Pat McGrath, NARS, Hourglass, Dior Backstage, Danessa Myricks. Drugstore-only kits are a yellow flag for bridal work.
10. How do you sanitise tools between clients?
Listen for: Brushes sanitised between each client. Disposable lash applicators or wand-replacement. 70% IPA spray. Mascara wands swapped (no double-dipping into the tube).
11. What's your experience with [my situation]?
Customise this. "What's your experience with mature skin?" "With acne-prone skin?" "With sensitive eyes?" "With outdoor summer weddings?" "With brides who wear glasses?" Listen for specificity.
12. What credentials or licenses do you hold?
Listen for: Cosmetology certification (in NB, look for CANB licensing). Instructor or educator status is a stronger signal — it means the artist's work meets a teachable standard. Amanda Phillips holds a CANB instructor licence.
13. How early do you arrive on the wedding morning?
Listen for: 15-30 minutes before the first application starts. Allows for setup time without keeping anyone waiting.
14. What happens if you're sick on the wedding day?
Reputable artists have backup networks of trusted colleagues. The contract should address this — they make every effort to arrange a qualified substitute. This is rare but worth confirming.
15. Do you offer hair, or just makeup?
Many bridal MUAs are makeup-only and refer to trusted hair stylists. Amanda Phillips is makeup-only. If you want a single vendor for both, ask whether the artist does both or has a regular partnership.
Bonus questions worth asking
- How many weddings have you done in [my venue]?
- Can you share photos of a recent wedding similar to mine in size and style?
- What's the largest party you've handled in a single morning?
- Do you handle touch-ups during the reception, or is it one application?
- Can I see a copy of the contract before signing?
- How will we communicate in the weeks before the wedding?
What NOT to ask
A few questions waste airtime — skip them:
- "Are you good?" (No one says no.)
- "Will I look pretty?" (Same.)
- "Can you do [specific celebrity's look]?" (You'll get a polite yes; specificity helps more than name-dropping.)
- "What's the cheapest you can do it for?" (Pricing isn't a haggle; the artist will quote what she charges.)
"The right questions reveal more about the artist than her portfolio does. Anyone can post photos. Only experienced artists can answer 15 specific questions confidently in a row."
What the answers tell you
Look at the pattern across answers, not just any single one:
- Specificity — every answer should be specific, not vague
- Consistency — pricing, timeline, and process should match across email and conversation
- Questions back at you — an experienced artist asks as many questions as you do
- Calm, not hurried — replies feel measured, not rushed
The short version
Date, pricing, contract, cancellation, trial, timeline, kit, sanitation, credentials. Fifteen questions, twenty minutes of conversation, all the information you need to book confidently.