The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Right Bridal Makeup Artist in South Florida
Your wedding makeup is undoubtedly the most important aspect of your whole bridal look, aside from your dress. The photos will capture every pore and eyelash, so it’s important that you wear the right products, so your face is glowing. You want the memory of your happiest day to be accompanied by the best and most put together version of yourself. Finding the right makeup artist for your wedding can be one of the most stressful parts of wedding planning for a new bride. South Florida is also a very large area with many artists to choose from, so it’s important to choose wisely. This guide has been compiled with bridal industry experts serving the South Florida and Palm Beach County regions.
Start with recommendations
Ask friends, family members, or co-workers who have recently gotten married for recommendations on makeup artists they worked with and loved. Look amongst your friend group and research the artists they have used in their weddings. Most wedding artists are found through word of mouth. Ensure they also loved their experience with their artist. If you are one of the first in your circles to get married and are having a hard time looking for bridal artist, look for a maternity makeup artist in South Florida because most times maternity artists will do both. Viva La Cortes Makeovers in South Florida offers all bridal makeup artistry services as well as maternal, corporate headshots, and special events such as galas.
Look for Reviews
Search online for reviews and ratings of makeup artists in your area to get a sense of their work and reputation. The most reliable sources are usually Google and Yelp reviews. When looking at the reviews, read through as many as possible. Try not to get caught up in one-star reviews unless there are multiple one-star reviews stating the same thing. A one-star review can happen for many reasons. If you notice a one-star review that is bothering you, you can always ask the Makeup Artist and they would happily explain the situation. Regardless, the reviews can reveal a lot about the makeup artist’s experience regarding the bridal experience. Look to see if the reviews signal anything that might be a green or red flag.
Check portfolios
Most professional makeup artists have a website or social media page where you can see their portfolio of work. Look for someone who has experience working with brides and whose style matches your vision. Most artists have their portfolios on their website, but the most updated ones come from Instagram. Be sure to look out for heavily filtered images. If the faces look very airbrushed and blurry, zoom in to see if there are obvious lines being blurred out (i.e., smile lines around the mouth). When looking through portfolios, look at the style of makeup being done. Does it match what you usually like to go for? Are you looking for heavy glam? Or do you want a more natural look? Look at the eye makeup, lipstick colors, blush, and contour. Think about if it matches your wedding theme, and if its something you would feel comfortable looking in. Also consider the theme of your wedding and your dress. Are you doing a beach wedding? Consider going for a more bronzed, sun-kissed look. If you have a courthouse, city wedding, consider a more sophisticated makeup look. Viva La Cortes, based in south Florida, can fit any makeup look to any wedding theme. We are blessed enough to have worked with hundreds of brides across hundreds of wedding themes.
Schedule a trial run
A trial run is incredibly important for brides. Not only would you be able to see if you like the artist’s work, but you are also able to see how the makeup wears throughout the day. Here are a few things to look out for: Check the foundation shade in different lighting, including photo. This is something the artist can do with you right after the makeup is complete. Go outside, does it still match? Go under harsh lighting. Take a picture on your phone with the highest flash. Take a picture in low lighting. Ensure your makeup looks good in all lightings. In case there are any issues, the artist can make any adjustments. For example, you might LOVE your lipstick shade indoors. But outdoors, it's just a little too peachy for your liking. South Florida weather is predictable and unpredictable at the same time. You might get hit by the sun halfway during your outdoor reception. You want to ensure that it looks great before, after, and during the wedding ceremony. There is time and room for adjustments. And your artist will take notes.
The next thing to look out for is checking your foundation for oxidization, some foundations can oxidize on different skin tones. Check the foundation after one hour in different lighting to see if it turns a slight tinge of orange. If this happens, you can relay it to your artist, and they can use a different foundation formula that might work better with your skin. South Florida makeup artists always face the challenge of fighting Florida humidity. Which leads to the next topic.
The next part to check is the actual foundation texture. Is it creasing underneath your eyes? Is it patching? Texture on the skin that is amplified by makeup can signify the additional skincare needed before the big wedding day. In south Florida, makeup can be a challenge with the humid weather. If your face sweats a lot, let your makeup artist know so they can do the appropriate skin preparation. A good makeup artist has worked in multiple climates and knows how to prep the skin accordingly. If your concealer creases under your eyes, consider using eye cream every day before your wedding. If your foundation is patching, try chemical or physical exfoliants to help remove any dead skin. Consult with your makeup artist on the best skincare practices leading up to your wedding day. We recommend getting monthly facials 6 months before your wedding. This will ensure your skin is at its best health, and the facialist is able to address any skin concerns and treat it before the big wedding day. Viva La Cortes Makeovers provides bespoke facial treatments that can be booked for up to months leading up to your wedding day. Not only does this give you great self-care, but it also ensures your skin will look perfect. Use this opportunity to ask questions, test out different looks, and ensure that the makeup artist understands your vision and preferences. Viva la Cortes offers trial runs, which includes the full makeup look, as well as in-depth consultation about different looks and preferences.
Consider their personality
You’ll be spending a lot of time with your makeup artist on your wedding day, so it’s important to choose someone whose personality meshes well with yours. Look for someone who is friendly, professional, and easy to communicate with. Look for transparency in pricing and for any additional services, such as airbrush makeup or individual lashes. Transparency meaning, they are upfront about pricing when you ask about additional services. Viva La Cortes Makeovers based in South Florida prides themselves on vetting their artists to be able to provide the best possible service for their distinguished guests. The artists are sent through a rigorous interview process where their artistry is tested, and their personality is vetted. We would never bring someone onto our South Florida team that would make our guests feel less than royalty.
Check availability
Once you’ve found a makeup artist you like, make sure they are available on your wedding day and able to accommodate your schedule. This should be booked, at minimum, 6 months before your event. South Florida makeup artists tend to book up quickly, so it is best that you schedule the artist out for six months. This allows any changes in case anybody else needs their makeup done such as bridesmaids. Your bridesmaid’s makeup should be scheduled at this time as well. Bridal makeup teams, especially in a large area like South Florida, usually have a team of artists that will be able to take on the bride and the bridesmaids at the same time.
Discuss pricing and contracts
Make sure you understand the makeup artist’s pricing structure and what is included in their services. You should also ask about their cancellation policy and contract before committing to their services. A Makeup artist’s cancellation policy protects them from last minute cancellations, which can sadly happen in the bridal world. The difference between a regular salon cancellation and a bridal makeup cancellation is that a bridal makeup cannot be “filled in” or booked quickly. The time is lost. Viva La Cortes’ cancellation policy can be found by going on the site in the FAQ or emailing at vivalacortes@gmail.com.
