When it comes to wedding day prep, your hair and makeup team sets the tone for everything that follows. They aren’t just there to make you look good—they’re key to making you feel confident, relaxed, and ready to walk down the aisle. In Vermont, where beautiful weddings come with cozy mornings and unpredictable weather, hiring the right beauty professionals makes all the difference.

Here’s what to look for (and what to avoid) when booking your bridal beauty team.

Start With the Essentials

1. Make Sure They Have Enough Artists for Your Party

Nothing slows a wedding morning down like too few stylists. A good rule of thumb: one hair artist and one makeup artist per 4–5 people, max. However, be transparent with your time constraints to determine the right number of artists. If you only have 4 hours available in your getting ready room you will need more artists as the time needed for hair or makeup can range from 45 minutes to one and a half hours. If your wedding party includes more than five people, make sure the team can scale up to meet your needs and stay on schedule.

2. Look for Experience With All Skin Textures and Hair Types

Your wedding party is beautifully diverse—your beauty team should be, too. Ask your artists about their experience with different hair textures and skin tones. If they can’t confidently show a portfolio with diversity, keep looking. Asking for references to ensure that former clients had a positive experience is highly recommended, as well.

3. They Must Offer Transparent Pricing and a Contract

Reputable hair and makeup artists provide clear pricing packages and written contracts. These should include details like number of services, trial policies, travel fees, and exact timing. If you don’t have a contract with their full contact information, don’t book them. Remember, a strong contract doesn’t just protect the artist—it protects you. It removes ambiguity, aligns expectations, and ensures you both know exactly what they’re agreeing to.c

Here’s some clauses we consider must haves when working with a new beauty team:

• No travel fee structure specified. If the contract doesn’t clarify how travel is billed—flat rate, mileage, minimum distance—you’re exposed to surprise charges. Professional teams outline this upfront in the contract or invoice.
• Vague cancellation or rescheduling policies. “We’ll work with you” isn’t a policy. You need clear windows: what happens if you cancel 90 days out versus 30? What if they cancel? Who refunds what, and when?
• No backup artist clause. If your lead artist gets sick or has an emergency, who steps in? A strong contract names a backup or guarantees a replacement with equivalent experience.
• No product or extension policy. If you want hair extensions, airbrush makeup, or lash applications, those should be line-itemed. If they’re not mentioned, assume they cost extra—or aren’t available.
• Payment terms are all upfront. Deposits are standard. Full payment months in advance is not. A fair contract balances risk: partial deposit, partial payment closer to the date, final balance on or near the wedding day.
• No liability or damage clause. What happens if a stylist damages your veil, tears your dress while pinning, or causes an allergic reaction? Professional contracts address this, even if it’s rare.

4. You Should Be Comfortable With Their Social Media Presence

Today, many stylists use Instagram and TikTok as their portfolios. Take a look: does their work reflect your style? Do they share behind-the-scenes content that helps you trust their hygiene and professionalism? Will content creation cause delays on your wedding morning? Social media isn’t everything—but it does give you insight into their vibe and values. If you’re not interested in being a part of their socials, ensure this isn’t a deal breaker for your artist and that your planner has allotted time for these little extras.

5. Trial Scheduling Should Be Clear and Convenient

You’ll want a trial well before the big day. Make sure your artist offers trial scheduling that fits your planning timeline. Are they responsive about booking it? Do they guide you on what to bring or how to prep? That clarity matters. Your trial should also occur at a time of day that allows you to see yourself in similar lighting as your wedding day.

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Know the Red Flags

It’s easy to get excited about a beautifully curated Instagram grid, but behind the filters, you need professionalism. Watch for these red flags:

• No contract or missing contact info: If they can’t give you a full written agreement with their name and business details, move on.
• Poor communication after your initial inquiry: If they ghost you, delay responses*, or are vague about availability, it doesn’t get better.
• They can’t explain how they clean their tools: Your face deserves sanitized brushes. If they can’t walk you through their hygiene process, it’s not worth the risk.

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Don’t Forget the Grooms (and Groomsmen)

Wedding beauty prep isn’t just for brides and bridesmaids. Grooms, groomsmen, and fathers of the couple deserve professional grooming too—and too many couples overlook this until the last minute. Your partner will be photographed just as much as you are. Shine control, beard grooming, haircuts timed properly, and even light makeup for photos aren’t indulgent—they’re practical. Professional photography and videography pick up everything: uneven skin tone, flyaways, oily foreheads under summer sun. Not all beauty teams offer men’s grooming services, so ask upfront. If yours doesn’t, request a referral to a trusted barber or men’s groomer who can work within your timeline. Clarify what’s included—fresh haircuts, beard trims, shine control powder, light concealer—and what costs extra. If your beauty team doesn’t offer barbering, book a trusted barber for one or two days before the wedding, not the morning of. Men often assume they’ll “just shower and show up.” That works for a backyard dinner. It doesn’t work for a wedding where every angle will be captured in 4K video and printed in an album you’ll have for decades. Professional grooming isn’t vanity—it’s preparation. And if you’re hiring a beauty team for half your wedding party, it’s worth considering services for the other half too.

How Assorted Artistries Helps

At Assorted Artistries, we’ve worked with the best hair and makeup artists in Vermont and beyond. We vet all vendor recommendations for professionalism, inclusivity, and reliability. When you book us as your planner, we’ll connect you with a beauty team that fits your timeline, your budget, and your vision.

We also keep your schedule on track, so no one’s curling iron becomes a crisis. Our planning tools help ensure everything runs smoothly, including that crucial getting-ready window.

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Your Beauty Team Should Bring Calm, Not Chaos

The right hair and makeup team makes you feel like the main character—relaxed, radiant, and on time. How do I know I am working with the right beauty team? When I walk into the getting ready room and the music is giving aura, the product spread is immaculate and magic is actively in motion. Don’t settle for less, you’re spending your wedding morning with these artists! With a little research and the right planner by your side, your wedding morning will be one to remember.

*Disclaimer: Delays in response should be expected during peak season or for communication sent Thursday – Mondays generally as they may be when your artists are working or traveling to work. Avoid communication that asks a lot of questions without context – example, what time should we start is a difficult question to answer. But asking – if I need to be in my dress by 1pm, and there are 5 of us getting ready, what time should we start?

Beauty Team Cashmeir Bridal

Photos by Sarah Bridgeman Photography