Question:  Do I really need to have a hair and/or makeup consultation?  
Answer :  Common question.  If you are nervous or worried about how your hair and make up will turn out , you don't know how you want your hair and make up done or how you will connect with the hair and make up artist, yes, I recommend you schedule a trial run.
However, if you have seen the hair and make up artist's website, you know the style of hair and make up you would like, you feel confident in the outcome of the hair and make up artist's work for your wedding day and you're not feeling anxious about it, then no, I don't think it is mandatory for you to schedule a hair and make up consultation.
Question:    Where do I even start figuring out which make up artist is best for me.
Answer  :    One of the most important vendors a bride will choose for her wedding day will be the The Hair and Make up Artist.
Do your homework! !! Ask your wedding coordinator or photography who they recommend. Most reputable Hair and make up artists have websites.  A Bride can tell a hair and make up artist's style by viewing their website.  If the hair and make up artist is legitimate the photos on the stylist websites will have the photographer's credit or copyright on the photo of the Hair and make up artists work.
As a reference call this photographer, ask how they liked working with this hair and make up artist. 
 Warning! Anyone can put images up on their website, claiming they did the hair and make up work... and some do! Even if it is not their work!

A strange, but true story.  One " so called hair and make up artist "  in Orange County/ Santa Barbara County,  was listed on the same website as me. This person downloaded images of brides from my website! She removed the copyright image of the photographer who took the photographs and claimed the work to be her hair and make up.  When I saw this, I alerted the photographer and the bride whos work was stolen.  The photographer and bride are currently seeking damages from this impostor of a make up and hair artist.

FYI, One more thing.  In the state of California, there is a law. Board of Barbering and Cosmetology Act Section 7319.   All persons practicing  cosmetology, hair and makeup,  must be licensed. If the person is practicing outside of a licensed establishment, without following the proper procedures, that is considered another violation. View the law here.


**Bottom line, Do  your homework.  Look for copyright or trademarked images on the hair and make up artist's website and contact the photographer as a reference.  Meet with the make up artist.  Is this someone you would like to be part of your wedding day?  Do you connect with this person?

Get recommendations.
Question:    How long does the hair and make up for the Bride and the bridesmaids take usually take?
Answer:    For the Bride, anywhere from 1 - 2 hours for hair and makeup.
 For the bridesmaids about 30 minutes for make up and 45 minutes for hair..
Question:   What can I do to have my bridesmaids and myself  ready for hair and make up on the day of the wedding?
Answer:    Good Question! Unless someone is having a blow out for their hair style, have hair completely dry. Bridesmaids could bring photos of hairstyles from my website, magazines or the internet to help move things along.
Also, have everyone wear a tube top or a loose t-shirt to pull over the new hairstyle. This helps with hairstyling and make up.  I recommend that my clients not wear zip-up, hooded sweatshirts as it can grab the hair in a low bun or chignon.
Question:   What is in the Complimentary Bridal touch up kit that you give your Brides who purchase a wedding package ( on " rates " page )
Answer :    The Bridal touch up kit includes the following items:

Custom lipstick, lip gloss, blush& blush brush, oil control powder and eyeliner and eye shadow. ( all make up individually chosen for each Bride )
Also included in the Bridal kit -
Breath mints, mouthwash, kleenex, visine, clear deodorant, hairspray, bobby pins, make up sponges, ( all of the above, comes in a vinyl zip up pouch )
                                                                                                                                          Tips on timing:  

Sometimes the Bride or the wedding coordinator go with suggested timing for hair and make up that does not allow any wiggle room.  Wiggle room allows for unforeseen timing issues.  

Example 1: The Bride's make up is just about done. The Bride receives a note and gift from the groom. The Bride starts crying, the sister starts crying and the Mom starts crying.   Add a half an hour to get all three looking fresh again.

Example 2.  Bridesmaids were supposed to have dry hair to expedite styling, Bridesmaid shows up with wet hair. Add an additional 1/2 hour 

 Example 3.  Hair and make up artist is there, waiting to start, Bridesmaid is not, add another 1/2 hour. 
              
Example 4.  Bridesmaids are finished with hair and make up, go out to the store or to get some lunch, windy day and one of the brides has allergies.  Add 1/2 hour to timeline for touch up hair and make up.

 All true stories. All the more reason to allow time for such errors.
My recommendation, pad your timeline!  You will be a happier and calmer Bride.  Best case scenario, you walk out the door a few minutes early after having a glass of champagne with your friends and family.Yeah!
Question:  What are some beauty tips you can give me that I can do before my wedding to look my best on the big day?
Answer:     Biggest complaint I hear from Bride's on their wedding day is,  " I couldn't sleep the night before my wedding "  The excitement, the nerves, an unforeseen problem, the emotions..... who knows why, but it is a wedding day bummer to be tired and wishing you could have had a good night's sleep.  I cannot recommend sleep enhancers, but I do know that most of my Brides know which product they would choose to get a good night's sleep where a glass of wine or a massage just doesn't do it.  If you have never tried a sleep enhancing product, I recommend you speak to your doctor and try it  out way before the wedding to make sure it does not make you drowsy on the day of your wedding.    
                                                                                                                                         Best Beauty tips for Brides 
1. Water, Water, Water and more Water....For a natural glowing face, clear translucent skin, less dark circles on the day of your wedding and will actually help with looking good in your wedding photos... Water, Water and more Water!  Especially the day before your wedding.

2.    Get a facial a week before your wedding.  That way, if there is a break out or a reaction to the product, you still have time to recover. A facial will remove the dead skin cells and allow the make up to be more smooth on your skin.

3.   Wax brows  a week before the wedding.  If you plan on waxing your brows for your wedding, do it early.  I have seen Brides come to me with raw skin around their brow area from a recent waxing, even from someone they regularly go to.  Sometimes mistakes happen... just plan that it might.