When should I begin the booking process?

Reach out as soon as you have your date - whether that’s 3 years from now or 6 months - and we can chat. Myself and my assistants keep our books busy, so sooner is better. I open up booking a year in advance, and at least 6 months before your date is recommended, especially around popular times of year: Spring & Summer especially, but every season is fair game in SoCal.

Do you travel? Out of state, international, destination weddings, etc?

Absolutely! We can discuss all things travel at your consultation.

How soon before the wedding should I schedule a trial session?

At least 3 months out from your date, and usually no more than 6 months, but everybody is different. Some brides do their trials up to a year in advance. If you know you’re a decisive person who won’t get tempted by Pinterest in the meantime, there’s a little more wiggle room. ;)

What’s the difference between a consultation & a trial?

A consultation is a phone or video call (typically 15-30 mins) where you will be able to tell me some preliminary information - wedding date, venue, any planning information you have right now, how many services you think you’ll need, etc. I also like to briefly go over any early inspiration you’re thinking about for the look, including your dress, any themes/stylistic influences, and general preferences (“I love a bold lip," “I want my hair down," ”I never wear makeup and I want something super natural,” etc), plus any concerns you have (“my mother-in-law is very picky,” “I have a tight timeline”, etc.)

A trial is an in-person try on session of the look(s) you’re thinking about for your wedding. I take into consideration any inspiration photos you have, what you’ve verbally told me, and my professional recommendations, and we tweak your look until it’s perfect for you. A trial helps relieve nerves about your look and is an investment in your comfort and confidence on the wedding day.

Do I NEED to do a trial?

I definitely recommend it! It’s optional, and some brides forego it (usually out-of-state brides where scheduling is an issue), but preparation is so important when realizing your vision for your hair and makeup. Even very classic bridal looks always have a little something that makes them unique for the individual - the trial is where we figure out what will make your look unique to you. Plus, you’ll get to test it out for the whole day. You’ll know with certainty how it wears, how it looks in different lighting, what your family and fiancé think, etc.

Additionally, and most importantly, trials give us a chance to get to know each other. I get to learn so much more about your style, your personality, the way you communicate, your preferences and your concerns than over a phone or video consultation. Besides that, I want you to feel relaxed and assured both in your look and in who is working on you on your big day!

How long will the trial take? How should I plan my day around it?

Trials typically take between 2-3 hours, with additional time if there are additional looks to be tested (i.e. if you’re transitioning looks, or if there are multiple events in your wedding, as in South Asian/Indian weddings.) If you are booking one OR the other - a hair OR makeup trial - plan for between 1-2 hours.

If possible, I highly recommend booking your trial before a dress fitting so you can see the whole look together. It helps it “come together” in your mind’s eye, and you’ll know exactly what you’ll look like head-to-toe when the wedding comes.

Otherwise, live your life! No special considerations need to be taken, but plan on being a little (or a lot) glammed up for the rest of your day. Your look needs to last all day and into the night, so I very much suggest leaving it on for the remainder of your day to give it a good test.

Can I do my trial before my engagement photos?

Of course! As long as you’re comfortable doing the same look as for your wedding, you can absolutely book your trial before your engagement session. It’s a great way to see how it photographs. If you’d prefer different looks for your engagement and wedding, I offer a photoshoot package.

How should I prep my skin and hair for styling?

For the trial & the wedding:

SKIN: clean, lightly moisturized skin with no makeup on. No sunscreen unless you’re 100% certain that there is no flashback (flashback is when, under flash photography, the white pigments that act as the literal “sun-blocker” part of the sunblock reflect off the light and cause a ghostly cast to the skin.) Chemical sunscreens that do not contain zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are usually okay, but make sure and do a test with flash.

We can discuss any skin concerns and additional prep catered to your skin at the trial.

HAIR: day-old hair with no product in it if you’re used to washing it daily. If your hair doesn’t typically get greasy quickly, 2-day-old hair is fine. Freshly washed hair does not tend to hold styling well.

CURLY HAIR: Please let me know in advance if your hair is naturally curly, plus the products that you use in it. If you plan on using your natural curls, style as usual with product. If not, please do not put any products in your hair. Also, please note that if you’re not using your natural curls a blowout will be necessary before styling, which will add time & an additional cost to your services.

Should I do airbrush or traditional makeup?

There are a lot of misconceptions and myths about airbrush makeup, and I think people often confuse airbrush makeup and airbrushing (aka old-school retouching) for photo work and apply the same logic to the makeup. Clients will often insist on airbrush because they were told it’s the best, it’s the only way to go, it will make you look completely flawless regardless of the skin it’s sitting on top of. Airbrush makeup is awesome - it’s very long-wearing, somewhat oil-controlling, and gives natural coverage - but it’s not right for everybody. Airbrush can be best and make your skin look as flawless as it can… if you have the skin that it’s most suited for. Traditional makeup can also be best and make your skin look as flawless as it can, if that’s what works better with your skin. No makeup will completely erase texture (“texture” = bumps, creases, wrinkles, pores, acne, etc - parts of skin that are raised up or indented in), but the correct makeup on the skin it’s best suited for will look beautiful and perfect when applied well.

So, to answer the question: the decision between airbrush and traditional makeup is best made face-to-face, on an individual basis, when we see each other in person.

What brand of products do you use?

This is one of my most asked questions, but I don’t have a quick, one-word answer: my kit is composed of many different brands and informed by years of experience from working on hundreds of faces. Each product has been hand-selected, researched, and vetted by me, and every product I use has been wear-tested time and time again. I prefer fragrance-free or minimally-fragranced products to nearly eliminate skin sensitivities & allergies. As a vegan myself, the vast majority of my kit is cruelty free, and I aim to phase out all non-cruelty free products in the coming years. Many of my products have been depotted (removed from their original packaging) to cut down on weight and bulk in my kit, but each product is accurately labeled, and I’m always happy to answer the question, “ooh, what’s that?” Any specific skin concerns, allergies, preferences, or questions you may have about what’s in my kit can be discussed at our Trial.

Please contact me with any further questions & to begin the booking process! I can’t wait to work with you.