Bridal Makeup Artist Contract: What to Include (Checklist)

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A signed agreement and booking fee are standard in the wedding industry, and for good reason. Brides book months ahead, and that date can only be sold once. A clear agreement protects you from a silent cancellation and reassures the bride that you’ll turn up as promised. Use this checklist to make sure yours covers the essentials.

The booking

• Your business name and contact details, and the client’s
• The wedding date, getting-ready address and ceremony time
• The time all makeup must be finished
• Number of people, and services for each (makeup, lashes, stay-on cover)

Money

• The total, itemised
• Booking fee: the amount, and that it’s deducted from the total
• Balance: the amount, when it’s due and how it can be paid
• Travel, parking and early-start fees
• The price for anyone added after signing

Cancellations and changes

• What happens if the client cancels, and when. A sliding scale based on how close to the date is clearest and fairest.
• Date changes: treated as a new booking, subject to availability
• What happens if you can’t attend: a vetted replacement she approves, or a full refund

Two things to check, because consumer rules vary by location. If the booking is agreed remotely (online, by email or phone), many places give the client a cooling-off period, often 14 days, to cancel for a refund. And terms generally have to be fair, so keep any non-refundable amount reasonable and linked to your genuine loss.

On the day

• The space she’ll provide: natural light, a table and a power socket
• Everyone ready at their scheduled time
• What happens if delays outside your control eat into the time

Health, photos and data

• Allergies and skin conditions to be declared for everyone booked
• Your right to decline to work on broken or irritated skin
• Patch tests for lash adhesive
• Whether you may use photos for your portfolio (let her choose)
• A line on keeping her details in line with data protection law

Signing

• Signatures and dates
• A deadline to return the agreement and booking fee, after which the date is released

Is a makeup artist booking fee refundable?

In many places, bookings made remotely come with a cooling-off period, often 14 days, when clients can cancel for a refund. After that, a reasonable booking fee can usually be non-refundable if your agreement explains it clearly.

Should a lawyer check my makeup artist contract?

It’s worth it. A one-off review of your template, especially the cancellation terms, costs little compared with a dispute. This checklist is general information, not legal advice.

Want the full template? The Bridal Makeup Business Course includes an editable bridal makeup booking agreement to download, plus how to set booking fees and take payments.