Many believe that your wedding day is one of the most important days of a woman’s life. However, it can also be one of the most stressful.

One of the main questions many brides ask is how to find an amazing bridal make-up artist, so I’ve narrowed down the to-do list with some questions you can ask your prospective make-up artist; how much you should expect to pay for one; and some other hidden gems of advice which will hopefully see you make the right decision when making your choice.

First of all, go into your local beauty department store or salon and ask for recommendations. This is the single most effective way to narrow down your search. You can of course ask friends too.

Some places may not want to recommend a makeup artist or be slightly biased towards their own service, but don't let that put you off. You're not required to hire anyone!

Get three or four different makeup artists on a list, call each one and ask them first if they are available on your big day. There's no point in pinning your hopes on an artist only to discover that he or she is not available on your wedding day.

Here are some questions you can ask each prospective wedding makeup artist:

1. Do you have insurance?

2. How long have you been a makeup artist?

3. Do you have any recommendations from other satisfied clients?

4. What is your pricing structure, and do you offer discounts if you do makeup
for the entire wedding party?

5. Do you offer any additional services like hair styling?

6. How many pre-wedding trials do you do and how much do they cost?

You might assume that most makeup artists will have insurance, but many don't. This usually happens when they work in a beauty salon which covers them while working there, but not when they are out on the road, so to speak. It's important to know this before signing any agreements.

Many times you can save some money by getting your hair and makeup done by the same person. If this sounds good to you, make sure you do your homework and take some time to review their "look book" before choosing.

When you've narrowed down your search, set up at least two trials. Take a friend or bridesmaid along so she can give you an honest, unbiased opinion.

Remember, a makeup artist won't know what you're dress looks like unless you show them, so bring pictures. This will help them create the "look" you want.

Lastly, and the most important factor in choosing a bridal makeup artist, is personal chemistry. How well you get along is incredibly important. Remember, you'll be spending a lot of time with them on your big day and you want that day to be perfect.

Follow these tips and you'll be well on your way to choosing the best bridal makeup artist!