Beauty Calls: Hudson Valley Makeup Artist Meredith Hayman

Planning Pretty Vendor Spotlight

2012-02-10T08:56:00.000-05:00

One of the most important pieces of the puzzle when you’rechoosing vendors for your wedding is how you get along with the person you’regoing to be working with. You have to be able to put your trust in each of thevendors you choose and believe that they will make your vision come to life.

For that reason, face time is so important. You need to interact in person to be sure he/shedoesn’t set off your gut’s “danger!” reaction. Nothing is as unsettling asbeing dangerously close to your wedding date and fearing that one of yourvendors is not reliable.

A great way to screen a bunch of vendors at once is by goingto events where multiple vendors will be hanging out.

This month’s Planning Pretty party has all of your basescovered. With seven wedding professionals on hand plus delicious snacks fromlocal caterers, you’ll have a chance to feel out a variety of vendors—and maybeeven find one you want to book!

Here’s a look at two of the fabulous vendors you can expectto see:

Melissa Scrofani, Westchester Hair Stylist

Melissa Scrofani is a hair stylist with thirteen years ofexperience. She doesn’t have a storefront. Instead, she removes the hassle and comesright to you—a detail which can be incredibly important when planning yourwedding (especially if, like me, you have a daytime wedding and need hair andmakeup done in the wee hours of the morning).

Melissa also does Hair/Tini parties, which is a fun little “girl’snight in” where you can sample and purchase top quality beauty products.Melissa offers expert tips and techniques that show you how to use theproducts—sounds like a fun bridal shower or bachelorette slumber party idea tome!

Sarah Lusardi, NYEngagements

Sarah Lusardi is the owner and head planner/designer of NY Engagements, a wedding planning and floral design service.

Sarah and her team offer a huge range of planning services withpackages that will meet anyone’s needs. They do everything from full-serviceplanning to day-of coordination, ceremony and reception set-up, and research.

Then there is their award-winning floral and event décor service, which greatly benefits from the fact that this team looks at all of the tiny details from a wedding planning point of view. They look at every piece of your wedding vision to create a look that is complementary and incredibly pulled together.

source: Jennifer May

Come meet these lovely ladies and more at Planning Pretty! RSVPtoday before there are no spots left!

Planning Pretty Prizes!

2012-02-01T19:27:00.001-05:00

I love weddings. I love the fashion. I love getting together with old friends and family. I love the dancing. And I especially love noticing all of the little details a couple includes in their big day.

Sometimes when you’re planning your wedding it seems like there’s always an endless barrage of the same old products. In fact, once you’ve been looking around a little you tend to notice that all of your searches turn up the same handful of results (no, I’m not looking for beach chair place card holders!).

If you’re looking for something a little bit different than the products you’ve seen at the last three weddings you attended, you’re in luck! Some of the fabulous raffle prizes at our upcoming Planning Pretty party include handmade pieces that you won’t find just anywhere!

Here’s a small taste of two of the awesome prizes you could win:

Hand Stamped Silverware

Couples often think of getting special champagne flutes or knives to cut the cake on their big day, but what about silverware? Baby Puppy Designs takes vintage silver-plated silverware (most of which is from the early to mid-1900s) and hand stamps them with sweet little phrases like “Happily ever after begins today” and “For like ever.”

What an adorable photo op! And you could reuse them on anniversaries (like when you eat the top of your cake on your first anniversary!) and other special occasions. I just love this idea.

Guest Book Box

This is another cute idea. I really enjoy looking at all of the fun alternatives to guest books people have been coming up with. From wishing trees to thumbprint artwork, the possibilities are endless.

One of the reasons I love this hand-crafted pine box idea from Giftsand Talents is that it doesn’t pigeonhole you to one specific idea. You canget creative with it. Have your guests leave their favorite recipes or memoriesof you. Give them a few different starter questions (anything from What’s your advice on having a happy marriage? to Share an embarrassing story about the bride or groom) or just have them leave their hopes and dreams for you as a couple. There are so many fun possibilities!

This is just a tiny taste of two of the fifteen (!) artisans that will be giving away everything from photo booth props and jewelry to cake toppers and pom pom flowers at Planning Pretty. You don’t want to miss it!

(Please note: these aren't the actual pieces that will be raffled at the party, but an example of the artists' work)

Press Release - Wedding Wire Bride's Choice Awards 2012

2012-01-23T14:23:00.001-05:00

{Yorktown Heights,NY} – January 23, 2012 – WeddingWire, the nation's leading wedding Marketplace, is excited to announce Meredith Hayman%2c Makeup Artist has been selected to receive the prestigious WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2012 for Beauty & Health!

The esteemed annual awards program recognizes the top local wedding vendors from the WeddingWire Network who demonstrate excellence in quality, service, responsiveness and professionalism within the wedding industry. While many industry awards are selected by the organization, Meredith Hayman%2c Makeup Artist was selected based on its stellar reviews from past newlywed clients.

Meredith Hayman%2c Makeup Artist is recognized as part of the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire local vendor community, comprised of over 200,000 wedding professionals throughout the United States and Canada. The Bride’s Choice Award recognizes the best local wedding vendors across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, based on their overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is thrilled to honor the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire Community,” said Timothy Chi, CEO, WeddingWire. “Since the launch of the Bride’s Choice Awards™ program four years ago, thousands of outstanding wedding professionals have been recognized by the bridal community for their supreme service and dedication to the wedding industry. It is with great pleasure that we congratulate Meredith Hayman%2c Makeup Artist for their continued professionalism and commitment to enriching the wedding planning experience for engaged couples.”

We are happy to announce that Meredith Hayman%2c Makeup Artist is one of the very best Beauty & Health within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Project Wedding, Brides.com, Martha Stewart Weddings, and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for taking the time to review our business on WeddingWire. Thanks to their positive feedback we were able to receive the WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ for 2012.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at http://www.weddingwire.com/biz/meredith-hayman-makeup-artist-yorktown-heights/71738c73ac4fba34.html.

To learn more about the Bride's Choice Awards™, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

About WeddingWire, Inc.
WeddingWire™, the nation's leading marketplace serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 reviewed wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers. WeddingWire also offers a comprehensive suite of online planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire is the only all-in-one marketing platform for businesses online and on-the-go. WeddingWire offers one simple solution to build a professional network, improve search visibility, manage social media and reach mobile consumers. Businesses that advertise with WeddingWire appear on WeddingWire.com, ProjectWedding.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), Brides.com and Weddingbee.com.
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Spotlight Photographer Tim Coffey featuring Lisa

2012-01-20T19:53:00.000-05:00

I had the pleasure of working with Photographer Tim Coffey at Bedford Post Inn this past November.

He captured Lisa's joy and some great application shots for me! The ONLY thing about these photos that I would change is my hair.

The best part is, Tim contacted ME and asked where to send my CD of jpeg's before I had a chance to bother him for these great photos!! Tim is super talented, thoughtful, and today's spotlight photographer!!
Check out Tim's site!

GOTTA LOVE A THUMBS UP FROM A SATISFIED BRIDE!!!

Bride's Choice Awards 2012

2012-01-17T13:19:00.000-05:00

3rd Year Running! Thanks to all my past, present, and future brides for the great reviews!! I LOVE my job!

Spotlight Photographer: Laffler Photography featuring Connie and Adam

2012-01-02T17:33:00.001-05:00

I love Todd Laffler's style! Each and every picture he takes is special! I am so lucky to have worked with him. It also didn't hurt that Connie was a magnificent bride!

Todd's site is beautiful - true works of art - http://lafflerphotography.com/

Spotlight Photographer Cynthia Starr featuring Kim

2011-12-20T11:01:00.001-05:00

One of my favorite venues is the Grandview in Poughkeepsie and I had so much fun hanging with Kim and her girls while they got beautified at the Grand Hotel the morning of November 5th. The morning was extra special because I worked with Photographer Cynthia Starr for the first time. Based in beautiful Lake Katrine, NY Cynthia has a special talent for bringing out the joy and beauty of any event. Visit Cynthia's Page

Spotlight on Victoria Souza Photography featuring Asyia and Todd

2011-12-09T09:04:00.001-05:00

I met husband and wife team Vicki and Erik Souza photographing Asyia and Todd's wedding at The Rockleigh Country Club this past August. We instantly created a friendly working relationship and had so much fun hanging with all the girls getting beautified. They are a great team and really captured the joy and love of the day.

Vicki and Eric graciously sent me a CD of images from day which I am beyond thrilled to share with you. Victoria Souza Photography

Look Picture Perfect at your Destination Wedding!

2011-09-29T11:00:00.001-04:00

It's challenging to find vendors when you are planning a destination wedding - especially a Makeup Artist. Just because you are getting married on a beach (or in Italy) doesn't mean your makeup shouldn't be as perfect or as picturesque as your surroundings!

A great option is booking a personalized makeup lesson with a Makeup Artist in your area. You can choose whatever look makes you happy and a professional Makeup Artist can help you choose the best products for the climate and location and teach you how to apply them with confidence and precision.

A Destination Wedding Makeup Workshop would also be a fun activity for you to do with your bridal party/family so they can look their best too! The best part is, you will have a skill that you can use the rest of your life!

visit www.meredithhayman.com for information on Destination Wedding Makeup Lessons and Workshops!!

A Peek Inside a Makeup Artists Shopping Bag

2011-09-28T16:15:00.002-04:00

On yesterdays trip to Sephora I was on a mission for new Waterproof Mascara that adds VOLUME!

The winner - DIORSHOW - BLACKOUT - WATERPROOF(A Sephora Exclusive)
http://sephora.com/browse/product.jhtml?id=P212928&categoryId=B70

I am still in love with Maybelline Great Lash Waterproof to prime lashes before I apply falsies but for those Brides, Maids, and Moms that would rather go falsie-free I needed a product that would give big fabulous lashes but not run when the tears of joy do! Not only did the DIORSHOW - BLACKOUT - WATERPROOF make my lashes superlong but it did not transfer or smudge the rest of the day or come off when I washed my face! It gives a shiny patent leather sheen to the lashes and separates while building volume! Seems just about perfect to me!

Beauty and the Beach

2011-09-04T13:35:00.000-04:00

Do you ever have a hard time packing your beauty products before going on a trip? I have a list of must-have beauty products that are perfect for any vacation - espcially your honeymoon!

Sephora Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover – Travel Size
Perfect for removing your waterproof eyemakeup remover while providing moisture to the eye area that may become dehydrated during traveling

Philosophy Hope in A Jar Moisturizer (To Use At Night) – Travel Size
Light moisturizer to seal in your tan while you snooze

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer with SPF 20
My favorite tinted moisturizer with the sun protection you need (even in a cool climate) - easy to apply with buildable coverage and a no-makeup look

Concealer
I recommend purchasing a shade darker of your every day concealer

Too Faced Aqua Bunny Bronzer
Love this cream bronzer - goes on very sheer and gives you a natural highlight

Lip Fusion Lip Conditioning Stick SPF 15 “Bitten”
I'm obsessed with this tinted lip balm - sheer color like you've just had a popscicle with sun protection and a minty aroma

Stila Convertible Color “Lillium”
One of my go-to double-duty products give the lips and/or cheeks a natural glow

Sephora Eye Palette “Walking On the Moon” Or “Not That Shy”
Sephora eye shadow Palettes come in dozens of combinations - these are the most wearable/natural cool and warm options

Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes "Black"
waterproof eye pencil is a must for those romantic dinners out and sexy room service desserts

Maybelline Waterproof Mascara
no smudge formula that will take you from the pool to the jacuzi and back again

Meredith Hayman, Makeup Artist - Wedding Wire Bride's Choice Award Winner

2011-02-02T18:52:00.000-05:00

Yorktown Heights, NY – February 2nd, 2011 - WeddingWire, the nation’s leading wedding technology company, is thrilled to announce Meredith Hayman, Makeup Artist has been selected to receive the prestigious annual WeddingWire Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 for Beauty & Health!

Recognition for the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011 is determined by recent reviews and extensive surveys from over 750,000 WeddingWire newlyweds. Our past clients are among those that shared their experiences on WeddingWire, the largest wedding review site in the nation.

Meredith Hayman, Makeup Artist stands among the top five percent of wedding professionals in the WeddingWire community, representing quality and service excellence within the wedding industry. Awards were given to the top wedding professionals across 20 service categories, from wedding venues to wedding photographers, and were based on the overall professional achievements throughout the past year.

“WeddingWire is honored to celebrate the success of the top-rated wedding professionals within the WeddingWire community,” said Timothy Chi, WeddingWire’s Chief Executive Officer. “With the annual Bride’s Choice Awards™ program, WeddingWire has the unique opportunity to recognize the best wedding professionals across the US and Canada. We applaud Meredith for her professionalism and dedication to enhancing the wedding planning experience last year.”

We are happy to announce that Meredith Hayman is among the very best Bridal Makeup Artists within the WeddingWire Network, which includes leading wedding planning sites WeddingWire, Martha Stewart Weddings, Project Wedding and Weddingbee. We would like to thank our past clients for nominating us to receive the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011.

For more information, please visit our WeddingWire Storefront today at http://www.weddingwire.com/biz/meredith-hayman-makeup-artist-yorktown-heights/71738c73ac4fba34.html

For more information on the Bride’s Choice Awards™ 2011, please visit www.WeddingWire.com.

About WeddingWire, Inc.

WeddingWire.com, the nation's leading technology company serving the $70 billion wedding industry, is the only online wedding planning resource designed to empower both engaged couples and wedding professionals. For engaged couples, WeddingWire offers the ability to search, compare and book over 200,000 local wedding vendors, from wedding venues to wedding photographers to wedding cakes. WeddingWire also offers an online community and a suite of cutting-edge planning tools for weddings, including wedding websites and wedding checklists, all at no charge. For wedding professionals, WeddingWire provides free online management tools creating the only market opportunity that gives local businesses control over their clients, reviews, leads and performance. Businesses that join the WeddingWire Network appear on WeddingWire.com and other leading sites, including MarthaStewartWeddings.com (NYSE: MSO), ProjectWedding.com and Weddingbee.com (both part of eHarmony), and Celebrations.com (part of the 1-800-Flowers family of brands, NASDAQ: FLWS).

Kathy and Colm

2011-01-25T08:04:00.000-05:00

What a pleasure it was to work with Kathy on her big day. She didn't have time for a trial but she knew exactly how she wanted her makeup - DRAMA and lots of lashes!! I met Kathy and her party at the hair salon in New Jersey and then continued the preparations at her mom's house. All the girls looked gorgeous in their red dresses and the flower girl looked like a princess in her white dress with red sash. The grooms sister, visiting from Ireland, had the most beautiful natural super-long lashes. I added some individual lashes on her outer corners but they weren't as long as her own lashes! Kathy was so very happy and excited to be getting married. She looked absolutely perfect in her dress. A special thanks to Kristina at Garden State Photo Studio for providing me with the photos. xo

Double Duty Cosmetics

2009-08-26T20:21:00.000-04:00

5 DOUBLE-DUTY BEAUTY PRODUCTS THAT WILL SAVE YOU TIME AND MONEY

Bronzer – Apply all over face and as an eye shadow
Application tip: Dip soft bronzer brush in bronzer and apply in the same order the sun naturally hits your face - forehead, then nose, cheeks, and then chin.
Recommended product: Bobbi Brown Bronzer “Light”

Mascara – Mascara similar to your natural hair color can be used on lashes and for root touch-up at hairline
Application tip: Roll mascara wand onto the topside of your upper lashes, and then to the underside using a wiggle motion starting at the root.
Recommended product: Maybelline Great Lash Mascara

Cream Blush – Use on cheeks as blush and on lips for long-lasting lip color
Application tip: Smile! Apply cream blush to apples of cheeks blending up toward hairline.
Recommended product: Stila Convertible Color “Peony”

Multi-use Face Brush – Use with cream or liquid foundations, powder or cream blush, loose or pressed powders, bronzer.
Application tip: Use makeup remover wipes to clean in-between products and deep wash twice a month with baby shampoo.
Recommended product: MAC Brush #187

AQUAPHOR - Did you know that you can use this irritated tushie ointment for your own beauty treatments? Keep tube on your night table and apply Aquaphor to your cuticles, lips, dry heels, and as an eye cream nightly before bed.

Bridal Trial - Jennifer

2009-08-23T20:14:00.000-04:00

Wedding of Jennifer Cobb and Tim Garry

Wedding Date: August 30th, 2009

Location: Hastings-on-Hudson

Colors: Purple and Green

Recommended Vendors: Surprise Photography and The Scott Thomas Salon

Special Wedding Details: vintage mixed with hippie vibe, Donations to cancer charities

Love Story: Jennifer and Tim met in college (Fordham) and Jennifer had a crush on Tim since Freshman year. They've been living together like a married couple (baby and all - Samantha) for years.

Wedding - McKenzie and Asher

2009-08-23T20:02:00.000-04:00

Wedding of McKenzie Primerano and Asher Kohn

Date: August 23rd, 2009

Location: Hyatt Regency, Greenwich, CT

Details:
McKenzie didn't have time to come in for a pre-wedding makeup trial but she knew exactly how she wanted her makeup to looks - very natural.
She has great skin and beautiful lashes so she didn't need much makeup at all.

Bridal Trial - Sarah

2009-08-10T19:12:00.002-04:00

Wedding of Sarah Nassar and Matt Garcia

Wedding Date: Friday, August 28th, 2009

Location: The Grandview Poughkeepsie, NY

Colors: Pale Yellow, Purple, Fuschia

Special Wedding Details: Cool Welcome bags with candy, chips, water, and Alka Seltzer

Photographer: Park Place Photography

Hair Stylist: Sarah from Eclipse in Tarrytown

Love Story: Sarah and Matt have been dating since the 10th grade. They have a 16 month old son. They can't wait to add more kids to the family!

2009-08-10T19:12:00.001-04:00

A WELL-GROOMED GROOM

2009-07-26T21:04:00.001-04:00

A WELL-GROOMED GROOM

PREP YOUR SKIN:
You’ve heard the term “glowing bride” why not a “glowing groom”?
-Two nights a week, exfoliate any dry skin off your face with a light exfoliating face wash (St. Ives Apricot Scrub available at drugstores).
-For an extra glow consider applying a light self-tanner to your face. You will look great in the pictures and have a head start before arriving to your sunny honeymoon destination.
-To exfoliate dry skin off your lips soak your toothbrush in warm water and gently brush your lips in a circular motion – follow up by applying lip balm regularly
-DRINK LOTS OF WATER THE WEEK BEFORE YOUR WEDDING

MAN – SCAPING
Your bride does a lot of prep work to make sure she looks and feels her best for you on your wedding day. Return the favor by doing a little extra “grooming” for your big day.
-Have your barber or hairdresser trim your eyebrows. If you have a unibrow, you may opt to have area in-between your brows waxed or plucked.
-A stray nose hair is never sexy. Get out the trimmer and go crazy!
-Shave in two steps. First, shave with the grain with very light pressure. Second, reapply a coat of shaving cream and shave against the grain for super-close and smooth results – follow up with a calming aftershave lotion. Or treat yourself to a professional shave at a specialty shop like “The Art of Shaving”.
-You are going to have a new accessory – A RING, and everyone is going to want to take a close look at it! Consider getting those nails and cuticles under control by getting a manicure a few days before your wedding.

TIPS FOR YOUR GROOMSMEN:
-Hung-over groomsmen are better hydrated. Make sure you have lots of bottled water available for your “best men” while you are getting dressed and during photos.
-To calm puffy tired eyes, relax with a cold washcloth on your eyes for 20 minutes.

PACK A BAG OF EMERGENCY ESSENTIALS:
-BOTTLED WATER
-LIP BALM/VASELINE
-POWER BAR
-TISSUES/HANKERCHIEF
-EYEDROPS
-TOOTHBRUSH/TOOTHPASTE/FLOSS
-MINTS/GUM

Wedding Day Makeup Tips

2009-06-05T18:59:00.000-04:00

WEDDING DAY MAKEUP TIPS

PREP YOUR SKIN:
-A FEW WEEKS BEFORE YOUR WEDDING APPLY MOISTURIZER (WITH SPF) TWICE DAILY
-EXFOLIATE ANY DRY SKIN OFF YOUR FACE WITH A LIGHT EXFOLIATING FACE WASH
-USE EYE CREAM NIGHTLY
-APPLY LIP BALM REGULARLY
-DRINK LOTS OF WATER THE WEEK BEFORE YOUR WEDDING

HAVE YOUR WEDDING DAY LIPCOLOR WITH YOU FOR TOUCHUPS

PACK A BAG OF EMERGENCY ESSENTIALS:
-VISINE
-LIP BALM
-EYE MAKEUP REMOVER
-LASH GLUE
-BLOT FILM
-TISSUES
-NAIL POLISH (CLEAR AND THE COLOR YOU ARE WEARING)
-NAIL POLISH REMOVER
-EXTRA LIP GLOSS (JUST IN CASE YOU LOSE YOURS OR A BRIDESMAIDS NEEDS IT)

MAKE SURE YOUR BRIDAL PARTY (AND MOM) COMES PREPARED:
- SEE ABOVE SKINCARE TIPS – IF A BRIDESMAIDS SKIN DOESN’T LOOK ITS BEST, NEITHER WILL THEIR MAKEUP
-CASH TO PAY HAIR STYLIST AND MAKEUP ARTIST
-REQUEST THAT EACH BRIDESMAID BRINGS A LIPGLOSS TO TOUCH-UP WITH DURING PHOTOS, AFTER THE CEREMONY, AND THE REST OF THE EVENING

Makeup and Hair in One

2009-01-29T16:56:00.000-05:00

As a rule, if you have more than 3 people who need their hair and makeup done on your wedding day, hire two separate people. If you have a Hair Stylist and Makeup Artist in one you risk running late on your big day.

I am often asked if I do hair as well as makeup and the short answer is "no".

I have not been trained as a stylist - I can barely do my own hair! When I became a Makeup Artist, I had the option of going to school for styling but I decided I just wanted to focus on different aspects of makeup artistry instead of becoming a jack of all trades.

I have found that people that do both usually excel in one over the other. In my television experience, I have had to do "light" hair styling (curling, a blow out, etc...) but I have never claimed to be an experience or skilled hair stylist.

Makeup and Hair in one is hard to come by. Attention brides, if you are the only one who is getting styled on your wedding day, it's probably best for you to find one person who does both - it's the more affordable option.

Bridal Makeup Trials

2009-01-22T22:09:00.000-05:00

OK, being a former bride myself, I understand how scary makeup and hair trials can be. Especially when you have never had your makeup done by a professional before. You may have a million questions running through your head before you even sit in the makeup chair:

Will I look like a clown?
What happens if I get shiny?
Will the makeup last all night?
What if my foundation is too heavy?

A professional Makeup Artist can address all of these questions. A makeup trial is a good opportunity to try something new. Like false eyelashes! When else can you look like a princess or a sexy bride. Just remember, ultimately, you want to look like the most beautiful version of your everday self.

The good news is, there are several steps you can take to prepare for your makeup trial.

Skincare: A few weeks before your makeup trial, you will want to be really diligent in your skincare routine. You may ask, what skincare routine? Well, there is no better time to start one. Cleanse your face daily, moisturize every morning (use SPF), moisturize every night, exfoliate a couple of times a week, use eye cream at bedtime, and apply lipbalm on a regular basis. If you have any skin issues (like dry patches or acne), it's best to see a dermatologist before your makeup trial to get control over your skin. If you have a tan, it's best to wait until your color has faded to book your trial. The better your skin looks, the better your makeup will look.

Know the look you want to achieve: As your flipping through "Martha Stewart Weddings" and "People" magazines, rip out pictures of models and celebrities who's makeup you like. These photos will open the conversation between you and your Makeup Artist so he/she really understands how you want to look on your wedding day. Try not to say "You're the professional, I trust you". If you are not used to wearing a lot of makeup, be honest. This will prevent the Makeup Artist from being too heavy handed.

Come prepared: It's a good idea to bring your "everyday" makeup with you (even if it's just mascara and lipgloss). This will give the artist a good sense of what colors you are comfortable in. Don't be surprised if your Makeup Artist suggests you wear foundation on your wedding day. If your skin isn't even, the rest of your face won't look clean and finished.
It's also a good idea to wear a white or ivory top, so you get a better sense of how your makeup will look against your dress. Bring a camera so you can take before or after pictures.

Questions/Concerns: Write of list of questions you may have for your Makeup Artist such as the ones listed at the beginning of this post. It's also a good idea to ask your artist how long he/she thinks each person will take on the day of your wedding. An experienced artist should be able to manage their time wisely and work faster if the day is running behind.

Be Honest: Try not to form an opinion or ask for anything to be changed until after the Makeup Artist has finished the look. Once the application is over it's more than OK to ask for something to be changed or to start all over. It's easy to make changes (more blush, less eyeliner, etc...) Any artist would rather do a little extra work than risk not being booked because the bride isn't 100% happy with their makeup. Remember, you are paying for this makeup trial, get your money's worth!

Don't feel pressured to make a decision on booking hair or makeup at the time of your trial. See how the makeup wears on your skin in the hours following your appointment. It's good to take a look in different lighting and to ask a friend or your mom their opinion.

A Makeup Artist is one of the most important vendors you will book for your special day. It's important that the person doing your makeup makes you feel comfortable because they are literally in your face a good part of the day.

The best "thank you" you can give your Makeup Artist is a good review. If you were happy with their work, it is greatly appreciated to give your friends their contact info or put in a good word on a popular wedding blog or board.

The most important thing to do at your makeup trial is to sit back, relax, and HAVE FUN!

Meredith Hayman, Makeup Artist

2009-01-20T18:43:00.000-05:00

Meredith Hayman, Makeup Artist. That's me and I'm sticking to it. In this tough ecomony I have been forced to swallow my pride, get creative, and get back to business.

Here's a little back story:

A little more than two years ago, I left Manhattan for a "better quality of life" in the suburbs of Westchester, NY. One of the most expensive counties in the United States. I had a great job doing makeup for many Viacom networks including VH1, MTV, and Nickelodeon. I enjoyed the people I worked with, the hours, and the $$. Freelancing was so much better than I ever imagined it would be. Once I had proven myself, I was booking several jobs a week and had the freedom to work for who I wanted, when I wanted. Who would ever leave that situation?

I did, for a very good reason. About a month after my husband and I moved an hour north of the city, I got pregnant with my son, Spencer. While I would have loved to continue working in the city, my husband and I both agreed that an hour was just too far a commute in case I ever had to run home for an emergency. I became a full-time Mommy and a "sometimes" Makeup Artist. After about a year, our family really started to miss my salary. I knew I had to think of a way to use my talents and expertise to creat a niche for myself in suburbia.

I have been doing makeup for weddings since I picked up a blush brush in 1998. I knew that I needed to focus on putting my name out there so Westchester, Putnam, and Rockland County brides would hire me as one of their wedding vendors. The only place I have ever advertised my bridal business is Google Ads. It just seemed like the most logical place to start because I could set my own advertisting budget. Currently, I have ads on The Knot, Wedding Wire, Style Me Pretty, Party Pop, and Facebook, to name a few. I also participated in my first Bridal Expo this past September. I was spending more than ever on getting my name out to the public but I wasn't generating any new business.

Then it dawned on me, wedding budgets are at an all time low and I need to lower my rates considerably! When I really thought about it, I realized that one of the first vendors to get cut out of a wedding budget is probably the Makeup Artist. Most people have a friend or cousin that can do the brides makeup on their special day. However, I know that there are still a lot of brides out there to want to look and feel their best on their wedding day and would only trust a professional do help them look perfect in pictures that will last a lifetime. I want to be that professional. Not only because my family needs the money but because every bride deserves to look her best on the happiest day of her life.

So here I am, charging the lowest rates ever in my career. I am booking more weddings everyday and it is an honor to be a hired wedding vendor in these tough times. I hope that every bride I work with feels that they received the professionalism and quality of work that they are paying for.