THE BRIDAL GUIDE

The Bridal Preview

  • When To Book

    I recommend scheduling your preview on a day when you can wear your makeup for at least four hours before removing it. This allows you to see how everything wears and feels throughout the day.

    The timing of your preview in relation to your wedding date doesn’t matter. I take detailed notes and photos to ensure your look is recreated seamlessly on your wedding day. You’re welcome to schedule your preview whenever it works best for you—many brides choose a day when they have plans, such as a dinner, event, or celebration.

    How to Book & Availability

    Previews can be booked directly through my online booking site, linked below.

    Availability opens on the 1st of each month for the following month (for example, June appointments become available on May 1st).

    November through April typically offers the most availability, including weekends. If you’re hoping for a weekend appointment, this is the best time to book.

    May through October is peak wedding season, so availability—especially weekends—is more limited.

    If you’re traveling from out of state or have a specific date in mind that isn’t showing as available, feel free to email me—I’ll always do my best to accommodate when possible.

    After You Book

    Once your preview is booked online, you’ll receive a confirmation email with your appointment details, studio address, and consent forms. Driving directions are also included. I recommend having these pulled up, as maps can sometimes direct clients to the back of the building rather than the main parking lot.

  • Complete Your Questionnaire

    Once your preview is booked, you’ll receive a confirmation email with your appointment details and consent forms. One of these consent forms is your questionnaire. We talk through this questionnaire together at your appointment. (Please make sure to check your spam folder if you don’t see the confirmation email come through.)

    Find Inspiration Photos

    Browse my Instagram and Portfolio for inspiration. I’ve also created a Pinterest board featuring artist-taken photos for more realistic references. You’re welcome to browse elsewhere on Pinterest as well—just keep in mind many images can be heavily edited or AI-generated. They’re great for color and style inspiration, but I always like to set realistic expectations when translating those looks to real life.

    If you don’t wear makeup daily, this step is especially helpful in identifying what you’re naturally drawn to. And if it feels overwhelming, don’t overthink it—just save anything you like and we’ll go through it together.

    These images are simply a starting point. They help guide preferences like color, depth, and overall style, and I’ll ask several questions about the images and tailor everything to best suit your features.

    Tips for Finding Inspiration

    • Look for photos of women with similar skin tone, eye color, and hair color

    • Choose images where the eye makeup is clearly visible

    • Save full looks or individual elements you like (eyes, skin, lips, etc.)

    Prepare Your Overall Look

    Your preview is a test run of your bridal look, so coming in feeling “put together” makes a big difference.

    • If you plan to get a spray tan for your wedding, try to have one before your preview

    • Style your hair (it doesn’t need to be professional, just polished and done)

    • Wear white and a top with a neckline similar to your dress

    Seeing everything together—hair, makeup, and in white—will give you a much better feel for how your final look will come together on your wedding day, especially if wearing makeup isn’t a regular occurrence for you.

    Skin Prep

    Please arrive with clean, exfoliated skin. This allows your makeup to apply smoothly and wear beautifully throughout the day.

  • Consultation

    Together, we’ll review your inspiration photos and Bridal Preview Questionnaire.

    We’ll discuss what best complements your skin tone and features, along with the most suitable products for your skin type.

    We can also go over skin prep, skincare recommendations, and anything else you’d like guidance on.

    Creating Your Look

    After discussing your vision, I’ll begin applying your bridal makeup.

    Once complete, we can make any adjustments to ensure everything feels just right.

    I’ll also take detailed photos and notes to reference on your wedding day.

    After Your Preview

    Plan to wear your makeup for the rest of the day so you can see how it looks and feels over time.

    Take note of any changes you’d like to make for your wedding day—whether that’s adjusting colors, adding more glow, or addressing areas that felt oily or dry throughout the day.

    Your preview is designed for refinement, so I always encourage you to be thoughtful and detailed with your feedback so we can adjust as needed on your wedding morning.

Recommended Vendors

How to come prepared for the

Wedding Morning

  • How to have your Bridal Party come prepared for wedding morning:

    • Have them show up on time, with clean skin, ready to get to their makeup done!

    • Have them bring inspiration photos. They can check out my instagram, or pinterest for ideas.

    • Show them my website or instagram so they are aware of what kind of work I do! Soft glam, natural enhancing makeup is my jam!

    • Have them to think about if…..

      • They want false lashes?

      • Prefer brown or black eyeliner?

      • If there is anything that they absolutely hate or love when it comes to their makeup?

      • Have them bring a favorite lip product in case their touch up sample runs out.

  • THE BRIDAL PARTY

    I created your timeblock by scheduling 45 minutes per bridesmaid/guest, 45-60 minutes for the bride, and 30 minutes at the end for lipstick and finishing touches.

    I do not recommend creating a time slot for each party member.

    Why?

    • Makeup application can vary: some clients may take 20 minutes, others 45. Regardless, because of the way I schedule the time block, everyone will get done on time!

    • People tend to run late to their timeslot, which throws us behind.

    • If the time slot schedule gets thrown off, it will create unnecessary stress.

    • Hair and Makeup can move at different speeds, and won’t always finish at the same time, throwing it off.

    Instead, have everyone getting makeup done arrive at the start time on your contract. I will grab each party member as I’m ready.

    THE BRIDE

    • The Bride should get their makeup done midday or, at the latest, second to last.

    • Ensure you’re planned to be done before any other vendors arrive to greet you, show you florals, ask questions, want items for photos, etc. to allow a stress free and uninterrupted makeup application.

    If you are someone who prefers to have some type of plan in writing, I recommend creating an order that you want your Bridal Party to get ready in at 45 minute increments to get a rough estimate on time.

    Create the order by priority of who needs to be ready first, or who can’t be there until later, etc.

  • MAKEUP TIMELINE

    • Ensure both your coordinator and photographer know the time makeup is scheduled. You can find this on your contract. This allows them to plan accordingly.

    PHOTOGRAPHY COORDINATION

    • Getting ready photos are totally fine, but all bridal party and robes/pjs shots should not begin until everyone has their lipstick on after my completion time! :) - You can find this on the contract.

Wedding Morning Details

  • I will arrive with my makeup chair and additional lighting. Please make sure that the getting ready location has a decent sized counter/table space for me to set up at prior to the wedding morning. If they don’t, please let me know prior!

    Have your entire bridal party arrive on time with clean, exfoliated skin and inspo pictures!
    They can wear skincare if they’d like to and I will remove it if I need to before I start.

  • I will do lipstick and any touch ups at the very end on everyone before I leave.  

    I suggest everyone drink out of a straw (in touch up pouches) until after the ceremony to help lipstick stay on!

    At this time, everyone will get their touch up pouch.

    • Includes: a straw to keep lipstick looking fresh, mini beauty blender, touch up sample of lip color, makeup wipe and more essentials if needed!

    Each person bringing their favorite touch up lip product is highly recommended in case they run out of touch up sample.

  • Schedule everyone to eat lunch BEFORE I apply lipstick during the last 20-30 minutes of my time with you.

    Please do not eat while in the makeup chair, but….Mimosas + hydration are strongly encouraged!!

  • Exchange gifts and letters prior to getting makeup done! ;-)

how to prepare your skin

.

In addition to being a Makeup Artist, I am also a Licensed Esthetician. I absolutely love offering support to my Brides on how to best prepare their skin, brows and lashes for wedding day!

I offer a 10% discount on all of my in studio services to my brides!

You can use the discount as often as you’d like starting the day that you sign your contract, up to your wedding day on all services! **Does not apply to Bridal Preview.

You can see what services I offer, as well as book the, through the button below! Please feel free to contact me for assistance on what to book!

Facials & Skincare Regimen

both are important & together they will make all the difference.

Dermaplane Facials

I recommend getting a monthly Dermaplane Facial to exfoliate off all of the facial hair, dead skin cells, dirt, oil and more to reveal radiant, glowing skin. This is a beautiful treatment to get rid of dry and flakey skin, and will help prepare your skin to look more smooth, hydrated and even, but will help your skin’s ability to absorb your skincare.

WHEN TO GET ONE?

It's never too early to start working on your skin, but I recommend getting at least 2 facials prior to the wedding date. One at about 5 weeks out, and the last being 1 -1 ½ weeks prior to the wedding date.

Skincare Plan + Recommendations

The following Morning & Night Regimes will be an easy guide to make sure you’re getting all the good, active ingredients on your skin, but not too often that you’re reacting.

Each part explains when to put on each product, and in what order. It even breaks it down by day!

**This is a basic plan for most clients! You may need to add or eliminate products or ingredients depending on your skin type. I will be customizing your skincare plan during your facial after I see and treat your skin.

morning regime

Every Morning Apply your products in this order:

1. Glycolic or Salicylic Cleanse

2. Toner

3. Vitamin C Serum

4. Hyaluronic Acid Serum

5. Moisturizer

6. Eye Cream

7. SPF 30-50+ - You can not leave your bathroom without SPF if you are using retinol! Your skin is extremely sensitive to sunlight using these products, and will make the issues you are trying to correct worse if you don't protect it from the sun!

night regime

Night #1 - Retinol Night

1. Double Cleanse: First remove makeup with a makeup removing oil cleanser or balm & then use your treatment cleanser, typically a Glycolic or Salicylic cleanser, to cleanse the skin as your second cleanse.

2. Completely dry off and apply retinol on dry skin, make sure your skin is not damp!

3. Moisturizer & Facial Oil (you can skip oil if you don’t feel super dry or flakey!)

4. Eye Cream

Night #2 - Exfoliation Night

1. Double Cleanse: Oil cleanser, and then treatment cleanser.

2. Exfoliate

3. Moisturizer

4. Facial Oil if you're really dry, flakey or tight feeling from Retinol.

5. Eye Cream

Night #3 - Hydration Night

1. Double Cleanse

2. Toner

3. Hydration Mask

4. Hyaluronic acid serum

5. Moisturizer

6. Facial oil, if needed

7. Eye Cream

Start over with Night #1 & Repeat the cycle!

skincare recommendations

Glymed Plus Products

As a Licensed Esthetician, I use the professional skin care line, Glymed Plus.

You can purchase anything you'd like through the Glymed Plus professional online store.

**You will have to CREATE AN ACCOUNT under a professional to give you access. Use the Retail Store: calliekayartistry

You can shop the Glymed Plus button below, or I've linked my favorites for you. A lot of these products come in travel size, which is a great way to save some money and try them out!

**Please do not purchase Glymed from anywhere but the actual website, the products are sometimes expired or not real!

First Cleanse - To Remove Makeup

Glycolic Cleanser

Exfoliator

Vitamin C Serum

Retinol Serum

Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Moisturizer

Facial Oil

Eye Cream

SPF

Masks I recommend:

Exfoliating Mask

Acne Face Mask

Hydrating Mask

Retail & Over the Counter Products

Click the button below for links to my favorite retail skin care products!

BOOK YOUR STUDIO SERVICES

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BOOK YOUR STUDIO SERVICES -

Take advantage of
your 10% off!

For any questions or suggestions on what to book to prepare your skin, or what brow services would be best for you, please feel free to send me a message!