GemMakeup Wedding FAQs
FAQs are regularly updated - if you have a question not included below but feel should be please email Gemma.
Travel
Where are you based?
I am a mobile makeup artist based in Dartford, Kent. DA1 area.
Where will you travel too?
For bridal bookings I will travel where required. The main 4 counties I cover are London, Kent, Essex and Surrey.
How do you calculate travel charges?
Travel charges are based upon 45p per mile there and back (rounded up) if the location is over 20 miles away. Any toll charges, parking charges or additional charges will be added on top. Please ensure you are aware of my travel charges and how they may apply to your booking before enquiring.
Bridal
How far in advance are you taking bookings?
I am taking bookings up until 31st December 2022. I am currently not taking bookings for 2023, my 2023 diary will be opening later this year.
Do you have a minimum booking requirement for bridal?
Yes, the minimum booking requirement for all wedding bookings is either x3/4.
For weddings that fall between Thursday - Sunday or on a Bank Holiday in peak season (May - September / December) the minimum booking requirement is x4. Week day weddings (Monday - Wednesday) in peak season have a minimum booking requirement of x3. Flower girls are not included in booking numbers due to being a free service.
For weddings that fall between Thursday - Sunday not in peak season (January - April / October - November) the minimum booking requirement is x3. Bank Holidays require a minimum of x4 all year round. Week day weddings not in peak season also has a minimum booking requirement of x3. Flower girls are not included in booking numbers due to being a free service.
Single bride bookings can only be booked in the following months: January and February. Unfortunately I cannot book in single bride bookings throughout the rest of the year.
How many makeups will you do in one booking?
I am comfortable to take on x6/7 makeups within 1 booking. I can help you find an assisting artist for any extra makeups added.
How long do you take per person?
My timings will vary per person and per booking depending on the style of makeup chosen. I average my bridal bookings (bridesmaid and mothers of) makeup to take roughly 45 minutes per person. I ideally like to spend around 1hour 15 minutes on the bride. I always allow a little extra timing on my bookings by 15 minutes should we run over. Please allow enough time from myself arriving to set up before I start the first makeup.
Are you insured?
Yes, I am a fully insured specialist member with BABTAC. My insurance can be supplied on request to bridal venues or hotels only. Please request your venue to contact me on the following email address for more details. makeup.gem@yahoo.com
What happens once all makeups have been completed?
Once everyones makeup has been completed I will begin to tidy my work area and then request each person come back to me in order of makeups completed for top ups. Photographer images may be taken in this time also. I will also stay until you all have your dresses on to ensure makeup is perfect up until the minute you leave. Nothing is too much and I hope that I can be a calm presence to your big day.
One of my bridesmaids / member of my bridal party no longer wants makeup done, what do I do?
Upon booking you will be sent GemMakeup bridal T+Cs which will state bookings, once agreed, cannot change in numbers. To avoid money loss for yourselves I always suggest asking someone else if they would like their makeup done as a replacement.
How many of my bridal party should have a trial?
It is compulsory for the bride to have a bridal trial. However it is totally optional for any of your bridal party to have a trial. To have timings run smoother on the wedding day I usually suggest for at least 1 bridesmaid to have a trial so we can pre decide the bridesmaids look. I strongly recommend any 'mothers of' to have trials if they have never had their makeup done before and are in any way anxious about the makeup.
If I am not happy with my bridal trial can I be refunded?
Unfortunately due to the service being a trial you cannot be refunded should you be dissatisfied with the makeup. The purpose of your trial is to determine wether you wish to book or decide / trial what makeup you wish to have for the wedding day. It is ideal if you have some reference pictures of makeup you like or a photo of yourself with how you would normally wear your makeup.
Do you do any bridal offers or packages?
Unfortunately I do not have any bridal offers or packages at this current time. Pricing is on a per person basis and enquiry basis only. Seasonally I may have offers for a short period of time which I will actively post on my social pages. To view my social pages please click the social buttons at the top of this website.
How can I enquire for bridal makeup/bookings?
To enquire for bridal bookings please use my contact form linked here.
What booking options do you offer?
I offer three options of booking. These are listed in my bridal T+Cs. To view my current 2021-2023 T+Cs please click here.
I have a question not listed here, how should I contact you?
Please ensure all questions have been thoroughly read along with GemMakeup Bridal T+Cs. Should you still have a question please contact Gemma via Instagram or Facebook using the social buttons at the top of this website.
I want to cancel my booking with you. Will my deposit be refunded? (Non Covid)
Should you wish to cancel your booking please ensure you have fully read GemMakeup Bridal T+Cs. A cancellation fee will apply which will be either your full 50% deposit or your full £50 save the date booking fee as you, the client, are cancelling your booking which could have been booked by another potential bride and has involved admin services to be carried out by Gemma. Your deposit will be lost and cannot be used for another booking or transferred.
In the event you cancel (under 1 months notice to your wedding date) and have paid your full amount by the payment deadline date indicated in your invoice, this along with the deposit will not be refunded. The deadline date is in place to fully secure your wedding booking to go ahead with 1 months notice. Should you cancel prior to your payment deadline date you will not have to pay the remainder due but you will lose your deposit.
COVID 19 - BRIDAL FAQs / T+Cs
Once you book your wedding with GemMakeup you are agreeing to GemMakeup Covid T+Cs.
What happens if I have to move my wedding date due to government guidelines? (Covid19 Only - weddings legally cannot be carried out)
Please know Gemma will do her best to deal with this situation quickly and make it as stress free as possible for you. Gemma is happy to move any bridal bookings should the government guidelines affect your booking, meaning your wedding cannot go ahead by law. Please ensure you contact Gemma prior to securing a new date to have the best chance of her being available. Your booking will be fully transferred to a new date at no additional costing if keeping within 2021 and a new updated invoice will be sent with the correct dates on. Please also be aware your deadline payment date will also move accordingly and will be due 1 month prior to your new wedding date.
If in the unfortunate case Gemma is unavailable for your first postponed wedding date 2 options will be given. Option 1: You can use the deposit for any future bookings or gift this to another person. This would help support a small business at a difficult time. Option 2: a refund. A refund is only applicable if by law your wedding cannot go ahead and Gemma is unavailable for your new date. Your deposit will be refunded. However, you will not be refunded for any services already carried out such as trials. You will then be refunded the difference.
If in the unfortunate case Gemma is unavailable for your second postponed wedding date the following would apply: A minimum fee of £50 will be non refundable. Unfortunately Gemma cannot refund your full deposit due to the admin services involved in moving your first date and holding your new date, sending emails and invoices etc. You will also not be refunded for any services already carried out such as trials. You will then be refunded the difference within your deposit after the £50 admin fee and any services carried out is deducted.
Please ensure you contact Gemma prior to securing a new wedding date to have the best chance possible to rebook. Gemma would love nothing more than to rebook than to lose a bride due to COVID postponements, please communicate as much as possible with dates before securing a new one.
What happens if I chose to move my wedding out of personal choice? (Weddings are legally allowed to be carried out)
Should you chose to move your booking for personal reasons but the government guidelines state weddings can legally be carried out the following would apply to you. Gemma will move your booking to a new date subject to availability. Should Gemma not be available for your new date you will lose your deposit. If you move your date to a new date in 2021 your quote will not change and your pricing will be honoured. Should you wish to move your booking to 2022 or 2023, any updated new pricing will apply to your booking and Gemma will re quote you and update your invoice accordingly.
Gemma will aim to provide the best customer service and accommodate all requests where possible. However refunds will only be given in the circumstances that by law your wedding cannot take place and Gemma is no longer available. Any decisions made will be at Gemma's discretion or out of goodwill. Please kindly ask for what options are available to you to ensure the problem is fixed in a professional and stress free manor.
Weddings are legally allowed to be carried out but I am not happy with guest restrictions and therefore wish to move my booking. Will you move my date and what happens if you aren't available for my new date?
With weddings legally allowed to go ahead, any bride looking to move due to guest restrictions will be classed as moving their booking out of personal choice. Your wedding can go ahead by law but you are choosing to still move for a personal reason. Gemma will move your date only once subject to availability at no additional cost. If Gemma is not available for your new date you will lose your deposit.
What happens if I chose to not rebook my wedding in with you and cancel?
This will result in loss of deposit as you, the client are cancelling the booking. This policy is also in GemMakeup T+Cs, click here to view.
What is your refund policy?
Refunds will only be given if by law a wedding cannot take place or if by law the makeup industry is not allowed to work. Lockdowns or Tier levels that prevent both wedding events and makeup taking place will mean you are entitled to a refund. In the unfortunate case you contract COVID or test positive and are required to isolate, meaning your wedding cannot take place, you will not be given the option of a refund but you will be given the option to rebook for a new wedding date. An additional £50 save the date charge will be required for the new date and this will be added on top of your current invoice to fully secure the transfer of dates.
One of my bridal party cannot attend my wedding due to having to isolate, can I get a refund for this makeup?
Unfortunately you will not be refunded for any members of the bridal party that are having to isolate and no longer having makeup done. This falls under GemMakeup Bridal T+Cs where bridal party numbers cannot be changed. Once your bridal party numbers are confirmed and quoted they cannot be changed. I would then suggest to ask someone if they would like their makeup done instead/ as a replacement to avoid loss of money for yourself.
*Important Update*
From June 21st restrictions may be fully lifted on weddings. Once this is officially announced, from June 21st GemMakeup Bridal T+Cs before Covid19 will be put back in place and must be strictly followed.