Typically for weddings, brides are accustomed to putting down a ‘deposit’ or ‘booking fee’, to confirm their wedding date with their vendors. This can cause a lot of stress for a bride, because if they do not know their vendor personally or have known them for an extended time, this could be perceived as risky.
A couple of factors which could reduce a bride’s stress levels, or flag dodgy supplier behaviours:
Why are booking fees required? A booking fee helps suppliers protect their business and secures clients’ dates, which protects clients. My terms are usually ‘first come, first served’. If you pay my booking fee for a particular date, that date (or the time-slot I have you scheduled in for) is now yours. All other bookings are referred to other artists for that time slot. I am often booked 2-3 years in advance on certain dates, so booking fees help me plan for work and holidays. If I am booked to work, I will not book a holiday. Or, if I am booked for Sally’s wedding, I cannot say yes to work at Harry’s wedding. That may sound ridiculously logical, but if you have your sights set on a particular supplier – book them well in advance.
How much is a booking fee? It depends on each supplier, but mine is a 50% booking fee, and special arrangements can be made, as long as the amount is paid in full a month prior to the wedding day.
Why do I not like to allow the balance in cash or EFT paid on the day? For a variety of reasons. Clients delay me hunting for the cash. Clients delay themselves hunting for the cash. Clients give me the incorrect amount in cash, and are running too late for me to check the cash, which I would in fact prefer not to have to check. Clients sometimes think I mistrust them when I check, but, I have been short-changed quite a few times, by quite a lot. Accidents happen, and I would prefer to not be the mistake spotter or run around looking for money when the bride is already in her dress, after I have been moving and shaking getting everyone’s looks done. This makes me feel somewhat defiled and seedy, so I avoid this scenario like the plague. Clients are often reluctant to do instant EFTs or immediate payments, which is why the balance EFT for smaller bookings need to be done 2 days prior to the booking. Why so specific? Have you any idea how often people cannot connect to their banking app at the end of a session? Although 99% of my clients are BLISS, there is the 1% which is an absolute headache to get payment from after the booking is done.
All of my terms are luckily in line with industry standards, but for clients new to booking makeup artists or other bridal suppliers, these concepts may seem foreign. The goal of me creating blog posts, are to educate, have a little fun and inform new clients about processes and industry scenarios.
Sigi Makeup | Sigrid Shaw Artist 