FAQ

Do you have a studio location?

No, currently services are only provided on location, meaning we come to you wherever you will be! Most often we do services in your hotel, vacation rental, venue location, or your home if you live here. Please note* Wild Ivory is not responsible for finding or securing your location for any type of services (trial sessions included).

Do you have a minimum and travel fee?

The minimum required for booking day of bridal services is $275. Travel fees vary & will be determined by the distance or time it takes our stylists to reach your getting ready location to provide services. This fee will vary from stylist to stylist, as each stylist travels from a different area. Please note* We will do our best to schedule stylists who live closest to your getting ready location, though this is not a guarantee, as some stylists may already be booked elsewhere. In addition, a $10 parking fee is added per stylist if street/garage parking is the only parking available nearest your location. Please include your getting ready location when inquiring for service pricing

What is required to book services with Wild Ivory?

Both a non-refundable $125 deposit & completed/signed contract are required to reserve your date for services. Please note: *if you have booked or completed a trial session but you have not paid your deposit & returned your signed contract, your date will not be held until both are turned in. Please note: *if you are looking to book your bridal service with the Owner, please state so in your inquiry. Weddings are first come, first serve basis & Owner may already be booked. Should this be the case, we have wonderful & talented stylists & artists to fulfill all your wedding day needs!

How are payments made?

Payment for services will be taken upon completion on the day of only & all payments must be in one (1) single transaction. Most parties tend to pay the Bride in advance or after services, and then the Bride completes the single transaction. We accept credit card or cash only & we Do Not accept Venmo.. Please note* Day of wedding services cannot & will not be run from credit card on file as we do not carry this information with us.

Can I pay for my services in advance?

We do not accept payments for any services in advance at all besides the deposit.

What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept credit card or cash only & we do not accept Venmo . Payment for services will be taken upon completion on day of only. Please note* Day of wedding services cannot & will not be run from credit card on file.

What is your cancellation policy?

Please submit cancellation in writing via email; deposit will not be returned.

Can I make changes to my contract?

You have up until 30 days prior to the service date to make any changes to your contract. After that all services are considered to be locked in. Any service wishing to cancel within the 30 days will need to either be replaced by another service, or be paid for in full by bride or person contracted for service. Payment for those dropped services will be taken no later than contracted service date. Also, if we do not have your final confirmed service count and photo ready time by 30 days prior to the service date, we cannot guarantee adequate staffing to complete all requested services. Adding services will more than likely affect the start time and will only be completed providing scheduling allows.

I don’t wear makeup & want to look as natural as possible..

We totally get this! Natural is our specialty & we love natural beauty! We do think it is important to note however, that to look “natural” on camera, you will still need to be wearing an amount of makeup to get that “natural” & yet professionally done look. About 30% of the color that is on your face will be diminished in a photograph (especially with a professionals camera), so a little more than your everyday wear is necessary. Of course we want you to feel as comfortable as possible in your bridal look, & we ask tons of questions at the trial session to make sure we stay on the same page when creating your overall desired look. But we also may make suggestions that we know will help leaving you look stunning on & off camera, this is where putting your trust in your vendors is very key!

Do I need to book a trial session?

A trial session is not required but is highly recommended! This is our chance to get to meet one on one & make sure we are the right fit for each other! Plus, getting to preview your look will put your mind at ease so you can relax & get pampered on the day of & will ensure everything that day will run smoothly. This also gives us a better idea if timing for your services will need to be adjusted for the day of. If you are unable to book a trial session for any reason, feel free to email inspiration photos & a selfie so we can get an idea of what you are looking for!

Can I have guests?

The more the merrier! Usually...we absolutely encourage you to have someone there who’s opinion you 100% trust! However, it is not recommended bringing an entourage...this can sometimes lead to you feeling uncertain & confused about something you may love & desire, & can potentially be an unpleasant experience. Have you ever watched “Say Yes to the Dress”?

When should I schedule a trial session?

Any time between 2-4 months prior to your wedding! This allows for ample time in the event something is requested to be changed. We understand many brides are from out of the area & we have done trials the week of or day before the wedding. It all depends on your timing!

Do brides usually have a trial session done before paying the deposit?

Whether you pay before or after the trial is really up to your discretion, however, some brides are unable to make it into town for a session before their wedding date due to their location. Some brides trust by the work they have seen on our website & social media & are comfortable making payment before the trial session. You can wait until after your trial if you choose to book a session if you'd like, but please know that the date won't be reserved until both contract & deposit are received. This means that all bookings are reserved on a first come first serve basis. Even if you have done a trial session, this does not guarantee your reservation until both contract & deposit are complete! Also note that peak wedding seasons (Sept - November & March - June) here in Charleston book up very quickly, making it difficult to reserve a last minute booking!

How long does a trial session last?

Hair & makeup trial sessions last about 2.5 - 3 hours (not including our setup & breakdown time). Trial sessions that exceed this time will be charged an additional $25 per half hour. Hair only or makeup only sessions last an avg of an 1.5 hours (also not including setup/breakdown time). We arrive to all bookings 10-15 mins prior, to setup & start services by the appointment start time.

Can I do more than one trial?

Of course! We want you to love your wedding day look & feel beautiful & confident with your completed look for the big day! Being open & honest during the trial session is essential to making sure we are both on the same page with everything! No charge incurred for a second trial if it didn’t go the way we had envisioned or if you’re on a tight schedule & time runs out for whatever the reason. However, please keep in mind that additional fees will apply if you want to just simply try a new & different style.

How long does each service take?

Generally, 45 mins for each service for each bridesmaid is needed (roughly 90 mins for hair and makeup for one person). For Brides, 1 hr for makeup and 1 hr to 1.5 hrs for hairstyling is typical. It is also best to let us know in advance if you or any bridal party member has long &/or thick hair or even textured hair so the timing can be adjusted accordingly. You’ll also notice on your day of timeline that a 30 minute buffer is always added at the end for “just in case” scenarios that may pop up, quick touchups, and taking payments. When giving your photo ready time, please do not include what time you need to be dressed by. Also, if photos of the bridal party in robes, etc. are to be taken, please note that this needs to be taken out of the time you give us to be hair and makeup ready by. It is important to get clarification by your photographer on timing, so we do not interfere with the photography timeline and vice versa.

What if I need only hair or only makeup?

That is fine! However, the minimum is still $200 so you would need to have some other services added (maid of honor, mother, bridesmaid, etc.)

My MOB & MOG want their hair done to, is the bridal party hair pricing the same for them even though they have short hair?

Yes! Our pricing does not alter per style because we spend the same amount of time styling each persons hair (45 mins) no matter how short, long, thick or thin it is & we use the same tools and products on everyone.

Should I bring photos?

You may absolutely bring pictures of hair & makeup ideas! However, try to narrow it down to just a few. Having too many photos of all different ideas can be overwhelming & is not necessary. It is also important to be realistic with the photos & your desired look. If you’re a brunette with fine, short hair, bring in a photo with similar coloring & texture. Bringing in a photo of a blonde with a big braid & voluminous bun, when you’re a brunette, is going to have a very different end result than the inspired image for multiple reasons! The same can be applied to makeup application, it’s best to have images of similar face/eye shapes & coloring. We are very honest during trial sessions about what will & won’t work given hair texture, density, face & eye shape, etc. Unfortunately, not every hairstyle you see is going to work and look the same on everyone! A good majority of the time images you find on Pinterest have been either quite edited or extensions have been put in to achieve voluminous styles! Our goal is to make you look & feel you’re very best for your event & being realistic about both will produce great end results!

What else should I know before the trial run?

Along with those inspiration photos, it is a great idea for you to try to bring all your accessories that you will be wearing on your wedding day! Hair clip or veil preferably with a metal comb (instead of a plastic comb as bobbi pins are difficult to get around the plastic ones)! Earrings & necklaces are also recommended, as well as wearing something of similar color to your wedding dress. It can be quite difficult for some brides to get a good idea of how everything will look when you have a full face of gorgeous makeup and va-va voom hair & you’re wearing casual clothing, this way you may have a better idea in your head that you’re satisfied with!

Should my hair be dirty?

No, please! We prefer clean hair not dirty hair. Many girls hear that this is the best thing for hair styling & one day old hair is great as long as your roots are not greasy! We have tons of professional products that can be used to mimic dirty hair, but dry shampoo is only going to do so much if your hair is too dirty. Also, please have your hair completely dry, as extra timing is not added in blow-dries on trial sessions & day of wedding services. This results in additional fees & will put our timing off schedule! It is also highly recommend that your bridesmaids aware of this info.

What kinds of products do you use?

Our artists use many different brands for both hair & makeup, as we like trying new products all the time! We also have some staples in our kits because we know they work & the end result will be beautiful & long-lasting. Usually what we have in our kits range from Loreal Professional, Redken, Kenra, etc. for hair. For makeup we use TEMPTU, Dinair, Mac, Urban Decay, Nyx, etc. It is important to notify us of any allergies you may have to products & ingredients!

What is Airbrush makeup?

Airbrush makeup is an advanced application technique designed to give you luminous & long- lasting results while providing a lightweight and natural feel. It is customizable in the amount of coverage desired & skin tone. It is also sweat resistant, water resistant, & will last up to 16 hours which is perfect for the Charleston climate!

Do you offer traditional makeup?

We do not offer traditional makeup due to personal preference and because we cannot guarantee it lasting in the humid climate we often have here. We prefer airbrush due to the flawless look it provides in person and in photographs. If airbrush is not desired for your day of services you may feel free to bring your own foundation products, and we have no problem applying them along with my other products however, prices will not differ.

Do I need to have touch-up services?

For the most part, the only thing that should need touching up is your lipstick! We provide a little container with the chosen lip color inside along with 2 disposable lip brushes (for the bride only). You may bring your own lip color if desired for touch-ups & is a great idea for the bridesmaids to have their own as well! However, if your wedding is in the hot summer months here we do recommend having touch-up services for pictures between ceremony & reception as you will still sweat! This will ensure that you can be blotted & powdered properly, extra hair spray if needed, & any other issues that may arise. Summers here are very hot and humid!

I want to wear my hair down, but my hair doesn’t hold curl...

Okay, this one’s not so much a question as it is a statement. We’re not going to tell you that with loads of hairspray in the hot and humid Charleston weather, your hair will hold. We do highly recommend wearing your hair up in the hot summer months especially, but you know your hair better than we do. If you know your hair doesn’t hold curl, you can research human hair extensions which can “help” provide a better environment for curls (& length & volume), or simply wear your hair up! The weather here can be quite unpredictable, so during your trial session it isn’t a bad idea to have two styles to try, down & up, so you can make a game day decision!

What’s this about extensions?

If you are interested in a voluminous down or half-down style & a bulky updo, & you just don’t quite have the right amount of hair, we highly recommend human hair or Remy clip in extensions! Without them, your style could come up short & you’ll be disappointed in the end result. Clip-in extensions are best since you are only wearing them for one night, & they are the most versatile when it comes to styling the hair! We do not provide extensions & to add them to your hair style is an additional charge.