Booking and Security Deposit

Booking and Security Deposit

Security Deposit works hand-in-hand with the statement No Pencil Booking Policy. To see what Pencil booking is. Click here.

Security Deposit locks in a supplier to a certain client for that date in his calendar. Meaning right after the interested party decided to book that supplier and the security deposit is made. The Supplier can no longer accept nor entertain inquiries for that date while some for that timeslot.

Photo –Video, Coordination, Hair and Makeup, Catering, Bridal Car, Photo Booth normally does one event per day, while a florist or a Wedding Designer can have it per times lot and can still work accordingly on his schedule.

This locks in the supplier and client together, mostly applicable on almost all months of the year particularly on peak months of the year. 

Security Deposit per word it self is “Security Deposit”, thus this makes it NON-REFUNDABLE. This is why they call it a “SECURITY - Deposit”

That is why it is strongly advisable to all couple out there before making your final decision to book a certain supplier for your event, is to clearly research about them, their specialization, their style if it fits your theme or your requirement, their delivery / turn over procedure (for photo-vid, coordination etc)

While we can’t also blame ourselves when we have a supplier in front of us that looks very promising and knowing suppliers’ calendar gets blocked off quickly or sells like hotcake. (Remember there are hundreds of engaged couples out there and you have several couple who has the same wedding date as to yours) We tend to do that “impulse buying” (as for shopping term) “impulse booking” for an event. Only to find out after a couple of research that either their forte, their editing style, their turn over time lines do not meet your wedding theme, you and your partners style the list could go on.

As for us, the makeup artists out there, know your makeup artist forte, if you prefer a more red carpet ala “artista” look maybe that makeup artist whose forte is the no makeup or the glow bride look is not for you (but try to ask them first if they can do it too) , if you are more of a Kate Middleton bride, who just wants to look exactly like her daily look only little better, then choose one whose style is the fresh makeup look. If you are dark or deep skinned and you want to be as white as a Brazilian model, then maybe you don’t need a makeup artist, you need flour on your face or goat’s milk mask to wear on your big day (enter sarcasm here) What I mean is never ask your makeup artist to use Shade 20 to you when you are Shade 50. That is way too impossible when you complain why am I dark?

For Makeup artist, Bridal Makeup Consultation is sometimes free as it is a 30-minute, online or phone advice service and information about the theme of the look, rates etc is discussed. While I know some coordinators even designers may have a consultation fee, this is understandable as ideas, and designs are presented over. A possibility of stealing program platforms and designer’s sketches / design could take place.

Trial Run with a Makeup Artist is normally priced as 20% - 50% of the full bridal application rate. Read my Test Makeup Entry here. This is where the bride is asked to show up with a white color outfit and to bring a few photos of what she may have in mind for the makeup. When a bride fails to bring or show any, the makeup artist will do a series of different test and look until the bride DECIDES, then the makeup artist records for face charting. The bride should NEVER leave the test area if she has not yet fully decided on the look. When the client leaves the work / test area it is understandable that the look has been CHOSEN ALREADY and in case complaints arise that the bride does not like the makeup this does not held the artist liable as the series of test and decision was made and that client left with her decision made already from the series of looks presented. A possible of sabotage, altering and tampering by a non-pro or the client itself (non-pro – in this matter is defined as someone who does not have proper makeup application trainings etc) that is out of the makeup artist’s control (in long shoots or tapings, only the makeup artist not the production staff does the retouching on the set as the makeup artist knows how video screen capture or photography is in process). The bride can actually present a peg (peg is defined as a photo inspiration) that she wants to copy if in time she finds one later. It is strongly advisable for the client to do her assignment as well in trial run at the same researching for the makeup artist and its forte before booking them first just like the photo-video team, couple researches it forte, delivery timeline, capturing and editing style, music pick. During the test makeup run as it normally happens 2-3 hours, the result of oxidization should be evident already in case a model / client is acidic. Oxidization takes place from 15mins to an hour and normally you may see this already when hair is being styled, so again after 2-4 hours of wind - sun exposure is a different story.

When cancellation is made for these reason in the above scenario this is purely absurd.

Giving your word to a supplier “I will book you” does not really make you “already booked in the calendar.” Then returning after 3-4 months only to find out the date is taken already.

Security Deposit is normally 50% of the full bridal application rate will be paid to honor the reservation for the wedding date.

When you have booked a supplier and the Security Deposit has been made, the supplier blocks off the date for the client and is in no way to accept another client of the same date or time slot then later informs the first that everything is canceled. While there are some who does this practice, when the second client or even a shooting project was booked at a higher working price the first one to booked was then informed that booking was canceled and even offered for full refund of the security deposit when in fact it is in  industry's rule that is a No-No. This only happened when unforeseen event like to a fellow makeup artist who recently found out she was pregnant and those wedding whose month falls the same to the delivery month and healing month of the pregnant makeup artist, the artist notified her clients right away.

So when would be the best time to book a makeup artist?

For those who are really in demand or seasoned in the industry their calendars normally get booked a year ahead, this also gives them time to arrange their schedule to such further trips abroad for yearly training (yes, your makeup artist gets refresher trainings to stay up-to-date and in trend of techniques)

While in general it is advisable to book makeup artist at least 6 months before your wedding date, at least you are sure she wont be popping a baby during your wedding day, or have arranged her schedule that she wont be flying anytime soon or is returning right in time of your wedding date (Note: some artist do get international job assignments too)

There you go I hope I was able to help out with inquiries and giving tips to everyone on how booking and why in the world security deposit is important.

To Sum it up:

When getting married, always know that when dealing with suppliers, they are there to help you out and they are not there to play around. So take them seriously.

Suppliers don’t just sit on the couch and wait for you the entire year before they work. So be considerate of their time as they are very considerate of yours and of other marrying couples too.

Pencil booking does not guarantee you a slot. Applicable to all supplier of all sort not just makeup; try asking around if you want.

Security deposit is non refundable. That is why they call it a “SECURITY Deposit”. Applicable to all supplier of all sort not just makeup; try asking around if you want.

Once that proposal started, research, research, research first before booking, though be a smart bride or groom to be, procrastination may leave you fish and bone leftover.

Treat suppliers well too. They may be there to work for you on your wedding day but that does not give you the right to just shout at them, call them names, or worst treat them like lowlife. Remember the term: Be nice to nerds, chances are you will be working for one.  You may not know their other work or status life of who they are when they are not working in a wedding scene. It just that they know how to behave well, keep mum of themselves and knows how to work with grace under pressure. "I have heard a story of how one client treat a videographer then months passed sister of a bride was applying for a job only to find out final interviewer was the same videographer who is the Director of Operations. Another one, groom was on his final interview too when the HR Supervisor's boss (meaning HR VP) was the makeup artist of the groom's bride (his wife) whom she maltreated a year ago. (i happen to know the makeup artist ;-) )

I read in one Bridal site: Being an OC Bride is actually ok, but being an OAOC bride is not. Enjoy every moment of the preparation. I don’t understand why some every step they do the first word to come out from them is OMG! I’m so stressed. Its perception management

Let me know your thoughts on this please
Write me up at michellecamaclang @ GMAIL