As a destination makeup artist, by definition a lot of the brides I work with “travel in” for their wedding.

Some come from the UK, some from the United States or Canada, some from the Middle East or Asia (Dubai and India especially). Others come from closer by in Europe. Some know the Alps well. Others have fallen in love with the mountains through one trip, an engagement, or a dream of getting married somewhere extraordinary and dramatic.

If you are planning a destination wedding in Chamonix or the French Alps, booking your wedding makeup artist is very manageable from abroad. But there are a few things worth understanding early.

The mountains are logistically different

The Alps are beautiful, but they are not always simple.

If there is a road closure, it is not like being on a motorway where you can hop off and back on again. Sometimes a closure means a detour of several hours (Mont-Blanc Tunnel, I’m looking at you!). Last January, I had a journey where I ended up being sent on a big diversion, including going through a huge tunnel on a train that wasn’t in the original plan!

That is down to me to manage as the makeup artist; that said, it is still useful for clients to understand that mountain logistics can really affect travel and timings.

Travel and accommodation fees may apply, especially if the wedding is further away, remote, scheduled for very early in the day, or involves multiple days.

Photo Credit Olly Bowman

Trials can be planned around travel

If you live abroad, you might not be able to do a trial immediately.

That is fine. We can begin with an intro call, look at references, talk about your skin, your style, your wedding setting and what you want to feel like on the day.

A trial can happen when you come out for a planning trip, when you arrive before the wedding - or in some cases in another location entirely if it makes sense to us. I often travel to brides for trials. I have done tests in the Alps, in London, in plenty of cities - depending on the bride, the budget and what is convenient.

Another plan is to do the trial a day or two before the wedding and then change the makeup and re-purpose it for the welcome party. This happens a lot!

If there is no trial, I ask for more time on the wedding day so we can work together properly to get it right, and not rush the process.

Be realistic with references

Pinterest is so useful - but it is not the whole story ;)

A lot of bridal makeup references online are heavily edited, filtered, or simply not realistic. Some are simply not human! They can give us an aesthetic direction, but they do not always show what makeup looks like on real skin, in real light, on a real wedding day.

I always suggest you have a scroll through my portfolio and my Instagram too. Find two or three brides whose makeup you like. That helps me understand what you are drawn to within my work.

It also helps you decide whether my style is right for you!

Understand the climate you are coming into

If you are travelling from a very different climate, the Alps can surprise you.

One couple I worked with came from Miami. They had gotten engaged in the Swiss Alps in summer, when it was warm, and then booked a winter elopement. On the day, it was about -17°C. The cake froze.

That was an extreme example, but it shows the point pretty well. Summer and winter here are very different, and conditions can change moment to moment.

For makeup, that means thinking about hydration, SPF, longevity and comfort. The skin can become dry, lips can crack, and outdoor light can be strong.

Photo Credit Gaetan Haugeard

Working with planners can help

Many of my bookings come through planners, and I work with some brilliant ones: Haute Weddings, Mont Blanc Weddings, Mountain Weddings Europe, Annecy Weddings, Wilder Weddings and many other amazing planners.

A good planner can help match you with the right suppliers, and they know the areas that they operate in intimately. They often know which makeup artists suit which kind of bride. If someone wants a very strong glam look, the planner might suggest one artist. If someone wants a more natural, skin-focused look, they might send them to me.

Planners also understand the timing, travel and operational side of the day, which can be especially helpful for destination weddings and mountain weddings.  And they will definitely take a whole lot of to-dos off your plate!

Communication is everything

When you are planning from abroad, good communication makes everything feel much easier.

We can talk through:

- your wedding location

- your timing

- your skin type and concerns

- your usual makeup style

- your version of natural

- your photographer and planner details

- travel requirements

- whether a trial is possible

I do intro calls with most brides because I think it is important to connect face-to-face and make sure we vibe. Your makeup artist is with you at a very intimate moment of the day, and will be with you through the nerves and jitters, right before this huge moment kicks off. It matters that you feel calm, comfortable and relaxed with the people around you.

The process can still feel simple

Even if you are planning from another country, organising your makeup does not need to be stressful or overly complicated. The key is to start the conversation early, be honest about what you want, and choose someone who understands both bridal makeup and the Alpine environment.

For me, the aim is always to make the process feel personal, warm and straightforward, so that when the wedding morning arrives, you feel truly looked after.

Planning your wedding?

I’m Laura Wilson-North, a makeup artist based in Chamonix but often in Geneva, working across the French Alps, Swiss Alps, Italy and beyond. If you’d like to talk about your wedding day, your ideas, or your version of natural bridal makeup, I’d love to hear from you. Get in touch!