Bridal Makeup Deposit, Contract, and Invoice Template
A bridal makeup invoice should price the bride and each party member per face, list the trial, travel, and early-call-time fees on their own lines, credit the non-refundable retainer taken when the date was booked, and state the balance due date — backed by a signed contract with the cancellation terms. ShowTheReceipts collects the retainer online when the date is held, itemizes the party per person, and states the balance due date on the invoice so payment isn't a wedding-morning conversation.
Header block
- Business name, license, phone
- Bride’s name and contact, wedding date and venue
- Invoice number, retainer reference, payment method
- Contract reference (signed before the trial)
Service lines
- Bridal makeup — the bride’s day-of application
- Party members — per person: bridesmaids, mother-of-the-bride, others
- Trial — its own line, included or billed per your policy
- Travel fee — flat or by distance
- Early-call-time fee — for pre-dawn starts
- Touch-up / second look — add-on lines
- Retainer applied — credited to the balance
Retainer and terms
| Item | Standard |
|---|---|
| Retainer | 30–50%, non-refundable, taken at booking |
| Balance due | Stated date — day-of, at trial, or X days before |
| Cancellation | Per the signed contract |
| Travel / early call | On the invoice, not verbal |
The retainer holds the date. The written balance due date is what keeps payment off the wedding-morning to-do list.
The contract does the heavy lifting
Sign it before the trial. It should list every service and per-person cost, the retainer and balance terms, acceptable payment methods, and the cancellation policy — so the invoice is just the math the contract already agreed to.
Multiple weddings, tracked
Each date carries its own retainer, party breakdown, and balance due date. Keep them on separate booking records so you always know which retainer is in and which balance is outstanding.
What not to do
- Don’t hold a date without a non-refundable retainer
- Don’t leave the trial’s price or inclusion unwritten
- Don’t run a party off a lump sum with no per-person lines
- Don’t leave the balance due date verbal — put it on the invoice and the contract
Frequently asked questions
How much retainer should a bridal makeup artist take?
Typically 30–50% of the estimated total, collected when the date is booked and non-refundable. You're holding a date you'll turn other brides away for; a refundable deposit is a reservation she can cancel at your expense, not a booking.
How do I price a bridal party?
Per person, per face — a line for the bride and a line for each bridesmaid, mother-of-the-bride, and anyone else, plus travel and early-call-time separately. The per-head breakdown is what keeps a group booking clear instead of a lump sum nobody can check.
Should the trial be a separate charge?
Yes, as its own line — commonly 50–100% of the event rate or a flat fee. Decide whether it's included in the package or billed separately and write it down, because 'I thought the trial was included' is a classic wedding-day dispute.
When is the balance due?
State it on the invoice and in the contract — commonly the day of, at the trial, or a set number of days before the wedding. A written balance due date is the single thing that stops payment from becoming an awkward conversation on the morning of the wedding.