MHD Beauty: 10 Questions with Madison Dennis

Hair & Makeup Artist - Madison Dennis

Business: MHD Beauty
Location: Nashville, Tennessee TN
Experience: 7 Years
Profile: MHD Beauty
Website: www.nashvilleweddingstylist.com

1. Introduction: What's your story?

I'm Madison Dennis and I began working as an independent makeup artist and hairstylist in 2014. It was then that I started my business, MHD Beauty, of which the "MHD" are my initials and namesake.

Having just come off of a stint competing in the Miss America pageant organization, and having provided makeup & hairstyling for friends and family for their weddings, I decided to try my hand at wedding hair & makeup in the Nashville area.

My first full year in business as a full time independent stylist allowed me to work with 35 brides for their weddings. Interest in my business grew, and in 2016 I decided to bring on a few team members. It was then that the "Nashville Wedding Stylist" brand was born.

We are now 10 stylists strong, and have worked with more than 500 weddings in 6 years.

2. What's your experience as a bridal hair & makeup artist? How many brides are in there in your portfolio?

Our stylists have an average of 6 years of experience each, working with weddings. That is over 60 years combined! Each one of us prioritize weddings as a major aspect of our careers, not only because we enjoy working with brides and their families & friends, but also due to the fact that we know we can provide a positive experience on what is arguably the most important day of someone's life. Our company has serviced more than 500 brides and wedding parties since 2014, and that number is growing every week.

3. What are the different packages that you offer and which one is your most popular package?

For us, it is of utmost importance for our brides to be able to design a package that best meets their needs, therefore our service pricing is a la carte. As long as our minimum requirements are met, a bride can book any mix of services she desires, based on her own needs and the needs of her party & family.

4. Do you have a team of assistants or will you be the only artist that day? What will happen if you're sick or have an emergency on the wedding day?

Yes! Our NWS team consists of 10 stylists - 4 lead stylists who provide both hair & makeup styling, 2 hairstylists, 2 makeup artists, and 2 additional hair & makeup stylists. The number of stylists accompanying the lead stylist depends on the number of services booked. We generally send 1 stylist for every 6 services, and aim for all services to be complete in 4 hours. In the event that the lead stylist has an emergency that will prevent her from providing services on the wedding day, we would provide a backup stylist from our team.

5. Do you charge a travel fee? For what distance? What does that cover?

Our rates include travel within 20 miles of our studio which is located within downtown Nashville, TN. For locations outside of that radius, we charge a travel fee of 75 cents per mile, per stylist, over the initial 40 complimentary miles round trip.

6. Can the bride book a wedding makeup trial appointment and will you also do a trial before the wedding?

Yes! Brides can book a trial appointment with us either before or after securing the wedding day services with a contract. We prefer that the trial be done closer to the wedding date (approximately 6-8 weeks out), but a bride can also book a trial prior to that window of time.

7. What beauty products do you use and would you be open to the bride using her own make-up?

We are proud to have a line of cosmetics, MHD Cosmetics, that was started by Madison Dennis in 2015. About half of Madison's kit is made up of MHD Cosmetics products, and the other half consists of professional and prestige brands such as RCMA, Charlotte Tilbury, Estee Lauder, NARS, Tarte, etc. For the rest of the team, they each have their own mix of professional-grade makeup products that they find works best for their style of artistry. We are constantly evaluating our kits, adding new products and discarding old products regularly. We do not allow brides to provide their own makeup for the service, with the exception of mascara and/or lip color if they so choose. Otherwise, these products are provided of course.

8. How can you make the bride's wedding makeup last and look good in photos?

The best tip for makeup retention is for the client to avoid touching their face. For brides, this isn't always an easy ask, so we do have other strategies in place for long-lasting makeup. Primarily, we do offer airbrushing, which does aid in longevity for the wedding day makeup. Additionally, we provide all of our wedding day makeup clients with a sample of their lip color, so that they can be sure to touch up their lips throughout the day and evening. We also use waterproof products around the eyes, as to avoid streaking when things get emotional. Lastly, we are sure to set every makeup application with professional-grade setting spray.

9. How long will makeup take on the day and how long will you be staying for on the day?

We allot 60 minutes for bridal makeup and 40 minutes for all other makeup applications (non-bride). We do offer the option to stay on for touch-ups after the initial styling period for an additional fee.

10. What is your cancellation and/or refund policy?

A retainer fee is due at the time of booking to reserve the wedding date, which is non-refundable and non-transferable. Final payment is due 14 days prior to the wedding date. We do have a Force Majeure clause in our agreement that covers both our stylists and the client in the event of an extreme, extinuating circumstance that would prevent services from being rendered on the wedding day. In that event, the retainer fee (and any additional funds paid toward the final balance) would be transferable to a new wedding date within one year.