There are a lot of decisions we have to make when planning a destination wedding. Some are easy, some are difficult. However sometimes what should be an easy decision can become one of the most difficult.

Just this weekend I received an email from a bride I’ve talked to for months. She was looking to me for advice as to whether or not she should bring her own hair stylist / make-up artist from home for her July wedding. While that is an expense I would have a hard time justifying, I couldn’t tell her not to worry. I wished I could say, “Save your money – everyone raves about [insert name]. You’ll be in great hands!” At the moment all I can ask her is whether or not she’ll have enough time and patience if the appointment doesn’t go smoothly?

You may remember my review. While I finally ended up very happy with my hair, I was disappointed with the make-up, even though I had a great picture clearly showing what I wanted. Though the stylist seemed warm and kind and patient I became frustrated by the language barrier, feeling like something was getting ‘lost in translation’. (I kept thinking, Just look at the picture!) Luckily my mother and bridesmaid had a better experience with Jennive, who we hired through our wedding planner, but I don’t have any contact information or website for her.

Shortly after our wedding I read something good about Knipoog on the Aruba.com forum and thought that if I were to ‘do it again’, I might go with them. (Jennive was a doll, but I’d rather work with someone I can communicate with and hire direct.) Well, you might have seen that last week an April bride I know and trust posted a review that included the bad experience she had with them. The “do I bring someone with me” bride I just mentioned had said she might consider them though she’s clearly not comfortable (though that might have been before this recent review). And just last week I was talking with another August bride that ruled Knipoog out because she found them slow to communicate, wasn’t comfortable with the fact that they need money wired to them in advance and will not send photos of their work. (After months of research this August bride has decided to go with Jennive and is feeling good about her decisions.) I’m afraid I’m of absolutely no help to any of them.

So here is my plea – if you are a hair stylist and / or make-up artist in Aruba that wants more work, please please try to find time to set up a website that includes pictures of your work! I know there must be some wonderful talent on the island, yet somehow the buzz is about the disappointments. Its so easy to show of your work. Let brides see if your idea of a ‘natural’ or ‘glamorous’ look matches theirs. If you have a bride in front of you who is feeling gorgeous, she may be glad to share pictures and a testimonial – two things that could go a long way in assuring future brides that Aruba has the talent they are looking for. And can you accept a credit card? Many of us are not comfortable wiring money in advance to a stranger.

The website, (if you don’t have one already), could be as simple as a free blog to which you upload photos. That would at least be ’something’. For more credibility you could have a professional website developed, though it doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive. Chances are the fees for styling 1 or 2 wedding parties could pay for your website design and hosting. This is something I happen to do for a living. I’d be glad to give you a couple of suggestions if you send me an email. For starters, I often direct budget-minded clients to purchase a ‘template’… plug in your information and you’re up and running fast. Most of the templates my clients purchase cost around $60. While this site has thousands of templates available, here are some specific to hair / make-up»

I think having a professional website would be a win / win. You get more work (or might be able to charge more for the work you are already doing!), and brides get to feel more secure. Isn’t it easier for you if you have a bride in front of you that’s confident you’ll do a great job, vs just ‘hoping for the best’?

Unfortunately great hair and make-up experiences may not get the attention they deserve. We talk about the appointments that didn’t go so well. And even if it did go well, those of us that are going to share have so much to talk about: the venue, wedding planner(s), officiant, catering, entertainment, excursions, parties, etc. The fact that you did a great job on our hair and make-up could sadly get missed. But, you can make sure we hear about more than that ‘off day’.

If you are a bride that would like to share your review of your wedding in Aruba please send an email to info@ourarubawedding.com. If you have photos of your hair and make-up that you’d be willing to share we have lots of brides that would really love to see them! Did you bring a stylist with you to Aruba or hire someone local? Did you do a trial? Did you go to a salon or have someone come to you? Did your stylist speak english? Did they help make ‘getting ready’ fun or did the appointment stress you out? Can you tell us ‘about’ what you paid (and when)? Did you know exactly what you want or did you look to the stylist for guidance? Did you bring photos? And were those photos from the internet or magazine or from your trial at home? Whether you had the best experience or were let down there are brides that would really appreciate your review.

Til then, if you are a bride to be, having your hair and make-up done in Aruba the best advice I can give is

1. Try to find someone that speaks good english
2. Have a full trial (not just a consultation)
3. Bring photos! I would even have a trial at home and bring photos showing you with the hair and make-up you want on that day.
4. Ask the Aruban stylist for photos of their work
5. Don’t forget the sunscreen! Even the best make-up artist out there isn’t going to be able to do much about a killer sunburn

I didn’t receive the photos I requested, though I assumed I couldn’t go wrong at what I thought was a high-end spa. Who knows, maybe my experience was the exception to the outstanding work they normally do.

I know of 3-4 brides getting married in the next month or two and am really looking forward to their reviews. I’m hoping they’ll have some rave reviews that will put a positive spin on “OurArubaWedding” wedding hair and make-up reviews.

And as always – if I have been misinformed and posted anything that is factually inaccurate, please let me know!  On our “Links” page I list spa / salon websites I have found so far, however they seem to lack the portfolios we have been looking for.