Where Natalie travels
Chicago is home base, so everything starts there: the city, the suburbs, and drivable dates across the wider Midwest. From there, I travel for destination weddings that take a flight to reach. Lake towns, family properties, the venue that took you a year to find: if that's where your day is happening, that's where I want to be.
If you're not sure whether your location works, just ask. It costs you nothing to find out, and it's a much easier answer to get from me than to guess at on your own.
Booking a traveling makeup artist
Every travel booking is quoted individually, because these days vary more than you'd expect. How far away it is, whether the timing calls for an overnight stay, how many people are getting ready, and what time you need to be finished all shape the final number.
You'll see that number in full before anything is confirmed, travel included, with no surprises added on later.
And on timing, earlier is always easier. A travel date takes a whole block of time rather than a slot in the morning, so reaching out early gives us the most room to plan around your day.
You'll see the full number before you commit to anything, travel included, with no surprises added on later.
What changes when the wedding is away from home
The climate matters more than you'd think
Heat, humidity, and salt air are a different world from a Chicago spring, and your makeup has to keep up. I choose products with your setting in mind, ones that sit beautifully on the skin and stay comfortable through a long day, so you're not thinking about touch-ups when you should be enjoying yourself.
You'll be in front of the camera all day
Destination weddings tend to be photographed from morning to night, often in bright, unforgiving light. Skin-forward makeup holds up beautifully there, far better than a heavy finish, and it's how I love to work anyway. You'll look like yourself up close and in every photo.
The morning needs a little more planning
An unfamiliar venue, a shared getting-ready space, and a photographer working to a schedule all take a little more time than they would at home. When you tell me your headcount and the time you need to be ready, I build the morning backward from there, so everything feels calm and unhurried instead of rushed.
You might not be in Chicago beforehand
A trial is a full run-through of your wedding-day look, and it's easy to include in your bridal package. If you won't be in Chicago in the weeks before the wedding, just let me know early. That way, we can plan your trial around your travel instead of squeezing it in at the last minute.
What the day looks like
I arrive with everything the whole group needs, set up wherever the light is best, and work through the schedule so you're finished and glowing before the photographer starts, not halfway through your first look. And the look itself? We settle on that together well before the morning, so nothing feels rushed or uncertain when it counts.
Common questions
Answered by Natalie
Do you travel outside Chicago for weddings?
Yes, both drivable dates and destination weddings that take a flight. Tell me where your day is happening and I'll give you a straight answer about whether it works.
How do you handle travel costs?
They're built right into your quote along with everything else, so you'll see one clear total before you commit to anything.
How far ahead should I book?
As early as you comfortably can, especially for peak-season dates. A travel booking takes a full day rather than a morning slot, so reaching out early gives us the best chance of making it work.
Can you do makeup for my whole bridal party?
Absolutely. Just include your headcount when you inquire and I'll build the morning's timing around your whole group.