Hope some of this may help.
1. Friend recommendation would always be first - with no personal recommendations it would be her portfolio of bride make up pictures ( I would need to like her style and would expect to see plenty of previous brides - know she had experience)
2. Friend - then faceache group/google online
3. (Please do not take offense) I absolutely hate paying more for the day than the trial - unless I am given twice as much time on the day for example. Honestly I think the price should be less when a make up artist is doing 3, 4 , 5, 6 etc at same time as she works with no travel time etc in bewteen. I realise a lot of artists charge 50 - 80 for brides but I think this is way overpriced - it put my make up artist on £80 per hour. I think £30 for both (for half hour) is reasonable - still gives £60/hour (wish I was on that as a driving instructor)
4. I would be impressed with 2nd slight discount, 3rd bit more discount, 4th more etc. Or book 4, 5th free - something like that.
5. I would only go for makeup and hair if it was just me or maybe 2 of us being done. Not with 4 or 5 people because of time on the day.
6. No, wouldn't be interested at all - I'd likely go to HoF os somewhere if I wanted that and book counter ladies.
7. Didn't realise this was a concern until my makeup lady used same mascara wand for everyone - I wondered how many other strangers she'd used it on. (At B()()ts, we always used disposable wands).Biggest concern would be if they actually turn up on the day (if they have back up and who it is)
8. I wanted to know if they offered airbrush - what make up brands they used - if they had a back up for the day - I wanted to see photos of their work (online) - also how long roughly per person so I could work out if I wanted 5 hour make up session for all BM or not - also if they did eyelash/eyebrow etc