Nicole Chen

Working with Nicole was a mixed bag. I booked her because I wanted a Chinese speaking artist who the mom's and other family members could more easily communication with, and one that was affordable - we paid for all the girls hair and makeup.
It was nice that Nicole was flexible. We had to add extra people to the list who needed hair and makeup the week of the wedding, and she was able to accomodate. Her team did over 20 services (hair and makeup) in 3 hours.

In the end all the mom's and aunt's were happy with their hair and makeup, but the wedding party gals were not happy with their makeup. The girls didn't feel like Nicole's team really listened to them. I wasn't there, so I'm not sure if it was a language issue or just a total lack of communication, but most of the girls felt their makeup was heavier than they wanted. The makeup and hair did last through the day, and it looked fine in the pictures.

Nicole and her team delivered on the day of the wedding. Her prices are very competitive and affordable. I booked a package for the myself with additional hair styles change at 2 locations, 2 makeups, 3 hair for MOB and the BM's for total of $425.

The only down side is that Nicole's work in the trials are not that extensive since she does not spend too much time and effort on trials for some reason plus her English is a little limited. I was a little nervous before the wedding but no doubt Nicole does great work. I was very happy with the results. Nicole made me feel and look beautiful!

Overall, I was quite pleased with Nicole's work, I would recommend Nicole and her team for wedding day hair and makeup. Thanks Nicole!

Nicole's website: www.nicochenwedding.com

If you like Elaine Chou, Nicole has a very similar make up style but a bit cheaper. She has over 10,000 brides make up experience b/c she used to work in a wedding photography studio called Promise on Las Tunas and the girls would hire them for their day of wedding as well. She also used to do makeup for Taiwan's #1 bridal magazine as well as TV personalities.

She has a package for 3 people, go to your location, hair and makeup for $380. Each additional person is $80 or it's $40 for hair and $40 for makeup.

I have done my trial with her and it was $90.

Oh I forgot to mention that she will provide veil/tiaras as well as hair extensions for free or actually a deposit which is returned to you when you bring them back.

Here is my review of Nicole after the wedding:

I LOVE not only Nicole's work but Nicole too. She is so sweet and really wants us to look our best on our special day.

Even though she had so many people to work on she did not rush AT ALL.

Then I had her also do my make-up/hair for the tea ceremony the day before the wedding.

Then the next day she came around 7:30am to my hotel room to do the hair/make up of me, my 6 BMs, 2 moms and 2 flowergirls for the wedding day.

Believe it or not she actually had a customer before me at 5:30 and she was not late at all to see me.

She brought an assistant to help do makeup/hair but I definitely loved Nicole's work better than the assistant's. After the assistant did one of my BMs I asked Nicole to have the lady do the Moms and flowergirls so that I could have consistency in makeup for my BMs.

I don't think this will be an issue for most of you. She had to bring an assistant for me b/c I had so many BMs!

I encourage you to bring photos of what you want and not go into a trial with a vague idea. I actually was not completely impressed with my trial but thought it was still good. I was VERY happy with both the tea ceremony day and the weddind day pictures because I brought her some pictures from a Chinese beauty magazine of what I wanted.

She made my BMs so pretty I told her I wanted to look like them! But of course she made me look a bit different as the bride should be.

Every time I look at my wedding pictures I am grateful I had Nicole do my makeup. I am amazed that my makeup didn't come off completely because I cried VERY hard at my ceremony and I didn't have one touch up all day.

While the price for Nicole is attractive (Bride, maid of honor, Bridesmaid and mother of the bride makeup and hair for only $470), I was not very happy with the result. I went to the trial run two months before the wedding. The hair style on the trial run did not look very good on me and she changed it for me at the wedding, which turned out pretty mice. But the makeup! The makeup for the trial run looked good. But I don't know what gave her the idea that I want a tan for my wedding day! My face turned out two shade darker than the rest of my body! I didn't really noticed it that day and no one said anything until I saw the photos that my friends took. Shouldn't she does my makeup the same way that she did for the trial run? Isn't that what the trial run for? Also, her makeup style is too dramatic and heavy, not really nature.

Will not recommend her. Rather spend a couple hundred more to get a better makeup artist than having to deal with the emotion torment as I anxiously wanting for my professional picture. Just hope they won't look so bad.