L'Atelier Maquillage

L'Atelier Maquillage is run by Natacha Bonjour, a bridal makeup artist and hairstylist based in Bavois, Vaud, whose wedding page is titled for the Morges, Lausanne and Yverdon area. She writes that she has more than 17 years of experience in wedding makeup and hair, and that she does the bride's makeup and hair at home or at a place of the bride's choosing, respecting the bride's style and personality while adapting to her features for a harmonious result. Trials take place at her atelier in Bavois; the wedding-day work happens on location, which she says spares the bride unnecessary and stressful travel on the day.

Bridal packages and prices

Her price page lists three wedding packages, each with a starting price.

Forfait 1, wedding-day makeup with one trial, starts from CHF 260.

Forfait 2, wedding-day hair with one trial, starts from CHF 380.

Forfait 3, wedding-day makeup and hair with a makeup and hair trial, starts from CHF 560.

Makeup for a guest is CHF 80, and hair for a guest is CHF 100. Because she reserves a half day or a full day for each wedding, she only accepts weddings with a minimum of CHF 300 on the day; her own examples are 1 bridal makeup and 1 bridal hairstyle, or 1 bride's makeup plus 2 guest makeups.

The prices include the service, social charges, the makeup and hair materials, and travel on the wedding day to a place of the couple's choice within a 20 km radius of Bavois. A supplement is charged for a longer journey. The page does not say which towns fall inside that radius or how the supplement is calculated, so a couple marrying further away should give the venue address when asking for a quote.

How long it takes on the day

Her wedding page is unusually specific about timing, which helps anyone building a schedule for the morning. She says to allow about 1 hour 15 minutes for a makeup and about 2 hours for a hairstyle on medium to long hair. Depending on the timing of the day, she can also do the guests, and she allows about 45 minutes per guest makeup and 1 hour per guest hairstyle. She explains why: for hair and makeup to hold through a whole day and evening despite wind, tears, sweat and energetic dancing, the hair and skin have to be prepared and every step respected. She compares a wedding hairstyle to a house of cards, which collapses at the slightest jolt if the base is not stable, and says makeup has to be built in layers for a natural result that holds. She describes herself as very much a perfectionist and says she takes time to discuss the bride's wishes and habits before she starts.

She does wedding and evening hairstyles only; she does not cut or color hair, so any cut or color before the wedding has to be booked with a salon.

The trial

Makeup and hair trials take place at her atelier in Bavois, and she recommends having them 1 or 2 months before the wedding. She describes the trial as the chance to get to know each other, to test the hairstyle, the makeup and the products to make sure they suit the bride's hair and skin type, and to make changes where needed. For a couple from abroad, this is the part that needs planning: the trial has to happen in Bavois, and the recommended window is weeks before the wedding.

Products and training

She says she works only with professional brands such as Charlotte Tilbury, Hourglass, Huda Beauty, Serge Louis Alvarez and Natasha Denona, all of which, according to her page, are not tested on animals. She keeps her skills up to date through the Kristina Gasperas beauty academy.

Other services

Beyond weddings, the site lists beauty makeup, artistic makeup, makeup lessons, children's face painting, a glitter and rhinestone bar, and belly painting. Beauty makeup at the atelier in Bavois costs CHF 100 for day makeup and CHF 120 for evening makeup; an event hairstyle starts from CHF 100, a makeup and hair package from CHF 180, and themed artistic makeup from CHF 140, all with quotes on request. Travel to another location is possible for a supplement, and the same CHF 300 minimum applies. She mentions 10 years of experience in opera makeup behind her artistic work. Makeup lessons at the atelier run about 2 hours 30 minutes for day makeup (CHF 220 private, CHF 150 per person semi-private) and about 3 hours for evening makeup (CHF 270 private, CHF 180 per person semi-private). A children's face painting booking starts from CHF 300 and could entertain younger guests at a wedding; she travels throughout French-speaking Switzerland for it.

Booking, payment and cancellation

She takes questions by email or phone, but writes that as a mother of 2 young children she finds it hard to answer the phone at times, so she prefers email: lateliermaquillage(at)gmail.com, or +41 79 505 84 71. She asks couples first to check her availability by giving the date and time of the wedding and the place where the bride will get ready, and then to fill in the form on her site and send it by email, with the date, time and place of the wedding and the packages wanted, so that she can make a tailored quote.

The date is only blocked for good once she receives the signed quote, which serves as the contract. With a package that includes a trial, part of the price is paid at the trial and the rest on the wedding day. Payment is in cash or by Twint on the day; a bank transfer must arrive before the service. If the couple cancels less than 60 days before the date, 50% of the total is charged; less than 30 days before, the full amount is charged. If a trial has already taken place, nothing is refunded.

Languages and couples from abroad

The site is published in French and does not mention English or any other language, so a couple who does not speak French should raise that in the first email. Her preference for email works in their favor: it leaves time to write and read carefully. The 20 km travel radius, the trial in Bavois and the cancellation terms are the three points a couple from abroad should settle before signing the quote.

Who it suits

L'Atelier Maquillage suits a bride marrying within reach of Bavois who wants hair and makeup from one person, clear published prices and a precise sense of how long the morning will take. The minimum spend means a bride booking makeup alone at CHF 260 needs a second service to reach it. The page shows a 5.0 Google rating. The caveats are the French-only site, the need to be in Bavois for the trial, and a travel supplement for venues beyond 20 km.