Makeup Artist Bails On Bride On Her Wedding Day

SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. (CBSNewYork) -- A bride in New Jersey broke down in tears on what was supposed to be one of the happiest days of her life due to a makeup scam.

Elizabeth Huberman told CBS2's Meg Baker that the makeup artist she hired left her hanging on her wedding day. Nikki Cullhaj never showed up left Huberman and her mother without their hair or makeup done.

"I woke up at 4:30, sent my hair and makeup girl a text – no response. She was supposed to come at 5 a.m.," Huberman said. "Five a.m. rolls around, I text her, no response. Five-thirty rolls around, texted her again, nothing and then I start freaking out and called her."

Huberman explained she found Cullhaj through the website Thumbtack – a site for hiring professionals. Huberman also friended Cullhaj on Instagram and confirmed her wedding date and time repeatedly through texts and emails.

"I was in the parking lot of the hotel, bawling my eyes out," Huberman said.

During their first makeup trial in Edison, Cullhaj told Huberman she traveled from the Bronx to get there. Huberman paid Cullhaj for the trial, her travel expenses and put down a $100 deposit, for a total of $395.

"She just took it an ran," Huberman said.

Her husband, Michael Huberman, came to the rescue and rerouted his mother's hair and makeup team to his bride.

Cullhaj was once employed at Pierre Michel Salon in Manhattan. The manager said she briefly worked there and that it did not work out.

After the wedding day disaster, Elizabeth Huberman Googled Cullhaj's name and found there were at least four other women she had bailed on the morning of their weddings.

CBS2 emailed Cullhaj and got a response, but after asking questions about her absence, she was silent.

The attorney general's office said they are looking into the situation.