What should you be paying for wedding hair and makeup?
Weddings are a huge expense, that goes without saying. There are most definitely ways to get value for money and do things cost effectively, but unfortunately in the wedding industry, like with most things, you get what you pay for.
When it comes to wedding service providers, you want to be sure the people you have chosen not only have experience in the field but that they are also pleasant to deal with. There is nothing worse than spending the whole morning of your wedding with people you don't get on with.
Believe me, having worked the last 13 years in wedding makeup, I have seen how service providers can control or dominate your morning and create an unhappy vibe.
The getting ready part of your wedding should be relaxing, fun and enjoyable. But how much should you be paying for your services to ensure you are getting a top quality service by artists that are highly qualified in their fields? Remember, your face is in every photo.
Start with the trial, which is the most important part of any wedding makeup and hair. Your wedding day is not the day to be leaving things down to chance. A smokey eye can be a million different things in each individual's mind.
Until artists learn the fine art of mind reading, a trial is absolutely essential. It's important to document how your hair and makeup wears throughout that day. Does it sit properly? Does it last? And, most importantly, does it photograph well? At the end of the day, all you are left with is a photo (and wonderful memories of course).
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Price wise, you should be paying €50 - 100 for your trial, and it should take anywhere up to two hours. That will give the artist time to review all your needs, from wedding colour themes, dress styles, locations, skin, allergies, tan, lashes, brows and the rest for you and your bridal party.
- Bride's makeup on the day: €70 - €100
- Bridesmaid / Mother of the Bride: €50 - €100
- Lashes: €10 - €15 (for a strip), these last the day. €50 - €100 (for a full set of Mink), these last 3 - 5 weeks
- Brows: For perfectly shaped brows, you should be paying from €45 - €65
- Manicure: €20 - €65
- Most makeup artists do packages where lashes are included, and they would charge between €275 - €375 for the bride plus two others and between €50 - €70 per person after that
Hair
- Hair is usually very similar. Again, they might do packages so the bride plus two additional people from between €275 - €375 and between €50 - €70 per person after that.
- Your trial should be between €50 - €100
- Bride hair on the day: €70 - €100
- Bridesmaid/Mother of the Bride: €50 - €100
- Flower Girls (under 12 years old): €20 - €50
- Cut/Colour before the wedding: from €90, depending on what you need
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The Extras
If your artist has to travel for the wedding, they would usually charge a mileage fee. You will typically be looking at €20 per half hour travel time, or some will charge on distance. Obviously, the further they have to travel, the more expensive it will be.
On the morning of your wedding, makeup should take approximately one hour per face, and hair about 45 minutes per head, again, depending on what you are going for.
It's important to be aware that even if you or a member of your bridal party are going for a natural look or don't wear much makeup in general, it still takes this amount of time. Often, makeup artists use more products to create a natural look. You are paying for their expertise in creating a natural look that lasts and photographs beautifully, and their ability to emphasise your natural features, and for their knowledge of skin, colour theory, anatomy and physiology, correct hygiene procedures and their talent and artistry ability.
The same goes for hair stylists; it's a process, trust their ability.
It's also important to be aware that some artists have a minimum spend to justify a call out. So driving from Dublin to West Cork for one person may not be a realistic request.
Last, but not least, do your research. Google your chosen artist, request both photographs and testimonials from previous brides, follow them on their social media channels, and make sure they have past experience in photographic and or TV work so they understand how their work photographs.
If you have any questions regarding this or any other wedding related topics you would like us to discuss, comment below.