Bridesmaids Hair and Makeup

I think a lot of this depends on your social circle. For instance, in my social Circle, the bride typically pays for hair and make up services for the bridesmaids. However, I’ve seen other people on the forum indicate that in their social circle the wedding party pays for their own services. So perhaps that particular bridesmaid has friends and family who typically pay for those services, and just assumed everyone else did as well. Etiquette states if you are requiring them to have hair and make up done, then you should pay for those services. However, if having hair and/or makeup professionally done is optional (ie, you are OK with them just doing their own hair and/or make up), and you are not requiring a specific makeup or hairstyle. then you can choose whether to pay, or require them to pay.

No, you are not obligated to pay at all, you are providing a convenient option only. Your bridesmaids can get their hair and makeup done elsewhere or DIY. It's not even accurate to say that the bride pays if she is requiring these things because it's inappropriate to "require" anything to do with personal grooming in the first place. As long as they are there on time to take photos etc. where and how they get makeup and hair services done is up to each bridesmaid and her own business. You can, of course, always offer to pay for some or all of them, including if money is tight for someone in particular, but it's not necessary.

If you aren't requiring them to have their hair and makeup professionally done then no you aren't responsible for covering the cost. If you are requesting that they have their hair and makeup professionally done or telling them it has to look a certain way then yes you should cover the cost.

This is something that needs to be decided before you ask anyone to be a bridesmaid because it’s part of the list of expenses and expectations that must be presented to them before you ask them, so that they are completely informed of what they are potentially getting into and can decline the position as necessary.


Whether you pay or they do is a decision that only you can make. There is a new trend that doesn’t work for everyone where the couple chooses to cover all bridesmaids/groomsmen/guests expenses, and other brides can’t afford that and ask for them to pay for the services they want. On the flip side, some brides say “no one needs to pay because they can do it themselves as grown adult women” even though many don’t have the skills or confidence to do their own makeup and hair for any occasion. Some beauty vendors require that only the bride is in charge of cash handling for the services that is paid in advance. So in the end, there is no one size fits all answer.

This is an all too common misconception. Etiquette does not and has never said that one can require professional hair and makeup, whether or not the bride is paying.

View Quoted Comment Actually, if you look this up, nearly every bridal expert and publication does specify if the bride is requesting hair and make up be professionally done, they should cover the cost. Personally, I don’t agree that a bride should ever require the services, but there’s nothing to say they can’t. As long as they are respectful of those who decline, and also cover the cost for their request/requirement.

I personally did. I only had one bridesmaid and MOH but I also paid for both of our mothers. So 5 people including myself. Cost me $1500 and I didn’t require it but everyone liked having their hair and makeup professionally done and I personally felt like I should pay

Depends on your social circle. In my social circle, the bride always pays for the bridesmaids' hair and makeup. I've been a bridesmaid 8 times and my hair and makeup was paid for by the bride every time, so it was only logical for me to pay for my bridesmaids' hair/makeup too. It sounds like you're not requiring your bridesmaids to get their hair and makeup done, so you technically do not have to cover these costs if it's optional

View Quoted Comment I guess that depends on your sources. Certainly that is not the traditional view.

As you are giving them the *option* of partaking in professional services, no you do not have to pay for it. Since she has options, that is not correct for her to expect you to pay


While it’s a nice thing to do for your bridesmaids, it’s definitely not expected of brides to go over budget/into debt for this.