Did your Hair/mua have a contract, just ask for deposit, put date on hold?

My HMUA made me sign a contract that said if I backed out then I would still owe like $200. So it wasn't a deposit but I was still locked in! Just see what your contract says about cancelations. If it doesn't say you need a deposit (and she is reputable) then I probably just wouldn't worry about it.

I definitely wouldn’t give anyone money for a “deposit” without any kind of written contract between us. Tell her that you need a contract and if she declined then I would find a different vendor to work with

View Quoted Comment I agree with this. I wouldn’t be comfortable putting done a deposit without some sort of contract. I didn’t provide money to any of my vendors with out throughly reading the contract first.

My HMUA require a % of the total of everyone getting their hair done + travel as the deposit

View Quoted Comment She’s like 10 mins from my venue so she waived the travel fee and I only have to pay a deposit for my services since the girls are paying their own day of. I am fine saying I need something in writing when I go to the trial I just worry me waiting to give her some sort of deposit til mid spring or worse summer means she didn’t “really” block out my date. Should I trust that is more my concern. I will definitely get something in writing at the trial regarding timing, the price, and what else is due from myself.

With my both my MUA & hair dresser I paid a deposit, no signed contract, everything is in writing though and you check mark that you agree to her terms and conditions. Which was that I'd forfeit my deposit if balance wasn't paid by a specific date.

I paid a $100 deposit, and she asked if I needed a contract or just her verbally telling me to block the date. I asked for a contract, so she sent one.

I didn't have to give my hair consultant a deposit, and I don't think that I would you schedule appts with hair salons all the time, but my makeup artist there was a contact we signed and $100 deposit and that covered me and all my girls. And the contract was basic stating her fee for each girl, her travel fee cause she is traveling and spending the day since I have so many, and it stated that if I canceled or one of my girls missed their appt. it was non refundable. But if you are giving a deposit you def need sometime of agreement. Anything could happen and I am not willing to risk anything that close to the wedding.

Even if she isn't offering to take a deposit from you right now, I wouldn't count anyone as a vendor until there is a contract, which may or may not include a deposit. I know a lot of vendors say "oh it's fine, we can do it later" but that just makes me really nervous. A friend of FH's is playing violin for our ceremony and won't take money until the month of, and it's killing me inside, haha. If I were you, I would ask to put a deposit down with a contract. At the very minimum, I would need a contract to feel comfortable, but a deposit helps it feel binding to me.

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Its not necessarily that I knew my venue back in September when I got engaged, he blocked my date out but he didn't wanna do the deposit or contract until the beginning of this year. He said he wanted to finish the end of the year stuff before he started the new year stuff. I went in like a week ago and sure enough he had my name on his calendar the whole time. He had it booked just hadn't taken the deposit or anything yet

View Quoted Comment This makes sense. Im realizing now I had a hold of date for my DJ for a significant amount of months and just finally signed the contract and paid the deposit in January. So if that was okay idk why I’m somehow bugging about the hair and makeup essentially doing the same thing. Same with the photo booth I kinda kept in limbo over the whole holidays and then January I said you still have my date saved right? He said yes, then I signed the contract and mailed the check.

View Quoted Comment Gotcha. Okay so it seems that contract or writing should be a must just for our own assurances. I’m thinking about just stopping by her shop since it’s down the road from my house to meet her then set up the hair trial and that way I can tell her I’d prefer a contract unless her emails are taken as her word. I think if I say something along those lines she’ll want to just make up a quick contract. She didn’t seem like the type that she was concerned she wouldn’t get her money that’s why I think she was being so chill about it. I just don’t want to lose it on my end cuz it was affordable for myself and the girls plus no travel fee was a bonus!

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Its just things are getting closer and we want no problems at all. But if she tells you that she has that date blocked out but shes not ready to take payment it might be to soon for her. Hell the lady making my cake is not taking her initial deposit until 2 months before the wedding and final payment 2 weeks before the wedding, where as my makeup artist was like I need a deposit to hold your date. I figured it cause she is traveling and taking the whole day so she needs to guarantee some type of payment. My hair dresser its just an apt, and I guess they can bounce back easier and if I change my mind she can fill her calendar regardless. I guess everyone just has business habits. Just have a talk with her and allow her to reassure you that she has your date blocked out and get a specific date as to when she does want to take a deposit and sign a contract( if you are looking to sign one)

My hairstylist is my cousin, so no formal contract or anything. But my MUA is a complete stranger I hired after comparing reviews & prices. She had me sign a contract.

My hair and make up person does a soft hold contract to save your date for a $200 non refundable deposit. The $200 goes towards the costs like the trial, etc. I learned things get booked up in my city quickly (one person was already booked for my date in October in January) and so I felt better doing the soft hold. She then takes 50% of services booked after the trial and executes a longer contract at that time.

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Right! Hair and makeup I feel will be able to just bounce back and book something else or have clients come into their shop. Now my makeup artist is saying the same thing no need for a contract but deposit is $100 over paypal. Obviously paypal gives a receipt. She said if I cancel within 30 days I don't get the deposit back. I said that was fine but I said are you sure no contract, I would feel better about it unless I should print the emails and take them as verbatim about costs, timing, services? Thanks for your help!

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If possible, I would continue to urge them to send you a contract to protect yourself. If not, make sure the emails you have clearly state the services you are booking and all details. If they don't already have all of that, I would send a recap email and ask for them to confirm that the information is correct.