Does the bride pay for her wedding party's make up?

If you want a certain way, then yes, the bride pays. If it's optional then it's a nice gesture if you pay, but if you have a tight budget you can ask your bridesmaids to pay if they want their makeup done.

Only if the bride requires it to be done or she requires a certain look is she responsible for the bill. Otherwise the bridesmaid pays.

If you want it a certain way, then yes. If it was optional then no.

View Quoted Comment Mmm... Okay
I guess I'll just let them do their own make up but suggest what colors to use

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Let them choose what colors they like or pay the bill yourself.

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You should either let them decide on their own or pay for it. You can't try to control what they do with their makeup then expect them to pay for what you want.

Totally agree with everyone- if you want it a certain way or wear certain colors than you have to pay. I’m paying for mine, my MOH (my sister) & my bridesmaid (my daughter)- my 3rd bridesmaid wants to do her own hair & makeup. I’m paying because it’s a gift NOT because I want it a certain way. They’ll cover the tip.

Oh well I think I can since it's going to be my wedding. I'm going to make suggestions of what colors to use

Most brides don’t pay but they give the bridal party the option of getting it done professionally or doing their own. But if you want them to look a certain way, you should be footing the bill

Personally, I've been a bridesmaid 8 times and every time the bride paid for my hair and makeup. I also paid for my girls to get their hair and makeup done at my wedding, even though I was not requiring a certain look (they were free to choose any style). The general consensus though is: if you're requiring professional hair and makeup or a certain look, then the bride pays. If hair and makeup are 100% optional and you don't care about having a specific look, then you can ask them to cover their own costs. If I were in your shoes, I would pay because it sounds like you do want a specific look.

I have hair and makeup artist booked for the day of my wedding but am not paying for it. It would be a great gift if you were wanting specific looks - I’m spending that money on other gifts for the day of for them.
I’ve been in 4 weddings and I’ve never had the bride pay, but I know that varies. I’m not giving my wedding party a specific look they need to go for, but I kind of trust all of their judgement!

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Sounds like you already had your mind made up. But why is suggesting colors so important? I would think most people have enough common sense to not pair purple eyeshadow with a yellow dress for a wedding.

I've never had to pay for my own hair and makeup before as a bridesmaid (the bride has always covered the costs in my experience), but I wouldn't mind doing so if hair and makeup were optional. However, it sounds like you're wanting a specific look, so in your case I would pay for your bridesmaids.

Yes... If you’re requesting their makeup a certain way.

You're wedding isn't until next December, why are you deciding this now?

If you’re requesting a certain look for them... yes, you should foot the bill.

View Quoted Comment Doesn't hurt to make plan n decision early

If you are requiring the m BMs to get makeup professionally done, or if you are requiring a certain makeup look, then you should pay it.

I’m not paying for my bridal party’s hair and make up but I’m not requiring a specific look either. I talked to my friend/bridesmaid about this since she had been in a bridal party before and she had to pay for her hair and do her own make up then too. I have a small bridal party and know they all have enough sense to make sure their hair and make up looks nice and won’t do anything crazy with it.

I'm only paying for my own makeup/hair. I gave the option for my bridal party to do their own or use my MUA. I told them I couldn't pay for all of them and let them decide. They all wanted their hair and makeup done professionally. But if they said no, I'm not going to force it. Like so many have said before. If you don't want to pay, you can't ask them to do something specific.