Make-up Artist

You're going to get a lot of different opinions on this!

Personally, I'm having HMU artist come in and leaving the choice to have it done up to my bridesmaids, but I'm not paying for theirs! I have them separate gifts. If you are wanting to be uniform, I would say you needed to pay for them to have it done. If you don't necessarily care about what they have done/if they have it professionally done at all, I would just have the option for them to get it done on the table but make sure they know it's on them.

I have 7 bridesmaids. I have a company coming to the hotel and will do hair and makeup for myself, my 7 bridesmaids, my mom, step mom, and future mother in law. They are paying for themselves and therefore have the option of not getting their hair and makeup done but none of them decided to do their own or go separate.

Offer the service if they want to pay out of pocket. Not everyone is comfortable comfortable doing their own and very few people own makeup designed for photography. Find out how much they charge per person for bridesmaids and let your bridesmaids know it's available if they want but you need to know by a certain date to make proper arrangements.

I'm someone who's awful at hair and makeup, so I would probably go out and get it professionally done anyway even if it was offered, but to be able to get ready all together I would extend the invite to your bridal party, or just talk with them and see if they'd even be interested, that way if they aren't you're not having someone come just to be told no one wants their services.

I'm gifting my bridesmaids hair and make up for the wedding, if they want. I have two hair stylist in my party who have control issues so they may not want someone else to do their hair and make up (one has already told me she'll be doing her own)

Im having one makeup artist. She is bringing an extra girl to do the moms. 8 people total. My bridal party is from out of town . Also its a wedding not just an outting.. Why would you want to do your own makeup. Its less to worry about incase you messup. Im in a wedding. I definitely would not do my own. Even if i had my wedding where we live. Id still have all the women professionally done.

I paid for hair and makeup for all of my bridesmaids as well as my mom and MIL, but this is the norm in my family and social circle. Opinions about this subject definitely vary! The general consensus is though: if you're requiring professional hair and makeup, then you need to pay. If hair and makeup are optional, then you can ask your bridesmaids to cover their own costs if they would like to have hair and makeup done. That being said, if you want a uniform look then I would pay for them. If you're confident in their abilities to do hair/makeup themselves, then you can make it optional and they can pay themselves if they want professional hair/makeup done.

Most brides have the bridesmaids pay for the makeup but they make it optional if they want it done or not. If you are requiring them to use your artist, especially if you want a specific look, you should pay for it. With 8 people that could be very pricey so honestly I would just let them get their makeup however they like. Also, I am in a wedding this coming May and the bride gave us the option of whether we wanted to get professional makeup or not. Since I will likely be wearing a mask at this wedding due to Covid, I appreciated this since I didnt want to spend money on pro makeup if it would be covered by a mask

View Quoted Comment I think this makes a lot of sense. Did you speak with all of the girls prior to ask if they will be using your makeup artist?

View Quoted Comment Thank you for this. This makes so much sense to me! Thank you

It's your call! If you want them all to use your makeup artist then you'd need to pay for them, but if using your makeup artist is optional, then they can pay for themselves. Just be prepared to be okay with it if some of the girls chose to do their makeup themselves. While my makeup has always been paid for me as a bridesmaid, if I were given the option, I would probably choose to do my own.

View Quoted Comment So I booked the artist knowing most would. I don’t have to give them a final number of girls until a few weeks before so they still have time to decide. But I did ask them all beforehand if they thought they probably would. Honestly, where I live it’s pretty uncommon for a bridal party member to not get hair and makeup. But I did give them the option in case!

I'm frugal, so I wouldn't pay for bridesmaids makeup.