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Jennifer
VIP September 2012

Update*Why the HUGE price difference between the bride and bridesmaids for makeup and hair? VENDORS?

Jennifer, on May 11, 2012 at 12:19 PM Posted in Wedding Attire 0 36

So I have been looking into quotes for the bridal party (me, my sister and my FSIL plus my mom) so that all 4 of us can get an on-location makeup and hair. I get that the stylists is going to charge for travel, but I am appauled at the difference between the makeup and hair for me versus the other 3 women. One quote was $300 for hair and makeup for me, but $140 for each other person. I get that the bride probably gets a little more attention, but to double the price? Can any of you vendors out there tell me the reason for this? I personally don't see how there can be that much difference in the level or quality of work, the quote was for the same stylist for all 4 people, so there is no difference in the experience level of the stylist. What's the deal?!

36 Comments

Latest activity by Michelle, on March 12, 2023 at 1:02 AM
  • Andrea  Ank.
    VIP April 2012
    Andrea Ank. ·
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    I dont understand the price descprincey either.

    I am a hairstylist and do not charge more for the bride then I do with the bridesmaids. To me its just ridiculous!

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  • Cydney J (Cydney M)
    Master October 2011
    Cydney J (Cydney M) ·
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    My MUA charges $250 for a bride and $80 for bridesmaids ($10 additional if they want false eyelashes)

    The $250 for the bride includes the eyelashes AND the trial run. BMs don't get a trial run. She also spends far less time doing BMs makeup than the bride. I know she spent just a little over 1 hour doing my makeup and only took about 40min doing my MOH's makeup. A lot more care and consideration go into doing the bride's hair and makeup.

    If you want, I can text my MUA and ask her what her exact reasoning is behind why she charges more. I'll also go see if my hairstylist is on FB chat and ask her too.

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  • Nicole Keesler
    Nicole Keesler ·
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    I am not a mua or hairstylist but I would guess it is because the bride needs more attention. Double the price worth? Not sure. Hopefully a professional in that field can answer your question. Did you ask why it was more?

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  • Jennifer
    VIP September 2012
    Jennifer ·
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    Cydney J/M - I'm assuming the reason your MUA is charging more because it includes the trial (as you said), the price I was quoted didn't include any kind of trial. If it did, I could totally understand the price because they are actually doing something on two seperate occasions.

    Nicole - I haven't had a chance to reply to her yet, I wanted to get some opinions on here before I freaked out too much.

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  • Jennifer
    Super June 2012
    Jennifer ·
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    My MUA charges more for me because it included the trial and I'm getting a facial too, mine did give a discount for having so many BM and both Moms the price difference was even bigger between me and them.... but I'll take a discount any day. Oh and I'll be having several girls working on the BM and the owner working on me, so the level of experience will be different too. For everyone (5 BM, 2 Moms and me) it's costing me $1000 to cover everyone. Smiley smile

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  • Jennifer
    VIP September 2012
    Jennifer ·
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    See, that's what I'm taking about, Jennifer S. $1000 for 8 people! That is still less than $150 per person total and you're getting a trial and a facial. I don't get it, maybe it's just the stylists in Houston.

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  • Carole M (a.k.a "old tart")
    Master October 2011
    Carole M (a.k.a "old tart") ·
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    For us it is the reverse, Cate and I are using Dylan Michaels Cosmetics for make-up. On the day of the trial, I put out $100 for hair and airbrush; $25 to hold the date

    Her price list for on location:

    •The Bride is invited to receive a FREE TRIAL.

    (Other members of the bridal party are invited to receive a trial at a discounted rate).

    •For those “kissable touch-ups” the bride will receive a complimentary full size lipstick of her choice.

    •For a party of 6 or more:

    $65 ppor trad found; $75 pp for airbrush; $50 travel fee waived; Free eyelashes for the bride; $5 eyelashes for bridal party

    For a party of 3 - 5:

    $70 pp for trad found; $85 pp for airbrush ; $25 round-trip travel fee; Free eyelashes for the bride; $10 eyelashes for bridal party

    For a party of 2 or less:

    $100 pp for trad foundation; $115 pp for airbrush ; $50 round-trip travel fee; Free eyelashes for the bride

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  • Carole M (a.k.a "old tart")
    Master October 2011
    Carole M (a.k.a "old tart") ·
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    For hair we are using Up Your Do by Jill Kozar. The bride is more for hair.

    Her price list is:

    For a party of 3 or less the prices would be: travel fee would be $50.00 - $100.00 depending on mileage…

    Everyone $115.00 each

    For a party of 4 - 6 the prices would be: The travel fee would be $50.00 - $100.00 depending on mileage

    The bride is $100.00, Bridesmaid’s / Mom’s are $75.00 ½ up - $85.00 all up, Blow dry is $65.00, Flower Girls are $15.00 to $35.00

    For a party of 7 or more the prices would be: travel fee would be $50.00 - $100.00 depending on mileage…

    The bride is $95.00, Bridesmaid’s / Mom’s are $70.00 ½ up - $80.00 all up, Blow dry is $60.00, Flower Girls are $15.00 to $30.00

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  • Cydney J (Cydney M)
    Master October 2011
    Cydney J (Cydney M) ·
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    Hi Jennifer...I have been facebook messaging the gal who did my hair for my wedding...and I thought you'd like to know her response:

    "Wow! Double the price??

    The difference in my rates between the bride and the bridesmaids is like $15-$20. And that is because she does get more attention, and it's a priority to make sure that if anything needs to be changed, that the focus is on her. But when someone charges twice as much just because she's the bride - they're just trying to squeeze money out of her, and that's not right."

    She also wrote this after I posted:

    "It may also be because the mua/stylist get inquiries for brides who only want makeup/hair for themselves, and no one else in the wedding party. In that case, the only way it would be worth it to book that wedding would be if the price was considerably higher."

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  • Krista
    VIP May 2012
    Krista ·
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    I am getting my hair done separately. But my MUA charges $125 for airbrush makeup, which includes a trial. She charges $60 for bridesmaids and Mom's. That however does not include a trial. I can understand the price difference in the bride compared to the bridesmaid, especially with the trial run. What i don't understand is why on her site she says she charges $45 for prom makeup but charges $60 for bridesmaids. I seriously doubt there is much different done for a bridesmaid compared to a prom goer.

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  • Stacy
    VIP June 2012
    Stacy ·
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    Mine is only $100 for hair & makeup, $50 for just the girls hair. I'm happy with that!!

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  • Mrs. M fka Sami B
    Master June 2012
    Mrs. M fka Sami B ·
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    Ours was based on hair length and the prices are varying from75-95, mine isn't the most expensive only 85. my MOH has hair down to mid thigh, the trial took and hour and a half before any har bling. We have to start hair at 10:30 in the morning and use 3 stylists just to be ready for first look at 3. Our travel fee is built into the price of the undo which I dio not like at all.

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  • Jennifer
    VIP September 2012
    Jennifer ·
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    Thanks for the responses ladies, based on your responses, I am definitely getting screwed for $300 just for me, so I'm going to keep looking for other salons in that area. Cydney J/M - Thanks for asking your MUA and for posting her response, I appreciate you taking the time and it was nice to get a perspective from a vendor.

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  • Shellie
    VIP July 2012
    Shellie ·
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    I would say it is because the price for travel, and the initial expenses for things like make-up, brushes, and her general time is included in the price of the bride, once she is already there she charges less because she doesn't have to spend more on gas, only a little more to clean brushes, etc.

    I would also say that in most cases the MU artist stays to do touch ups for the bride, but she doesn't touch up the maids, and often the bride gets a touch up kit where the maids don't.

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  • keli716
    VIP September 2012
    keli716 ·
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    Does the price include your trial appointment Jennifer?? I was lucky enough to find a person who does hair/makeup for $50 pp, me included, and $25 for kids.

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  • Kiela
    Expert July 2012
    Kiela ·
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    Wow I've talked to two great makeup artists and one charges $20. The other charges $20-$40. They do amazing work!

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  • Cydney J (Cydney M)
    Master October 2011
    Cydney J (Cydney M) ·
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    Jennifer...that was actually from my hairstylist. The text message I got back from my MUA who charges the $250 for a bride and $80 for a BM was this:

    "The bride is the main focus, and we do the bride's makeup twice (trial) - the others only once. Also, since the the bride is the main client, as it's her wedding day, travel fees etc are included in her price. Since it's a group the others are less, which if the bride is paying for them too---it saves her money. If we charged the same for bridesmaids that we have to charge the bride -- the likely wouldn't have their makeup done. We have to earn a certain amount for blocking out the time it takes too. Our costs are all our own--time, education/skills, products, mileage and general costs of running a business. That's why we have to charge what may seem a higher rate in general."

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  • Jennifer
    VIP September 2012
    Jennifer ·
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    Just wanted to let you all know what her (the coordinator for the salon) response was: "The $300 is only for wedding day hair and makeup for the bride and does not include the trial or the travel fee. That is the price that has been agreed upon by the owner and the artists. If you can get one more person to get hair and makeup, then you'll qualify for the package pricing of 115 pp with a lead artist or 140 pp with a senior artist including the bride." BTW, when I asked about airbrushing, she says they do Production Style makeup, whatever that is.

    We'll that freaking sucks, I would have to find someone that is willing to pay to get their hair and makeup done and I know that FH's mother doesn't have the money for that. That is just ridiculous!

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  • Jennifer
    VIP September 2012
    Jennifer ·
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    Shellie - It does not include the $70 fee for traveling to location

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  • Leslie
    Devoted October 2012
    Leslie ·
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    Wow thats outrageous! i am worried for when I strart to find my MUA and hairstylist

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