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AIBU?

AIBU to fire my hair and makeup people for my wedding or am I being a bridezilla?

124 replies

ThreadWorms · 09/02/2013 19:23

I booked with a hair and makeup team a while ago now. They seemed qualified for the job and very experienced.

One of my bridesmaids and I went for the trials today. It was supposed to take two hours bit actually took them five. I am really really unhappy with the final 'look'. I have dark circles and the makeup lady hasn't covered them properly. I look like I have slept in my makeup and it has started to come off.

I showed the hairdresser pictures of how I wanted my hair and the bridesmaids. It looks nothing like I wanted. I have shown my family the photos and have seen them in person, and they have agreed it looks terrible.

If I cancel I will lose all the deposits with no guarantee I'll find anyone else to do it with less than a month until my wedding day.

I felt like a bridezilla telling them that I wasn't happy but I couldn't hide my disappointment. So do I cancel and hopefully find someone else or give them the chance to improve on the day? My biggest concern is that they massively underestimated how long it would take with only two of us there when there will be five extra people to do on the day. I feel really upset and stressed about this.

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DrGoogleWillSeeYouNow · 09/02/2013 19:25

I'd demand another free trial purely on the basis that what was meant to take them two hours actually took them five and you're not confident that they'll be up to the job on the day. If they still can't do it in two hours and you're not happy with the final look, then demand your deposit back.

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delilahlilah · 09/02/2013 19:26

Don't risk it. If you are not happy, cancel. It seems wrong to take a deposit before a trial. My hairdresser failed to turn up for my trial! However I knew they would do a good job and we were short on time, so having made my feelings clear, they did a new trial and did my hair for the wedding. I haven't been back since though, I felt really let down. They didn't even contact me, I got there for them to look blank and say 'oh, she's not in today...'

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IHeartKingThistle · 09/02/2013 19:26

You know you can't use them for your wedding. If nothing else it'll give you loads of stress. They need to know why though.

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EuroShagmore · 09/02/2013 19:27

Cancel. My trial made me look like an East European hooker. Absolutely awful. I ditched the woman and I went to my usual hairdresser to get my hair put up in the morning and did my own make up. And I'm very happy that I did.

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Uppermid · 09/02/2013 19:27

If I were you, I would do your own make up, you know what works for you and how to cover up. And re your hair, go to your usual hairdresser, they know your hair and how to do it, I personally wouldn't go for anything too dissimilar to how you wear it normally, that way you will feel comfortable on the day itself.

Unless you had a huge tantrum whilst with them , I don't think you were being brides ills at all.

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Alliwantisaroomsomewhere · 09/02/2013 19:30

YANBU. I wish I had told my make up person after my trial that I did not want her! I was worried at the time (9 years ago) about losing about £50 or so. Wish I had told her to stick it and did my own.

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ThreadWorms · 09/02/2013 19:30

I am actually quite angry about how long they took. I had other things to do today, my bridesmaid and I were relying on babysitters, and my dd missed her swimming lesson.

But then I feel really bad for criticising their work. They were laughing at me being so particular but it's because they weren't doing what I had asked which I thought I had made clear even showing them pictures.

It's a good idea to ask for another trial but I have do much to do and so little time. This is just further stress I really didn't need.

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Tee2072 · 09/02/2013 19:33

As soon as they laughed at me? I'd have fired them and walked out.

What horrible service. Is there a manager you can complain to?

It's not bridezilla to expect what you paid for and not accept being laughed at.

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ThreadWorms · 09/02/2013 19:33

I'm pretty upset that I am £200 down and still without a 'look' I am happy with. Even my friend said I should do my own makeup after seeing what the 'professional' did.

I didn't throw any tantrums and tried up stay jovial bit at one point I was nearly in tears as I was still sat in rollers with awful makeup on and three hours had elapsed.

I usually wear my hair down but would like it up for the wedding do it doesn't get in my face and annoy me.

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mamalovebird · 09/02/2013 19:34

Get a free re-trial and ask to watch as she does it so you can point out the bits your don't like as you go.

I had this with my make up lady. The first look was nothing like I wanted but I then realised she didn't know me from Adam so I had to explain myself in detail as to what I wanted. She did it again and got it right. You are paying for a service so don't feel bad about pointing out to her what you want.

If it's still bad, cancel. You want to feel comfortable and confident on your big day.

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ThreadWorms · 09/02/2013 19:35

Yeah, they were sort of laughing in a 'aren't you awkward' way. I'm pretty upset about the whole experience due to the time and money I feel I have wasted Sad.

I should have walked out but still paid them for a dreadful trial.

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Lexagon · 09/02/2013 19:35

Honestly, I'd cancel - the stress of worrying about whether they'll do a good job on the day would be too much.
Re the makeup, if you're normally confident about doing your own, I'd spend the money you would have spent on professionals getting some really good quality stuff and doing it yourself (or, if there's one near you, could go to a Space NK (as opposed to the counters in Boots/Debenhams and look into getting it done there - I've had mine done a couple of times and been incredibly pleased with it, noticeabley done, if you get what I mean, but not orange/shiny/drag queen).
Do you have a regular hairdresser you could go to? Even if you just asked them for a recommendation of someone who specialises in bridal hair? Good luck!

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jelliebelly · 09/02/2013 19:36

Cancel and use your usual hairdresser, do your own makeup. 5 hours!!!!!

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Bearbehind · 09/02/2013 19:37

Seriously, make alternative arrangements. I did the same before I got married and when my husband to be saw me he said I looked like a geisha, think mega pale face, black eyes and red lips. Given my wedding dress was cream, this was not a good look. It doesn't matter what their qualifications are, if you look terrible, they aren't worth it!

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ThreadWorms · 09/02/2013 19:37

That's a good point mama. She didn't let me watch what she was doing. I did shoe her a picture from another time I had a makeover and I explained about the dark circles. She put far too much blusher on as well.

I've just lost all confidence in their ability to do the job on the day.

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jackstini · 09/02/2013 19:37

£200?! for a deposit Hmm
I would def cancel, you do not need to be stressing about how you will all look
I would also ask for the deposit back and say there is no way you can use someone for your special day that laughed at you.

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ThreadWorms · 09/02/2013 19:40

Lexagon, I am pretty good at doing makeup and was going to my own until my sister paid for us to go on a photoshoot makeover experience for my birthday and I loved how they did did it. I might just do that though, invest in some really good makeup and watch some tutorials on YouTube.

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ThreadWorms · 09/02/2013 19:42

It was about £100 deposit and £100 trial. What an absolute waste of money. Another thing was neither me or my bridesmaid had eaten anything as the trial was at 12.30. We got out at 5.30 and still had to pick up kids and get home. I have a headache from all the products combined with not eating a thing all day.

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Itsaboatjack · 09/02/2013 19:43

YANBU, if they can't do what they said they would then you should be able to ask for deposit back. And even if you can't you definitely don't want to be giving the more money.

I got married abroad so me and bridesmaid did our own hair and make up. We went to a Clinique make up counter and got a free lesson and bought some new make up.

I also normally wear my hair down but just put it half up so it still felt like me, but not in my face annoying me.

I practised once at home, no stress.

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ThreadWorms · 09/02/2013 19:44

Do you think they will give me the deposit back? I still feel bad for them. Also, I know they didn't make me look crap on purpose and will probably put it down to me being 'particular'.

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scarlettsmummy2 · 09/02/2013 19:44

I went to the hairdresser I always went to- she was great. I then got one of my friends who is great at makeup to do mine. She did it perfectly and I knew her well enough to be able to tell her exactly what I wanted. I also did my own mascara.

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Overreactionoftheweek · 09/02/2013 19:49

They charged you for the trial? I have never heard of that before. Definitely try and get your money back as they couldn't do what you wanted. Find someone else or do it yourself, don't let them stress you out on your wedding day

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ThreadWorms · 09/02/2013 19:50

My usual hairdresser is on maternity leave currently but I will ring the salon on Monday and see if they can recommend anyone else. I think I will have to do my own makeup as I can't afford anyone else now.

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gimmecakeandcandy · 09/02/2013 19:51

Don't feel bad for them! I'm fuming at your behalf - they laughed at you and made you feel bad?! Funking tossers. You need to complain complain complain and write a letter saying you do not appreciate unprofessional service and the poor quality of the hair and makeup 'makeover' and want a refund or you will be seeking professional advice on retrieving your money.

DO NOT risk having them at your wedding. Where do you live? I'm sure one of us lives in your area and can recommend a good place to go. Please don't use such idiots - they sound awful. I'm livid for you!

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farewellfarewell · 09/02/2013 19:51

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