To wonder what you paid - Calling all recent brides

[wrigleysextra]

I'm after some context as to whether a quote I have received for make up on my wedding day is a lot or not so was hoping for some input from any recent Mumsnet brides!

I've contacted several make up artists for a quote for 3 adults (bride, bridesmaid & mother of the bride) and an 11 year old who may just want a tiny bit of lipgloss & mascara applying.

The one make up artist who has come back to me so far is incidentally the one I liked the most but I'm quite staggered by her quote.

I completely understand she needs to factor in travel costs and time (just over an hour each way). I'm not looking for a cheap service and will gladly pay the going rate, but I don't actually know what that is! With nothing else so far to compare her quote to, I'm wondering what you would expect or did pay for similar on your wedding day?

I’m sure I’m the same as most but wasn’t wanting to be something I’m not especially on such a special day. The 250 guests (big wedding, London hotel) seemed to think I looked just like me!

So what was the mascara and lip gloss for?

@Parker231

regardless, you would have still looked like you! It’s makeup , not a mask!

Because I like them and use them. Sum total of my makeup bag.

Not something I like but everyone to their own.

@Parker231

eh?? You do realise mascara and lip gloss is makeup don’t you?!

Why such criticism of what I did? I have already mentioned I wore (and sometimes still do) mascara and lipgloss. I didn’t see any reason to do anything different on my wedding day.

£915 for hair and makeup (2 different providers) for 7 people incl bride.

@Parker231

its not really criticism. It’s just that on threads like this you always get people saying they did their own makeup just a lick of mascara or lippy or whatever and I just think why bother responding when Op is asking about makeup artists?! She obviously doesn’t want to do what you did.

depends on whether its just makeup or hair and makeup. Makeup for an established MUA for Bride is usually around £100-£150 depending on where abouts you are in the country, then additionals are usually between £70-£120 (less because they're already there and generally don't spend quite as much time as on the bride), littles would normally be maybe £20-£30 for minimal blush, lippy, mascara. If you're after hair as well you can double those. Don't forget to factor in enough time for everything especially if you're having a single MUA - you'd be surprised at how many weddings end up running late because the time allocated for MUA/hair wasn't sufficient (this from a wedding photographer with many, many weddings worth of experience ;-) )

I got married on 26th Aug in Essex/London and paid £410 for my make up, 1x MOB, 1x bridesmaid, and 1x fake eyelash application for one bridesmaid. I paid separately for my mum and I to have a trial each. It was generally the going rate for the area I live x

Sorry and also for travel! To break that down-
bride -£200
bridal party - £85 each
eyelashes - £10
Travel - £20

I got married earlier this year. I paid £520 for 3 people’s hair and makeup and my daughters hair.

Also in W.Yorks OP and I had Bride & Co Hair and Beauty for my wedding this year (Sept 2023). For bride’s hair and makeup (trial+day), MOG hair+makeup, MOH hair+makeup, MOB makeup, and bridesmaid makeup it cane to £460. Would definitely recommend, they were really lovely and listened to just what I wanted

You also have to remember if they are wedding specialist then they will mostly be doing one wedding per day as they nearly all need the morning and if it's a Saturday it's the most popular day, so whether it's 2 people or 6 it's a prime time slot!

One that does going out makeup too might have cheaper prices but you really do want someone who understands how to do it well, it's probably the only pictures you will still look at and have up in your house for hopefully the rest of your life. Get a few quotes and look at previous pictures and get a trial, they also book up far in advance!

my sister did mine - shes not a professional or anything but it was perfect and it meant i felt i could go shopping and splash out on decent products and got to keep them at the end

I am baffled by the range of costs here and how some people paid so little.
Guessing it may be something to do with location.
We got married in Stratford upon Avon in April 2023 and paid £645 for my hair and make up plus three other adults hair and makeup (MoB and 2 adult bridesmaids).

This price was for 2 artists, who arrived at 7.30am and left at 2.30pm.
Anyone who thinks that wedding hair and make up doesn’t take long is very wrong! The price also included the artists travel costs and a trial of both hair and make up for myself.
We also paid an additional £50 for my mum to have a trial.

The girls we had were absolutely amazing. Communication up to the day was fantastic, my artist even did me an extra hair trial at no extra cost because she wasn’t 100% happy with how it turned out the first time (even though I was)!
They used high quality products and the attention to detail was unbelievable. We all felt and looked incredible, they listened to us and what we normally like about our make up, hair, preferred products etc and just made us look the best version of ourselves without it being over the top.
I would say I’m good at applying my make up and doing my hair, I enjoy it and could have done it myself but the professionals did do it so much better and it really lasted all day and night! I’m so glad I chose to have it done properly on the day as it also takes away an element of stress.

They really earned every penny we paid and added to the whole experience on the day. The cost works out at £92 per hour they were there, not including the trials. I don’t know how they make money at that price to be honest and can definitely see why it would cost more. I plan to use my artist again in future for special events.
At the time I felt like the hair and make up cost was a lot but seeing how much they did on the day and how great we felt, I think they were amazing value.

I would definitely say this isn’t an area to scrimp on if you can afford not to as you don’t want to look back at photos and not feel happy with how you look. I have a friend who got a cheaper artist and she regrets it massively. Also look at photos of their past work and reviews. Good luck bride to be 😊

Nothing!! I got mine done at a Mac shop, they did it free if you buy two products. Hair down and just straightened, so also free.

£150 for 3 adults make up.

It’s just a way of saying “I’m so pretty I don’t need any make up” twinkly laugh without having to say it.

Personally I look like a foot. I am under no illusion unlike some that I look like a foot. My MUA did fucking wonders for me and I actually like how I look in my wedding photos. A rare thing. Was shelling out money on a self esteem boost necessary? Absofuckinglutley it was.

Coming onto a thread asking about MUA costs to say “I simply let a wild deer lick my eyebrows into shape and tada, free of charge” is just …. Urgh.

I absolutely agree with you!
it always happens on threads like this!

its not really criticism. It’s just that on threads like this you always get people saying they did their own makeup just a lick of mascara or lippy or whatever and I just think why bother responding when Op is asking about makeup artists?! She obviously doesn’t want to do what you did..

On the other hand, knowing that some people didn’t use professional makeup artists for their weddings might reassure her that using one isn’t compulsory. Particularly if she is worried about costs.

@Polis From the OP I'm not looking for a cheap service and will gladly pay the going rate, but I don't actually know what that is!

So no, OP did not need to hear that it's not compulsory. She wants to use a MUA

So no, OP did not need to hear that it's not compulsory. She wants to use a MUA

Maybe it hadn’t occurred to her that she doesn’t necessarily need one when she made her original post.

@Polis

im sure op isn’t daft and knows it’s not compulsory. She wants good MUa for her special day.