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?

What the!
I got married 5 years ago, she travelled an hour each way (for my trial too!)
£350 for 3 of us, including a trial for me and using airbrush foundation.

I’ve just paid someone £1200 to spend 6 DAYS decorating

Well, if you'd known then that you would have been happy with a 4" roller and trade emulsion you could probably have got your wedding make-up done by Dave for £50 and he'd have brought his own ladder.

😂

I’d be judging their work. There is no ‘going rate’. My late DDad was a specialist in his field, he charged 10x other people for his work as it was highly sort after and beyond what other could provide. He was always busy.

Some makeup artists work at London fashion week, New York, etc, they will charge a LOT more. Capitalism, innit?! As the saying goes: You pays your money and makes your choice

£150 for both hair and makeup. Including hair accessories. This was for bride only.

Shocked at some of these prices but I bet the results were gorgeous

I’m paying £45 for just me but admittedly I am going to them and it’s a very small town middle of nowhere!

Also it’s a mid-week wedding!

I wish I could show you the results but it would be outing 😂

£350 for hair and make up for my mum, me and my bestie. Took about 6/7 hours. Where are you in UK? I can give you her insta. She was excellent

Blimey.

I brushed my hair and did my own make up. But we had a very low key wedding, no white dress or photographer.

Bloody hell, I'm in the wrong job!

When we first booked our MUA she was £150 for the bride and £45 each for my mum and bridesmaid, including a trial for me in the week before the wedding.

My usual hairdresser (a mobile hairdresser) did my hair in an up do and did my Mum and bridesmaid's hair too, but they both have short hair. All in all was £200 I think.

By comparison to others on here, my ladies were very, very reasonable! If only the same could be said about the rest of the wedding!

£850 for my hair and make up trial, and hair and make up for myself and 4 adults. That included 2 people doing hair working from 7am- just before ceremony at 12.

Cool for you. It doesn’t make you better than anyone else.

£90 for hair and make up for each bridesmaid and MOB. £120 for bride

My daughter got married over five years ago and paid £180 each for herself, me, MiL and adult BM, hair and makeup. The two junior girls were about £20 each for hair, and the makeup artist put clear mascara, a stroke of busher and pale lip gloss on them for free. It was the normal price then.

Thank you! We are getting married in West Yorkshire x

I totally get that. I only mentioned how long her travel time would be to add some further context.

100 quid! I thought that was expensive! 🙈

We were £400 each 7 years ago

@NewYorkBride, are you in the city? My daughter is getting married next spring and we're in the northern suburbs. I wasn't expecting $1800.

I got married in the NW this year and used LouMac MUA, who was fab.

Her prices are on her website, and isn't a million miles away from you OP, so should be a decent comparison.

That's ace, thank you so much! I've just looked - she is MUCH cheaper than my quote! Lovely work too. So helpful, thanks again x

£300 for me and my two bridesmaids!

Why do people attach such a low value to someone helping them look their best on their wedding day? What is it about the profession that makes you think it should be cheap?