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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder what you paid - Calling all recent brides

302 replies

wrigleysextra · 19/10/2023 14:54

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?

OP posts:
AgaMM · 19/10/2023 22:06

Steev · 19/10/2023 21:52

Jesus Christ.

You should take a leaf out of Kate Middleton's book. She did her own.

After having several private lessons by a top make up artist.

But to be honest, I don’t blame her at all - finding the right MUA who not only knows what is best for your skin tone but understands what look you want is difficult!

JRM17 · 22/10/2023 21:40

I paid £110 for me and £80 per other adult and £25 per child.

WeHaveChocIcesInTheFreezer · 22/10/2023 21:41

My wedding was 6 years ago, but mine was £90 and then any additional people (3 bridesmaids and 1 MOB) were £40 each. This included covering the journey out to our venue which was approx 1 hours drive away. She was a highly recommended MUA of over 10+ years who gets fully
booked up.. so wasn’t a beginner or a compromise in any way; starting to feel I got an absolute bargain based on some of these prices quoted!

Not sure if location is a factor, I’m from the North so maybe cheaper than the South as a general rule.

CeeCeeDeeBee · 22/10/2023 21:43

If you're in W Yorkshire you should use Natalie Willingham, she's wonderful.

Nodashians · 22/10/2023 21:45

Interesting thread, I went to a beauty counter, had a make over and was shown how to use all the products , bought them all and then practiced every day for a week.

Mew2 · 22/10/2023 21:45

In 2019 for hair and make up (we had one of each)- cost £350- for MOB, 3 bridesmaids, bride and hair for 2 flower girls... they travelled an hour to the venue- was with us for about 3hrs and had a makeup and hair trial for the bride as well....

Mummypete · 22/10/2023 21:55

If anyone has any recommendations of anyone reasonable in SW London I’d be very grateful.

Whatisthisstuff · 22/10/2023 22:04

Woah. These prices scare me.
I paid £65 for me as bride, my sister bridesmaid and a little bit on my daughter.

Personally I just can't fathom spending so much on a few hours. £1200 was what we paid for our honeymoon 😅 (2a+2c)

ActDottie · 22/10/2023 22:06

I’d probably expect around the £800 mark

Sunshineonlancs · 22/10/2023 22:08

Huh?! The things I learn from Mumsnet. I brushed my hair and put a bit of make up on. Photos look nice I reckon. It was back in the 80s

topnoddy · 22/10/2023 22:09

Charideeshopz · 19/10/2023 15:13

£1200 for bride, bridesmaids, mother of bride and she also did hair.

cheshire

I'd want the catering thrown in as well for that money !

Zaina67 · 22/10/2023 22:12

About £1000 for four of us.

DreamTheMoors · 22/10/2023 22:12

2jacqi · 19/10/2023 15:19

I think you will probably find your own make up looks better as well as being easier on the purse. enough expense for a wedding as it is.

I went to a wedding shortly before ours where the bridal party had a makeup “artiste.”
They looked, well, awful.
We did our own because we didn’t want to look ridiculous too.
As it was, our small wedding was very expensive.
I think wedding vendors see a big fat target instead of brides and grooms.

LorW · 22/10/2023 22:13

I paid £150 for mine and £100 for each bridesmaid and MOB/G and that’s in an expensive part of the country and she was fantastic

Bignanny30 · 22/10/2023 22:21

I can’t believe some of the prices that I’m reading on this thread. Do people really pay that much for someone to do their makeup? Why can’t they do their own ? Isn’t that the way that their husband to be is used to seeing them 💁

BrideToBe2313123 · 22/10/2023 22:25

Hiya I'm getting married in a few weeks and using Hannah Gill. Hair + Makeup (including trial) £180. I think £80 is for the trial, £100 for the day. £70 each for the bridal party. She came well recommended and quite happy with my trial. I'm in East Manchester so Cheshire should be no issue. She's local to me though so no travel charge.

https://www.hannahgillmakeup.com/

dahliadream · 22/10/2023 22:26

£120 for bridal hair and makeup, £80 for each bridesmaid hair & makeup, £40 for travel expenses. Cheshire based.

VitoCorleoneOfMNMafia · 22/10/2023 22:26

AgaMM · 19/10/2023 22:06

After having several private lessons by a top make up artist.

But to be honest, I don’t blame her at all - finding the right MUA who not only knows what is best for your skin tone but understands what look you want is difficult!

Show quote history

Given that the rest of Kate's life will be full of high-profile public appearances, private lessons so that she can apply her own makeup to photoshoot standards were a wise investment of her time and money.

BlinkerGoBlink · 22/10/2023 22:34

London. £750 which was for 2 artists doing hair and make up for bridal, 4 adult BMs, 2 tweens and included travel time and distance (150 miles round trip).

TeenLifeMum · 22/10/2023 22:35

@Nodashians that’s what I did. These prices are insane to me. Is rather put it towards the honeymoon.

BrideToBe2313123 · 22/10/2023 22:35

AgaMM · 19/10/2023 22:04

For my wedding, I paid just under £1k for hair and make up for me and my mum.

Originally, it was going to be £1,600 for hair and make up for the two of us, using someone different for hair and make up, but we ended up having a covid wedding so needed different suppliers.

For my engagement party, I paid £95 for hair and make up for just me, by someone who was booked for a friend’s wedding so I wanted to give her a go.

For my pre-wedding party, I paid around £400 for hair and make up for both my mum and me.

Honestly, it really depends on the look you’re going for. The really expensive one I ended up having gave me a truly flawless look that complimented me well, which the cheaper ones didn’t achieve. Personally, hair and make up was important to me so I happily paid a lot for someone good, but I have friends who aren’t as fussed and just wanted to look done, so they paid a lot cheaper. So it depends on what it means to you.

Yes there's certainly a discernible difference in skill. The cheap mobile artist I had for graduation managed to layer it on so thick that my makeup ran in the summer heat, I'd have been better off with none at all. But this lady is good.

My face is easy so I don't think an expensive MUA will add any value. I could do it myself only I don't think I'll have the patience and a steady hand on my wedding morning! My hair however looks like a rat's nest despite my best efforts. Definitely needs a skilled touch.

BrideToBe2313123 · 22/10/2023 22:36

BlinkerGoBlink · 22/10/2023 22:34

London. £750 which was for 2 artists doing hair and make up for bridal, 4 adult BMs, 2 tweens and included travel time and distance (150 miles round trip).

That's cheap for 2 people + London!

Summertime1992 · 22/10/2023 22:37

Mine this year cost £650, which included hair and makeup and a trial for me.

Hair and makeup for 3 bridesmaids and the MOB, hair for a child and hair for one extra adult.

There was two make up artist and they took 5 hours for us all, my trial took 3 hours on its own trying diffrent styles which all factors into the cost.

Allthatwegotisthispalebluedot · 22/10/2023 22:38

Tbf, Kate’s eyeliner did not look great on her wedding day. 😱

BlinkerGoBlink · 22/10/2023 22:39

BrideToBe2313123 · 22/10/2023 22:36

That's cheap for 2 people + London!

Show quote history

She was recommended to me and did not disappoint!! Super calm too, thank god!