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 know. I'm absolutely staggered. I did my own, but that was Back In The Day when make up artists were only for celebrities. I just can't believe someone paid over a grand!

Why do children need make up?

Having had a quick glance those paying a grand didn't specify how many people it was for! That would be cheap for a party of, say 6. Not for one person.

Personally my BM's didn't care but they don't generally wear make-up and the one time they did their own it took ages. I can't risk them being late so getting a professional is worth it...

I got some crazy quotes but I also went to some trial sessions and I came out kind of upset because every single one of them (3 trials) just made me look horrendous. I'm not just saying this like a precious bride - I went to my Mum's after one and a couple of neighbours were round and they all gasped and told me I looked bloody awful. This was a 'celebrity' make up artist and my trial/deposit was £300.....at her studio, no transport involved. I was caked, literally caked in make-up. You could have scrapped it off with a butter knife. I was gutted.

I decided to do my own in the end. But my Mum and my bridesmaids still wanted theirs done. My Mum found a girl who had previously worked on TV sets and now just did a bit of make-up on the side (think she was training to be a teacher or something at this point) - it was a friend of a friend sort of thing. She charged £50pp - she had a kit but also told everyone to bring their own make-up because generally ppl know what looks best on them and have favourite products.

Everyone looked amazing - my Mum looked 15yrs younger easily - never seen her look so beautiful before. So then I was really kicking myself I didn't go for her as all my bridesmaids were leaving the lounge looking unbelievable!!!! She stayed on a bit and did some finishing touches to my make-up which was really kind of her.

So don't be fooled by 'professional bridal' or 'celebrity make-up artists'.

It's worth shopping around and definitely do trials! In the end it might be a person who completely surprises you.

This I'd also add go for people whose clients have the kind of look you want!
I don't wear much makeup my MUA while she has done a lot of TV etc work (like yours) specialises in people who don't normally wear makeup and want it light. I had a look at her before and after photos the people were still recognisable as themselves just a bit more dolled up, photos taken just with people's phone cameras.

I think 'celeb' artists tend to cake it on. Stage makeup is ugly - it's meant to be seen from a distance! Also celebs tend to do it all the same way so you can't really tell them apart.

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

After, I'm sure, intensive private training, from the very best in the industry, all of it tailored to being scrutinised and photographed in public throughout lengthy public events!

I think people nowadays have more of a disposable income. It's certainly a more recent thing to have a professional makeup artist. Your money, your choice but I can understand now why weddings are so expensive.

It was 14 years ago but I just did my own hair and make up- i wasn't going as anyone else so no hair pieces or faff. No bridesmaids. My mam did her own- she never wore much make-up. MIL did her own at home I presume. Dress was not anything that I needed help putting on- DH fastened the buttons at the back.
When I read all this stuff I know why I hate weddings. What an absolute rip-off! Waste of money. Why have false hair? It's not you. Madness.

Mine was free. I got married about 5 years ago and my hair was £200!!! I totally get it but I had a messy bun. She also told me at the beginning it was going to be £60 and so on my wedding day I go and give her the £60 and she say oh no. It’s now £200?!?! I was like what?!?!

anyway she gave half of it back because she actually did quote me wrong. She did quote me £60

so that was that!

I know a friend of mine paid £300 I believe for hers

Got married last year. £150 for my makeup, £50 each for bridesmaids and mother of the bride. It included travel, all products and trial prior to the big day. Well worth it in my opinion. Makeup stayed on all day, it was lovely to be pampered in the morning.

We did our own make up (but I spent £100 on products for me but then I used them for the full year afterwards) and we travelled in the morning to the hair salon nearby as my wedding was in my local church up the road from my house.

£200ish for 3 x hair, with mine at £100ish and the other two quicker not full up dos. Can’t remember what was base and what was tip. Was done at 8.30am before the salon opened proper (but only just) by the 3 on duty stylists so was 45mins and it was a 10 min drive each way. Trial had been £80 ish.

oh. and £20 for an extra mirror from a charity shop so each bridesmaid had her own in my childhood bedroom where we did our make up & got dressed from 9.30 to 11.30 and then off to church.

Christ on a bike!

Are smelling salts provided gratis?

I sorted myself out and only applied make up (lippy and mascara) under duress. I'm sooo glad I never have to get married again.

My make up survived all the photos… it may not have survived the full ceilidh and all the dancing in the village hall but then neither did the photographers.

Wow 👀

WHY? Why’s anyone paying that much money for makeup? That’s a mortgage payment 😭😭😭

It’s not per hour. She can only work Saturdays, more or less. She absolutely definitely couldn’t do another job in that day so you’re at the very least paying per day.

A local mua here / Instagram influencer charges over £1000 plus mileage costs on top and that’s just for makeup.

it’s insanity! She usually charges £30 for makeup per person but obviously hears ‘wedding’ and sees pound signs

£35 / head which included eyelashes etc and travel. £50 extra if MUA had to leave home before 6am!

Because they don’t want to play the “let’s try to ensure my eyeliner flicks look the same on each eye” on their wedding day. Just me? 😂

I really loved my civil wedding makeup (inc at my trial) and wished I could feel as beautiful as my MUA made me feel every day. Not that I haven’t felt beautiful on other occasions, and even in no makeup on some occasions - before anyone says it’s sad I need to be made up to feel this way.

I would pay it again. I did my own makeup at my religious ceremony, I was having one of those bad makeup days typically and I don’t really love the photos of myself because I wasn’t entirely happy with how I looked. It wasn’t a day when I felt really confident which I believe your wedding day should be.

Happy to be called shallow. 😁

I need to see a photo 😀

I paid £50 per person so same price for bride and everyone else. That was in fife, Scotland. Her name was Karen Bowen and she was excellent. I paid about the same for hair.

I spoke to some others who would have been very costly and probably not as good.

I don’t think that’s acceptable. They are taking the piss with those prices. Their skills aren’t worth £1200 for a few hours work, even including materials. We have a crazy idea in this country, due to vanity, and pay junior doctors and nurses pitiful wages. This is preposterous.

£500 for a bride is preposterous.

I bet they get tips too.

Why is a make up artist needed to put lip gloss on children?

Because their skills aren’t worth £300 an hour. They just are not. They aren’t surgeon performing brain surgery on a baby after 20 years experience.

A reasonable rate of £250-£300 for the bride, mob and a few bridesmaids is more than reasonable for makeup. This is not cheap either. They are still getting a good hourly wage!

500e for hair and make up. bride ine bridesmaid and mother of bride. I can do my own make up but not as well as a make up artist she did an amazing job so did my hair dresser. make up girl stayed aswell and helped set up things helped me get dressed anything we asked her no problem. amazing help that didn't realise I needed on the day. hairdresser and make up is a skil and I don't begrudge paying for it.
ps an 11 needs no make up whatsoever nor needs a make up artist to put a bit of lip gloss on

The MUA I use is based in West Yorkshire - she’s £120 for a bride and £65 for bridesmaids/mother of the bride/mother of the groom. She does however within her prices bring along her MUA assistants to help get everyone ready on time and have the lipstick/gloss used so could top up throughout the rest of the day. Her website is lornawrightmakeup.co.uk if you’ve not already contacted her OP - I loved mine and have used her since for other occasions.