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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:
2003unbearable · 23/10/2023 09:06

OP if you haven’t found anyone yet I can highly recommend my wedding MUA - she’s South Manchester/Cheshire based and has a little studio at her house for trials and then travels on the day. I paid £195 for my bridal hair and makeup inc trial, bridal hair and makeup was £80 per person plus £50 for a bridesmaid trial - that was 2021 so would probably be a bit more now. So not cheap but not extortionate and she was truly sensational, and just an absolutely lovely person to have there on my wedding day. I’ve actually since booked her for another family wedding as a guest and had a totally different style of makeup and both were amazing. Let me know if you want her details!

lemonyfox · 23/10/2023 09:10

Crikey some of these prices are insane. I got married in 2019 so appreciate things will be more expensive now, but I've just dug out my MUA email and she charged £75 bride and £50 per bridesmaid plus £25 travel (about 30 mins for her). Those prices were the same for the trial and for the day itself. I'm in the North West, married in Lancashire. The previous year my MUA won some bridal award for 2018 as well so she was very good!

To wonder what you paid - Calling all recent brides
pain1nthearse · 23/10/2023 09:13

I was quoted around £300 about 7 years ago just for me to have make up done (in the South East) so I went to Space NK who gave me a tutorial and you buy the make up they used (needed to be £200 worth) which I still have! I found copying what they did pretty easy plus i was able to change what i didn't like (I don't like having loads plastered on). I also went to a local hairdresser the morning of my wedding to have a blow dry (I went for a test run a few weeks before) and just told them i was going to a wedding, not that i was the bride and I loved my hair and make up. I did try a hair and make up trial with a MUA/hairdresser and I hated the outcome - the solid, sprayed up-do and make up plastered on really aged me. Anyway good luck for the wedding!!

novalia89 · 23/10/2023 09:19

user1497787065 · 23/10/2023 08:31

I think you have to forget how much time it takes and how far the make up artist is travelling and focus on the number of products she is required to purchase to cover all clients. That must run into thousands and bear in mind the number of looks she will
be asked to create using all those products and then you maybe able to understand the pricing strategy.

Absolutely not. It’s ludicrous. There is no way they are spending £1000 on products for a single day and travelling around 20 miles. Even high end makeup doesn’t costs this much when you average it out over the amount of uses.

Iamnotalemming · 23/10/2023 09:24

I did my own. But I booked an appointment at a counter of a make up brand I liked in advance and got a free makeover type service and used that to choose / treat myself to some new products. Probably spent £150 on makeup so could have been cheaper to get MUA 😂

schooloflostsocks · 23/10/2023 09:29

Blimey I did my own in about 3 mins 😂

HappyPie82 · 23/10/2023 09:30

I'm paying £545 for makeup for 8 adults and two tweens, and £400 for the same so a total of £945 for 10 people which i think is fair.

novalia89 · 23/10/2023 09:31

DogInATent · 23/10/2023 09:01

But you're not buying by the hour. This is the fundamental flaw in your argument. Wedding suppliers that provide personal services are almost always charging by the day. It's the relevant unit of their time. It's highly unlikely that they can do more than one wedding a day, and it's unlikely they'll be doing more than three per week. For professional MUAs this isn't a hobby income on the side for pin money.

I suspect you'll have a apoplexy if I tell you how much one of my clients charges as a wedding MUA. Her rates are far higher than anything I've seen quoted on this thread so far and she's booked up over a year in advance. Although she's generally charging for the whole weekend, being put up by her client at the venue, and will be doing full make-up 2-4 times over the event and touch-ups in-between.

Show quote history

Even a day rate is obscene. And they are charging by the hours of work done, because that’s what labour is. It doesn’t matter if they can only do one a day. If they can only do one a week, because of the Saturday premium, does that mean that their charge should cover the rest of the week? Of course not! So why cover the hours in the afternoon if they aren’t worked? All the weddings that I have been to have costed around £40 a head (still expensive compared to at a salon at £20 a head, but you are already paying extra for the home visit and early morning) and the makeup artists and hairdressers have been there for 2 hours. 3 max. That is a good rate when it’s usually their side job too.
Just because they only have one client doesn’t mean that you should have to subsidise the rest.
A builder charge out rate is £300 for the day, for their entire day. £1200+ for 3 hours work is ludicrous.

2003unbearable · 23/10/2023 09:35

novalia89 · 23/10/2023 09:19

Absolutely not. It’s ludicrous. There is no way they are spending £1000 on products for a single day and travelling around 20 miles. Even high end makeup doesn’t costs this much when you average it out over the amount of uses.

Show quote history

How much do you say having a range of high end makeup for different skin tones, plus tools to safely and hygienically transport it and apply it to a different person with each use, plus travel costs, plus the individual’s labour during unsociable hours, plus continuous professional development, plus the time costs to actually market and run your business outside of the time you spend on makeup services themselves, costs then? Bear in mind you have a relatively small number of days on which you can actually undertake revenue generating activity. You’re probably not booked even once a week October-March, and even in high season you’re probably doing a maximum of two weddings most weekends, maybe three some weeks.

Parker231 · 23/10/2023 09:35

Reading these posts I’m glad I put on my own mascara and lip gloss! ( cost wasn’t really an issue as my godfather was paying for everything).

2003unbearable · 23/10/2023 09:43

novalia89 · 23/10/2023 09:31

Even a day rate is obscene. And they are charging by the hours of work done, because that’s what labour is. It doesn’t matter if they can only do one a day. If they can only do one a week, because of the Saturday premium, does that mean that their charge should cover the rest of the week? Of course not! So why cover the hours in the afternoon if they aren’t worked? All the weddings that I have been to have costed around £40 a head (still expensive compared to at a salon at £20 a head, but you are already paying extra for the home visit and early morning) and the makeup artists and hairdressers have been there for 2 hours. 3 max. That is a good rate when it’s usually their side job too.
Just because they only have one client doesn’t mean that you should have to subsidise the rest.
A builder charge out rate is £300 for the day, for their entire day. £1200+ for 3 hours work is ludicrous.

Edited
Show quote history

Why are you talking about builders? A makeup artist isn’t a builder. They’re not even remotely comparable. Some lawyers cost more than £400 per hour, so are bridal makeup artists therefore undercharging?

Zaina67 · 23/10/2023 09:47

Everythinghasgonetoshit · 23/10/2023 08:58

Zaina67

I think if you have the money it makes sense to go all out and make the most of what is (hopefully) the one day in your life you can have a big celebration. Partner and I both earn pretty average wages. We could probably save for a wedding if we wanted to, but we haven't bought a home yet (already had the kids) and I'm a frumpy shy 40 year old, so it's just not for me. I hate being the centre of attention, even for 20 minutes.

My mum also drummed into me pretty hard to never get married and that you are handing your freedom over to someone (her marriage was a forced marriage in the 70s due to pregnancy) so it has stuck with us as siblings. It has never been on my to do list. I think my brother would get married if his partner wouldn't go crazy with the budget and probably spend 100k+ on a wedding. They have a large social circle and probably the means to do it, so I think that has held him back proposing.

I do think 1k on make up is steep, but it must be great to look back on your wedding day when you are older and see you looked amazing. I personally could find a ton of things to spend 1k on before having make up done. I probably would spend about 150 on hair and make up on myself if I was in that position or do what the pp has said and go to a make up counter and try and do it myself.

I can totally see where people are coming from when they’d rather put down a much bigger house deposit or do whatever else with the money, instead of a wedding. Whatever makes you - and whoever else is paying - happy, is what I always say. I would have done a registry office job (but still got my makeup done professionally as a treat) but ended up with a few celebrations but this is the norm in my husband’s culture.

purplesky18 · 23/10/2023 09:48

Mine was around 350/400 for the same numbers and honestly I disliked my make up, not enough for me to cry about it but as someone who was make up savvy I could’ve 100% done it myself and liked it more while saving the costs, I’d say £5/600 would be reasonable and make sure you do a trial. I had a trial and hateeeeeed the look and we changed it all to something better and on the day it was ok but I was underwhelmed, I wished id cancelled after the trial but we live and learn, luckily didn’t affect my day that’s just my one regret 😂

novalia89 · 23/10/2023 09:58

2003unbearable · 23/10/2023 09:43

Why are you talking about builders? A makeup artist isn’t a builder. They’re not even remotely comparable. Some lawyers cost more than £400 per hour, so are bridal makeup artists therefore undercharging?

Show quote history

No, of course they aren’t undercharging. It’s not comparable work to lawyers who charge £400 an hour. Which is very few. Medics, lawyers, engineers which 30 years experience and a huge amount of responsibility don’t have charge out rates anywhere near that high. Attending a short college course applying foundation does not justify a charge out rate of that much. It’s vanity that is causing that and exploiting the bride.

They are not risking their life, they aren’t risking anyone else’s life. They aren’t spending years learning regulations and law, safety standards or spending 10 years studying. There is very little personal responsibility. Yes there is a bit of liability, but nothing like a surgeon or medic would have.

Polis · 23/10/2023 09:58

Mine was cheap. I did it myself.

novalia89 · 23/10/2023 10:07

2003unbearable · 23/10/2023 09:35

How much do you say having a range of high end makeup for different skin tones, plus tools to safely and hygienically transport it and apply it to a different person with each use, plus travel costs, plus the individual’s labour during unsociable hours, plus continuous professional development, plus the time costs to actually market and run your business outside of the time you spend on makeup services themselves, costs then? Bear in mind you have a relatively small number of days on which you can actually undertake revenue generating activity. You’re probably not booked even once a week October-March, and even in high season you’re probably doing a maximum of two weddings most weekends, maybe three some weeks.

Show quote history

Again, if you only manage to find 4 clients a year, it’s up to the client to subsidise the hours not worked?

I found a luthier recently. He charged £70 an hour and it’s very specialised. If I am the only customer that day I should have to subside the other hours?

‘plus continuous professional development’ yes, because this is the same legal professional development required of a medic or engineer. Get real.

’plus tools to safely and hygienically transport it’ a one time purchase makeup box?

Absolutely none of this is justifying £1200 for hair and makeup for 4 people.

LemonLight · 23/10/2023 10:13

I paid £300 for bride, 4x bridesmaids and MOB hair. I got a great deal! I shopped around a lot though. Absolutely loved my wedding hair and the BMs had flowers braided into their hair it was lovely.and MOB had a french knot.

(We did our own makeup)

flutterby1 · 23/10/2023 10:22

Wouldn't dream of paying for a make up artist, do it yourself.

WhatATimeToBeAlive · 23/10/2023 10:26

I'm more shocked that having make up done seems to be the norm!

StoneColdAlibi · 23/10/2023 10:31

This was from my make up artist - London-based this year

BRIDAL MAKEUP TRIAL: £70 (INCLUDES HAIR TRIAL)
BRIDE MAKEUP: £125
ADD ON LASHES: £15
BRIDE HAIR: £20
ADDITIONAL GUEST TRIAL: £70
ADDITIONAL GUEST MAKEUP: £60
ADDITIONAL GUEST HAIR: £20

Ilovepugs2017 · 23/10/2023 10:34

My make up was around £50 for my wedding day and that included lashes. She done an amazing job! She came to the hairdressers where we were all having our hair styled and done everyone’s make up in between them having their hair done

Seaweed42 · 23/10/2023 10:39

If you live near a large department store, a good idea is to book a make-up session there at one of the more expensive make-up brand counter.
If you like it, then book in to get your face done the morning of the wedding with the same person.

Hairdresser put curlers in the night before.

Because obviously you can't have your hair washed after the make up.

I also got the price of some cosmetics included.

2003unbearable · 23/10/2023 10:42

novalia89 · 23/10/2023 09:58

No, of course they aren’t undercharging. It’s not comparable work to lawyers who charge £400 an hour. Which is very few. Medics, lawyers, engineers which 30 years experience and a huge amount of responsibility don’t have charge out rates anywhere near that high. Attending a short college course applying foundation does not justify a charge out rate of that much. It’s vanity that is causing that and exploiting the bride.

They are not risking their life, they aren’t risking anyone else’s life. They aren’t spending years learning regulations and law, safety standards or spending 10 years studying. There is very little personal responsibility. Yes there is a bit of liability, but nothing like a surgeon or medic would have.

Edited
Show quote history

Oh dear. You’ve told on yourself there. (Also good luck getting private surgery for less than £400 per hour!)

Mummypete · 23/10/2023 10:45

@StoneColdAlibi could you please share their details with me

StoneColdAlibi · 23/10/2023 10:50

Mummypete · 23/10/2023 10:45

@StoneColdAlibi could you please share their details with me

She is 'gin.andmakeup' on Instagram (Her name is Ginebra and she was really lovely), you can DM her through there.

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