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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do you think it’s expected for a bride to pay for bridesmaids makeup?

44 replies

Liud · 14/04/2025 14:36

Just that really

OP posts:
toomuchfaff · 14/04/2025 14:37

Yes.

If you want them made up, you pay (as a bride). Presuming you do - pictures and all...

If you don't stipulate them needing professional hair & make up, then you don't pay for it and prepare from them not to be professionally coiffed (think about the pictures....)

Justyouwaitandseeagain · 14/04/2025 14:37

I would say either bridesmaids do their own make up or the bride pays for them to have their make up done by the same make up artist.

Trumptonagain · 14/04/2025 14:38

If you've selected the make up artist and have stipulated that they must use them then yes.

Sakura7 · 14/04/2025 14:39

Yes. Normally the same makeup artist does the bride and bridesmaids, and the bride pays.

Flocke · 14/04/2025 14:39

I agree bride pays if she wants them made up professionally.

I gave my bridesmaids the choice. You can do your own or if you’d rather it done professionally I would pay. I wanted them comfortable so was not going to force them into having it done if they’d rather do it themselves. But equally if they wanted to I was happy to pay for them. Same with hair.

PuffinLord · 14/04/2025 14:40

Yes

HenDoNot · 14/04/2025 14:40

Yes.

If you want your bridesmaids to use a professional MUA on the day then you (the bride) should pay.

popandchoc · 14/04/2025 14:40

If bride is saying they have to have a make up artist do it then the bride should pay.

Whitetruck · 14/04/2025 14:41

What I find odd is the expectation that they'll have professional make up. I don't want that no matter who's paying.

Original poster
Liud · 14/04/2025 14:41

The bride has not stipulated they need to be professionally made up

OP posts:
CopperWhite · 14/04/2025 14:42

No, I don’t think brides have to pay for hair and make up unless they want a say in them.

Wisenotboring · 14/04/2025 14:44

If the bride was stipulating professional make up I would expect her to pay. However I'm.not sure why professional make.up is needed and would always rather do my own. What is the context of your question? Is the bride insisting on professional make up, but refusing to pay (unreasonable) or is the bridesmaid requesting professional make.up to e done and paid for by the bride (unreasonable)?

Hattysbackpack · 14/04/2025 14:45

Nobody needs to be professionally made up at a wedding, full stop. Anyone who wants themselves or others to be professionally made up should pay. Nobody at my wedding had professional make up including me, the bride.

Newmumhere40 · 14/04/2025 14:45

Liud · 14/04/2025 14:36

Just that really

100% yes

Wisenotboring · 14/04/2025 14:45

Liud · 14/04/2025 14:41

The bride has not stipulated they need to be professionally made up

Just seen this and I think the bride is ot under any obligation to pay.

JoyousEagle · 14/04/2025 14:46

If the bride is fine with them doing their own, then I think that’s fine. It would only be if the bride was saying “I’m getting a make up artist that we’ll all use, and this is how much you owe me, and you must agree”

HenDoNot · 14/04/2025 14:46

Liud · 14/04/2025 14:41

The bride has not stipulated they need to be professionally made up

Then the bridesmaids can do their own make up.

Why don’t you just spit out what the scenario actually is here.

Hello2025baby · 14/04/2025 14:47

Liud · 14/04/2025 14:41

The bride has not stipulated they need to be professionally made up

Then no, I wouldn’t expect bride to pay, and would expect bridesmaids to do their own make up in whatever style they choose (or not wear any if not their thing).

Original poster
Liud · 14/04/2025 14:47

JoyousEagle · 14/04/2025 14:46

If the bride is fine with them doing their own, then I think that’s fine. It would only be if the bride was saying “I’m getting a make up artist that we’ll all use, and this is how much you owe me, and you must agree”

Oh no. It’s more figure out what you are doing if that’s sorting your own make up or doing it yourself

OP posts:
Parker231 · 14/04/2025 14:47

Liud · 14/04/2025 14:41

The bride has not stipulated they need to be professionally made up

I didn’t wear make up on my wedding day let alone stipulate what my bridesmaids should do. I paid for the wedding party to have their hair done on the day.

minnienono · 14/04/2025 14:48

No the bride should not have to pay for professional make up but nor should bridesmaids have to pay for it either, do your own.

popandchoc · 14/04/2025 14:48

In that case the bridesmaids can pay themselves if they want it.

Greywarden · 14/04/2025 15:55

I agree with those saying 'the bride should only pay if she has stipulated that the bridesmaids need professional makeup', but with the additional clause that if the bride is demanding a specific makeup look / generally trying to impose specific makeup standards that might be a pain in the neck to live up to in any way, the bride should also pay in this scenario too.

as

Kisskiss · 14/04/2025 15:57

What’s the situation? You’re being very vague @Liud if the bride can afford it, it would be nice to pay for the bridesmaids /mother / mother of the groom and everybody gets ready together.
Ive been to weddings where I’ve had to pay for myself or not and so both ways is ok ( unless the bride is forcing people to have professional makeup AND pay themselves )

Overthebow · 14/04/2025 15:59

Yes if the bride is booking a make up artist for bridesmaids then the bride pays. If the bride doesn’t mind if they do it themselves, but the bridesmaids want and ask for make up artist then the bridesmaids can pay.