Page 2 | Do you think it’s expected for a bride to pay for bridesmaids makeup?

BlueCleaningCloth · 14/04/2025 16:00

Doesn't work for AIBU

But it's unreasonable for the bride to expect bridesmaids to pay if bride is insisting on a professional makeup artist. If professional is expected the bride pays.

Let bridesmaids do whatever they're comfortable with themselves, and if the bride expects it to be done by an artist the bride pays.

Not everyone even wears makeup.

sweetpickle2 · 14/04/2025 16:00

If you're the bride- then its fine to not pay if you're not stipulating it has to be done professionally.

If you're the bridesmaid- no the bride doesn't have to pay if she's not stipulating it has to be done professionally.

Why don't you say which one you are?

Lovelynames123 · 14/04/2025 16:04

I did my own hair and make up, as did my bridesmaids, I even let them wear whatever shoes they felt most comfortable in...our pictures were lovely, although we're now divorced 😬

gingercat02 · 14/04/2025 16:05

Liud · 14/04/2025 14:41

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

In that case no. I paid for dresses, shoes, hair and gave accessories as a thank you gift. We all did our own make-up

Spirallingdownwards · 14/04/2025 16:08

So this is a complete non issue if she has said decide what you want to do to the bridesmaids. On the basis that she is happy for them to do their own if they choose to use an MUA that would be at their own cost because the bride is not insisting.

Hedjwitch · 14/04/2025 16:13

More wedding rip offs. Assume if they already wear make up they are perfectly able to do their own. Same goes for the bride.

CoffeeAndChoccies · 14/04/2025 16:14

Yes, if you want them to have it done professionally and use a make up artist. If you’re happy with them doing their own make up with their own products, then no. I wanted my bridesmaids to have their hair and make up done so I paid for it. If I didn’t want to pay/couldn’t afford it, then I wouldn’t have dreamed of asking them to, I’d have just asked them to do it themselves.

Maraudingmarauders · 14/04/2025 16:15

I paid for professional hair and makeup for my bridesmaids but if they wanted a trial they had to pay for that themselves.

PinkyFlamingo · 14/04/2025 16:15

Why are you being so vague and cagey?

Lascivious · 14/04/2025 16:16

Yes, if the bride wants a makeup artist, then she should pay.

jolota · 14/04/2025 16:42

I think the bride should only definitely pay if they're insisting that they want the bridesmaids to have professional makeup done.
If bride is happy for bridesmaids to do their own makeup (& isn't going to micromanage how it looks etc) then I think its fine for bride to not pay for professional makeup to be done.
Same with hair.

whycantibeselfishforonce · 14/04/2025 16:45

If bride and bridesmaids are all getting ready together in hotel room, for example, then yes, bride should pay for MUA and hair who would attend everyone in the room.

But it really depends on what the bride wants. If she wants all bridesmaids with hair up, then they'll need a hairdresser and bride should pay and specific make up/colours that they probably won't be able to do themselves then bride should pay.
If it's a more casual set up and bridesmaids are meeting bride at the church/venue then that would be more up to the bridesmaids to sort their makeup and hair.

EmmaEmEmz · 14/04/2025 16:47

If the bride wants them made up professionally, the bride pays.

I've been bridesmaid twice, for my brothers weddings. One paid for everything bar the shoes, the other one paid for everything including nails, shows and bag

Whoarethoseguys · 14/04/2025 16:51

Maybe it depends. If you are specifying a certain style then yes, if you are happy for them to decide themselves then it's a nice thing to do if you can afford it but it's not necessary

Parker231 · 14/04/2025 16:55

whycantibeselfishforonce · 14/04/2025 16:45

If bride and bridesmaids are all getting ready together in hotel room, for example, then yes, bride should pay for MUA and hair who would attend everyone in the room.

But it really depends on what the bride wants. If she wants all bridesmaids with hair up, then they'll need a hairdresser and bride should pay and specific make up/colours that they probably won't be able to do themselves then bride should pay.
If it's a more casual set up and bridesmaids are meeting bride at the church/venue then that would be more up to the bridesmaids to sort their makeup and hair.

I don’t wear makeup (even on my wedding day). I wouldn’t have agreed to a MUA messing around with my face regardless of who was paying

DanceMumTaxi · 14/04/2025 17:04

My bridesmaids chose to pay for theirs. I 100% didn’t mind if they wanted to do their own. And didn’t have a ‘look’ in mind and it was their choice. But they wanted it done by the artist so they paid. I did pay for hair though because I wanted them to have a particular style which they wouldn’t have been able to do themselves.

CarpetKnees · 14/04/2025 17:08

Liud · 14/04/2025 14:41

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

This makes all the difference.

I suspect most of us voted from what was implied in your title and opening post.

My feeling is that the Bride pays for anything they are insisting on having.

Usually that will be the dress. Some brides want matching hair and / or make up, and those brides should therefore pay for that. Otherwise, then no, if the bride is happy for bridesmaids to look the way they do the rest of their lives, then she isn't expected to pay for them to have a MUA. Same with shoes, jewellery, accessories, and money wasted on matching robes for getting ready etc. If people can wear what they already have, then there is no bill for the bride, but if she wants something to 'match' then it is down to her to pay for it.

Going back to change my vote now.

Droiskyn · 14/04/2025 17:18

My niece wanted a certain hair and make up look on her wedding day so paid for all the bridesmaids to have both done professionally

Hastentoadd · 14/04/2025 17:56

Liud · 14/04/2025 14:36

Just that really

Yes for dresses and if you want them to wear particular accessories

Yes for hair and makeup if you want a particular style, otherwise they can do their own makeup if you don’t mind