Northern Waves Reviews
Reviews
We're all about trust. Our community relies on honest reviews to help you make those big decisions with ease.
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![Scott]()
Scott Sent on 04/28/2026Amazing Hair and Make-up Professional
Emily is amazing. She’s kind, funny, and awesome at her job. I have a lot of anxiety, and Emily really helped calm me down. She does a very professional job with hair and make-up. She listens to her clients. I did not want to look over done, and Emily listened to me. She helped me look my very best for our special day. If you are looking for a wedding beauty expert who listens, and cares, you should hire Emily. -
![Cailin]()
Cailin Sent on 11/14/202510/10 Recommend!
I had an incredible experience working with Emily Henning at Northern Waves and highly recommend both her hair and makeup services! I originally booked makeup elsewhere and unfortunately did not have a great outcome. That’s when I found Emily—and she was an absolute lifesaver. She quickly pulled together an amazing team to take care of hair and makeup for all the ladies in my bridal party, making the entire process smooth, stress-free, and so professional.
Emily is organized, personable, and truly talented. She listened to what I wanted and absolutely nailed both my hair and makeup for my wedding day. I felt so beautiful and completely myself. My hair and makeup lasted from sun up to sundown, literally.
Working with her was one of the best decisions I made during wedding planning. I can’t recommend her enough! -
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![Kelly]()
Kelly Sent on 08/19/2025Wedding Hair and Makeup
Emily is a true artist. Her communication is perfect and she worked very closely with me leading up to the wedding to help me prepare. We talked about different styles we could do with my long brown hair and she had the perfect idea in mind. The day of my wedding, Emily was incredibly punctual and created the most beautiful up-do that I could have imagined. I have received countless compliments on how amazing it looked. Emily also did my makeup and it looked flawless. I felt gorgeous and complete. I would recommend Emily to anyone. She will absolutely help make you feel like a queen on your special day! -
![Elissa]()
Elissa Sent on 08/07/2025loved working with Emily!
My bridal party and I had a wonderful experience working with Emily and Dina for my wedding! They were very professional, skilled amd honestly so much fun to spend the morning with- everyone looked great! My hair and airbrush makeup looked great all evening, my hair stayed in place without pulling or pins digging into my scalp, and my makeup was exactly the enhanced natural look I wanted.
Working with professionals is expensive, but very worth it when they're as good as Emily! -
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![Northern]()
Northern Sent on 07/07/2025In response to the 1-Star review
This is Emily, owner of Northern Waves. I do not pay for advertising so I cannot reply to the 1-Star left on my page so I have to do it this way.
Please refer to the gallery to view her beautiful, unedited close-up photos from both makeup trials (her hair is curled in the first trial where the makeup is nearly flawless and blends perfectly without the strip lash being moved or any makeup wiped away-this one she shows in her review below). Her second makeup trial was complimentary (green sweatshirt), and she still chose Northern Waves for her wedding-day hairstyling.
I’m truly sorry you felt the way you did, especially considering the many efforts I (and others) made to resolve the situation. Northern Waves is my business, my passion, and I take everything I do seriously, especially when it comes to professionalism and transparency.
Throughout this process, I consulted with trusted industry professionals for support and guidance. Collectively, we agreed that I handled things with kindness, generosity, and flexibility. I rearranged important personal obligations—specifically, stepping away from a ticketed family event—to be present for your wedding, and I did so without resentment, simply requesting a few hours to arrange childcare, as we discussed. Additionally, I offered to settle for a lower balance than what was originally contracted.
You voluntarily signed a contract, without a trial, fully understanding that it was non-refundable. That policy was communicated clearly and repeatedly.
You were provided with two makeup trials, both of which were beautiful. At no point did I tell you that your preferences or opinions were wrong. However, your screenshots came through blurry, and it would serve no purpose for me to misrepresent that. You also acknowledged not being sure of what you wanted, which made things challenging. Even with inspiration photos, your vision was difficult to interpret—for both the artist and myself. That’s why we offered a second trial, featuring a different look—something we typically do not provide for free, but we wanted you to feel confident and beautiful.
I have a full record of our communications—demonstrating empathy, problem-solving, and multiple solutions (plans A, B, and C). I did everything possible to honor the contract. I remained patient and communicative, even when you asked for an immediate resolution to a significant financial matter. I never gave you an ultimatum—you demanded options, I provided them, and you selected “Option 1” with appreciation.
Regarding the backup artist: You were informed early on that she was attempting to adjust her schedule to accommodate your wedding. This wasn’t a last-minute request—we were both hopeful she could assist. She also expressed that your trial looks were beautiful and questioned whether she could improve upon them.
Our policies around makeup—such as providing your own lip color for touch-ups and mascara for hygiene reasons—were explained in advance. We do provide eyeliner, and your artist has confirmed she never said otherwise. All of this was detailed in the information I provided to ensure everyone was fully prepared.
Payment methods at the time of contract include credit card, Venmo, Apple Pay, or check. Clients are never pressured into a specific option.
Lastly, I was always open to a phone conversation. Every time you called, I either answered or returned your call promptly.
Many of the points mentioned above were discussed well in advance, both verbally and in writing.
My goal has always been to ensure that every person I work with feels beautiful, seen, heard, and supported. I strive to be fair and kind. But when I see an artist working tirelessly—mentally, physically, financially, and emotionally—to make a bride happy, I stand by her as well.
I sincerely hope your wedding day was everything you dreamed of.
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![Robin]()
Robin Sent on 09/18/2024Emily and her Northern Waves Team were positively amazing!
I contacted Emily and her Northern Waves Team, knowing my Daughter was planning a destination wedding. We were extremely nervous at first because we were not familiar with any of the area vendors. Emily was extremely responsive and transparent regarding the services her Team offered and pricing for on-site hair and makeup. She was exceedingly professional in all her communication and gave a detailed description of hair and skin preparation leading up to the Big Day! My Daughter was a bit anxious on the day of her hair and makeup trial; however, upon meeting Emily, all her fears gave way to laughter and smiles! Emily was very positive. She listened to my Daughter's vision and made her feel (and look!) absolutely confident and beautiful! The wedding day was no exception! Emily and her Northern Waves Team arrived on time and prepared for my Daughter and her 4 attendants. They all had a fabulous morning together, laughing, listening to music, and sharing their stories with the Team. The overall results were truly stunning! The hairstyles and airbrushed makeup lasted throughout a very active night of dancing.
It was quite evident from our experience that Emily and her Team are highly experienced and skilled in the hair and makeup industry. I would highly recommend them for any special event! -
Kelsey Sent on 09/05/2024
Great experience with Northern Waves
Northern Waves and Emily were amazing!
Very professional. Emily set realistic expectations for my bridal hair based off of feeling my hair at my trial. I wanted a natural look which she made possible with the air-brush make-up. I have never felt prettier 😊 My mother and sisters were also happy with their hair and make-up! -
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Jessica Sent on 01/05/2024
Above and beyond experience!
Emily pulled out all the stops to make sure I felt beautiful on my wedding day. A prior booking fell through leaving me with no stylist or makeup artist just a few short weeks before my wedding. When I contacted Emily she didn’t even hesitate to offer herself as my savior on my big day to ensure I was taken care of. I would recommend her to anyone and everyone, my hair and makeup was perfect and lasted all the way into the next day! If you are looking for an amazing stylist and makeup artist look no further! -
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![Anna]()
Anna Sent on 12/13/2023Great experience!
Northern waves did a beautiful job with hair and makeup for my 10/6/23 wedding at The Homestead. Emily always responded to my questions in a timely manner and was also the one to do my makeup on the wedding day. It looked flawless and was just what I was looking for! She also did a great job with all the bridesmaids and my mom's makeup. Kendra did all of our hair and I was so pleasantly surprised with it - I had a trial with a different stylist who ended up getting Covid and not being able to make the wedding way - so going in without a trial was a little nerve wracking, but Kendra absolutely killed it! She gave me what I was looking for and everything went smoothly. Thank you to everyone involved! -
Heidi Sent on 10/29/2022
Best Day Ever!
Emily is amazing, professional, and phenomenal at what she does. She was the best decision ever for my wedding to reach out to for hair/make up for myself and my mom on my wedding day. My mom, also a beautician with 45+ years experience, was absolutely in love with everything Emily did for her. She felt like she was heard, and taken care of, and made to feel stunning for my day. For my hair we did a trial beforehand, and had a pretty good idea in mind, and she went above and beyond even the expectations from the trial. I had more compliments on my hair that day than any other time I've had my hair done up for a special event. Thank you Emily for your time and talent. You made me feel so pretty and helped build my confidence going into the day. -
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Sarah Sent on 10/26/2022
Amazing Experience!
Emily and her team did hair and makeup for myself and my bridal party and they did not disappoint! Emily was very professional to work with and she kept working at different ideas until I was completely happy! I did airbrush makeup for my wedding day and I can happily say it looked beautiful all day/night long!! I would highly recommend Emily! -
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Amber Sent on 10/20/2022
Superb service
I was beyond happy with the outcome of hair and make-up for my wedding. It's nerve-racking to use a service you haven't had any experience with or any trials. That is a lot of trust to put in someone for such a big event. Emily had great reviews which I based my trust off. Emily was very personable, very talented, very responsive. It felt like I had a friend doing my hair and makeup. Would highly recommend! Airbrush makeup was the way to go! Looked flawless, yet very natural. -
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![Annette]()
Annette Sent on 10/13/2022Amazing!!!
Sarah and Emily were the best hairstylist ever. Not only we're they kind, but they also gave me a comfortable and calm environment on the morning of my wedding day. Those two ladies were amazing!!! Also, I have a funny story!! Once everyone's hair was done, Emily had asked if she could buy the remaining hair bridal pieces off of me, and I had said no. I thought she was asking to buy the extra hair extensions, not the hair accessories!! Anyways, Emily- I totally would've sold you those hair pieces. Oops! Thank you Northern Waves for such a lovely experience!!! I'll be recommending you guys to everyone I know :) -
![Lisa]()
Lisa Sent on 07/23/2022Best investment ever - So blessed by Northern Waves
I can't say enough about how wonderful Emily Henning and Northern Waves was to work with. Not only did my daughter look amazing, having Emily on site was like hanging out with an old friend. Loved having her as part of our special day. We lost our hair/makeup option at the last minute and Emily saved the day! Even though my daughter didn't get a trial run with Emily - it didn't matter. Everything was perfect. She even made this MOB look lovely. Thank you, Emily, for everything. Worth every penny!! -
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![Kari]()
Kari Sent on 07/21/2022Absolutely Amazing
Emily was such a joy to work with. She understood my wedding vision from our first meeting and was able to execute my vision to a T. Her airbrush make up was beautiful, very natural and held up well throughout the night. I decided I wanted to change my hair from the trial and she was very flexible to get it done. My hair looked beautiful, exactly how I wanted it to look and it held up the whole wedding as well even with a cathedral veil. She was very fun to have in the bridal room the morning of and really care about you looking and feeling your best so you can have the best day of your life. She also did all 3 of my bridesmaids hair and make up and was done with plenty of time to spare. I would HIGHLY recommend Emily for your wedding or event, she is just an all around talented and awesome person. -
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![Julia]()
Julia Sent on 06/06/2022Easy, flawless experience
Emily and her team were phenomenal to work with. Emily was responsive, flexible, and thorough in covering every necessary planning detail. Our stylist, Emma, met everyone’s needs and beyond! Her work was amazing with both short and long hair. Highly recommend this team! -
Erica Sent on 10/26/2021
Emily's experience and professionalism helped us LOOK and FEEL our best :)
Emily and her team made my dream hair and makeup a reality. She was beyond flexible with scheduling and changes the morning of. I knew my bridal party was in good hands which gave me peace of mind and allowed me to relax and enjoy the morning festivities. I was stuck between two hairstyles for a while. I showed Emily my dress and she shared her expertise and experience to help me make the best choice. I am so happy with the team's service, quality, professionalism, and flexibility. Emily created the hair and makeup schedule for my bridesmaids and was even available to answer any of their questions directly via email weeks leading up to wedding day. It was a huge load off me knowing she had the entire morning schedule covered :) -
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Abby Sent on 10/15/2021
Amazing!!!!
Emily and Alyssa were wonderful to work with everyone was done a head of schedule and all my girls looked beautiful. Emily did such a fantastic job figuring out how to do my hair since I came with a bit of a challange and she really gave me the queen braid I wanted! I felt so beautiful even at the end of the day. If you need someone to do hair and make up definitly ask these ladies! -
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![Amanda]()
Amanda Sent on 10/14/2021Saved the day!
I contacted Northern Waves in early June for my September 4th wedding, after my original HMUA ghosted me due to covid rescheduling. I literally had nightmares of showing up on the day and not having a vendor, but Emily was responsive and professional, which quickly eased my fears. They arrived promptly and got right to work, were super fun to work with, and most importantly everyone’s hair and makeup turned out great! Northern Waves helped make our day everything we imagined! -
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![Amy]()
Amy B. Sent on 09/01/2020Incredible experience with Emily!
Like many brides in 2020, I rescheduled my wedding multiple times. Finally, with only 4 weeks to plan, we decided to hold a small ceremony in Frankfort, MI. Finding Emily last minute like that was SUCH a gift! She was fun to work with, a true artist, and everyone looked amazing on the big day. I love her!!! -
Hannah Sent on 08/26/2020
Awesome ladies who do amazing work!
Emily and her team were so fun to have while we were getting ready and their did an outstanding job. My bridal hair was flawless all day. They made the morning a blast and everyone looked great! -
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Jackie Sent on 12/30/2019
Beautiful makeup and hair!
Emily and her team did the hair for myself, 4 bridesmaids, flower girl and mother. They arrived early on my wedding day to allow us all time to relax and enjoy the whole process. She was friendly and helped create a calming and fun mood for those wedding jitters. I appreciated the air brush make up for our hot August wedding. I would highly recommend Emily and her team for your special day!! -
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![Liv]()
Liv Sent on 11/28/2018Amazing, professional, flawless hair and makeup!!
I can’t say enough about Emily! She was so kind, and my hair and makeup looked better than I could have ever dreamed! She was so easy to work with and gave me my dream wedding look! I’m so happy I chose her as my stylist!! :) -
![Michelle]()
Michelle Sent on 11/02/2018Emily & company were the best!
My bridal party & myself had a great experience with Emily & Northern Waves Bridal.
Her pricing was fair and the hair/makeup quality was fantastic! This was a destination wedding for us, but it wasn't a problem because Emily conducts all business over email.
She was extremely professional and worked to make sure everyone had a good experience - she provided a lot of information up front so that we'd come to our appointments prepared.
Even though we were just a few hours away from having a wedding, all of the ladies felt a little sad when Emily & her assistants had to leave after hair/makeup! They made the hair/makeup experience so much fun.
We did a hair/makeup trial at her salon ahead of time - if you're on the fence about spending the extra money to do a trial, it's worth it.
My bridal party & I are already dreaming up reasons to go back to Traverse City and have Emily do our hair again :) -
Colleen Sent on 10/15/2017Emily not only does a fantastic job, but she also is on time, organized, and knows the right words to say to soothe the bride. I felt very comfortable around her! She also does a good job of doing modern/boho-ish styles. Some hair dressers can't seem to pull those off too well, but she can!
Plus all that and I paid much less than what other places were quoting me. Win/win!
Definitely recommend! -
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![Cassandra]()
Cassandra Sent on 09/16/2025Read before you book with northern waves!
DO NOT BOOK NORTHERN WAVES FOR YOUR WEDDING.
If you are a bride currently debating booking this vendor — and you’re reading their contract and feel uneasy — listen to your gut. This is your sign not to sign that contract.
If you’re like I was — a bride excited to marry the love of your life — you might think, “I’ll never have to cancel my wedding.” That’s exactly what I thought too. Regardless, don’t ignore the red flags in the contract like I did.
When my fiancé ended up hospitalized before our wedding, I had no choice but to call it off. The owner of Northern Waves was the only vendor to keep my entire deposit. She even offered to give me 18% off a $3,060 bill — but only if I signed an NDA preventing me from speaking about my experience. And when a business asks you to sign an NDA, it’s usually because they know the deal is unethical.
I’m sharing my experience to help future brides avoid what I went through. Below are the red flags I ignored, how she handled communication, and what happened when I had to cancel.
For comparison — all my other vendors (French Valley Vineyard, Angie Hutchinson Florals, From This Day Forward Wedding Planning, Paul Barbas Catering, and Rusch Entertainment) were incredible and compassionate. Almost all either refunded or reduced our payments, despite having much more staff and overhead. There’s business — and then there’s business ethics. In my opinion, Northern Waves has none.
Red Flags in the Contract
A 50% cancellation fee on top of full payment (cancellations not permitted at all).
A 7% fee to use a credit card — when Visa and Mastercard typically charge vendors only 3–3.5%.
A $150 nonrefundable booking fee that doesn’t go toward any service.
Trials are not included. For out-of-state brides, you must travel to their salon on limited dates — my trial would have cost over $400.
No consumer protection clauses for emergencies or unforeseen circumstances.
The owner decides how many stylists you need and adds $50 per additional stylist.
No flexibility in services. What you book months in advance is final — even if a bridesmaid drops out, you must still pay.
Automatic gratuity included in total service price — meaning you pay a tip regardless of service quality.
Cash-only on the wedding day — with a 50% penalty if you don’t comply.
My Experience Leading Up to the Wedding
From the start, communication was inconsistent and unprofessional. I told the owner I had short hair but wanted a full, low bun and planned to get extensions to make her job easier. She said that would be no problem, but when I asked what kind and length she preferred, her responses were vague and dismissive.
She warned me against using Pinterest inspiration photos, saying they were “staged” and unrealistic — something no other stylist had ever said to me. It felt like she was lowering expectations rather than instilling confidence.
She suggested I visit a hair extension specialist, which was fine, but then recommended I simply “get a clip-in bun.” I was shocked — why pay a professional for that? Still, I tried to stay calm. I ended up paying $300 for extensions and $150 for a trial with another stylist, who even sent step-by-step notes and videos to Northern Waves. The owner replied that it “looked great,” but that she couldn’t promise to replicate it — another red flag.
Throughout our interactions, she was difficult to reach, often unavailable or traveling, and I never once felt prioritized as a client.
The Cancellation
When my fiancé was hospitalized, I was in and out of the hospital myself. My parents helped contact vendors. My mom, who is kind and gentle, explained the situation to the owner of Northern Waves. The owner claimed she understood because she’d “been in my position” — but her actions showed otherwise.
She reminded my mother that cancellations weren’t allowed and that normally there would be a 50% cancellation fee on top of the total payment — but that she’d “only” charge us 7% extra this time.
Here’s what we had already paid:
$150 nonrefundable booking fee
$706 deposit
$50 card processing fee (7%)
Despite this, she said we still owed $2,207, no matter what.
My mom tried to stay polite and even suggested maybe she could do a smaller service instead. But the owner never reached out to me directly, even though my name was on the contract.
What made it worse was that she offered to make me a “gift basket” — which felt tone-deaf and disingenuous. Why not simply show compassion through flexibility?
When I eventually called her myself, I told her the situation felt deeply wrong — that she was profiting from my loss. I offered to pay $500 cash (bringing her total to about half of the original cost when combined with the deposit). She declined.
She later emailed a “deal”: she’d reduce the balance by $600 (charging $1,600 instead of $2,200) if I signed an NDA. That means I couldn’t share my experience publicly. I refused. When I countered with $800 cash — more than half of the total — she threatened legal action.
None of my other vendors behaved this way. Every one of them either gave a partial refund or fairly negotiated — without demanding silence.
Final Thoughts
I support local and women-owned businesses every day. But I do not support businesses that exploit their clients and hide behind unethical contracts.
This isn’t written by an angry customer — it’s written by a disappointed, grieving one. I understand that I took up a wedding weekend, but compassion matters. After you sign with Northern Waves, nothing can be changed, adjusted, or canceled. It’s designed to make parting ways impossible — even in tragedy.
No bride should ever have to experience what I did.
I’ve reported Northern Waves to the IRS for its cash-only policies on large sums and to the Better Business Bureau for its excessive cancellation fees.
I’ll leave the opinions on hair and makeup quality up to you — but when it comes to business ethics and compassion, my rating is zero stars.
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Crystal Sent on 06/19/2025
Brides, Please Read Before Booking Northern Waves
I’m sharing my experience to help other brides avoid the stress and disappointment I went through with Northern Waves. I originally booked them for both hair and makeup services for my June 13 wedding and deeply regret not doing more research beforehand.
and I left that appointment in complete shock. The makeup was heavy, unblended, and nowhere near professional quality. The products felt cheap, and the final result was so bad I sat in silence the entire 10 minute drive back to my hotel, stunned. The photos I’ve shared were taken just 15 minutes after the trial, untouched and unfiltered.
When I reached out to Emily (the owner), I clearly expressed that I was unhappy with my experience and shared those photos. She acknowledged the first trial was not normal and offered a second one, but not before trying to defend her artist by sending me “better” photos taken farther away in poor lighting. At one point she even suggested that my photos were old. I sent back timestamped images to clarify, and she responded that she couldn’t read the time. (iPhone to iPhone… really?)
The second trial went slightly better, but only because I asked her to keep the foundation/spray minimal. Even then, it felt like homecoming makeup done by a friend, not the polished, elevated look you'd expect from a professional bridal vendor. I didn’t feel beautiful, confident, or like a bride, and that’s a problem.
To be clear: I came prepared. I brought reference images to both trials and was only asking for a soft, natural look. After raising concerns again, Emily offered to assign a different makeup artist, which I agreed to. But less than 24 hours later, that artist no longer available. In the same message, Emily said she was “working on seeing if she could adjust her schedule to be there herself.” When I didn’t hear anything more that night, I realized I couldn’t take the risk. What if she didn’t show up? What if the same results happened again? I couldn’t leave something this important up to chance.
The next morning, I told her I would be canceling the makeup portion and moving forward with just hair services. By this time, I had already paid $923 via Venmo and $342 in cash for the trial. I truly believed that was more than enough to cover hair for four people, especially considering the stress.
Instead, I was met with resistance. Emily told me she’d get back to me “on Monday”, four days later, despite my wedding being just three weeks away. I explained that wasn’t acceptable and asked for a faster resolution. Her reply? An ultimatum: either cancel everything and lose all the money I had paid, or proceed with just hair, for an additional $300 in cash. She also stated she no longer felt “comfortable” providing makeup services which conveniently aligned with language in her contract that protects her from liability.
Red flags I wish I had noticed earlier:
- I signed the contract on March 10 and never had a scheduled time to talk through details, items needed, etc.
- While cards are technically accepted, you're pressured (and at times required) to use Venmo or cash, complete with bolded, highlighted contract terms and reminder texts. Card payments require pre-approval and come with steep fees.
- April 24 was the first time she mentioned needing a wedding schedule - I sent it four days later after confirming final details with my photographer. Then on May 15, I was told the stylists had a hard stop due to childcare, and somehow that was framed as a communication issue on my end.
- I was expected to bring my own eyeliner, mascara, and lip products. For a the price of these services, that seemed insane.
Despite all of this, I remained polite, responsive, and professional throughout. I genuinely tried to work with Emily in good faith and what I got in return was stress, shifting blame, and a situation that left me feeling taken advantage of.
In the end, I paid $1,565 and received two poorly executed makeup trials and hair for four people. (original total was $1,994 for trial, 5 makeup/4 hair)
Brides, please do your research. The contract is written to protect the vendor, not you. And based on my experience, I can’t imagine I’m the first bride to walk away feeling this way. Don’t brush off red flags or assume everything will “work itself out.” There are so many talented, compassionate professionals out there who will treat you with the care, consistency, and respect you deserve during one of the most emotional and meaningful moments of your life. I strongly urge you to think twice before booking Northern Waves. -
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