Hair and Makeup

You do not have to do anything. She overreacted. Just tell her you understand and that you would love for her to at least show up prior to the ceremony to spend time with you all. That price is basically what any place would charge and on the cheaper side. Heck I am in FL and my place would charge about that for hair and make up. I have paid $65 for make up and then i get my own hair done. If she is used to walmart prices then yes that is gonna be expensive. Nothing you can do, you said it was optional. Let her calm down and next time you talk (not text) talk to her just tell her you understand but this is the lady you wanna work with and her prices are comparable to any other make up artists. You respect her wanting to get her hair and make up done elsewhere but would love her to join you all to get dressed. You are not excluding her and you are showing you respect her decision.

I think the costs for hair and makeup greatly vary by area. Those costs seem about on par for what I've researched in my area, though I'm not sure about other locations. As for your mother-in-law, if you were planning on getting gifts for each of your parents, maybe hair/makeup could be your gift to her? Otherwise, maybe research a couple more options just to double check, but I don't think you'll find anything significantly cheaper to where she'd be OK with the costs. Since you mentioned to everyone that hair/makeup was optional, I think it'd be fine to let her go to wherever she'd like to get her hair/makeup done, and she can come back and finish getting ready with everyone else once her hair/makeup is done.

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We are planning on getting gifts, but that would definitely be over what my fiance and I budgeted for gifts for parents. I also don't necessary think it would be right to pay for her hair and makeup and no one else's just because she is throwing a tantrum. I think another big problem is that for her son's wedding last year hair and makeup was much cheaper because they got married in a less expensive area and the company the bride hired is owned by her best friend's sister so she was given a really good discount.

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She called my fiance after she read the message. He told her he would talk to me because he knew nothing about the cost of hair and makeup nor would I really expect him to. We talked and I showed him the prices I was quoted. He is very much a numbers guy so when I showed him the other quotes he agreed that I wasn't out of line with picking the hair and makeup artist I picked. I think part of the problem is that last year for her son's wedding hair and makeup was much cheaper because they live in a cheaper area and the bride hired a company that is owned by her best friend's sister so she received a really great discount.

For my area that’s a really really good price. I’ll be paying double that amount. As pp stated, it’s an option and she opted out. If she or anyone else choose not to go with who you chose I’m sure it’ll still turn out fine. If you still want her present during the time your getting ready for pics or just for support maybe you can kindly ask her to get an early appointment so she can get to you in time for pictures.

That’s a really good price for hair and makeup! Not your problem. She is free to go somewhere else and if she’s upset that is her issue and doesn’t mean you need to change your plans.

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Her whole reaction has me rather upset that I'm not sure it would even be a good idea for her to get ready with us anymore. I don't want her negative opinion ruining anything. She tends to speak her mind so I could unfortunately see her commenting on how ridiculous she feels the pricing was.

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Yeah so you're fine. My mother in law is a simple person that does not dress up or wears make up so she would do the same. If he wants he can pay for her but I feel she overreacted and then tried to bring him into it as if you were being unfair. I say you remind her it is option and you asked and found that is reasonable for this area but she is not obligated to purchase it. If she is still difficult maybe pay just for make up and she can get her hair done elsewhere. She needs to calm down IMO lol.

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Thanks Kelly I definitely tried my best to find someone who I liked, but was also reasonably priced. Some of the other people I talked to were insanely expensive.

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Thanks Kristen He's definitely on my side about this after seeing all of the different quotes I got. He was honestly surprised I asked her to get ready with me in the first place because he thought I'd just want it to be my mom, my girls and I. While I love his mom, she can be overly opinionated especially about money so I guess this shouldn't have come to a surprise to me. She's currently making her own dress for the wedding because she decided all of the dresses at David's Bridal were terrible even she only tried one dress on.

View Quoted Comment That all makes sense. I wouldn't worry about it too much then - especially because you said it was optional, you should pick whatever hair and makeup artists you want, and anyone who is not OK with the pricing will need to get their hair/makeup done elsewhere or do it themselves.

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There ya go. See it is her and not you and you did nothing wrong. It is true you are not obligated to have her there and many brides do not but I think that was a nice way to make her feel included. Most important he supports you. Please my FH complains about pay $20 for a hair cut while I drop over $200 in extensions alone lol. If he knew between my dress, hair and make up what I am spending he would have a heart attack lol. Like I said let her calm down and maybe in a day or two call her and say you understand the pricing is a lot but the price is comfortable. She is not obligated to pay but you would still love her to come and get ready with the rest of you ladies. At least that way if she is being difficult then you tried and it is her stubborness.

View Quoted Comment Yup it’s literally impossible to make everyone happy with wedding planning. Learned that really quickly. Had to develop a thick skin and do what was best for the majority and be confident in our decisions!

Price depends on location and in many areas that would be a steal. You do you and don't worry about her. You aren't responsible for overreaction.

Those are good prices! Let her go somewhere else to get her stuff done somewhere else and then join you after.

Those quotes are fantastic! Hahah
But yes, I am finding out, you can’t make everyone happy. Best wishes.

Those are fabulous prices! I’m sorry she’s upset but you can’t control that. I would have a private conversation with her. Let her know again that not everyone who’s getting ready with you is going to use your makeup artist, that it’s optional. Inform her you shopped around & this is the best deal. Let her know how important it is for you that she be there when you’re getting ready but you understand if she doesn’t want to go. That puts the ball in her court. My mother has passed & I’ve tried to include my future MIL in as much as possible with the wedding. I asked her if she wanted to get ready with us but she opted not to. She didn’t wear makeup & doesn’t want to waste the money. Good luck beautiful!

Based on the prices I was quoted (JUST ME - $700) I think the prices you were quoted is amazing. She's going to go out and get quotes and she may pay less or she may get the shock of a lifetime and pay double what she would've paid. I honestly wouldn't stress about it.

I'd shrug it off. Your FMIL is clearly out to lunch, because any bride in my city would kill for those prices! I reached out to maybe 12 companies when booking hair and makeup for my bridesmaids last year, and the lowest I was able to find was $90 for hair + $90 for makeup for each bridesmaid. Sometimes people are clueless. I would definitely book these people if you like them and no need to keep looking to please your FMIL who has unrealistic expectations to begin with

Those prices are on the cheaper side. I live in the DMV and the price I found to be he cheapest is $350 for me and $85 each hair and make-up for bridal party/MOG/MOB. I am paying for his mom and mine. Which both gave me a hard time about the make-up and not wanting to look like a clown and I put my foot down and said we budgeted for this and you will get ready with me lol they caved. I think it is an experience and I wouldn't want anything or anyone to ruin it for me and if her bad attitude will negativity impact getting ready I would happily not have her in the room.