Hair stylist for bridesmaids

I’ve never been in a wedding that required specific shoes so I can’t comment on that part. The dress, while specific, should still take each bridesmaid’s budget into consideration. I also think the difference here is that dresses are something that fit the color/theme of your wedding. Someone doing their own hair doesn’t shift that.

Buying a bridesmaid dress is part of agreeing to be a bridesmaid, so long as the bride isn't asking for them to purchase something with an outrageous pricetag. Everyone does their own hair/makeup daily (if they do anything), so they should have that same option for a friend/family members wedding. If the bride requires that a professional do it to achieve a look that she wants, the bride should definitely pay. I think very few people would rather sew their own bridesmaid dress than purchase one, while nearly everyone is capable of making their own hair or face look presentable, so I don't think that's a fair argument.

I think that by agreeing to be a bridesmaid they are also agreeing to buy their bridesmaid dress. I have never been in a wedding with a specific shoe other than color which I don't think is a big deal. I am paying for my girls to get their hair done because I want to and I budgeted for this. They are already spending money on their hotel rooms for the night before and of the wedding. I however am not paying for a makeup artist, because I'm not even having one for myself.

Hair and makeup can be done without professional help, but making a bridesmaid dress would be a lot harder to do unless you have experience sewing. Even then it could still be difficult because formal wear is more challenging to sew than just regular clothes. My mother-in-law has been sewing for 40+ years and she made my flower girls' dresses and she said it was a lot harder to do than regular clothes and she used to make all of her own clothes. Making your own clothes isn't as popular as it used to be so not everyone knows how to sew. It would also be difficult for someone to make a bridesmaid dress if you want all of your bridesmaids in the same dress or color without requiring everyone to sew their own dress. That would be a ridiculous requirement especially for those that don't know how to sew. As for shoes, I didn't require my girls to wear a specific shoe. I just asked they worn silver shoes. Some of them bought new shoes others worn silver shoes they already owned.

View Quoted Comment Thanks for your input! I agree and by no means intend to require anyone to sew a dress.. I just was throwing it out there as a comparison if a bridesmaid wanted to opt to do that instead of paying for a commerically made one

View Quoted Comment Good point!

I really don't think the bride should require specific shoes unless they pay for them. I also think a bridesmaids dress is a basic requirement of being a bridesmaid, while professional hair & makeup is an optional thing. I even thinking picking 1 style of dress for every bridesmaid is old fashioned & dated and not realistic anymore. We paid for all hair & makeup but let them choose their own style. I think the bridesmaid robot look is silly where everyone has the exact same dress, shoes, jewelry, hair and makeup.

To me the simple answer is because the clothes become theirs to keep— they can rewear, reuse, resell or tailor into something more useful for a different occasion— they can get another use out of these purchases if they so choose. The hairstyle, however, is ONLY useful for the benefit of the couple , in the moment and in their photos to execute their vision. The specifically requested hairstyle doesn’t go on to have any use for the hair-haver .

View Quoted Comment Thanks, all, for your replies!

View Quoted Comment Well said. I completely agree.