Optional hair and makeup?

Following because I’m in a similar situation. I’m leaning towards optional but the girls that want to pay, I’ll cover the tip? But it’s sticky because half my wedding party is whatever makes you happy, whatever the cost. And the other half (including my sister) is I don’t want to pay for that

I paid for the hair and makeup for my BMs, but have been in weddings were it was optional. Thank goodness it was because there were times when I couldn't afford $150 on top of the expense for the dress, travel, bachelorette and shower.

We left it optional...Half are doing their own and the other half are having it done.

So I made it optional and all my BMs opted to get hair done professionally and do their own makeup.. which was when I realized how disappointed I was. So then I offered to pay for makeup for whoever wants it and look and behold they all did and were just trying to stay in budget.

I just individually asked my bridesmaids if they were interested in getting primped that day and that I could recommend a hair and make up artist. They were all okay with it and Long story short, I was able to get makeup for free, so they just have to pay for their hair. I said I would set it all up for them, but just needed to know what they are interested in doing. They were all super cool with everything. I made it sound like they had the choice and it wasn’t mandatory, but I know some people like to get primped on these special occasions.

I have made it optional, and all girls are choosing to get at least one or the other. I personal would be fine with them doing whatever, as they are all skilled in hair and makeup. I need to get my HMUA a final count 30 days before the wedding so they can make sure they have enough people to cover. I've made it clear what the pricing is, and have let people decide. The only thing is they can't change their mind at the last minute and decide they do or don't want it.

I’ve been in a wedding before where it wasn’t required, but strongly encouraged and I ended up paying $100 to get my make up done and one of the other BMs did my hair. For my wedding, I wanted my BM’s hair to be done professionally so I paid for it. They did their own make up and it all turned out beautifully. For a friend’s wedding this winter, the bride is covering half the cost for hair and make up if we opt to do it.

I have never gotten hair or makeup done for a wedding I was in (except my own and I still did my own hair). Everybody looked great in person and in pictures. Honestly, I think most people can do their own hair and makeup to look nice enough even if not professional. I'm not sure what people think is going to happen if they don't get it professionally done.

Eek those prices seem steep. I'm a makeup artist and my on site fee for full makeup and lashes is $50. That being said, I'd just let them know you're having these people there to do yours and what the pricing is for that. You may also want to ask the hair stylist and makeup artist if theres a discount for the more people you schedule with them. I'll usually work with someone if their bridal party is having it done as well, since I'm already traveling there.

I paid for makeup for all of my bridesmaids I told them they could get their hair done if they wanted to but they didn't have to. All of them except one chose to have their hair done too. Everyone was grateful I paid for the makeup and nobody thought it was weird they had to pay for their own hair.

The two weddings I've been in, it was optional. Both times, it was $150 per person for hair and makeup. I opted to get it because I'm not good at doing my own. But I traveled in for both weddings, so it was an extra cost I wasn't super happy about paying (I know it was optional, but I wanted to look nice for my friend's pictures and all the other bridesmaids were doing it). I'm paying for both, $170 per bridesmaid.

The first wedding I was in, half of us got pro hair and makeup and half didn't. There was a girl in the group who was great with a curling wand and another who was great at makeup. I don't want to post pictures cause it wasn't my wedding, but you honestly couldn't tell which BMs got pro services and which didn't.

I'm making it optional cause I can't afford to pay for them, but in my circle it's understood that there's a standard for how you should look as a BM. I think all my girls will be getting the services, but if they don't, I know they will all look great and appropriately done up.

View Quoted Comment Totally agree with you! I guess if I want a certain hairstyle done and the girls to pay for it, I'm going with someone they can afford and can still do a nice job that is if they don't want to do this own. I was just in a wedding and she hired a stylist to come in and do hair and another for makeup. Hair was $65 and makeup was $45....which I thought was way too much! I was in a couple other weddings and they only charged $30 for hair and we helped each other with makeup. The lady who did my $65 hair did a terrible job and could not do the style I was paying for....and it was falling out before the wedding even started. The $30 hair I had done stayed perfect until I took it down that night. I should have just done my own for what that expensive lady charged us.

I know the girls in a wedding I was in five years ago did their own makeup and got their hair professionally done. Only the bride got hair and makeup done professionally. None of my bridesmaids or the moms want to get anything professionally done because of costs. I can't afford to pay for everyone so I am allowing everyone to do their own hair and makeup.

I left it optional for my bridal party. I reached out privately with the pricing and asked if they wanted any services booked for them. Most chose to get it done, and some are doing it themselves or with their own stylist.