Professional hair & makeup as bridesmaid gift

I am doing part of my gift as covering part of hair and makeup! Honestly, I have appreciated this more than some of the material gifts that I have gotten from weddings.

Anytime I've been asked to be a BM in a wedding, I've never expected a gift. Ever. It's such an honor to play a part in your close friend's special day. So, with that being said I would totally welcome hair/make-up being paid for so that I didn't have to stress about doing it on my own. But, yes, generally it's a big "no-no" on the forums.

I think that's fine, I would appreciate this as a bridesmaid.

I would consider this part of a gift! would much rather have this than some of the things i have received as a bridesmaid.

As a previous BM, I have never expected a gift from the bride and groom. It's nice to get, but honestly I loved getting my hair paid for or getting a cute jewelry set. I'm part of the wedding because I love the bride and groom, I've never done it for a gift. However, I have considerate friends who have not taken advantage of me or my budget. I could see wanting some sort of non-"prop" compensation if they've been a pain in the ass the entire planning.

I'd love for you to cover hair and makeup for me if I were your bridesmaid! It's most likely more useful to me than trinkets I may or may not like. When I was in a wedding a few years ago, hair and makeup weren't required but I felt too guilty saying no so it felt required, tbh. It was one of those things where she said "Who wants it? If at least 4 of us do it she'll come to us otherwise I'll go there that morning to get mine done." It wasn't real pressure but I felt bad. The bride covered the hair and I paid for the makeup. I was on a lower budget at that point and at least the dress she chose was dirt cheap so it evened out but it still stressed me out to pay for makeup I didn't care about.

I ended up working it into my budget that i would cover hair and makeup for the women on my side, and folks appreciated it. i had also given them the choice to opt in or opt out, and those who were in had all offered to pay, but i felt better about covering it myself, especially since two of my BMs are currently full time students and the other two are self-employed. this was in addition to the gifts we gave to the WP. if you can budget for covering it yourself i think it's a really nice gesture!

Thanks, all! I'm genuinely surprised by how much support there is to this! I, too, have appreciated having my hair done in past weddings (because I am hopeless with hair. It's in no way mandatory. The HMUA will come to us regardless if it's for just me or for everyone. But considering they ALL want something, whether it be hair or makeup, I thought it would be nice.

I think it's a generous gift! Your BP will be really happy and even more surprised that you're planning another little gift for them.

I honestly did not even know that bridesmaids gifts were a thing when I was a bridesmaid in other weddings so I've never expected it. I would definitely appreciate the bride paying for hair or makeup a lot more than a material item. Shit is expensive!

I would more than appreciate this as a bridesmaid, so I think what you're doing is very nice. Just add something else as their gift as well. I've always paid for my own hair and make up, and it was always required. I didn't know it was poor etiquette to do that to your BM's before, so now that I do, I'm paying for their make up and they can have their hair done if they want.

I think that is an awesome gift.

I'm in the class of "Hair and makeup is not a gift" - required or not. If its anything for your wedding - its not a gift. Now, I'm not downplaying your generosity to do so, but gifts are meant to be personal - something you would give them for their birthday.

I love hair and makeup as a gift! It makes life easier for me as a bridesmaid. I also wouldn't expect an additional gift.

@chip, with that thought, should we not also be paying for their dresses, shoes, transportation, lodging, etc?

@chip, my last post was not meant to sound snotty!! Just trying to see where the bride/bridesmaid monetary expectations lie.

Its not required nor expected for the bride to pay for any of that, though it would be very generous.

BMs pay for their own dresses, shoes (unless the bride requires something very specific - then the bride pays), transportation (unless the bride wants them to take a limo - then bride pays), and lodging - like any other guest would.

ETA - no offense taken!

I am "gifting" my BM hair and makeup to them. I am doing other nicer gifts but FH and I will be paying for their hair and makeup. We will do a very personalized gift for each girl, we have special boxes we are filling for each of our girls. I have been a bridesmaid and she required us to get our hair and makeup done but we paid for it. I don't mind paying for shoes and the dress, but it would have been nice not to pay for my hair and makeup too. Lucky I had the budget for it all.