Skip to main content

Post content has been hidden

To unblock this content, please click here

Sherez
Beginner May 2018

Vendor selection for minorities

Sherez, on July 16, 2017 at 8:16 PM Posted in Etiquette and Advice 1 87

After getting engaged I've began researching vendors for hair & makeup, photography, etc.

Nevertheless, it's becoming so frustrating that a large amount of the vendors do not include a portfolio with some pictures of minorities. I understand that many may tend to work with white women, however, white women are not the only women to get married.

As a vendor, I would think that they would like to appeal to all types of women.

But how can I chose a vendor and try to evaluate the quality of their services/how well their style matches with mine, when no one in their portfolio resembles me?

It's a huge turn off! And after this constant occurrence, it's disheartening.

With makeup for example, there are so many shades of brown and it takes a lot of skill to select the right colors. (I even have friends who model and have had the makeup artist tell them to bring their own makeup b/c their skin color is too difficult!) The same goes for photography!

Does anyone have any suggestions

87 Comments

Latest activity by Mrs. Fall Bride, on July 18, 2017 at 12:05 AM
  • The Trap Selena
    Master March 2016
    The Trap Selena ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Check out the websites/IGs of Munaluchi Bridal and Black Bride magazines. Instagram is a great place to explore.

    • Reply
  • Tiffany
    Devoted July 2017
    Tiffany ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I felt the same way when i was looking. I agree, with the previous poster, instagram is a great place to find MUA. If you love in the NYC area I can recommend the MUA I used. She was excellent. Good luck on your search.

    • Reply
  • Jay Farrell
    Jay Farrell ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I'd ask, if you love their work. I've done plenty of African American and ethnic weddings. But not since last season. so it may require a little digging...or ask and they can point it out to you, as I'd have to do.

    • Reply
  • Catti Labelle
    VIP July 2018
    Catti Labelle ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Sherez, I'm not sure where you're located, but in NYC there are a few HMUAs on the vendor tab that display work with women of color. Some portfolios are only of women of color. I also second checking out MunaLuchi, which is a wedding magazine and vendor resource dedicated to people of color, and supports minority-owned businesses.

    I'm with you though. Even in NYC, a lot of vendors focus on white women/couples. I used my venue's recommendation list to start my vendor search, and was majorly disappointed when the photographers and the only HMUA only displayed white women in their portfolios. I think the HMUA had one photo from 2015 of a fair-skinned woman of color and her hair did not look good :/

    It's disappointing that so many vendors just don't try.

    • Reply
  • Catti Labelle
    VIP July 2018
    Catti Labelle ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    @Jay, it's just disappointing if we have to ask or have to dig.

    • Reply
  • Sherez
    Beginner May 2018
    Sherez ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Thanks for the comments! I'm from New York however I'm having a destination wedding in Puerto Rico. So I was really hoping to find MUA based over there.

    And I do agree, it's sad to have to ask. I had actually asked two photographers and they didn't even respond. Finally I was able to find one with a diverse portfolio tho. Hopefully my luck with makeup turns around

    • Reply
  • Nicole
    Dedicated September 2017
    Nicole ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    @Sherez

    Trust me, that is the first thing I noticed and also was a huge turn off going to a bridal show. I have a friend that is a wedding planner and coordinator and she said Instagram is best for searching for vendors that serve people of color. It was so disappointing as if we don't get married too or have the joys of planning a wedding.

    • Reply
  • Future Mrs.Scott
    Devoted June 2018
    Future Mrs.Scott ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I understand how you feel. Sometimes I think they don't have anything to show because they've never had business with POC. We've talked with various vendors and you could tell they were excited to get the business because of opening new opportunities, but I agree instagram is good way to search.

    • Reply
  • Keisha
    Master September 2018
    Keisha ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    First thing I noticed was no one in bridal magazines looked like me. I got zero ideas from them. It was disappointing. I used IG to find my photographer. It was important to me that someone that looks like me photographs me. I asked her to recommend hair and makeup. Also try Facebook groups on your area.

    • Reply
  • L
    Super July 2018
    LibbyLane ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    It seems kind of strange that you can't find a MUA in Puerto Rico who doesn't have women of color in their portfolio. Many of the people there are extremely dark skinned.

    • Reply
  • The Trap Selena
    Master March 2016
    The Trap Selena ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    @Libby The colorism in some Spanish-speaking countries is unreal, just like it is here in the US. I'm not surprised that OP could be having trouble looking there too.

    • Reply
  • MnmsMonique
    Super June 2018
    MnmsMonique ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I think it may depend on where you're at. I would think in NYC they would have a lot of options there. I'm not sure about Puerto Rico, not familiar with it at all. I do know that they are around, but just not in bridal magazines as much or even some bridal search websites. For hair and makeup In my area it's just kind of word of mouth. As far as photography, seeing someone like me in the pictures wasn't as important as the quality of the pictures.

    • Reply
  • stephanie
    Super October 2017
    stephanie ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Is there a wedding coordinator or DOC at your venue in PR that could give recommendations?

    • Reply
  • Catti Labelle
    VIP July 2018
    Catti Labelle ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I found this HMUA based in San Juan on the WW vendor tab: https://www.caridadvidro.com/

    The gallery featured brides of all different shades

    • Reply
  • Kathleen Smith
    Kathleen Smith ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Thank you Future Mrs. Scott for your comment. Vendors have to be hired by POC in order to show them in their portfolio. No diversity with regards to color means they weren't hired by POC.

    Of course diversity is a great thing to display ellaenchanted! But we need to be hired to display the image.

    I agree with Jay that if you are in search of something or someone specfic, regardless of the reason, extra searching or "digging" will need to be done.

    • Reply
  • PinkFlamingo
    Super October 2017
    PinkFlamingo ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Is there a spa at your DW venue? Many spas offer H&MU

    • Reply
  • Sherez
    Beginner May 2018
    Sherez ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Thanks @catti labelle! I reached out to caridad but she requires a certain amount of services to be booked in order to travel to your venue. And bc I'm having a small intimate wedding, I didn't meet her required number Smiley sad

    • Reply
  • mrsaj2b
    Master October 2019
    mrsaj2b ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    Indeed it can be very difficult and is very frustrating. I am in the DMV (DC/MD/VA) area where diversity abounds so you can find brides of all hues featured on the local vendor websites. Where I found it difficult was online in general including the forums. I absolutely love Munaluchi. That site is awesome for brides of color when it comes to makeup and hair inspiration plus the usual wedding candy for cakes, rings, dresses, decor, etc. There is of course also lots of real weddings, engagement, and proposal stories featuring minority couples.

    • Reply
  • Jay Farrell
    Jay Farrell ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    I agree, it is disappointing....but maybe if any specific vendor served an ethnic couple recently, you don't have to. I mean, I shot a South Asian wedding in 2014, a Jewish wedding in 2015, and two African American weddings last year. Though they're still available to see, No one can expect me to keep those events in the forefront unless they're recent. Perhaps it's the same with others....or they lack experience there.

    • Reply
  • Sherez
    Beginner May 2018
    Sherez ·
    • Flag
    • Hide content

    @Kathleen, it seems to be kind of like the chicken in the egg. As a POC I'm skeptical to contract someone who hasn't worked with people who look like me before. It's kind of hard to be a guinea pig, if you're the first POC a vendor has worked with. To put it into a different context, if you wanted to get your hair colored, you wouldn't really want to go to a salon that has stylist who've done color only once. It's your hair and you definitely don't want to take the risk.

    I'm just looking for natural looking makeup for my skin tone. I don't really consider it to be looking for something super special/specific. But thank you for your comment! I've been digging, ALOT, and I know I still have much more to do

    • Reply

You voted for . Add a comment 👇

×
WeddingWire celebrates love ...and so does everyone on our site! Explore how we embrace diversity

Groups

WeddingWire article topics