What is the ettiquette when it comes to paying for bridal party hair and makeup?

If the bride is requireing that they all have up do's or that they all wear their hair the same certin way, then the bride should pay.

if not, then its on then.

From what I understand, if you are requiring them to have their hair and make-up done, you pay for it. If it's optional, then they pay for it. Some brides also like to pay for their bridesmaids hair and/or make-up as part of their gift.

This is what I found from another wedding site, in their ettiquette section:

Q.Who pays for bridesmaids' hair and makeup?

A.

Though there's no traditional protocol to follow here, if you want your attendants to have their hair and makeup professionally done, it's a nice gesture to offer to pay for these services on the morning of the wedding. Think about it: The girls are already paying for their dresses, and, if they don't live in the city where the wedding is happening, they’re covering for travel and accommodations too. Should they really be expected to pay for professional hair and makeup as well? If you can't afford to do this, or hair and makeup aren't a big deal to you (your friends manage to look pretty gorgeous on their own, don't they?), trust everyone to primp on their own. The results are sure to be fabulous whether you bring in a pro or don’t.

Thanks ladies. That's what I thought/felt was right but I just wanted to make sure there wasn't some unspoken thing I wasn't aware of.

I decided to pay for the hair and make up of all the bridesmaids. They are all travelling to the wedding 1 from out of state and 2 from Australia and have paid for their own dresses and accomodations. After all of that I wanted them to relax the morning of the wedding and have it done for them. I will still be getting them a gift.

Great Question Jenni, I was once wondering that myself. Well in my case. It isn't in my budget but, want them to all get it prof done. After last night the bm's didn't ask about who's paying they just agreed to it as a part of the bill to be in the wedding. My MOH wants me to pay or she's doing it herself. I would of paid for all the girls if I absolutely had to at the end but, since two are the third one is too! Trust me they are getting great attendance gifts, once I figure out what I should give them.

Just be sure they all know what to expect. I was a BM in my cousin's wedding yeas ago. My Aunt (her mother) called me to tell me that they made appointments for all "the girls" at a salon the morning of the wedding. I assumed that meant they were paying for it. OPPS! Thankfully I had my Visa card with me, or it would have been really awkward!

Yes, great question Jenni. I was wondering this myself a few weeks ago. What are you going to do? I was just going to let my wedding party do their own hair and makeup but I'm wondering if I should just pay to have this done for them but then again that can get pretty costly.

Every wedding I've ever been in the bridesmaids paid for their own hair and makeup so I always assumed that was the norm. Like MDLS said, paying for everyone could become very costly. Plus, I am looking at getting them nice gifts as a thank you for being in the party so I am hoping that will compensate

The place I am getting married is gorgeous and when you rent the space you get it for the whole day so most brides and their bridal party get ready there. Most have a crew to come out and do everyone's primping (some go so far as to have a full catered lunch!)and I think it is a great touch but I'm also trying to make sure I can fit it into the ever dreaded budget. I definitely want the girls to be taken care of because I think it will be more fun but also one of my girlfriends (who I love to death) just can't seem to tone her makeup down so I don't want to take any chances! I might talk to them and see what they are comfortable with (I'm lucky to have friends who are approachable). Thanks for the input everyone. I just signed up for this site and I am amazed by how helpful everyone here seems to be.

Fortunately, one of my BM's is also a hair dresser so she'll be doing the hair (I will probably pay her something but not full price, she is one of my best friends afterall). I will be hiring a professional makeup artist to do our makeup though. I think that since they are paying for their dresses and shoes that I could help them out in some way.

Hi, this is Michele from Champagne and Daisies, wedding planner. It is not customary for you to pay for your bridal party's hair and make-up. Yes, it is a nice gesture if you have specific requirements, but it is not a must-do formality. You can two things to help cut down on costs. One: paying for the hair and make-up could be your special gift to your bridesmaids instead of jewelery or lotions. etc...Two: you can just pay for your maid of honor's hair and make-up and tell the other girls professional hair and make-up in an option. They may use the services (their own expense) or do their hair them self. If they do their own hair then make sure you are open and supportive of what they choose. Good luck and congratulations!

I think unless you are requiring them to have their hair and makeup done a certin way you are not required to pay.

That being said I looked around long and hard and found someone in my town at a reasonable price to do all of the girls hair and make-up that will come to our location. She was actually advertising on Craigslist, and doesn't require a deposit to hold my date.

This is one of the parts where I think it's up to you if you want to have their hair and / or makeup done. If your worried about the cost you may have just the girls hair or just their makeup done too.

Its not in my budget to pay for their hair,make-up etc, but I asked them that they get a professional up-do and then they could chose to have their nails done and make up done, my girls were fine with it and it and chose to have their hair, nails, and make up done, so I guess it just depends on your girls!

I paid for my girls make up as part oftheirgift and gave them the option to have thri hair done. like CARE said they have to pay for so much already i didnt want them to have to incur any ore expenses. 2 of them got their hair done and 3 didnt and i was titally fine with that!

Hey there

i have seen alot of different cases when it comes to hair/makeup and bridal parties..normally to ensure good picture turn out..its best to offer as a gift to cover the hair and makeup..then it also pampers them a little and takes pressure off of you! i have also seen brides on a tighter budget that have offered the services to the bridal party..told them the prices and some chose to pay just for hair or just for makeup or both..i personally think everyone camera ready is the way to go..you can always tell who didnt have pro makeup and hair done!

if you are in the dc/va/md area email me!!!! **********@*****.***

best wishes and congrats!!!

In my experience, it all comes down to the bride. If she insists on having hair and makeup professionally done, then, she should pay. If the bride says: "I am thinking of hiring a makeup artist or hair person for the wedding. I cannot cover the expense, but the option is out there if anyone is interested in having the service done". This is a very common way some brides have told me that they brought the subject up to their wedding party. I have also had brides hire me to do the wedding party with the understanding that they would pay 50% of the cost and the bridal party, (if they wished to pay for the service,) would pay the other half. The final desicion should be up to the bride. Good luck with your wedding plans.

I have a very small bridal party which consists of the MOH and 2 bridesmaids. I have already booked the hairdresser who is coming to the location to do my hair. I think I may have a make up artist too. However, I dont have the budget to pay for everyone's hair and make up. Even with just a few girls, it will cost about $450 plus the tips. I guess I am going to tell my girls that the option is there to have thier hair and make up done at their own cost or they can do it themselves if they dont want to spend the money. That way they have an option and it wont be awkward. They are GREAT girls and Im sure if I approcah this the right way they will be ok with it.

You know, my ladies are all grown ups. All I ask is they look nice and presentable. I’m not going to go as far as telling them telling them what to do with their hair or nails. They have their own preferences and they each knows what looks good on them. If they want to get their hair done fine, if not that’s fine too. I don’t get the need to micromanage to that level of detail.