Who covers the cost of hair/makeup?

If optional then the BMs can pay for their own. If Mandatory then it should be the bride to pay

If you're making it a requirement for everyone to get their hair/makeup done, or if it's in your budget to do so, then you should cover the cost for it. Otherwise if it's optional, they can cover their costs if they choose to have it done.

Everyone does it different, it's no set way. I have seen it both ways. I will say that if you are requiring them to have something expensive, I would at least contribute to it.

If you are requiring your bridesmaids to have hair and make up professionally done for your wedding, you are expected to pay for those services. However, if you are making it optional, you can request they each pay for their own services, if they elect to have them.

If you are requiring that hair and make-up be done professionally, then Yes, the bride should pay for it. If not, then it is an optional cost, and they are free to make their own decision (i.e. pay for the professional you hire, do their own HMU, go to their own stylist, etc.).

Like pp said if you’re requiring it to be professionally done then you should probably pay for it

I am planning to cover the cost. We are getting hair done at a local hair salon (we have the place booked for just us) and my brother's girlfriend does some makeup work on the side so she is doing our makeup for relatively cheap.

They each cover their own cost , I told my girls when I asked them to be in the wedding that they would need to have hair & makeup done

If you require a certain look, then you cover the cost. Otherwise it's up to them. Same goes for makeup and nails.

I’m having all my girls do the same hair and I’m paying for their hair because I want it a certain way. I’m giving them the option if they want their makeup done or not. 2 o the 4 are doing themselves and 2 are paying for makeup. Some do very nice makeup and one is particularl about using her own so I gave them that option.

So I feel like if you are wanting them to have it professionally done then I would say you pay. That's what I am doing for my girls because I didn't want them to worry about it! I say if it's optional then the price would be on them and not you because you are not wanting it to be a particular look or you do not mind if they don't have it done professionally. That's my opinion and take on it.

Everyone has already covered the whole if you require it, you pay deal, but I wanted to address this comment: "but I also feel like it's a given to be fixed up for a wedding and maybe the girls should pay for their own?"

People are capable of looking presentable even if they do their own hair and makeup, so no, this is not "a given." Your pictures will be perfectly fine with non-professionally made-up bridesmaids. Being in your wedding is expensive enough; don't spend more of their money for them.

I would say if YOU want them to get their hair and makeup done, then you should pay for it. If you're leaving the decision up to them, then yes, they should pay. I am actually having a MUA for my wedding and giving my 'maids the option, however, I have told them that I will pay for makeup if they chose to have it done. Yeah...weird, I know. But they will pay for their own hair if they chose to have it done.

If you are requiring it then you should cover the cost. If it was optional then they would for what services they wanted.

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I completely agree with Maggie. I wouldn't assume that it's a "given" for bridesmaids to get hair and makeup done professionally for a wedding. Plenty of people have their bridesmaids do their own hair and makeup. If you want to get away with asking your girls to cover their own costs of hair and makeup, then you'd need to make these services optional and be 100% okay with it if any of them decide to go that route and do their hair/makeup themselves.

I think they should expect to have to pay for their own hair/mua.

I’m having my bridal party pay for their own hair/makeup. I’m not requiring it but everyone wants to do it

A lot of brides will say that if you require your bridesmaids to have hair and makeup done, that it is up to you to pay. However, all the weddings that I’ve been to all of the bridesmaids have paid for themselves. In fact, I was planning on paying for my bridal party, but my MIL and bridal party all insisted absolutely not they pay for themselves. So I suppose it depends on your crowd.