Do Bridesmaids Pay for Their Own Hair and Makeup?

Sadie Young
December 11, 2023
Weddings

All I can picture is Dory from Finding Nemo saying “do ya? Do ya? DO ya?” Who pays for hair and makeup in a wedding? Does the bride pay? Should the bridesmaids pay for themselves? These questions don't exactly have easy answers. There isn’t a resounding “no” or “yes” for either one, but it depends on the situation (shocker, I know!). When deciding about your Columbus bridal makeup and hair for your big day in the best city (I love a good Columbus plug), you will need to take your expectations and budget into account. What works best for you and your bridal party?

Should the bride pay?

If you’re a perfectionist-which you’re absolutely allowed to be on your wedding day- you might want to consider the benefits of paying. If you want everyone to get their makeup done so that it looks more professional in photos, then you may want to consider footing the bill. It’s a bit of a gamble if you give your bridesmaids the option to pay for their own makeup and hair because there is a chance that (due to the budget of the bridesmaids) they will choose to do their own hair and makeup. Now, I know planning a wedding is stupid expensive and adding another expense is like the absolute last thing you want, but there is a peace of mind that comes from knowing everyone in your bridal party is going to look killer. If you’re looking for cohesion and a more polished look, you will probably want to budget them in.

614 Beauty also has brides who choose to pay for bridesmaids as a gift. Gifts are the best! It’s a wonderful way to give back to them as a thank you for helping out, especially if having their makeup done may not be in their budget (we can’t all be loaded). Getting wedding makeup and hair done together also helps everyone in the wedding party feel included. What’s better than a chance to hang with your besties? It's a great way to bond with your bridesmaids before the ceremony and de-stress before all the crazy ensues.

Should the bridesmaids pay?

If you are requiring that everyone have their hair and makeup done, then paying for it is usually the norm, but you could choose to have your bridesmaids pay for the service themselves. If you’ve discussed the cost and the benefits of having everyone get their wedding makeup and hair done together, and all of your bridesmaids are in agreement with it, then having them pay works too!

Just like everything with relationships, just make sure you communicate all of your decisions with your bridal party so they know what is expected of them. Nobody wants a surprise expense! If you want a beautiful wedding, a happy bridal party can make all the difference.

We have definitely seen it both ways at 614 Beauty, and there isn’t one that is necessarily “better” than the other, just as long as the bridal party is all on the same page, and the bride is happy because “if the bride ain’t happy, then nobody ain’t happy!” That is how the saying goes, right?

Should no one pay and everything be free?

Ha! I wish.You can always check out our pricing and bridal guide and send it over to your bridal party for input if you’re still trying to decide on budget and costs! As always, let us know if you have any questions and we can help!

Photo: Derks Werks

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