What happens if you don’t tell your make up and hair artist that you’re...

I'm planning on doing the same thing. I found a really good MUA in Basingstoke and she's charging £40 for occasion makeup and £120 for bridal. I'm going to go with my mum and MoH and just say we're going to a posh party.

You can probably get away with it but they generally charge more for bridal as brides are a lot more picky and most of the time are looking for perfection - more expensive products are generally used so the look lasts all day - its generally a lot more work for the artist than a regular up do and make up and they spend a lot more time on the bride! If you are going to be really picky and particular you might not be happy with the occasion look. I would check whether the £270.00 includes their travel and your trial as that does seem like quite a lot to cover just the day itself. For my day I am paying £171 for hair and make up (discounted from £190.00 as I am getting married at an off peak time) plus £30 for her travel. I had my trial the other day and whatever she used on my hair and on my face was worth it - it continued to stay in place for the next 6 hours when i came to take off - I actually had a right job of trying to get the make up off - the eyeliner in particular just wouldn't come off lol!

The thing is that I’m not looking for perfection, I cannot do hair at all 😂 and I’m crap at make up as well so just want to look a bit better but I don’t have the budget for such expense! But I cannot find any cheaper where I live

Just tell them you're a guest at a wedding

I told them I was a guest at a wedding had it done at 10am and was still perfect at 2am the following morning. Cost me £50 for hair and make up x

I'm planning on doing this! I'll say it's for an event, which it is! When we've agreed a price I'll get all of what we've agreed in writing and if it's argued I'll say I'm not asking for anything different to what we've agreed!

Who the hell is doing your make up? 😳 hope she using liquid gold as foundation because £270 is an absolute joke!!

I’ve told both my ladies (1 doing hair, 1 doing make up) that I’m the bride and I have 2 bridesmaids to do too and mine is £335 total!! That includes a trial each and travel

Don’t agree with this at all. If your found out, how would you feel if you MUA decided to down tools and walk away? It’s your wedding day, don’t risk it. X

I'm having me and six BMs done for less than that! That's mad!

You're not going to get away with it when she turns up on the day of your wedding, unless you go somewhere to have it done and then go back and get ready. Prices are ridiculous though but you get what you pay for x

This is very tricky....for all of you wanting to risk it that's great because it is a lot cheaper but I have been around muas (and am a trained MUA but not in weddings) for a long while and you need specific makeup for bridal makeup, non spf for example so you don't get any flash back and it's always better to do a trial...I mean personally I am doing my own makeup to save money but if it's in your budget always go for the proper bridal makeup xx

Tell them you're a guest and on the day don't mention it when they are there x

I would imagine this includes the cost of trials before the day to make sure you get the exact style you want; for an occasion you go in and get it done on the day - for a wedding they have trials before hand which is the equivalent of multiple appointments?

There’s a reason they charge for. Generally a normal makeup session is only up to 45 minutes. You don’t get any consultation time and if you don’t like it - tough! With bridal makeup you’ll get trials and the makeup artist will spend a lot longer with you on the day, even topping up your lip gloss at the last minute. But hey, if you don’t want perfection on the day that’s your choice 🤷‍️ let’s just hope you don’t piss off a hard working individual who has justification for their prices.

I didn't tell my makeup lady, I booked her for a home visit to do my makeup as a special night out makeup and it only cost me £30. I didn't want all those special packages and trials etc and it all worked out fine. Shouldn't matter what treatment occasion actually is, you should get what you pay for and if they have a price for special occasion makeup then do it.

Personally wouldn’t risk it, mua spend so much time on bridal make up, and it’s worth it for a full pamper before your wedding.
I’m paying £190 for my MUA (includes a trial) and £145 for hair (including a trial) I’m sure there’s ways to get it cheaper but I couldn’t bare it if my MUA walked out half way through because I’d lied.
xx

Think about how you’d feel if someone undermined your job and lied to you... it’s someone’s livelihood at the end of the day... when it comes to your wedding I feel you should pay the price and if you can’t afford it don’t have it or find another option.... I’m trying to do a few things I can do myself or researching cheaper alternatives to save money x

This is precisely why I did my own! I did my own make up using MUA and Makeup Revolution products (the most expensive item cost £5, not kidding) everything stayed perfect from 11am til 2:30am, only topped up lippy a couple of times through the day too!

But truthfully, the last time I had my make up done professionally I looked ridiculous, felt self conscious and cut my evening short so I could go home and wash it off, so I refuse to go through that nonsense again!

You could always see if you could get booked in at boots for a make over before your day, they can give you tips on how to apply your makeup, and it's free with no obligation to buy any products so if you decide to hire a MUA you haven't lost anything.

It's not undermining the brilliance of anyone's jobs - it's just stating that make up isn't the always the priority of someone's day and simply saying that they want someone better than them self to do it. The mention of the word bride shouldn't make the price triple. If anything, if make up artists don't want to be lied to, then perhaps they should have numerous options for brides stating the service and products they will receive for different prices. I'm getting married in Italy and it is absolutely extortionate for hair and make up out there! I'm resorting to doing the make up myself and attending he hair salon with a group of friends saying that we're all guests and will need our hair up because it'll be so hot. Every Hairdresser should endeavour to produce the best and most secure hairstyle that they can for any customer and so I don't feel that I should be paying triple to make that happen. Some people need to calm down and stop making people feel like a terrible person for wanting to look good on their day but not having a never ending budget x

The thing is I wouldn’t mind so much if the price difference wasn’t so radical, I think £150 is more reasonable, also to the lady who said she would find out on the day, how would she? I’m confused about this comment 😂 x

I am toying with the idea of just paying because I do want to look nice but I’m scared that I will pay all that money and still be disappointed! X

Bridal makeup is more expensive for very good reasons.

Skin consultation, trials, different products that are more suited to photography, particularly flash photography.

You can lie and take a basic service that doesn't suit your requirements, that won't photograph well, that may not last as well, that you don't actually like when it's ready on your face on your special day; you can be honest that yes, it's your wedding, but you'd only like basic makeup, save face and give the mua a choice; you can pay what you think is ridiculous or you can find another MUA.

The problem your mua faces, is if your makeup is occasion makeup and doesn't live up to your entire wedding, her name as a wedding make up artist is at risk. A little unfair because you didn't fancy the price for the actual service you want.

The thing is Carrie is that I’d be happy to pay £150, but not £270, if I can find someone who would do bridal make up for £150 (which is still a lot of money) I’d do it!

I was honest with my MUA, just said I'm getting married but there's no way I can afford hundreds on make up, that would be more expensive than my dress! Told her from seeing her work portfolio there's no need for a trial, I know what I want. She's charging me £45 and she's amazing at her job, I can't wait. Most expensive quote I got, by telling the truth was £65, and that's by a girl I know who's won awards for her skills. Just be honest!