How much should your wedding hair and makeup cost?

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding! One of the most important aspects of your special day is how you look and feel. Hair and makeup play a crucial role in how you will feel and look in your wedding photos, which will be cherished memories for years to come. With that said, it's important to understand the cost of wedding hair and makeup and how to budget accordingly.

Up until now, your only experience in hiring a hair or makeup artist may be at a makeup counter or blow dry bar. It’s important to understand that wedding hair and makeup services are different from the more “every day” services you may have had in the past, and as such - will be more expensive. Bridal artists are more specialized in delivering looks that look good not only in person, but also on camera, in all types of lighting situations. They also specialize in looks that have longevity and will hold up for multiple hours and that can withstand hugs, kisses, sweat and tears! It’s also important to note that bridal artists will be holiding your wedding date for you for several months in advance, and likely can only book one bridal party per day. So supply and demand is also a factor when it comes to bridal briding.

The total cost of your beauty services can vary greatly depending on a number of factors, including the specific services requested, the location, how early your artist will need to arrive, how much time you have available for hair and makeup (if it’s a short window, multiple artists may need to be hired), the experience and reputation of the artist, and if the artist is staying on site for touchups.

Generally speaking, the most established, experienced, and highly recommended artists are likely to book up first and will likely be at the higher end of the pricing range. Keep in mind that sometimes the artists that planners and photographers love to refer are not only great at their artistry, but also at their timing! Because on the wedding day you want to look great but you also want no worries about the artist you hired showing up on time (or at all) or making you run late to your ceremony. So your investment in a highly reputable artist is also an investment in ensuring your wedding day goes smoothly and is as stress-free as possible!

However, don't let this discourage you if you are on a budget. There are less established, up-and-coming artists whose rates will be on the lower end of the scale. They may not have as much experience or a large portfolio, but they can still provide good results and may be more affordable. It’s just a little more risky going with someone that’s less established and reputable. However my recommendation for brides on a tighter budget is to invest in a fantastic artists at least for themselves, and perhaps give your bridesmaids the option of adding on their own hair and makeup if they’d like to at their own expense.

In the Dallas area, most professional artists charge between $75 and $125 per service for bridal party members and typically the bride will be about twice that amount. The reason the bride's cost is higher is that administrative fees are rolled into the bride's cost, and artists also tend to spend more time with the bride on the wedding day as well as in the months leading up to the wedding regarding logistics and answering beauty-related questions.

While cost is certainly a consideration, it's important to remember that a highly skilled and experienced artist is well worth the investment. A professional artist will keep you on schedule and get you to your ceremony on time, and most importantly, won't leave you stranded without an artist on your big day. Also, you want to LOVE the way you look on your wedding day. It’s probably the most photographed day of your life and the pictures will be around for generations to come! You’re probably investing a lot into a great photographer - but you will hate all the pictures if you don’t like the way you look. Plus, when you know you look great, you FEEL great too. The last thing any bride wants is to feel insecure on her wedding day!

If you’d like some more information on our current bridal rates, feel free to download our Wedding Beauty Guide which contains some basic pricing information, or request a quote for a detailed estimate based on your unique needs!

Happy Planning!