Everyone wants to save money on wedding hair and makeup, right?
Okay, the short answer is yes. However, there are some caveats to it. We want to save money on wedding hair and makeup, but we also want to look good. Saving money and showing up to your wedding looking like a mess is not the ultimate goal. We want to feel like we’re getting a deal, staying within our budget, but also be amazingly beautiful at our weddings. Agreed.
Luckily, there are ways to save money on wedding hair and makeup, without compromising the end result. All it takes is a little intention and foresight. You may also need to trust thinking outside the box, or being diligent when you choose your hair and makeup team. All of this is totally doable, and worth it in the end.
How To Save Money On Wedding Hair & Makeup
This post is going to walk you through how to save money on wedding hair and makeup. It will give you common sense tips that just about anyone can apply to their wedding. As with all my tips, pick and choose what works for you. Chances are, you can do a few of these tips and save a little, or pick just one and save big. For the right situation, they are all effective.
Let’s get into it.
ASK A TALENTED FRIEND TO HELP YOU OUT
First things first.
Let’s talk a little about what it means to be a hair or makeup artist. Yes, some people are incredibly well trained and skilled in these areas. They maybe went to school, or have been practicing professionals for some time. I’m not going to dismiss anyone’s hard work to get really good at their craft. I will, however, make the claim that sometimes people are just talented. Or, they are self-trained. And, you may even know someone who isn’t a professional, but will help you out on your wedding day with their hair or makeup skills.
If you have a talented friend, who you know can take care of your hair or makeup on your wedding day, see if they will help you out. They may be willing to work free of charge, or they may have a nominal fee. They may even be willing to help style your wedding party, too. The key here is to think about who you know, and see if it will work out. Do a trial run ahead of the wedding, and go with it if it makes sense.
DO IT YOURSELF, BUT GATHER PROFESSIONAL TIPS AHEAD OF TIME
Did you know that Kate Middleton did her own makeup for her wedding to Prince William in 2011? Yes, yes, she did.
Now, Kate did her homework ahead of her wedding. She was taught what to do. She also invested in the right products. The takeaway here is that it’s totally okay to do your own thing on your wedding day. Not having to pay a professional will surely allow you to save money on wedding hair and makeup. Plus, you’ll get to keep the products and know that the work was done exactly how you’d like it to be.
BOOK YOUR WEDDING HAIR AND MAKEUP TEAM EARLY
You know what kind of vendors book up very quickly? The ones who do a great job, and are more affordable.
If you’d like to hire a professional team for your wedding hair and makeup, you need to book them early. Like, shortly after you set the date, have your trial with them, and know that you jive. Do your research, find hair and makeup teams that will be able to provide your vision, and be decisive. Waiting to book can cost you later on.
HAVE THE SAME PROFESSIONAL TEAM DO BOTH YOUR HAIR AND MAKEUP
In the context of this post, I’m lumping in the whole hair and makeup services into one thing. However, it is possible to split them up. You can totally have one hair stylist, and one makeup artist, at your wedding. Or, in general.
However, I’m here to tell you that you should bundle them both into one person or team, if possible. Now, I know that this may be awful advice if you know someone who does one service, and love them, but they don’t do the other. If this is the case for you, ignore this tip. However, if you’re starting fresh, see if you can get one set of professionals to do both for you. Not only is it less coordination among vendors, but you’ll save by bundling multiple services.
BRING YOUR OWN MAKEUP OR HAIR PRODUCTS
One way to save on wedding hair and makeup is to supply your own products.
To be clear, this isn’t always the case. However, for some professionals, they factor in the cost of the products when they price out their services. If you’re supplying the products, they may be willing to give you a discount. Of course, you’ll have to pay for your products, so unless you already have these items on hand, or have a great product hookup, you may spend the same amount, or even more, if you follow this tip.
The main takeaway here is to explore this option. If it works out, great. If not, the stylists or artists can supply what you need.
ASK YOUR USUAL STYLIST FOR HELP, OR A REFERRAL
You may be able to save money on your wedding hair if you have a solid relationship with your usual hair stylist.
For example, if you’ve been seeing the same hair stylist for some time, and your rapport is good, they may be willing to style your hair on your wedding day for a nominal fee. Now, not every stylist will be the right kind to bring to your wedding. Cutting and coloring someone’s hair is different than creating a wedding updo, if you know what I mean.
However, if your stylist is willing and able, and can create the look that you’re dreaming of, it may be something to explore.
HIRE A HAIR AND MAKE UP ARTIST WHO IS JUST STARTING OUT
I’ve said it before, but we all need to start somewhere.
Just as you can save money with a caterer, or a photographer, who is starting out, you can save money with a hair and makeup artist who is as well. Of course, there are some risks with this strategy. Inexperienced hair stylists may not have the same time management skills as someone who is used to working with a ton of demanding bridesmaids and an emotional mother of the groom. So, you may want to plan on extra time, or extra hands, if you’re the stylist’s first wedding.
However, a stylist is a stylist, and an artist is an artist, and the price may be right, so do what works for your wedding.
GO TO THE STYLIST, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND
Travel charges can mean that you’re paying a premium for a service.
This means that if you are able to go to the salon for your hair and/or makeup, you may be able to skip the travel fees and save some money. Now, if you have a huge entourage that also needs hair and makeup, it may be too much of an undertaking to get everyone to the right spot. However, if just you, or you and a small group, are the ones getting ready, going to the place may be something to consider.
ALWAYS DO A TRIAL RUN
This is a peripheral way to save money on your wedding hair and makeup, but worth noting for multiple reasons.
Always do a trial run. Not for the whole group, but at least for yourself.
Why? Well, first off, it’s a way to make sure you’re happy with what you’re going to pay for. And, it helps you see how much time everything will take so you can plan better for your wedding day. The last reason why a trial is essential is that even though you may pay for your trial, it could mean that you receive a discount on your wedding day services.
Some hair and makeup artists will discount their services after a trial because they are better aware of how long everything will take, they may jive with you and feel generous, or they may even take the cost of the trial off as a standard practice.
ASK YOUR WEDDING PARTY TO PAY FOR THEIR OWN HAIR AND MAKEUP
This may be a controversial statement, but worth noting.
Many brides will pay for their wedding party’s hair and makeup. Or, they will pay for at least one service. The argument is that the bride may not make hair and makeup optional, they want to make being in the wedding a little less expensive, or the services are a sort of gift from the bride to the group.
The thing is, though, is that paying for your wedding party’s hair and makeup is not mandatory. It’s totally optional. In fact, the wedding party, plus the mothers of the bride and groom, and anyone else who is close and around, do not need to have hair and makeup professionally done. All eyes are on the bride anyway.
To sum it up, if you want to save money on your wedding hair and makeup, consider just paying for your own services, as the bride. Think about what works best for your wedding and move forward accordingly.
DO YOUR OWN TOUCH UPS
Last tip!
Many hair and makeup artists will stick around during the wedding to help the bride with touch-ups to her hair and makeup. This will often come at an additional fee, and may not be necessary for you. When I look back at my wedding, my hair and makeup artist did such a good job that I don’t think I had to touch my hair, or face, at all.
If you want to save some bucks, plan on letting the artist go right after everyone is prepped.
THOUGHTS ON HOW TO SAVE MONEY ON WEDDING HAIR AND MAKEUP
Friends, there are so many ways to save money on your wedding hair and makeup. At the end of the day, you’ll look amazing no matter what. This is true whether you do your own services, ask a friend, hire an inexperienced professional, or go with a well-versed team. Beauty comes from within, and you’ve got this. You don’t need to spend a huge portion of your wedding budget in order to make it happen. Happy wedding planning!
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