Wedding Makeup: How Much $$$ Do You Charge?

[MisStarrlight]

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Luna* This has been very informative. Do you ladies charge seperate for trial make up, is that charge deducted from the total fee on the day of? I am new and self taught so I know I have a lot to think about here but this has been a great help!

I usually charge $60 for a consult (with 2-3 trial looks), but if they do end up booking with me, I'll take a portion from that off their overall total.

 

[giz2000]

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Luna* This has been very informative. Do you ladies charge seperate for trial make up, is that charge deducted from the total fee on the day of? I am new and self taught so I know I have a lot to think about here but this has been a great help!

I charge $50 for the trial in addition to the day-of fee...but I spend a lot of time with the bride and do several looks, including lashes.

 

[pixichik77]

Just a quick thanks to all of you. I've been asked many times to do weddings, bat mitzvahs, etc. Most of the time I am in the middle of a show and can't do it, but this has given me some great info for the future.

 

[martygreene]

My rates/packages vary a bit depending on the type of event and what is being asked of me. I do charge separately for trial-runs, as this is still a makeup application and time and if they don't end up choosing me as their artist I'd be short-changing myself not recouping expenses for the trial run.

As bridal makeup is one of the more difficult makeup arenas out there (has to last without touchups though a whole day, possibly including crying; has to look natural and beautiful both in-person AND in still photographs AND on film/DVD; artist has to know how the body's internal chemistry in response to stress alters the skin; etc.) there are many factors which play into all aspects of working with it- pay scale, type of jobs you accept, etc. To anyone considering starting work in the bridal industry, I strongly suggest reading the thread linked in the FAQ for this forum on bridal work.

 

[Liyah]

Not sure if im in the right thread, but any free lance make up and hair artists in the plano/dallas texas area? Looking for someone to take care of bridal and bridesmaids makeup for the first weekend in april.
please pm me! thanks!

 

[lilchocolatema]

Quote:

Originally Posted by FacesbyNiki It's funny how you say you work for MAC and their eyes get big as shit and listen to everything you say.

Isn't that crazy?!?!!? They're like "oooooooooooh, MAC

!!!!!!!"
*Chanting in a daze* MAC is crack...MAC is crack!

 

[NaturalSister19]

Your market can determine pricing, as some markets are more sophisticated and have higher costs of living. I have found the Mid-West clientele to be bit pickier, albeit (forgive me) less knowledgable than East Coast clients.

I am from Detroit, MI. I have weddings there, DC and in NYC (where I live now) all summer.

In MI:

I charge $80 an hour to cover all the party - bride, Mothers, and bridesmaids. Arches, lashes - add $22 per person. I can usually convince them to pay me to stay over for touch-ups (although sometimes it does take convincing). $60 an hour to stay over. They end up really enjoying the celebrity-type treatment.

In NY & DC:

I charge $200 for the Bride, and $85 for bridesmaids (extras included) -then $75 an hour to stay over. NY & DC clients expect to pay for quality. They have remarked that my prices are very competitive.

____________________

For every market, I charge a flat $45 for consults. FREE if they come to my location. 99.9999% of consults lead to a booking. I take a 25% deposit (15% non-refundable) 8 weeks in advance to book the appointment. Luckily, I have never had a cancellation. If the party is larger then 8, I charge a $150 assistant fee.

...and they ALWAYS tip generously.

Later...NaturalSister19

 

[thelilprincess]

hey nikki,

i'm getting married next year so whenever i'm at the mac counter i ask the guys and gals there if they do bridal makeup - some only do if you come the counter (no home visits) b/c they don't have a full collection of their own make-up (i.e. foundation colors to suit the brides and the bridesmaids) i am having traditional vietnamese tea ceremony, catholic church wedding and reception - so my butt will have to get up at the crack of dawn so there's absolutely no way i can get myself to a mac counter since they won't open at 5:30am.

anyhow, since we live in the same city, i thought i'd share with you one of the fees i was quoted by a mac artist - $100 per person, whether bride or bridesmaids. i'm very open with the MAs - i tell them i'm shopping around so early because i don't want to end up looking absolutely nothing like myself (let's just say i really hate my engagement party photos b/c the hairdresser did a crappy job on my hair and if i had time, i would have washed it out...i even had asked to meet with her ahead of time so she can see my hair and discuss with me what she could and couldn't do to my hair but she told me to just show up to the appointment) anyhow, i haven't gone on hardcore shopping for a MA, just on a lookout when i go buy my makeup.

i'd say that the "home visits" have generated some approximate quotes of $400-500 for me and my 4 bridesmaids. the counter visits quotes were less (but i don't recall how much since i this isn't an option for me) because the MAs don't have to drive anywhere (and they're using the stores products versus having to buy the product themselves to generate their business)

hope that helps!

edit: 06/23/07....another MAC MA quoted me $85 bride, $50 per bridesmaids (i have 4) and she threw in doing the moms for free!! that's a great deal but i have to see her bridal work - her own M/U looked good that day. A Dior MA quoted me $100 bride, $75 per bridesmaides and offered to knock off $50, so $350 for the 5 of us. She said she has worked on celebrities, models, etc. i actually went looking for mascara while the fiance went looking for a new wallet, and she did a quick 5-10 min makeover on me. it was natural and cute. Both MAs were willing to do home visit early in the morning, too. i don't think the first MA realize how cheap she quoted....unless that is her way of getting her name out there and hoping i recommend her to my other friends - yeah, seems like everyone around me is getting engaged/married.

 

[giz2000]

You'd be better off having the MA come to your house the day of. The expense will be well-worth it in time saved and less stress for you and your bridesmaids. That way, you can concentrate on looking gorgeous and having a wonderful day rather than: parking, traffic, counter MA running late, etc.

 

[MisStarrlight]

I agree....you really do not want to go to a counter the day of...unless you appointment is for 11am & your wedding is not until like 5pm.

It's been my experience that everyone is too stressed out & timing is never correct.

I've only had one bride that wasn't stressing about life when she came to the counter the day of (but it was also for a military wife who had 2 weeks to plan the wedding for when her hubby came home on mid-tour leave-so she was super laid back & said that all the mattered was that they were getting married before he went back to war.)

 

[ViV04]

Sorry just wondering......people just wake into MAC and ask you if you can be their Make-up artists for the day???

 

[Pimptress]

Holy crap. Thanks to this thread I've made the decision I'm definitely doing my own makeup and my bridesmaids on my wedding day, I can't believe that people can charge upwards of 100 dollars to do one face of makeup that takes maybeee a half hour when a total hair updo is only like 60?!

 

[GreekChick]

I would also like to add that the way you're presenting yourself is extremely important, especially when giving clients your prices.
When I was starting out in the bridal business, I was literally too chicken to impose my prices on the bridal party. My first wedding was a disaster. Let's just say the bride was the luckiest bride on earth. Because I was later attending her wedding (she was my friend's sister), I offered to do her makeup for free. I had done a trial with her previously as well, and we both agreed that her and her maid of honour were to be made up.
Well let me tell you, EVERYONE at that bridal party took advantage of me. The bride wasn't suppose to pay, but the rest, yes. Well, I walked out with no money, and in addition to having made up 6 women, from 8 am till 3 pm (because of the lack of respect towards me and my time) I left with no tips, as well as a nasty makeup kit that the children couldn't keep away from. Plus, all the products the bride wore, I purchased myself.
Never again.
Since then, I created my own business cards, and set my fees:
Bride: 100$
Bridesmaids: 75$ (if they're more than 3, than 70$ each)
An extra 10$ for lashes.
If more than 5 bridesmaids will be attending, an additional MA is needed.
I will not offer any rebates. I mean, it's crazy how many people will come up to you at a bridal party and say " I only want powder; I only wan't you to apply my lipstick; can you just do my eyes?"...This is where it becomes difficult. A service is just that, a service. Someone can't expect me to use products from my kit, and not charge a thing.

 

[giz2000]

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreekChick I would also like to add that the way you're presenting yourself is extremely important, especially when giving clients your prices. When I was starting out in the bridal business, I was literally too chicken to impose my prices on the bridal party. My first wedding was a disaster. Let's just say the bride was the luckiest bride on earth. Because I was later attending her wedding (she was my friend's sister), I offered to do her makeup for free. I had done a trial with her previously as well, and we both agreed that her and her maid of honour were to be made up. Well let me tell you, EVERYONE at that bridal party took advantage of me. The bride wasn't suppose to pay, but the rest, yes. Well, I walked out with no money, and in addition to having made up 6 women, from 8 am till 3 pm (because of the lack of respect towards me and my time) I left with no tips, as well as a nasty makeup kit that the children couldn't keep away from. Plus, all the products the bride wore, I purchased myself. Never again. Since then, I created my own business cards, and set my fees: Bride: 100$ Bridesmaids: 75$ (if they're more than 3, than 70$ each) An extra 10$ for lashes. If more than 5 bridesmaids will be attending, an additional MA is needed. I will not offer any rebates. I mean, it's crazy how many people will come up to you at a bridal party and say " I only want powder; I only wan't you to apply my lipstick; can you just do my eyes?"...This is where it becomes difficult. A service is just that, a service. Someone can't expect me to use products from my kit, and not charge a thing.

Amen to that...I cannot believe that people actually ask you to "do their eyes" for free...the only time I actually "did" something for free was to loan a bridesmaid a black eyeliner. She had done her own makeup and had forgotten the eyeliner at home...she returned it with a $10 tip...she didn't have to, and she told me that she felt bad asking me to use the eyeliner when I wasn't doing her makeup...I appreciate people like that.

 

[studiosila]

I love this thread!

 

[ette]

Well...my rates are normal for my market (NYC) but I rarely do weddings now anyway but here they are:
Brides: $175...$300 for with hair (I bring a hair stylist). REQUIRED trial is $75.
Bridesmaids: $100 each...$225 with hair
Flower Girls/etc.: free [makeup] unless you only do bride otherwise $25 each...hairstylist charges $30 a head

 

[About Face]

HI Naturalsister19 I'm also in Detroit. I love your work!!! Thanks for the pricing tip in MI I'm charging Brides $50 and get the crazy look when I quote my price. Now I know I'm not charging to much!

 

[macwhore]

My cousin got charged 500 for her make up, she did it twice once for the wedding and once for the reception, and she also did her hair, it was all in one day and she didnt do any touch ups I guess it was an okay price for doing make up and hair or did she get ripped off ?

 

[martygreene]

Quote:

Originally Posted by macwhore My cousin got charged 500 for her make up, she did it twice once for the wedding and once for the reception, and she also did her hair, it was all in one day and she didnt do any touch ups I guess it was an okay price for doing make up and hair or did she get ripped off ?

Doing makeup, staying on all-day for touchups, and doing hair? Yes, that's a very reasonable rate, and depending on where she was located it may even have been low. At that point you're running into a whole-day rate, and $500 is very reasonable for that.

 

[macwhore]

Quote:

Originally Posted by martygreene Doing makeup, staying on all-day for touchups, and doing hair? Yes, that's a very reasonable rate, and depending on where she was located it may even have been low. At that point you're running into a whole-day rate, and $500 is very reasonable for that.

She didnt stay for touch ups, okay she came, did her make up hair and left then she came again and did the same thing. and We booked her a hotel to stay in through the gap we paid for her gas and travel expenses plus gave her the 500