Are you paying too much for your wedding day Hair & Makeup Artist?

Bridal Hair & Makeup Rates 

Why is it more expensive for brides? I'll break it down and explain why the cost for bridal services are usually higher. Before I get into those details though, I want to start off by saying please stay away from any tutorial which promises how to show DIY "easy hair and makeup" for your wedding day. There's no such thing as easy when it comes to wedding planning, and your hair & makeup is no exception. It should look perfect and all brides should have a pampering experience on their wedding day. Also, stay away from Craigslist ads that say things such as "I can work with your budget!" or "Don't want to pay salon rates? Hire me!" etc...you get the idea. Those types of ads scream inexperienced amateur. Chances are, you'll regret hiring them. Stay far away. Instead, find some inspirational photos of makeup "looks" or styles that you love, and show them to a professional makeup artist and stylist. Research beauty vendors in your area and leave the rest to them.

“If you only have $10,000 to spend on your wedding, we can’t make it look like you spent $100,000 no matter what we do”, so make sure to spend the money in the areas that MATTER MOST TO YOU!  That quote was taken from a fellow blogger and Makeup Artist, Nikita Pere. Many wedding vendors have similar views about services and rates. Which makes sense because we understand the industry. However, not everyone understands the depth of what we do.

Understanding Rates:

Research the average rates for services in your area and it's neighboring cities. When it comes to hair & makeup services, think about whether or not you want them to travel to location on the wedding day. If you prefer the convenience & luxury of on location (someone that travels to you), your quote may be higher because it will include travel time and costs. Assistants are always an additional cost as well. Your photographer would charge an additional fee for an assistant and the same goes for multiple makeup artists and hair stylists. That additional charge might come as a surprise, but it makes sense. If you require/request a team of people for hair & makeup, expect a higher quote. Your contracted vendor will have to secure the additional help for your wedding day, and pay them a percentage for all services they performed. That cost should not have to come out of their pocket.

Budgets, budgets, budgets!
Remember, cheaper is NOT always better. Especially, when it comes to your wedding. I cannot stress this enough. There is a huge difference between applying everyday makeup and applying bridal makeup. Just because someone advertises as a makeup artist doesn't mean they're a talented makeup artist. A certificate is merely a piece of paper that proves a person paid for a "training" course. They are guaranteed a certificate upon completion. It's true. A certificate or license doesn't buy a talented & qualified makeup artist or hair stylist. Quality vs quantity really matter. The quality of products in your makeup artist's kit have to withstand unpredictable weather conditions, tears, skin sensitivities, the list goes on. Rates will often reflect the talent of the person you're hiring. If you want to book with someone because they're "cheaper," you'll get what you pay for regardless of whatever company they trained with. Many *new* artists/stylists have lower rates just to lure in clients. Many times - they aren't experienced or established, and usually are just looking to make a little money. They may not be as knowledgeable of proper product usage in the BRIDAL beauty field. Or worse: What if they suddenly canceled? Didn't show up? Didn't use proper sanitation practices? Now we're getting into the possibility of cross-contamination where you could get a cold sore or even pink eye. It's not worth the risk. Sometimes a person just didn't know any better. Whatever the reason, take my advice and splurge on your beauty vendors because you deserve to have a qualified and talented team to make you look & feel beautiful!

Group discount?

I'm often asked if I give discounts to large bridal parties. Before you ask any vendor for a discount, think of it this way: Would you get a group discount if you went into a restaurant with a party of 10? Not a chance. In fact, you would pay more because restaurants charge an automatic gratuity fee for larger parties! Asking a vendor for a discount is the same as asking them to work for less pay. I suppose it doesn't hurt to ask but, don't be surprised if they say no. For me personally, the way I see it, my rates are very reasonable for the service I provide. I offer quality service and use top line professional products. I also travel to my clients on the big day. They don't have to worry about keeping a group together while venturing out, fighting traffic and running late, etc. 

Behind the brush: It's not all glitz & glamour.
As a freelance artist I do all of the administrative work from advertising (website, business cards, bridal shows), to booking and communicating with my clients. It's more than a full time time job with all of the emails, phone calls, scheduling trials and scheduling events etc. I also have to stock up on my supplies way ahead of time, maintain my car more than the average person, fill up the gas tank more often, pay for reliable weekend daycare, etc. All of what I do is work-related and it costs a lot of money, before I make any money. I participate in collaborated photo shoots, which aren't paid jobs, to keep my portfolio updated. I continue my education by attending workshops, researching trends and new products etc.

Bottom Line:
Booking with a budget/Craigslist makeup artist and stylist could cost you more than you realize. Such as, a ruined wedding day. Your wedding day is the last thing that should be cheapened someone who is inexperienced or unprofessional. I hope this blog has been helpful and informative. As always, comments and questions are welcome.

Wedding Planning

The cost of a wedding can be a heavy burden. All of those little things begin to add up quickly and pretty soon, you're faced with the decision of cutting back on costs. But which part of the wedding day should have a smaller budget? Ahh, the big question! There are so many elements that make up a wedding day. But there are KEY elements to remember. Vendors with a minimum of 3 years of experience in the field of services advertised, are best. Especially those with 3+ years of wedding related work experience. In most cases these vendors know their craft very well. They've dealt with wedding day chaos, different venues, weather elements, etc.

To splurge on beauty or not to splurge on beauty?
You shouldn't feel guilty, or feel it's not worth the cost to look and feel great on your wedding day. It doesn't make sense to have a $1,500 budget on flowers or linen rentals yet, only allow an $500 budget for a photographer, or a $100 budget for both hair & makeup services. Will the guests at your wedding remember your centerpieces & linens? Probably not. My advice to future brides is: Do not cut your budget from the following areas:

• Photographer : Your wedding photos are forever and you cannot recreate them! Your photos will reflect every important detail of your wedding day. They should capture all of the special moments that you dreamed of from the moment you begin hair & makeup, to the very last dance. You & your new husband should look great in each one of them.

• Hair Stylist : An experienced bridal stylist knows what hair styles flatter your face shape, and can determine where the best placement is for your veil or hairpiece. They'll also know how to deal with elements of surprise when it comes to the weather (rain, humidity, wind). You don't want your hair to frizz, fall out of place while walking down the isle, or falling while dancing. You'll be photographed all day long, greeting & hugging guests, dancing, and probably sweating a bit in between all of it. Hair & makeup mishap's shouldn't be a factor.

• Makeup Artist : You want to be sure your makeup lasts from beginning to end. Book with a talented makeup artist that is experienced in bridal makeup services. You don't want a mismatched foundation color, poorly blended eye makeup or even have your makeup melting off (at all) much less before the reception starts. It's OK to splurge on a makeup artist because it's a special day! Pamper yourself!!

• DJ : If the DJ isn't entertaining, the music probably won't be entertaining either. A fun DJ knows how to work a crowd. A funny DJ is even better! They introduce the bridal party with good energy and set the tone for the rest of the night. Personally, I love when a DJ has a good sense of humor and knows how to roll with the punches. The guests are more likely to dance and have fun. 

Another blog of mine will discuss rates for hair & makeup services. It will help you understand why wedding vendors charge a higher rate for particular services. It's more complicated than you think... ;)

xoxo
Anj~

Advice: Bridal Inquiries & Booking

I often work with brides and bridal parties and I know how stressful wedding planning can be. I wanted to put together a list of things to help ease the stress of searching for & booking wedding vendors. Wedding season runs from March-November and peaks May-October. This means, May-October are the busiest months and the first to book. The majority of couples become engaged during December to February. Thus, brides-to-be will begin planning their dream wedding. Below is a list of tips with helpful information for brides-to-be, when it comes to sending a bridal inquiry to potential vendors.

• Begin the planning and booking process as soon as you set a wedding date to avoid the rushed feeling of running out of time. Ask friends/family for referrals to vendors they've had an actual experience with...avoid hearsay or input involving he-said, she-said. 

• Make a list of all other vendors you'll need to book and include multiple vendors for each category. Most of them begin booking dates well over a year in advance, especially Saturdays. 

• Do your research on potential vendors. Check their credentials, look at their experience/knowledge, range of work and/or style. View their portfolio, read the reviews from past clients, and narrow your potential list down to a few names. Vendors such as a makeup artist, hair stylist, photographer, D.J. etc begin booking future dates 12-18 months ahead. The longer you wait to book, the less your chances are of finding an available vendor of your choice. 

•  Once you've narrowed down your list of potential vendors, send an inquiry. Vendors will  appreciate the following:

Please Don't: Head straight to their contact page without viewing their site or doing research, and send a one-sentence email similar to: "I'm getting married on (date) what are your rates?" Or "I love your work but my budget is..." Read more about budgets in my post titled  "Brides & Budgets"

Please Do: Take a few minutes to look through their website. Chances are you'll find the answers to many common questions, including rates. When sending an inquiry ask if they're available for your event date because on location artists tend to book quite in advance.

Your inquiry should include important details to beauty service vendors such as: the number of services needed, the timeline for all services to be completed, the location where the prepping will take place. All of this is key* information and the vendors will appreciate it.

xoxo

Anjelica