u/typical_ordinary

Just wanting to pick your brains as I keep getting commitment scaries due to price every time I’m about to sign the hair and makeup contract. I’m aware my wedding is an important day and i want to feel my best, but it’s difficult to mentally justify spending +$750 (closer to +$1,000 with local travel, tax, and tip) for my services alone that I will wash off at the end of the day.

I’m on the later side of booking a vendor, so I really need to make a decision.

Did anyone not get onsite hair and makeup services, or just picked one service, or have other creative options they pursued for their wedding? Did you regret getting it professionally done or doing hair or makeup yourself?

I’ve only had my makeup done professionally before as a bridesmaid, and while the makeup looked wonderful, I didn’t really feel/look like myself. Even my fiancé at the time thought I didn’t look like myself, which makes me more nervous for my wedding haha. At the same time, pretty much every hair and makeup artist I’ve reached out to requires a trial, so hopefully that feeling can be avoided on the day of.

Based on the contracts I’ve read, if I don’t like I service after the trial (which I can only have after booking their wedding day service, not before), I won’t be “forced” to get that service done by them, but I will still have to pay for it either way…it’s also cheaper per service to bundle (e.g. $550 for onsite bridal hair or makeup alone, $700 for both)

I’m pretty comfortable with long wear makeup prep and setting, but I don’t have much experience with techniques specifically for the camera or applying lashes. With that being said, I’m open to practicing over the next few months. I want to look like an enhanced version of my natural self on my wedding day, and am looking to wear my naturally curly hair in a bridal updo.

UPDATE
Thank you everyone for your thoughts! Your perspectives are making me feel more confident that booking professionals is something I do in fact want invest in for my wedding day! I realized I actually just want to be as relaxed as possible on the day of, so paying for someone else do to my hair and makeup is a good call not just for how I look on the day but how relaxed I feel in the morning!

Trying to find my ideal bridal/MLBB lipstick shades as a light neutral olive with muted coloring and hoping fellow olives can help!

I think my coloring is kind of a tricky in-between:
- light/light-medium neutral olive skin (maybe ever so slightly cool leaning)
- muted rather than bright/saturated
- medium-dark cool brown hair/brows
- warm medium brown eyes with some amber reflects in certain lights
- medium contrast features

My skin tends to look:
- more olive/grey-neutral in natural light
- overwhelmed by strong warmth OR very icy cool tones

The shades that seem most harmonious are muted rose-browns and neutral berry tones — basically colors that have enough brown to work with the olive undertone but enough rose/mauve to not turn orange.

What usually DOESN’T work:
- peachy bridal nudes
- orange warmth
- very pale concealer lips
- yellow beige nudes
- icy cool pinks
- super saturated colors

Looking mainly for:
- bridal lipstick
- MLBB shades
- elegant muted tones
- long-wear formulas
- Easy-accessible brands preferred (USA)

I’d like to be able to swatch them in person before purchasing. Willing to go to a department store, big box beauty retailer, and/or makeup counter chain.

Would especially love specific lipstick recommendations - shade and brand - from other muted/light olives or people with similar coloring because I feel like my best shades live in a very narrow zone. Looking for something that suits muted neutral olive with a slight cool lean but doesn’t look disjointed from my warm brown eyes but cooler brown hair.