Money as a couple: How much do wedding hair and makeup cost? A budget guide
Wedding hair and makeup cost covers trials, styling on the day, travel and extra people in the wedding party. In a worked example, hair and makeup for one person with a trial costs about 400.
By Wealtie Team · 3 min read
Key takeaways
- Wedding hair and makeup cost includes trials, styling on the day and travel.
- In a worked example, hair and makeup for one person with a trial costs about 400.
- Each extra person in the wedding party adds to the bill.
- Booking one artist for both, or doing your own makeup, saves money.
How much do wedding hair and makeup cost?
Having a professional style your hair and do your makeup can make a big difference to how you feel on the day and how you look in photos. It's also a cost that can grow quickly once you add trials, travel, early starts and other people in the wedding party. In a worked example, hair and makeup for one person, including a trial, costs about 400.
Prices vary with where you live, how experienced the artist is and how complicated the look is. Saturday weddings in summer are usually the most expensive dates.
What does wedding hair and makeup cost for one person?
Here's a worked example, in round numbers that work in any currency:
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Hair on the day | 150 |
| Makeup on the day | 120 |
| Trials | 100 |
| Travel | 30 |
| Total | 400 |
If three other people in the wedding party also have their hair or makeup done at about 120 each, that adds 360. Some couples pay for this, while others ask each person to pay for their own.
What affects the price?
Trials
A trial lets you test the look before the day and is usually charged separately. It's worth doing, since it avoids surprises, but you can sometimes combine it with another event, like an engagement party, to get more value from it.
Travel and early starts
Most artists travel to you on the morning. Travel costs and early start fees are common, especially if you need to be ready before sunrise or the venue is far away.
The look
Simple, natural styles take less time than complex updos or dramatic makeup. Extensions, hair pieces and lashes add cost.
Number of people
Each extra person adds time and cost. For a large wedding party, an artist may bring an assistant, which also adds to the bill.
Staying on for touch-ups
Some couples book an artist to stay through the ceremony and photos for touch-ups. This is charged by the hour and can add a fair amount.
How can you save on wedding hair and makeup?
Book one artist for both
Some artists do both hair and makeup, which can cost less than booking two people and means one travel fee.
Do your own makeup
If you're confident with makeup, a lesson or a trial with a professional can teach you how to create the look yourself. Buy only the products you need.
Keep the wedding party simple
Ask the wedding party to do their own makeup, or book hair only for them. You can also ask them to pay for their own if they'd like it.
Choose an off-peak date
Weekday and winter weddings often have lower prices and more choice of artists.
Look at newer artists
Artists building their portfolio, or students from beauty schools, often charge less. Ask to see their work and book a trial first.
Skip the paid touch-ups
A small kit with powder, lipstick and hair pins, carried by a friend, handles most touch-ups for free.
How does hair and makeup fit into the wedding budget?
It's usually a smaller cost than the venue or food, but it's easy to underestimate once extras are added. Set a figure early, so you're not making decisions on the morning of a trial. The wedding budget covers how to split a total across everything, and the wedding dress budget covers the outfit the look is built around.
Ask the right questions
Before booking, ask what's included, whether travel and early starts cost extra, how much the deposit is and when the rest is due. Check the cancellation policy too. A clear quote in writing avoids awkward surprises on the day.
Book early
Good artists get booked up, especially for summer weekends. Booking early gives you more choice and time to save for the cost.
Plan the morning
Work out how long each person needs and build a schedule backwards from when you need to leave. A rushed morning is stressful and can mean paying for an extra artist to finish on time. Give the artist a quiet space with good light and a mirror, and have breakfast ready so nobody gets hungry while they wait.
How do you track wedding costs in Wealtie?
Use a shared account so you both see what's been spent on hair, makeup and everything else. The account owner needs Pro, and the person invited can be on any plan. Add a wedding category to your expense categories and set a budget for it.
Questions people ask
In a worked example, hair and makeup for one person with a trial and travel costs about 400.
Yes. A trial lets you test the look and avoid surprises on the day. You can combine it with another event to get more from it.
It varies. Some couples pay, while others ask each person to pay for their own. Agree on it early.
Book one artist for both, do your own makeup, keep the wedding party simple and choose an off-peak date.
This article is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Your situation is your own; check the numbers that apply to you before you act on them.
