it's my party and I'll cry if i want to

You've got your checklist checked off.

From your gown to your seating arrangement to who's going to pick up grandma from the airport. Check, check and check. You've read all the reviews on your vendors, filed your contracts and receipts in proper order and you are all set.

Sounds about right ... right?

And then Betty Bridesmaid calls and says: "What about hair and makeup for me and the girls? I know you booked with the best hair and makeup person in the world for all of us - but that's just a little too pricey for me, she and her. We've already spent x, y, and z.  We're on a budget!

(fair enough - everyone is on a budget)

This is not uncommon. Trust me. I've worked with many a bride who have gone back and forth and forth and back about which girl is getting what done; about the cost; about reducing rates; about maybe getting a more affordable stylist for them, but the best hair and makeup and hair person in the world for her.

Definitely not uncommon.  And frustrating, I bet. It's your party and you will spend what you damn well please ... errrrr ... but maybe you should consider that Betty Bridesmaid still has a whopping student loan to pay.

In the end, you wear the white gown and you make the final call.  But if you are trying to make it easy (and affordable) for all involved then here are some tips on keeping the attitudes of your bridal party just as pretty as their makeup and hair:

Encourage them to look for makeup and hair artists: Before you decide on an artist, encourage your bridal party to also help with the search. Have them send you their choices and even if you don't like any of their choices, at least you can take a peek at the average price range of the artists they chose.  You'll better understand what your girls are able to spend and you can then compare it against your choices and find a great artist who's rates are comparable.

Offer to pay for makeup and hair: Ack - the last thing you need is to ADD more expense, but there are ways to incorporate paying for your bridal party's beauty needs. You can make it part of their "thank you gift". Pay for their makeup and hair, and then pick up a great lipstick and compact as a touch up kit. The lipstick and compact doesn't need to be fancy. COVERGIRL, Rimmel, Maybelline are all great drugstore brands and are affordable and look chic.

Or maybe just pay for half: You can pay for their makeup by your artist, but then let them know that they can do their own hair or go to their own stylist. Just be sure to arm them with hairstyles pics that you envision them wearing when they stand by your side.

Talk to your artist: If you happen to have everyone and your aunt getting their hair and makeup done by your hired artist, then ask for a package rate, a discount, or just something.  You can then either decide if the final cost is something you can afford to shoulder, or you can divide the cost by the number of people getting beautified.

Book a beauty lesson for your bridal party: Ask your artist if she gives beauty lessons and if she can teach your bridal party how to do their own makeup and hair for your big day. You can pay for the lessons (again as part of your thank you gift) or ask your bridal party to go in on it with you.  You can even make a night of it and treat it like a beauty makeover party. Chances are a beauty lesson rate will be cheaper that wedding day costs AND you all get to walk away with tips and tricks that can be used BEYOND the wedding day!

-bp-