Mrs. Tulip, DC
Age and Occupation: 36, Retired
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 33, Counsel/DOO for Small Gov't Contractor
Engagement Date: August 8, 2007
Wedding Date: March, 2008
Venue: Still Looking!
About Me: In all my dreams of the man I'd someday marry, I never pictured anyone as perfect for me as Mr. Tulip. So now we just have to make it through the craziness of the wedding and the moving in together! I love crafts, sewing, jewelry making, and photography, so am looking forward to this chance for DIY fun. When not wedding planning, I'm playing with our dog and 4 cats, Ebay shopping, or watching too much TV (often simultaneously!).
Getting Pretty At The Beauty School
May 1st, 2008 @ 11:42 am by Mrs. Tulip
When I first started researching the cost of professional hair and makeup for weddings, I was SHOCKED! For a girl who usually gets her hair cut at the Aveda Institute for $18 a pop, prices in the hundreds of dollars were awe-inspiring. And that was just for the bride — bringing my mother and bridesmaids along for the ride would cost, roughly, one gazillion dollars.
But then I realized there was a budget option: my friends at the Aveda Institute. You never know which student will be assigned, but my many haircuts have run the gamut from adequate to great. And the price? $10 for a makeup application, $15 for a short-hair do, and $40 for an updo!
At least, I think that’s the updo price. I paid for my mother’s short-hair style but never had the chance to pay for my own beauty …. BECAUSE A STRANGER PAID FOR IT!
A note to the anonymous person who paid for my hair and makeup on my wedding day — I can’t tell you how much your generous gesture meant to me. The enormous smile that was pasted on my face all day had its start in the amazing warmth I felt from your act of kindness. I pray the good karma comes back around to you someday.
As far as tips go, (1) I highly recommend bringing photos of the style you’re looking for. Even though I had no personal history with the stylist or makeup person, it’s easy to say “I want volume in front and a sort-of-simple bun” or “I like a natural face with some color on the eyes and lips” if you have illustrations of exactly WHAT those terms mean to you. (2) If you go the Aveda Institute route, you’re in luck if you’re a late planner — when I first tried to make an appointment, they told me to call back a month before the date. (3) And if you’re not an early riser (as I am not), be prepared! We had to arrive at 8:30 to be sure there was no rush with travel/clothes/etc. before our 2:00 ceremony.
Also? What a great place for funky photos. Here are a few more of my favorites. (All photos by Punam Bean.):
Aveda Institute DC
713 7th St NW, Washington, DC 20001
(202) 824-1624
(If you’re not in DC, you may still be in luck — there are Aveda Institutes in 20 states and several countries.)
And for any DC gals or guys who aren’t comfortable with the beauty school idea — I also highly recommend my new haircut and highlight guru: William at Salon Ava. He’s great with hair, totally knows his stuff, and believes what matters most is that YOU like the results. (Mr. T got his wedding haircut from William, and now he’s started going back regularly as well.) Their makeup artist, Andre, has done the makeup for TNT’s “Christmas in Washington” for several years. And best of all, their prices are quite reasonable for their level of service.
Salon Ava
225 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003
(202) 544-5111
17 Responses to “Getting Pretty At The Beauty School”
They did a BEYOND fantastic job! You look absolutely STUNNING! What a great find and a great tip!
I go to the DC Aveda Institute all the time! I just a got facial there last week. My experience has been just like yours- make sure you have extra time (they may be slower, since they’re new) and be really specific and willing to give feedback.
You look absolutely beautiful, and it is so wonderful that someone paid for your hair on your wedding day. What a wonderful gesture!
That is awesome that a stranger picked up your tab! I just booked for bridesmaids, moms, my SIL, the flower girl and me and was shocked at the price, so my stylist said she’d do my hair for free…which is awesome too! What an beautiful gesture on such a special day. Props to the stranger!
Thank you. I go to the Aveda Institute here in Seattle! I love it. I was shying away from going there on my wedding day, but thank you for encouraging me to reconsider.
First of all, you look breath-taking!!! Your hair and makeup are gorgeous. And I love the story of the stranger paying your tab– that is so sweet and such a great reminder of all the good in the world 
Oooh I just love the way your hair and makeup came out. I’m soooo jealous 
And how sweet that someone picked up the tab for you. What a lovely gesture!
p.s. I seriously can’t get over how amazing your pics are. That last picture is like a work of art.
What a great tip! I never even thought of it… I love Aveda, yet I am cheap! And yes, there’s one in Seattle :)
Gorgeous! As someone who hasn’t gotten her hair cut anywhere but in a classroom setting in the past 10 years… I totally love the advice!
You looked beautiful and that was so nice for someone to take care of your cost. I love Aveda product and found out the Aveda Institue recently. I took my mom there to get her hair colored and they did an awesome job. But when I called to see if I could get an appointment for me, my mom, bridesmand, jr. bridesmaid and flower girls, they said they are not set up for that.
As a cosmetology instructor, I’d like to thank you for your patronage of a school. It helps students reinforce concepts and gives them a chance to practice those “soft skills”. Also, you get quality work at a fraction of the cost.
Your hair turned out beautifully, and that is awesome that someone took care of your tab for you. 
oh, mrs. tulip! You look so beautiful– and FREE beauty is awesome!
I just have to say that I love that last picture of you– i love that you have your very own halo!
Aww…how incredibly sweet and thoughtful of that stranger! What did the person leave any notes to the cashier to pass on to you?? I would be so touched!
I agree, I love all those pictures! And you look great! Too bad there isn’t one in Cali… =( (I went to the Paul Mitchell school and I thought it was just okay…)
I used to have my haircut at the New York location- I can’t believe it slipped my mind to look into this for our wedding in New Orleans! Do you mind sharing how many people were in your bridal party, and how long it took for everyone to be done up? I’m also nervous because I won’t be able to make an appointment until October… was it very hard to get your appointment, once you were within the time range? Thanks!
I love your hair Mrs. Tulip!! And I love it even more cause it was cheap (or even better, free!!)! Too bad they don’t have an institute in LA 
Beautiful story, beautiful girl!
Thanks for your sweet compliments, everyone! I was very happy with the hair and makeup — they felt like “me” but of course much nicer than usual!
Which reminds me of a tip I forgot. Usually they have a policy about using only their own makeup products. But I asked if I could start with my beloved Cover FX foundation and let them work from there. They were fine with that. (Actually, I think they said I could do anything I want because it was my wedding day, ha ha!)
Yes, I was completely blown away by the stranger’s gesture. There was no note — when I got to the front desk to pay, they just said a woman who had been sitting a few seats away had already taken care of it.
Thea, I can see how the scheduling is a little nerve-wracking. When I called too early the first time, they told me exactly which day they would start taking appointments for that date. So I was pretty confident that the time would be open if I called on the appointed (ha) day. But maybe each Institute is different, so it would be worth calling and asking their local procedure….
(And Luxe, so sorry it didn’t work out for you! Maybe it was because of the children? Or maybe the school itself is smaller? But a good cautionary tale that it’s worth calling early to check, even if you can’t make appointments yet!)
[…] done….at a beauty school. But not just any school, the Aveda Institute! That’s what Mrs. Tulip did and blogged about on Weddingbee. It’s $10 for makeup, $15 for a short hairdo, and $40 for an updo. I go to the Vidal Sassoon […]
