MUA

April 16th, 2010 @ 1:19 pm by Mrs. Jellyfish
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In the world of crazy wedding acronyms, MUA stands for Make Up Artist. Whenever I see this acronym, I can’t help but imagine an evil person going, MUAHAHAHAHAHA!!! And with how high the prices are for bridal makeup, I wouldn’t be surprised if there are some makeup artists out there muahahaha-ing at how stupid/silly brides are to cough up these fees!

OK, OK, I know that some consider makeup an art form and that people need to make a living – perhaps I’m being a little harsh. But seriously, $1250* for wedding hair and makeup? Am I missing something?

Unless my skin is covered with scales and my hair is made of twigs, I cannot fathom how it could cost that much. And even makeup artists that are considered “reasonable” in the Bay Area average around $400-500 from what I’ve found.

MUA : wedding makeup pleasanton 2 2

Now this? I can see this costing $1250 to fix. (Source)

Now, I know I could just do my own makeup. I feel pretty confident in my makeup skills and even did my BM LC’s makeup for her wedding. But it’s my wedding dammit, and I don’t want to stress about doing my own makeup! I want to feel pampered and I want to look airbrush flawless. But not $500+ flawless. At least not at the cost.

So what’s a girl to do? Keep looking, is my solution. I was overjoyed to find someone who does hair and makeup for $200 (sad, isn’t it? that this would be an amazing price?) and I booked a trial with her. Stay tuned for the results…

What has your experience been with finding a MUA? Are you hiring someone, or are you doing it yourself?

*This is the rate charged by one of the Bay Area’s premier makeup artists. Seriously? I could pull a Heidi Montag for that much money.

Tags: makeup, pleasanton |

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38 Responses to “MUA”

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Member

hotchildinthecity (message) 4,136 posts, Honey bee

I was SHOCKED at the price of makeup. I’m getting my hair done for a pretty reasonable price, but the makeup prices are ridiculous.

4/16/10 @ 1:21 pm (reply)

Member

MissHelen (message) 2,440 posts, Buzzing bee

I booked with a make up artist (stupidly without thoroughly researching) because she’s the preferred vendor at our venue. $225 just to do my make up, and that’s not including the trial! Just this weekend I said no thank you and booked with another artist who is much less expensive ($75) and does gorgeous work. It’s insane!

4/16/10 @ 1:27 pm (reply)

Member

bohemianbailie (message) 980 posts, Busy bee

This is one of my nightmares, I actually had a literal nightmare about getting my hair and makeup done for our e-pics.

4/16/10 @ 1:29 pm (reply)

Member

Osakagrl (message) 761 posts, Busy bee

But also keep in mind! if you dont mind, you could always go to a mac counter store, and do your makeup from 50 dollars in merch purchases and sometimes they dont even ask that! Its a little out of the way but you save a TON of money!

4/16/10 @ 1:38 pm (reply)

Member

stringerb3 (message) 186 posts, Blushing bee

My makeup artist (who charged a pretty penny, especially for my area) canceled on me with 2.5 weeks to go. Now I’m going with the manager of the Bobbi Brown store in my town. Her prices are so affordable and I got to have a trial for free (I just bought some bronzer & lip gloss that I would have bought anyway). She’s coming to my hotel & everything!

4/16/10 @ 1:44 pm (reply)

Member

Rgeddy (message) 2,188 posts, Buzzing bee

I’ve been stressing about this - and tackfully putting it off as long as possible. This is one topic I wish someone would book for me - I’m fine planning the entire wedding by myself but MUA is too much. Also my sticker shock seems nothing compared to yours! I’m looking to pay about $325 for onsite hair + make up + trials of both. Hearing this makes me seem grateful - maybe I’ll book it afterall!

4/16/10 @ 1:45 pm (reply)

Bee

Mrs. Pug (message) 3,754 posts, Honey bee

i hear you on the sticker shock. in the end i did go way above my initial budget, but for me it was worth it, and we didn’t have to go as high as $800 for just makeup (i’m pretty sure that’s one of the prices i saw).

4/16/10 @ 1:51 pm (reply)

Member

MeghanV (message) 406 posts, Helper bee

My mom found my makeup lady by asking around the makeup counters at the mall - turned out a lot of the women there are also freelancers and while they weren’t all cheap, we found a total sweetheart who only charges $75. Best part - I can go to her counter whenever I feel like it for a trial, and it’s free!

4/16/10 @ 1:52 pm (reply)

Member

Miss Navy Blue (message) 74 posts, Worker bee

After doing lots of research, making lots of phone calls and paying for a makeup trial and not being happy with the results, I’ve decided to do my own makeup.

For the same price of a one-time MUA, I figure I can purchase a bunch of good, high-quality makeup that I can use after the wedding and I’ll do my makeup the way I want it done on my wedding day. In the mean time, I’m watching makeup application tutorials online to learn a few “tricks of the trade.”

4/16/10 @ 1:54 pm (reply)

10.

Member

beezkneez (message) 36 posts, Newbee

I’m an MUA and I’m wondering if I should have someone else do it. I want to feel pampered as well. I feel like I might be too nervous to do my own and I’ll have to lug my makeup kit on top of all the other DIY stuff I’m doing. I usually get into this zen thing when I do other bride’s makeup. I’m not sure if I’ll be able to find a calm/zen place on my big day.

I don’t charge those crazy prices but I am still in the ‘I can’t believe I’m getting paid to do what I love phase’ and building my portfolio. When I first started, there were times where it cost me more to do the makeup than my fee. I would get really large tips and think. Hey, maybe I didn’t charge enough? I have since raised prices. The reality is, it is expensive to do makeup.

If you’re really in a pinch, you should hit up the local beauty schools. I’m sure some would even do it for free! They need models. And some of those girls are really talented.

I still need a few more faces for my portfolio myself so I may do a few free or discounted trials. I’ll be sure to make a post here if I do to help some ladies out. : )

Just FYI, my initial makeup kit was $4,000. Since then, I’ve probably spent well over $10,000. Plus, to really do it right, you have to sanitize your entire kit and buy supplies for each bride. And practice for several years to get it right. All that adds. In my opinion, experience is what you should really be paying for.

p.s. I LOVE lolcats! It are my favrit website on the interwebs…Next to this one, of course!

4/16/10 @ 2:06 pm (reply)

11.

Guest

Golden8214

I am paying a lot for hair and makeup but as an african-american woman, it is much harder to find a talented reasonably priced person in the NYC/Northern NJ area. The amount I am paying is a lot less than what people in Manhattan pay but a little more than what some people in Jersey quote. However, this makeup artist is fantastic with women of color. I found that many makeup artists have a tendency on using products that wash me out and make me look ashy, and since she is also doing my hair I feel its an extra bonus. This was one area I was ready to spend a little extra, no where near $1250 though :-o!

4/16/10 @ 2:08 pm (reply)

12.

Guest

rosabelle

Doing my own. I’m going to go to Sephora and/or MAC for tutorials/trials and purchase good quality makeup then do it myself. I’ll save a ton and have makeup to use later.

4/16/10 @ 2:25 pm (reply)

13.

Guest

TLVBride

Um, yeah. After seeing those prices, I said screw it and went and splurged on new makeup for myself. I spent enough money for all the goods that I was invited back for a free lesson on applying said makeup for the wedding AND got extra bonus gifts. I still spent half of what I would have spent on makeup for one day of my life and now I have all new, high quality products to pamper me EVERY DAY. So yeah, I think I’ll do without the MUA. And if I’m not in the mood to put it on myself on the big day, I’ll ask my sister to do it.

4/16/10 @ 2:30 pm (reply)

14.

Member

Miss. SnowMnky (message) 1 posts, Wannabee

Ugh. I cringe at the thought of the pain I went through trying to find a MUA.
If yours doesnt’ work out, let me know. My MUA is doing my hair as well (even though I know you’ve got your spot). She’s really sweet, does airbrushing and is located in Dublin.

4/16/10 @ 2:46 pm (reply)

15.

Member

JEdmondson2118 (message) 4 posts, Wannabee

Did you know you can get it done at the beauty school? In WA state where our wedding will be you can get it done for $5 and they do a trial to make sure you’re going to like it. Also they do hair as well for $5. Might want to look into it!

4/16/10 @ 2:50 pm (reply)

16.

Member

tweds (message) 448 posts, Helper bee

I was also shocked - it’s funny though how most of us don’t flinch at the price of “bridal hair” ($200-ish in my area for the good people), makeup makes us balk…possibly because we don’t routinely have professional makeup done? Anyone who’s had makeup done professionally for other events have feedback on this - is the cost usually this high, airbrush or no? Hmmm.

Still, they’ve got us by the ovaries - no way I’m spending so much on a photog and not looking perfect - my own makeup job fades when I’m NOT spontaneously crying….fail.

4/16/10 @ 2:54 pm (reply)

17.

Member

ktisthatbees (message) 2,742 posts, Sugar bee

Oh jeeze, I haven’t even started looking at MUA prices, you’ve got me shakin in my boots now . . .

4/16/10 @ 2:56 pm (reply)

18.

Member

thebriz (message) 448 posts, Helper bee

Ditto all the way; but it just goes with the whole concept of anything - regular make for a day would be reasonable, mention it’s for a wedding and it sky rockets! I’d love to have found someone for $200; I think $300 was the best I could do in NYC (for the day-of, trial a little less). I’m having my trial this Sunday and hope it goes well; I did have a make-up trial a few weeks back and it was a disaster!

4/16/10 @ 3:02 pm (reply)

19.

Member

camrie (message) 3,044 posts, Sugar bee

I must be crazy, but I’m doing it myself. Because I’ve had my makeup and hair done numerous times and I always feel like I don’t look like myself.

Of course I don’t plan on doing my makeup in 15 mins in the rearview mirror for my wedding so I’m pretty confident about it.

4/16/10 @ 3:13 pm (reply)

20.

Member

dookie32 (message) 183 posts, Blushing bee

I was actually more annoyed with the prices for BMs. I was ok with paying what I needed to pay for myself to get someone good, but I felt like I couldn’t ask them to spend $100. Most people in Chicago have a minimum as far as the # of people they need in order to travel so I had to look for a while until I found someone who would be ok with bride plus 3.

4/16/10 @ 3:31 pm (reply)

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