Hair Stylist!

tpwkalyn

So, I have a family friend who is a hair stylist that has offered to do mine & my bridesmaid's hair for my wedding gift. However, I have A LOT of bridesmaids (8), and I would just feel awful letting her do 9 heads of hair (which when you think about it, is gonna take FOREVER) and not paying her anything. My wedding is on a Saturday, and she doesn't work on Saturdays so it's not like she'd technically be *losing* money, but I'm not quite sure what an appropriate "tip" would be. Anyone have any advice?

Teddy917

If she is doing it for your wedding gift, tipping might be a little awkward. Maybe just get her a really nice thank you gift.

mollyringwald15

Where you already planning to hire a hair stylist for your bridesmaids before she offered? This seems like a lot of girls and could end up taking hours... I would maybe considering hiring a second stylist she knows from her salon to do half?

This is a really sweet offer and I think tipping would be awkward. I would just write her a very heartfelt thank you note. A thank you gift for a gift would be a little strange in my opinion.

JCbride2015

futurekhugz said:

So, I have a family friend who is a hair stylist that has offered to do mine & my bridesmaid's hair for my wedding gift. However, I have A LOT of bridesmaids (8), and I would just feel awful letting her do 9 heads of hair (which when you think about it, is gonna take FOREVER) and not paying her anything. My wedding is on a Saturday, and she doesn't work on Saturdays so it's not like she'd technically be *losing* money, but I'm not quite sure what an appropriate "tip" would be. Anyone have any advice?

Have you made an initial offer to pay her for her services, but she has already refused and wants to do it as a gift?  I'd at least make the offer once: "Oh, thank you so much!  How much would you typically charge for that service? I'd really like to pay you."  If she says no, as she probably will, I think tipping her would be strange because she intends it as a gift.  I think a thank-you gift would be a nice gesture, or a very heartfelt card.

JellyBean52513

While I agree with PPs that it's strange to thank someone for a gift with a gift in return, to me this is less of a tangible "gift" as it is a rendering of services free-of-charge. If you think trying to tip her with cash would be too awkward (and it might be, if she insists that this is meant to be free for you), I would definitely give her a nice bottle of her favorite wine, maybe a gift card to a store you know she likes, something that's not actual money but rather an expression of how much you appreciate her donating her time and skills.

[Deleted User]

Is she aware of the size of your BP?  It's a very generous offer and I agree with giving her a generous thank you gift in lieu of payment.  However, I would just concerned with her offer of help, if she wasn't aware of the size of the group.  

We had 6 people getting their hair and makeup done and started at 10am.  It took until almost 2pm with having 2 girls doing makeup and 2 doing hair (one was the lead and the other assisted and did only 1 head entirely).

pegasuskat

My DD is a hair stylist, and does a lot of weddings - there is no way I think she could do that  many in a reasonable amount of time.  I would talk with her and make sure she realizes the amount of BM's you have.  I would also offer again to pay her, I could see her doing yours (that is a generous gift) but to do all the maids also for free is a lot of work.  I would be most worried about time though, it will take a long time to do that many styles!

lovegood90

I think it's a great gift to you to do your hair, if she offered, but I agree with others that to do all your bridesmaids is a bit much. Is she aware of how many bridesmaids you have?

tpwkalyn

Oh yes, I made her well aware of the size of my BP & offered to pay her something, but she insisted upon no payment. I made up a timeline with my photographer & my hair stylist so all of us would be ready for photos at 2:30pm. We have briefly discussed the styles that the girls in my BP are wanting & they aren't anything extravagant. I know it's gonna take a good while to get everyone's hair done and it's gonna be A LOT of work, so I couldn't live with myself if I didn't give her SOMETHING. I'm thinking about a gift card to a really nice restaurant so her & her husband can go out on a date night or something, along with a nice little "thank you" letter. Any other ideas you guys might have would be greatly appreciated!

tammym1001

futurekhugz said:

Oh yes, I made her well aware of the size of my BP & offered to pay her something, but she insisted upon no payment. I made up a timeline with my photographer & my hair stylist so all of us would be ready for photos at 2:30pm. We have briefly discussed the styles that the girls in my BP are wanting & they aren't anything extravagant. I know it's gonna take a good while to get everyone's hair done and it's gonna be A LOT of work, so I couldn't live with myself if I didn't give her SOMETHING. I'm thinking about a gift card to a really nice restaurant so her & her husband can go out on a date night or something, along with a nice little "thank you" letter. Any other ideas you guys might have would be greatly appreciated!

If this is her wedding gift to you,please don't get her a gift in return. Are you planning on buying gifts for everyone else who gives you wedding presents? 

FWIW, the reason I say that is that I used to own a bakery. I have made wedding cakes for friends for free as their wedding present. If they had given me a gift in return then I would have felt like I didn't get them a wedding present and I would still need to get them something. While what she's offering is very generous it is still a gift and doesn't require a gift in return. If someone gave you a check for $1,000 for your wedding would you go and buy them a gift?