I've been having the worst time finding hair and make-up people for the wedding (sorry, I know I've already whined about this before). I thought I found someone, finally, so we were messaging back and forth. I made it pretty clear: All 5 of my girls want their hair done and 3 of them also want make-up. That's it. The lady kept bringing up doing my hair and make-up too and I kept telling her I really want to do it myself. She tired to add my mom, groom's mom, grandma, etc. NO! Just the bridesmaids. So she was going to write up the contract for that. (I'm paying for this myself so I need the total to stay under control).
The next day, while I'm waiting on the contract, she asks if I'd be interested in a trial for myself. I said, again, that I'm almost positive I'll do my own hair and make-up, but ok. I will do the trial just to SEE if I like it. (I wanted her to be clear on the fact that ultimately, I'll probably choose to do it myself because I don't want her to get offended when I do the trial and then opt out, but at the same time I thought it was worth a shot because maybe I'll love it). She's nice about it and we schedule the trial.
She then sends me the contract that night (last night). Grand total? $775. Why? Because she put my hair and make-up in the contract which is $275. As soon as I sign the contract I legally owe them $275 for my hair and make-up whether they do a good job at the trial or not. The trial is in March. She's urging me to sign the contract and pay the deposit NOW. I don't fucking think so lady.
Just my hair would be $175 which is a total no-go for me because I'm just wearing it down. I've told this lady many times that I'm just wearing it down. So $175 for me to have my hair curled? Ugh! NOPE! I was so so so so so mad when I saw that contract. That's so fucking shady to add in services that I haven't even agreed to. FI told me to just respond and say never mind on the trial, and never mind on my hair and make-up. I was like "Nope, if I say something to her now I'm gonna be a total bitch cuz I'm so annoyed."
Well, while I was annoyed I went online and researched hair and make-up people AGAIN. I ended up finding someone in the area who responded to me within minutes, has amazing photos of the hair they've done, (these people I was gonna hire didn't seem too impressive to me but since the girls all wanted something simple I thought it would be fine), have lower prices than the shady people, were super friendly and helpful, have great reviews, AND since the girls want something simple I don't have to pay the full up-do price. Woo!
So now I'm not gonna hire the other people at all. I'm going to let them know they can forget the whole thing. If they hadn't tried to sneak those extra services into the contract, after how clear I was to them about all of it, I would have already signed with them and they'd have 5 girls to work on and about $500 to make not including tip. Now they get nothing.
(And just and aside, I'm pretty sure adding things into a contract that have not been agreed upon by both parties is fraud)