Do I have to do a trial??

cfibelkorn

I have a very small bridal party (me and two other girls), my hair and makeup stylist said she does not book weddings unless there is at least me and three other people. (I have a gift certificate to her for $700, which is the only reason I am trying to make this work). I am on a really tight budget so I do not want to spend any more than the $700, but if I add a fourth person I cannot afford to do a trial run...which is $145 by the way!!! 

 I'm so stressed about it. On one hand I figure I don't really need a trial because I'm using her regardless and my hair and makeup seem easy to do. However on the other hand I know they kind of need it to know exactly what I want and to make the wedding day run smoothly. What should I do??

Sorry its so long but any incite would be most appreciated

Mariah09202008

Can you add your mom in for the 4th person or your MIL?

I would recommend doing a trial run...but if you trust this person, then I don't think you HAVE to have one.  I'd just bring a lot of inspiration pictures and explain to her very descriptively what you want done. 

Personally, I'm glad I did a trial run because I was able to see what I liked and didn't like about my hair and when the wedding day came, I was able to tell my stylist to add in some extra bobbypins in certain areas because my hair fell out of a few while I was doing my bridal portraits.

Terriniski

If you're really concerned about the budget, I think Mariah's suggestion of bringing lots of inspiration photos is a good one.  Maybe go to a makeup counter at the mall and have them play around with some colors and take some pictures to show to your make-up person?  (If you know what make-up brand the stylist uses, that might help because you can write down particular colors you liked.) 

I was really glad to have a trial run because the blush my stylist used during my trial was rather brown (I had always thought that earth-tones looked better on me than pastels, but it was definitely too brown) and she was able to tweak it a bit at the trial to give me a better sense of what it would look like and then do it fresh and perfect on the day-of.

pphqt10

That trial run is pretty expensive, I had my makeup artist do mine for engagement pictures, bridals and since I am tweaking my makeup a little for the wedding she wants to do one more trial and I am scheduling it the day of my shower. If you do end up doing a trial which I highly recommend, I think you should put it on a day you can take full advantage of!

cfibelkorn

The fourth person will be my mom and I have to have her in order to even book the lady.

 I guess my concern is paying $145 for the trial run. Is it necessary? Is this a normal price? What did you pay for a trial run?

Sorry for all the questions but this is my one hump in the road of wedding planning that has stressed me out 

BanannaP

Actually, my hairdresser told me that she kind of prefers to not do trial runs because it almost never turns out exactly the same. Your hair will probably be a different length and it may behave differently because of the weather. I will probably not do a trial run. But then again, I've been going to my hairdresser for over four years and I trust her implicitly. I think that if she comes highly recommended and you're comfortable with skipping the trial, then do that. But if you're going to be nervous about it, then do the trial.

Also, it seems like most hair/makeup people won't book unless you have a minimum of four people. As far as I can tell, that's pretty standard.

fallbride1109

I highly recommend the trial.  I ended up making changes after I did mine--I thought I wanted it one way but when it was done, I wasn't completely satisfied.  I was completely happy with the end result which I'm not sure I would have achieved without the trial.  I know it's expensive, but I still recommend it. 

almoyo

I did a trial run with one stylist, and HATED it. She did exactly what I said I didn't want, and it looked nothing at all like the many photos I showed her. I was so freaked out that I booked a new stylist for my hair based on some great recommendations. There wasn't time for a trial, but it turned out beautifully on my wedding day.

loveypants

I did I trial run and hated it also.  I was happy that I did it because when I went back for the real deal I knew what I wanted changes and was SO happy.  If I had not done the trail I would have hated my wedding day hair, because I would have done it the 1st way and not spoken up that I didn't like it. 

cfibelkorn

Almoyo and Loverypants.....who did ya'll use for your trials? and then for your wedding?

almoyo

Um, for my trial, it was a woman in Denton... I honestly don't remember her name.

For the wedding, I used Soho Salon, and Nathan did my hair. I wholeheartedly recommend him!

loveypants

I used someone at Instinktive down in south arlington for both my trial and wedding day.

cfibelkorn

After lots of helpful comments from you guys I have reached a conclusion
I am going to just ask for the money back (only $200 is not refundable but I didn't pay for it in the first place, my friend who got married last year ended up using someone else which is why she gave me the gift certificate)
I am going to take $500 back and just go some where else. I was thinking
1. that is way to expensive 2. she seems like she is trying to work me over because I have a gift certificate.
Thanks for your help ladies!!!

fallbride1109

Is it someone reputable?  I paid $125 for my trial last year.  I don't know that it's way out of range.

Any wedding MUA will have a minimum for a Saturday wedding.  I had a small wedding party too so I understand.  I got lucky that my MUA had a minimum of 3 but I think she may be changing that for 2010.  Anyway, you'll spend that $500 easy, and you still may not get a trial is what I'm saying.  So if it's someone really good, I don't know that I'd throw away that extra $200 so quickly.

Tiffany618

I'm sorry I'm late coming into this, but my MUA is charging $365 for my airbrush trial, my airbrush wedding day makeup, and 3 bridesmaids partial makeup (they do their own concealer/foundation...which they told me they prefer).

It is even more affordable if you don't do airbrush.   I haven't used her for my wedding yet, but I did do a trial and it was great.   Her website is www.ahmakeupartistry.com

BanannaP

Tiffany, her prices are great! Do you happen to have pics of your trial?