Hired a makeup artist to do bridal and 7 bridesmaids hair and makeup. In fact I had hired someone else and then the first one informed me that she had already been hired so I figured oh my wedding planners or someone chose her so I said oh ok I like the work let's go with it so I cancelled the other HMU.
I was very adamant about getting done before 4, first look was 4 and guests arrived at 4:45. I said I would even prefer sooner since photographer arrives at 1:30 and that gives us plenty leeway to take getting ready photos.
They insisted noon was enough time despite my protests, I even suggest I go to the salon separately to do mine so they can focus on BM because they stated they couldn't get there any earlier than 12 anyway. Insisted photos after the first look at 4 so I will be fine. Etc etc.
My makeup was done at 4:45. We had to kick out guests so we can do first look so it was super stressful. Only 5 bridesmaids got hair down and only 2 got full makeup, one for half makeup and the rest had to scramble to do their own at like 4:30 pm. The BM missed cocktail hour and we had to delay the ceremony start, so we missed photos with the bridesmaids etc.
I'm good at keeping my cool externally but internally I was SCREAMING. Very stressed. First look stressful as well. Anyway, I had an amazing wedding so totally overshadowed the HMU.
The next day they sent me a bill for nearly $3k. Included second makeup artist fee (so they each charged a makeup fee for the same face of makeup 🙄), fees were increased from their original pricing, late booking fees (despite them being the ones to tell me they were already booked), special effects makeup fees, retouching fees, etc. also charged for 9 total makeup? I'm not sure how they were justifying that but anyway, rest assured I did not sign a contract with them ahead of time nor have a paid them any money. It's a weird scenario I know but we never discussed a second artist, late fees, increased fees from her original quotes, no proof of retouching, no justification for the double charges. Nothing was discussed. Obviously they knew I had a backup makeup person so why would I agree to last minute booking fees with them had I known?
Also kept blaming my wedding planner for telling them to get there at noon when they never spoke to her, only me, and they both insisted over and over noon was fine.
I suspect they saw how much bigger the wedding is than they expected and they thought they could just invoice me for whatever and hope I'd pay.
So ignoring the fact that they were the biggest stressor of the day and the majority of the hair/makeup was not even done, I'm not sure what to do. Obviously without a contract or any payment they don't have any recourse. I'm not looking to stiff them either, although I suspect many people would after being forced to miss an important photo shoot and hours with the vendors. But they certainly aren't getting $3k either. What do you think is fair?