I asked my stylist about a post on this site from a while back noting that a bride was quotes $1,000 plus 20% travel time for wedding day hair - and I think that was for JUST the bride.
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My stylist told me that she has given at least one wedding day quote of $2500 for the bride, 2 BM's, 2 FG & MOH plus MOB - 7 people total.
The reason it was $2500 is because the wedding was on a Saturday morning out of the local area. Saturday is her best day in her shop. She would have to travel to the hotel the night before meaning she could not work in her shop late on Friday night or work at all on Saturday so she would be missing out on the payments & tips from her regular Friday night & Saturday clients.
She would need to prep all 7 people the night before (setting their hair in rollers, touching up color or other prep). She would have to pack up her car with all the equipment (clips, pins, portalable dryers, chemicals, curling irons etc.) since so many people claim they won't need this or that but they can need color touched up or a cut or some other process. Then she was expected to do all 7 hair styles the next morning starting at 5 or 6 a.m. and then stay to touch up the hair styles until at least the beginning of the reception.
I had no idea so much was involved in having a stylist come to do everyones wedding day hair
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I think her point is if she gives up Friday night & all of the Saturday clients she should at least charge what she would have made had she been in her shop.
Say 36 people total Friday night and all day Saturday (9 a.m. - 9 p.m.) is the norm assuming she stacks appointments (which my stylist does all the time
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). Using a regular price of $65 per person (no tips or tax) for an updo the stylist would make $2340 in the shop from Friday night through Saturday.
After doing the wedding hair from Friday night through Saturday, the stylist would not even bother going back to the salon so late in the evening. Plus, she could not book anyone in advance at the shop anyway because there is no telling what time she would be done with the wedding.
I think $1,000 is reasonable (and in fact probably cheap for hair & make up for 5 people) now that I understand all that goes into it.
Thankfully, my stylist is a good friend and not only will she be doing my hair that day but she is also attending the wedding with her husband.
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We have not discussed price at all (after several FREE trials) but I suspect she will not charge me a cent - as a gift I am guessing.
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