I am rewriting the post to only include the facts of my interacting with Mia the hair and make-up artist not to tell you what to do but letting all the brides know my honest opinion. When we give a bad review on a vendor it is important to only state the facts and dont state 'Beware or Dont Trust' so that it is not slander and the post dont get removed. This way we as brides can see the positive and negative of all vendors. I have already heard bad stories about Mia but since I wrote the last post I have received numerous FM from brides that had BAD experiences with her that have not written about it and I think that is the only way we get a fair review (from nasty threatening email, to no call or show, to not returning money, etc). I booked all of my vendors based on reviews from this board. I booked Mia in 2007 based on all of the things I heard about her without doing a trial. I kept asking for a contract and I would continue to receive emails back saying 'consider this your contract'. Anyway, about seven months later I booked a trial and was determined to get a contract from her. The first trial was cancelled about an hour before I was suppose to meet her. The second trial Mia showed up about 45 minutes late and blamed (her assistant) which is the excuse I heard she gives many brides. I should have taken this as a warning, but I didnt and she did a good job so I asked for a written contract. I know she doesn't usually give written contracts because she was looking all over to find one and told me she would mail it but I told her I will wait. she wrote on the contract that she would do 10 makeup and 5 hair plus the bride. Fastforward to a couple weeks ago, my coordinator calls her to schedule a time line for the girls since she said they take a half hour each and she was bringing two assistants plus herself, I know make-up should not take more than 2 and half 3 hours. Mia proceeds to say, ' cant her girls go to the hair dresser the night before the wedding, I dont have anyone for hair' then I tell her this is not okay. The next conversation she says well 'I can come at 11 and only do the bride and her mother, I dont have someone to do all those girls, she added a lot of people.' I called Mia after this and she didnt answer or call back so I emailed her coordinator to find out what is going on because I have a written contract that says the number of people she was doing , even though I'm sure she doesn't remember giving me a contract. This is the reason she doesn't normally give one...... Mia's assistant tells me that since I have a contract Mia will have to start the girls at 5AM. Now she knows there is NO WAY anyway does make-up at 5AM for a ceremony that starts at 5:30 PM. I email the assistant back and tell her this is not okay and Mia needs to call me. This is because now that she realizes I have a written contract she knows she has to do it so all of a sudden she can find people but they have to come at a CRAZY time so they can get to the other wedding she has booked on my day. Mia then calls my coordinator (not me) and tells her to let me know I have three options. 1. The girls are started at 5am and there is a fee for anyone that is late. 2. She only does myself and my mother. 3. She gives me back my trial fee and deposit and forget the whole thing. Thanks to the wonderful brides I have met on this site, I found an amazing make-up artist and I know someone wonderful for hair. When I cancel Mia, she states that since I took over a week to get back to her she is only giving me back the trial money and not the deposit, which I really dont care about but it's the principal. She has an ATTITUDE and she does not even apologize. How on earth can I find a make-up artist and hair stylist for myself and my bridal party for memorial day weekend in 1 WEEK? She knew that was crazy. Because I dont want this post removed again I will just say that I would NEVER book a vendor again without a written contract stating not only the number of people but the time. I also wish I knew the stories that I am hearing now BEFORE I booked this artist. There are so many talented make-up artist and hair stylist and I would never want to put time, energy and money into a vendor that would do this to someone weeks before there wedding.
FM me with any questions or details
Future Mulligan
Posted:
Member since
Re: THE TRUTH ABOUT ***
i had a great experience as well....m-i-a was one of my favorite vendors.....hopefully she will get more on top of scheduling/contracts so that this doesnt happen again....its unfortunate that the OP had to go through this
JessesGirl
Posted:
Member since
Re: THE TRUTH ABOUT ***
I also used M-I-Aand her assistant and had a wonderful experience with her. I constantly have friends asking me who did the amazing job on me and my girls make-up and hair. She was one of my favorite vendors as well. Also, my ceremony was at 7pm and she started make-up and hair at 6:30AM since we took pics off site at 1pm and had to leave the hotel by 1pm. Everyone's hair and make-up stayed all day. Sorry to hear you had a bad experience.
Christine N Ralph
Posted:
Member since
Re: THE TRUTH ABOUT ***
I am using *** as well and I asked her for a contract but she said that she usually doesnt make them up until your wedding date comes closer. I thought that was a little weird but I am not terribly concerned. I loved the way her trial came out and I feel like she will be there on the day of.
Past Brides: is this the way she operates?
sharivera
Posted:
Member since
Re: THE TRUTH ABOUT ***
Posted by Christine N Ralph
I am using *** as well and I asked her for a contract but she said that she usually doesnt make them up until your wedding date comes closer. I thought that was a little weird but I am not terribly concerned. I loved the way her trial came out and I feel like she will be there on the day of.
Past Brides: is this the way she operates?
I got a contract via email a few months before my wedding..which happened to be soon after my trial (i had a relatively short engagement)