You’re sitting at the table with your parents and new fiancé! Congrats! You’ve calculated your budget for different vendors and other wedding costs but your eyes grow wide when you get to the section for your wedding hair. Wedding hair costs how much?! If you are unfamiliar with the wedding industry it’s going to be a sicker shock! We are going to break down wedding hair cost so it is clear where you’re putting your money.

Factors That Contribute to Wedding Hair Cost

“But she’s only going to be there for like 5 hours” is probably a thought that is going to come to mind. There’s so much more than your stylist simply being there on your wedding day.

There are many different things that influence the cost of your wedding hair for you and your bridal party. Keep in mind that these are going to vary between artists. A wedding hair stylist in Los Angeles is for sure going to be pricer than one in Myrtle Beach. Los Angeles prices hover around the $250-$300 mark for the bride’s hair while Myrtle Beach, a bit trickier to source, prices range anywhere from $85-150 for the bride.

These numbers reflect the:

• Stylist’s Experience
• Reputation
• Education. Yes, we have to do continuing education to keep our license.
• Specialization
• Operating Costs such as software and client management systems
• Quality of Products used
• Travel Fees
• And many other things

Breakdown of Wedding Hair Cost

Before the Wedding

Communication

Many brides, wise one specifically, book their wedding hair anywhere from 9-18 months out from their wedding day. That’s essentially an accessible line of communication with your stylist for upwards of a year and a half. Talk about customer service.

Education

If your bridal stylist is worth their salt, then they’ve invested in their education. Many wedding hair specialists have gone through cosmetology school initially. Beyond that, a specialty styling class or class are the next step for them. These often come with a hefty price tag too. Wedding hair is a specific niche and not everyone can or has the passion to do wedding hair.

The Preview Appointment

There’s also the Bridal Hair Preview Appointment, a.k.a. the hair trial. This appointment is typically at least two hours or longer, which can explain a difference in price for some stylists. We sit down and hash out all the details about how you want your hair in your wedding day. We chat about your hair texture, comfort levels, extensions if you’re interested, and many other things such as your wedding party. You’re for sure getting your money’s worth with this service.

The Night Before

Then there’s the night before your wedding day. If you’re stressed the night before your big day, you probable aren’t alone. The day before a wedding can be stressful for your stylist. If your stylist is anything like myself, then they will pack and unpack their bridal kit at least three times. I want to make sure that I have everything I might need to make you feel spectacular. I always bring a little “emergency kit” with things like clear nail polish, thread, bandaids, and more because it’s a wedding. Something will go wrong. I like going the extra step to make sure that I can help as much as possible.

Your Wedding Day

We are almost as excited as you when your wedding day rolls around. More than likely, your wedding stylist is traveling to you and where you’re getting ready, whether it be a hotel or the wedding venue itself. Ninety-nine percent of the time this will mean that you’re going to pay a travel fee. These can range anywhere from $.55-$2 depending on your location. Your travel fee is usually clearly stated in your proposal and contract. If you then have your stylist change locations for whatever reason, this usually incurs an additional fee. Many wedding vendors have a radius of anywhere from 5-40 miles roundtrip of free travel. For example, my travel included 40 miles roundtrip for free, so if a venue is 15 miles from my studio, then there will be no travel fee included in your proposal.

Across the board, having someone come to you to do your wedding hair is a luxury service and is usually priced so. If it seems too good to be true then it is. While it may not be the biggest portion of your wedding budget, your bridal hair is a decent chunk of change so be sure to do your research so you can find a wedding hair stylist that is right for you. You do spend half of your wedding day with them after all. If you’re reading this I’m going to assume that you haven’t locked down a wedding stylist, Right? Let’s get that taken care of for you! Check out my portfolio here. Have questions about your wedding hair? Leave a comment and I will get it answered as best as I can!

Ready for More?

Check out these other posts to make your wedding journey as easy as possible!

• How to Maintain Healthy Hair Leading Up to Your Wedding
• Bridal Hair Inspirations from Iconic Weddings
• Wedding Hair and Makeup Services: Top Reasons Why You Should Book Your Vendors Early
• Wedding Hair Mistakes to Avoid
• The Best Wedding Vendors in Myrtle Beach
• Clip-In Hair Extensions: the Ultimate Guide for Nailing Your Bridal Look
• Wedding Self-Care Tips: Avoid the Burnout