Wedding hair prices?

[hxhair]

I have a client who has pressured me into doing wedding hair for her entire party for £140 I own a shop and a usually make 300 a day , does everyone charge there full day rate? I want to have a firm idea in my head of a price so I don't get caught out again ! Thanks

 

[Sugarplumfaery]

That's ridiculous!! How many in the wedding party? I personally opt out of wedding hair now but I would definitely charge more like £150- £200 for the bride inc trials - there could be a few and £50-70 for bridesmaids etc

 

[hxhair]

That's ridiculous!! How many in the wedding party? I personally opt out of wedding hair now but I would definitely charge more like £150- £200 for the bride inc trials - there could be a few and £50-70 for bridesmaids etc

The wedding is today so it's too late to opt out as she's a regular Client there are 7 people I feel so stupid that I got pressured into it I just want to see what everyone else charges so I can have a set price this is my first wedding and stupidly I let the client take control

 

[hxhair]

Also I have a hour drive to get there I feel such an idiot

 

[James294323]

Personally I don't do wedding hair. It's not worth it unless you specialise because every bride wants a deal. You end up feeling like you should do them a favour (like a gift for bride) so you end up doing it cheaper or for free (for friends). I would charge per day or half day if you are shutting your shop up. You have to at least match your daily profit as you are a business! Re different prices it totally depends on where you are located/based. Have a look at local salon prices or mobile hairdressers who offer that service in your area. Good luck!!

 

[lfbarnett717]

Also I have a hour drive to get there I feel such an idiot

When I got married last year I made the effort to go to my usual salon (it wasn't far from my venue) so that my usual hairdresser could do it! I know she will have charged her usual rate, and infact she did such an amazing job I took her some flowers to thank her afterwards don't be put off doing bridal hair, perhaps just decide on some firm guidelines so you don't get taken advantage of xx

 

[Sugarplumfaery]

Remember you are the stylist/ professional. I have to tell myself this a lot being on my own. The client cannot dictate to you what it should cost. The hours drive there and back is going to be costly both in fuel and time - that's two hours already gone so I would say around £500 for bride, time, fuel, bridesmaids.

You need to be firm now, nip it in the bud and don't let this go any further otherwise you are going to be feeling very pressured and upset. Believe me I know.

You can either be completely honest with her and tell her the costs for fuel and driving time - add it on - take control of the situation, or say that unfortunately you will not be able to do this for her anymore... Which you don't want to do.

Please don't let her dictate. You will want her to have a special day, and not let her become bridezilla. Honestly, something comes over some women when they're getting married, and it's not always pleasant.

 

[jacquelineanna]

If you can make 300.00 for a day then that is what you charge for being out of the salon; plus a call-out charge to cover travelling time and fuel; plus being her personal hairdresser on-site and on-hand for the day.

 

[Grace_Hair]

Oh gosh!!
I don't do wedding hair. Or worked in a salon that does much.

But, £300 is immense! If I did wedding hair I'd charge like £30-£40 for bride then £15-£20 for bridesmaid. Because usually they don't have/want anything too extravagant. Plus travel.

If someone came in for just a party would you charge the same?

I feel that the whole wedding industry is ridiculous. Tell someone its a wedding and seems to double the price, of anything!

 

[hxhair]

Thanks guys! X

 

[eager beaver]

Best way to.ensure this doesn't happen again is to have set prices printed up, I have been in a similar situation before with wedding makeup and learnt from it anyway, how did it all go? Money aside xx

 

[AcidPerm]

Oh gosh!!
I don't do wedding hair. Or worked in a salon that does much.

But, £300 is immense! If I did wedding hair I'd charge like £30-£40 for bride then £15-£20 for bridesmaid. Because usually they don't have/want anything too extravagant. Plus travel.
If someone came in for just a party would you charge the same?

I feel that the whole wedding industry is ridiculous. Tell someone its a wedding and seems to double the price, of anything!

But Tori, you need to be looking at this with your business head on.

If you're going to be out of the salon for at least half a day, you've got to make at least the same amount of money plus your travel costs to make it worthwhile not being available to your regular clients.

Plus you're under additional pressure being outside of your normal surroundings so you can't just nip across the road to grab a coffee/sandwich etc. You'll probably have to leave early if the wedding venue is a few miles away and a morning ceremony.

Not forgetting the hassle of everyone being super fussy and demanding. It's definitely no picnic for the wedding hairdresser!

Seriously, if you'd normally make £300 why would you work for a lot less money?

 

[Grace_Hair]

I do see all that. But I can't help but think £300 is a lot of money!!!!

 

[eager beaver]

I do see all that. But I can't help but think £300 is a lot of money!!!!

I don't think £300 for seven clients plus a two hour round journey and petrol fees is alot of money? Its only £42 approx per person, so by the time travel time and expenses are factored into it it's way under £40 per person for a professional updo/hair style for a very special day plus the bridal rehearsal would have to be factored into that figure aswell,meaning that actually £300 is a blooming good price (should the OP have charged that much) x

 

[Sugarplumfaery]

And not enough!

 

[Grace_Hair]

I don't think £300 for seven clients plus a two hour round journey and petrol fees is alot of money? Its only £42 approx per person, so by the time travel time and expenses are factored into it it's way under £40 per person for a professional updo/hair style for a very special day plus the bridal rehearsal would have to be factored into that figure aswell,meaning that actually £300 is a blooming good price (should the OP have charged that much) x

Breaking it down, I can see that! But, I still think £300 is s lot of money!! [emoji12]

 

[Hair_Passion]

I've been hairdressing for almost 10 years now (feeling old!) And I have to say hairdressers who can withstand the heat of a fussy bride plus bridesmaids and deliver an absolutely beautiful up do.....are amazing and deserve every penny they get.
Personally, as a freelance stylist, I no longer offer that service, it's so much stress and pressure (I found anyway) that no amount of money was worth it. Doing it all on my own too. It can be so overwhelming and as mentioned above, people always want deals or discounts etc, you end up working for less.
I still offer hair up for parties etc though. 90% of a girls pride and joy is their hair....then your that one person who's responsible for their pride on joy on the ultimate special day! [emoji16]
[emoji119] I have a lot of respect for those hairdressers who specialise in wedding hair. I would definitely pay a bomb x

 

[surf girl]

Hmmm... I've been mulling over weddings this week... So I'm bumping this thread...

I charge regular hair up prices, £15-£35 in the beginning it seemed fair, I'd only charge that in the salon so why would I want to charge more just for a wedding?!

2years on I feel very differently about it but I'm much busier with weddings, I believe this is because of the prices!

I lost hundreds of pounds in takings in May because I was out half a day every Saturday. To make up for it I was booking regular clients in the afternoon & ended up working till stupid o clock after being up from the crack of dawn!

I don't enjoy weddings if I'm really honest, the only one I enjoyed doing was for a family member, we had breakfast & it was fun, laid back & light hearted, unlike all the others that month.

If I'm to continue doing weddings I think I need to put my prices up considerably in order to not have to kill myself working late to cover some of the lost money I would have made in the salon, I really worry tho that people will go elsewhere if I do this?

I get a lot of word of mouth customers from doing weddings so I don't want to price myself out!

I'm not sure I'm ready to loose custom of weddings but I'm not loving the whole half day travelling & working in hideous conditions for pittance either!

Thoughts? Anyone else started cheap then gone up in price?

 

[Lauren121]

Hmmm... I've been mulling over weddings this week... So I'm bumping this thread...

I charge regular hair up prices, £15-£35 in the beginning it seemed fair, I'd only charge that in the salon so why would I want to charge more just for a wedding?!

2years on I feel very differently about it but I'm much busier with weddings, I believe this is because of the prices!

I lost hundreds of pounds in takings in May because I was out half a day every Saturday. To make up for it I was booking regular clients in the afternoon & ended up working till stupid o clock after being up from the crack of dawn!

I don't enjoy weddings if I'm really honest, the only one I enjoyed doing was for a family member, we had breakfast & it was fun, laid back & light hearted, unlike all the others that month.

If I'm to continue doing weddings I think I need to put my prices up considerably in order to not have to kill myself working late to cover some of the lost money I would have made in the salon, I really worry tho that people will go elsewhere if I do this?

I get a lot of word of mouth customers from doing weddings so I don't want to price myself out!

I'm not sure I'm ready to loose custom of weddings but I'm not loving the whole half day travelling & working in hideous conditions for pittance either!

Thoughts? Anyone else started cheap then gone up in price?

How much are you thinking of altering your prices too and what's the prices of your competition in the area?

 

[surf girl]

How much are you thinking of altering your prices too and what's the prices of your competition in the area?

Well I worked out I lost around £170 one week so I'm thinking I'd like around £150 for the day, competition in my area with websites are on lockdown for prices! I hear most salons are above £100 I don't know what exactly that includes as I can only see online you have to call for prices & go off what clients tell me, my one direct competitor wanted £75 for a bride that was on the day, no trial, no bridesmaids.

I was considering doing trials at regular price & the day at a higher price but I can't put it to clients without them looking at me gone off!

Another thing is if I did trials at 150 & the day at 150 that's 300! No ones going to pay that :/