Going back, I have booked HMUA as early as 14 months before the wedding. It was when I booked my then-wedding-gown-designer. (Yes, “then-wedding-gown-designer” is the term because I am about to let go of my designer as well, for a reason I would just mention later.) Mom and I went to our preferred designer and were able to book right then and there. Asked about their recommended makeup artist, the designer’s assistant gave us a flyer of HMUA, saying that HMUA was not expensive but good. Apparently, HMUA was there in the designer’s shop that day and we were able to talk to her—well, him—instantly. Turns out, HMUA is a good friend of the designer and he does the hair and makeup of the designer’s models. HMUA was bubbly. He was always laughing, to the point that talking about the prospect wedding project would make him go kilig. He got another copy of his flyer and pointed out possible looks for me on my wedding day. He was funny, and yeah, it was kinda enough for us to book him on the spot. My mom liked him that time, and mom has this tendency to book the first supplier we would get to talk to. According to her, it’s not good for the mind to play around pa. (Apparently, it’s not applicable to this situation pala.) She told me to book HMUA on the spot, and she said that in front of HMUA. Even if I had hesitations, I said okay because I thought it was embarrassing to say, “Ay, no muna” because HMUA was all smiles, batting his eyes, and was like a puppy wiggling his tail due to excitement. We paid a down payment of 5,000 for the bridal package (bride + groom’s grooming + 2 heads, worth 18,500) and another 3,000 for the entourage package (7 heads, worth 10,500) as he was scribbling down digits and words on the contract. Lol, he even spelled entourage as “intorage.” He took the money and spoke more details about what he would do on the wedding day and told me to go to him first for a FREE trial makeup session before I go to meet the photographers on our pre-nuptial photoshoot to save money. (I emphasized “free” here because that would be an issue later on in this entry.) Then, we got out of the building and went home.
I just got in the car when I saw my phone ringing. It was HMUA. We weren’t even past the street where the designer’s shop was located and he was already calling me. What about, I wondered. I answered the phone and realized it was about the wedding coordinator he was recommending to us. He talked fast and said he would be giving my number to the coordinator. (No permission, he just told me he would be giving my number. I guess he assumed I was interested. Actually I shrugged off the thought of the recommendation when he was talking about it. At that point I didn’t know yet how important on-the-day coordination is.) So wala na akong nagawa. I told myself that I can always refuse, anyway. After all, it wasn’t a face-to-face negotiation where I’d be embarrassed (again) to say, “No.” However, it was still a good thing he called because it was just then that I remembered to ask him if the 18,500-peso package was already an airbrush makeup package. To that, he answered, “Ay, oo, pwede namang gagamit tayo ng airbrush. Order-in ko na lang yung airbrush makeup pag malapit na ang wedding mo, okay?” So I thought airbrush na nga yung 18,500 package. That’s basically what happened on our first meeting.
A couple of months passed and I’ve already booked my other suppliers for the wedding. This includes two photo and video suppliers, one main and one back-up. I got the back-up photo-video at a very good deal and price and with many freebies including a pre-nuptial photoshoot. That means we’ll be having two prenup sessions, meaning I would have to get my hair and makeup done twice. Thinking that the “free” trial makeup offered by HMUA would not cover for the other prenup session, I looked around the internet for other makeup artists who could take care of me, as well as fiance’s grooming during the shoot. That’s when I got to see the works of other makeup artists in the wedding industry; and that’s when I realized that I should’ve done extensive research first before hiring HMUA for my wedding day. I got to compare HMUA with the others and honestly, HMUA’s work is inferior and outdated compared to the others. First, HMUA does the eyebrows thin. I don’t like my eyebrows to be thin, and it’s not uso lately. LOL. Second, HMUA doesn’t seem to do contouring and highlighting, he just covers everything with foundation to even out everything. Third, he edits the photos he posts in his website and Facebook accounts. Fourth, I don’t like the shades he uses on his brides and his brides tend to look older than they really are. Fifth, I realized I’m not comfortable with wigs and all, attached to my hair during the wedding.
I opened this up to fiancé and mom and initially, they didn’t understand where I was coming from. That’s totally understandable. The brides are usually the ones doing most of the research, and we’re the ones taking down the details, the trends, and the figures (spending money for a wedding isn’t a joke, of course). Eventually I was able to convince them an alternative plan: to just get HMUA’s services for the entourage only. We’ve deposited 8,000 in total, and would just add 2,500 for the full payment of the entourage package. The problem then was how to tell HMUA without offending him. Sisters from Weddings at Work (W@W) and fiance suggested that I take the trial makeup first na lang since it’s “free” and see if HMUA can do naman my preferred style. Maybe I didn’t need to change HMUA after all. So I met HMUA for a trial makeup at his studio somewhere in Quezon City, at a time when I happened to be in the area as well. Mom was there with me, and that was the second time we met. He told me it was a good thing to have the trial early, so we could finalize what’s in the contract na rin. It was an uneasy thought for me because in my mind, everything about me getting him for the wedding is unsure. I still pushed through with it anyway.
I had the trial makeup; everything was prepared there already. I’ve noticed some of the tools and makeup of HMUA was getting old na. I don’t know if those were eyeshadow palettes or eyebrow makeups that were bundled together by an elastic band, but from the looks of it, they’re quite aged. Lipsticks were lined up. I was curious about the brands (makeup brand is important to me) and saw naman that they were good, but it was obvious that they weren’t well maintained and weren’t often used. HMUA put on makeup base on my face and I was asking him what that was, he told me medyo secret daw yun kasi kapag makeup artist ka, you shouldn’t tell your secret daw sa products and techniques na ginagamit mo. (I didn’t know about that, because as I have researched, there are many makeup artists who share what they do and use and even offer makeup classes. I didn’t also like the idea of keeping secrets about the things used on someone’s face, naman diba?) Anyways, he still told me what that was and what brand it was. Honestly, I never heard and forgot the name already, basta he mentioned it was from abroad. He buys makeup daw when he travels. Many times he said, “Mamaya magmumukha ka nang artista” or something like that. Talagang paulit-ulit. I just waited for the result…
…And I didn’t like it. It wasn’t ugly, but I didn’t like it. He used orange-ish brown eyeshadow on me; I never liked the effect of orange on my skin. The black liquid eyeliner was not drawn fine. The dummy false eyelashes wasn’t put properly (so I could remove it easily, he said). My eyebrows were thinner than how I wanted them to be, and not enough brow makeup was put on. My eyebrows were shaved pala using blade but he told it wasn’t even. Bawiin na lang daw sa eyebrow makeup para pumantay. Not enough effort was made to hide the blemishes like the pimple scars and the light scars I got from the removal of my moles. I have a small nose but no highlighting and contouring was done to balance that out, so my nose only got muted further. LOL. My eyes did not come to life. I looked older because of the color choices. My lips were a reddish dark peach. And about the hair, it was just secured to an updo by lots of hairpins so that wigs (of different hair shades) could attach to it. I mentioned that fiancé was much taller than me, so he made a bunch of wigs wrapped on the top part, so that I’d look taller daw. Yes, I mentioned that fiancé was a lot taller than me, but I don’t think he needed to say nang paulit-ulit yung, “Ang liit mo kasi eh.” *laughs* I didn’t like it to the point that I didn’t think it was post-worthy, so forgive me if I couldn’t post the picture here. But believe me, it wasn’t bad. It was just not special.
Maybe it was too obvious that I did not like it, because he kept on explaining that he did this because of this, he did that because of that. Rest assured daw that it would be much better come the wedding day. I know it was just a trial session, but it could mean everything to me. It was a preview of what I would look like on the wedding day, and I don’t want to look like that. I can’t rely on just a promise or an assumption. I couldn’t say so much because clearly, I was unsatisfied. I did not want to pretend, eh, but I didn’t want to embarrass him. He told me, “Mas gusto ko yung inookray ako,” but then he would just explain why he did it that way and insist that it’s better that way. Okaaaaaay. He kept on explaining and he was becoming makulit, but mind you he still kept a bubbly energy. Mom was already in the car but I couldn’t make my exit because of him being makulit. So I called mom, para na rin makapag ba-bye nang maayos. Mom went back to us, and then it was her who HMUA explained to naman. Maybe mom thought of it as a good exit statement even though she knew the answer when she asked if we have to pay anything that time. We were confident HMUA would say that there’s none to pay for. To our surprise, he asked for 2,500. We paused for a while but decided to pay anyway. At the back of my mind, I was thinking it was alright because I’d have to pay him anyway because I wouldn’t get the bridal package anymore—just the entourage.
While on the way home mom and I argued about the whole thing. She blamed me, saying maybe HMUA asked for payment because it was so obvious that I did not like it. I insisted that it should have been free because he said so on the first meeting, but it was okay because I’d have to pay for that anyway—because I won’t be getting the bridal package anymore. Much have been said to the point that I got so sad I cried then and there. I didn’t want to play blame games; all I could just do was cry. I wasn’t happy with the makeup, I wasn’t happy to be told it was free but no naman pala, I wasn’t happy because mom and I had to argue. We came home saying nothing to each other na lang. The next day I couldn’t help but ask HMUA if the trial makeup wasn’t really part of the package. From what I understood in the first meeting, it was free. He replied and insisted it wasn’t part of the package. So okay, let go.
Days passed and suddenly HMUA was calling my phone. I wasn’t able to answer it because I was busy and was on the way somewhere. I just texted him and explained why I could not answer and asked why he was calling. Here comes the pressure. He told me he already ordered the wig/extensions to be used on me come the wedding day, according to my hair color, and the peg daw that I wanted, just like the one on his flyers. (Note: NOT REALLY MY PEG. I REPEAT, NOT MY PEG.) He kept on calling and I kept on not answering. I replied, “Naku, matagal pa po ang wedding. Magbabago pa po ako ng color ng hair. Advise ko na lang po kayo pag nagpa-color na po ako uli.” It was 11 months before the wedding, why the rush? Besides, during the trial makeup, he mentioned that even extensions and wigs are ordered later pa because they get old also. He replied, "Kailangan ng maaga mahirap hanapin ung hair ng gusto mo sa flyer at mag request pa tau sa kanila... at ung kulay mo pala... mas ok maaga... 6 month be4 sila." I felt the pressure and I got irritated. Hindi consistent ang mga sinasabi eh, saka wala na ba akong choice to change my hair? I did not send any texts after that. I consulted W@W members about what happened and they told me to tell HMUA about my plans already. That way, maybe he could cancel the order pa, or to prevent him from ordering anything else. By the way, it’s another payment for the wig/extensions, and he told me pala that I had to add 4,000 bucks for the airbrush makeup. If we recall what the designer’s assistant said, hindi daw expensive si HMUA, but because of my research, I found out that you can avail of the same inclusions (bride + groom’s grooming + 2 heads) all in airbrush, for much less than 18,500! Your 15,000 can already avail of the same package, which includes on-site prenup hair and makeup already. Kaloka lang! Ang mahal na rin pala ng rates ni HMUA.
The next day I told him already of my plans of getting him for the entourage only, and this is the outcome:
1. He still wanted me to get him for the bridal package. He told me that when I go for the trial session with the other artist I plan to hire, I’d still return to him. Iba pa din daw kasi siya gumawa, hindi lang daw siya gaanong prepared nung nag trial kami.
2. The 18,500 package is already fixed. If I were to convert it to entourage only, it would only be applied to 5 heads.
3. I asked what if he would just send his “Team B” or his assistants to handle my entourage, how much would it cost. He said his assistants’ rate is 15,000 for 5 heads only. Meaning, if he would handle the entourage, 5 heads would cost 3,700 each. If it would be his assistants, 5 heads would cost 3,000 each. Oh my God. Sobrang mahal, traditional makeup lang yun! It would only be 1,500 per head (like the first package agreed upon) if it’s in excess of the 5 heads.
4. I told him it was too expensive, paying at least 3,000 for a traditional entourage makeup per head. He told me, “Ganun talaga lahat ng salon na may pangalan.”
5. HMUA told me to tell him ASAP my decision so he could “move on” already. It’s because minsan ganun daw talaga ang mga HMUA, madalas daw pag-aagawan pa siya ng 4-5 brides. So he was telling me that he was in-demand. I thought, if that were really the case, I should’ve already heard of him in W@W, in FemaleNetwork, or in some other places on the Internet, but no, I haven’t. I also thought that if that were really the case, why would he bother doing all these to convince me to stay? Why not just tell me that my 8,000 down payment would just go to forfeiture if I cancelled?
6. He said he would cancel muna the order for the wig/extensions. Then again he goes, "Kasi ang GUSTO KO na gawin sayo eh..." kept on saying “gusto ko” even if I told him again of my plans to change hair color and to grow my hair long, since it’s a long way to go pa before the wedding.
7. It was sort of strong when he said that basta yung dapat na presyo which we agreed upon at first, dapat it would still be the amount he would receive if he would do entourage-only. I was glad he did not insist about the 10,500 additional. He said I should avail of him pa rin so that my 8,000 down payment would not go to waste.
8. He told me to still go for the trial with the other HMUA and just text him about my plans. What’s freaky about the end of the conversation was that in his last text, there was this sentence: “Sa akin ka pa rin babalik.”
If you’re going to ask what then would the 8,000 afford now if I’d like to get the best out of it from HMUA? Well, maybe just an on-location prenup hair and makeup. If and only if he consents. Then again, I don’t trust him already to make me look good for photographs.
I was so disappointed of the outcome. In the end, he wouldn’t want less than what he expected to earn. I was so pressured. I told mom and fiancé about this, and I told them as calmly as I could. I didn’t want to pressure them. Much pressure had already been lurking around because of it all. But you know what, both of them said, “Let go.” Fiance told me he didn’t want negativity, bad vibes, and sama ng loob involved in our wedding so it’s better to let go. Mom wanted to forfeit the down payment already because she didn’t like how pushy HMUA was to me. Sisters in W@W said to better let go than stress out, or be unhappy with what HMUA would be able to produce on the day of the wedding. This is a line most often said about this kind of happening, but doesn’t seem to grow old, because it’s really true: “Ang pera pwedeng kitain uli, pero ang peace of mind, hindi.”
I was also worried about another thing. HMUA is close friends with my designer/couturier. I fear HMUA might say something that would turn the designer off at hindi na ako alagaan. I still hope and believe naman that the designer is professional enough to not get involved, but since HMUA is often there at his shop, it would be so awkward. If I leave the designer as well, I’d be letting go of another down payment there. More money gone to waste. *sniffs* But one thing’s really sure, I’d have to say bye to HMUA. I can’t and wouldn’t stand another moment of pushy-ness (even if he tries to say it nicely, it’s still pushy because he doesn’t want to listen, to understand my concerns). What I’d look like on the wedding day is non-negotiable for me. It’s one of the most important days of my life; I can’t afford not being happy about myself on that day.
I mentioned earlier that I am about to let go of my designer/couturier as well. This is the story naman (but I promise this will just be short). I already said in my previous post that the designer told us his starting price for wedding gown was 30,000 pesos. When we got to his shop and his assistant drew a sketch for me, they gave me a quote (which I wouldn’t disclose here na lang). That time I didn’t have a real peg for my wedding gown yet, but as in my previous entry, I already have pegs for the top and skirt of my wedding gown. I sent the photos to the assistant of the designer; I waited for a short while for them to give me a new quote. The assistant then told me that he showed the pegs to the designer and they have the new price already. It was 70,000 more than the initial quote! (Note: the initial quote was super-duper more than the starting price.) I was expecting only about ten to twenty thousand more than the initial quote, but I was wrong. I already knew that I would not push through because they would not give me the gown of my dreams for the price I was only willing to pay. I knew I had to ask quote from other designers. That’s when I tried to contact the original designer of the peg I had. It was a suntok-sa-bwan attempt, but turned out really good, actually… but that’s another story. I’ll be meeting several designers/couturiers this coming week and I’ll write about them soon! (Yes, I’ll be having another hunt for THE dress, and I am excited about it!)
Going back to the real topic….
It’s always a warning for brides to carefully select suppliers because you’ll only get married once in your life (at least it’s applied to most of us). It’s always a tip to research extensively before booking a supplier. I knew it beforehand, but only got to take it seriously when I experienced this with HMUA. I felt it and proven it true, the hard way. For the other brides-to-be, I suggest you list down the things you need for the wedding and separate those that are non-negotiable (things that you wouldn’t want their quality to be compromised) from those that are okay to adjust. From there, don’t book until you already found “the one” for the non-negotiables. Note that first impressions aren’t really enough, especially if the supplier is responsible for something that directly and ultimately involves you and your appearance. In my experience, it usually takes about three instances of interaction before I feel fully fine with the supplier (but not necessarily in-person interaction). Keep everything in black-and-white. Have all the details and promises written on a contract, don’t just rely on what the supplier said. As for the money I let go, I’d just charge it to experience, that’s what they always say. I’ll just think of it as the cost for good vibes.
Speaking of good vibes, I hope I didn’t break yours because of this long post. I’ll be “making kwento” some more in the next few days. I’m sorry this was so boring, no pictures were included. *laughs*
Bye for now!
-Gero