I spoke to Samantha in the Fall of 2024 to set up services. Paid the $100 deposit, which is non-refundable and does not go towards your total. It is ONLY to hold your spot.
On the... first phone call she told me I would have 2 stylist. She said it takes approx 45 min per service per person totaling 180 min for 2 people, so I allotted 3 hours for hair and makeup for the wedding. We weren’t asking for anything hard. Both hairstyles were down and just curls and a twist.
Then when my matron of honor and I showed up for our hair & makeup trial a month before the wedding, Samantha said I would only get one stylist because I didn’t have enough services. (By the way, the contract does not specify that you have to have at least three services per person in order to get a second stylist. It only says 3 services. Between my MOH and I, we had 4 services. Then she said it is 3 services per person, so a total of 6 services between 2 people.).
Samantha then said we could add a service per person or pay an extra $100 for another stylist. So I agreed to the $100. She said she would ask around to find another stylist and would let me know, but a month later (2 1/2 days before my wedding) she tells me that she could not find anyone, and that I could add more time in the morning to allow the stylist to take care of us. Basically I would have to pay extra to the venue to allow me into the building just to accommodate one stylist who could not perform the 2 services within a 3 hour window that she originally stated they could.
When we were doing the Hair & makeup trial, I was there five hours. It took 2.5 hours per person, but the contract says 30-45 min per service per person, which for 2 people adds up to 180 minutes (3 hours). I get that it might have taken a little longer for a trial, but we had to wait 20 min before the stylist started. My concern was that if it took the stylist 2.5 hours per person for hair and makeup, she would not be able to get it all done in the 3 hours that Samantha and I originally discussed. I also found out at the hair and makeup trial that it takes the stylist 30 min to set up at the wedding, which now cuts into the 3 hour allotted window.
I asked Samantha to cancel, but she said I still had to pay the full amount. When I tried to negotiate, she said I had to pay whether I used the services or not, then she threatened to show up at my venue if I didn’t pay her before the wedding.
Long story short, I did not use Samantha, paid her fee. I found her to be unprofessional and rude. When I asked for the link to pay, she continued to try and defend herself. I asked for the link again, and still she kept trying to defend herself.
If you need to continue to defend yourself, it makes me wonder why because if you think you’re right, you shouldn’t have to defend yourself. Besides she knew she was gonna get paid whether she did the services or not. Then she tried to be nice AFTER she got paid. I have no time for people like her. Even after I paid her, she sent another text continuing to defend. It was embarrassing!
On top of all this, I had to switch venues because of very bad weather coming because my original venue was all outdoors. All other vendors were helpful. I didn’t get all my money back. So now I am out $2000 due to bad weather and a vendor who lacked compassion.
At the end I learned a lesson. Ask more questions and get references before signing.