The pursuit of a flawless appearance for wedding photos has led many brides-to-be to invest tens of thousands of dollars in pre-nuptial beauty preparations. For some, this "bridal glow up" consumes a substantial portion of their overall wedding budget, with costs ranging from thousands to over $62,000.
These beauty regimens often include a combination of skincare treatments, cosmetic procedures, fitness classes, and other aesthetic enhancements. For Jade Voight, a 30-year-old makeup artist, the engagement triggered an immediate focus on beauty. She estimates spending $62,000 on pre-wedding beauty treatments alone as part of a larger Tuscan villa wedding budget projected to reach six figures. Her preparations include overhauling her skincare, Botox and filler appointments, and Pilates classes, all aimed at looking her best for the wedding day and for future generations.
"These photos are forever. You want your kids to be like, ‘My mom was hot,'" Voight told The Post, explaining her motivation for the extensive investments. She is undergoing treatments like Platelet-Rich Fibrin (PRF) for under-eye circles, microneedling, medical-grade skincare, and regular Botox, totaling thousands of dollars.
Voight is not alone. Data from PJ’s College of Cosmetology and The Knot suggests that engaged women, particularly in the New York and New Jersey areas, allocate between 8% and 15% of their wedding budgets, which can range from $49,000 to over $100,000, to beauty services.
Social media platforms, especially TikTok with its #bridalglowup trend, are seen as a significant influence. Videos showcasing elaborate beauty routines and before-and-after transformations encourage engaged women to pursue similar aesthetic goals.
Alexandra Mahl Dean, a recent bride, spent approximately $26,890, or 15-20% of her $150,000 wedding budget, on beauty preparations. Her regimen included PRF injections, microneedling, high-end skincare, hair extensions, and Pilates. Despite the significant expense and effort, Mahl Dean described the concept of bridal readiness as "overrated," noting that the intense preparation is for a single day.
Sammi Scotti, a logistics director, is prioritizing her skin's condition for her upcoming wedding, having spent nearly $10,000 on customized facial treatments. Her routine also involves medical-grade skincare, regular Botox, hair glosses, Russian manicures and pedicures, spray tans, brow maintenance, and lymphatic drainage sessions. Scotti has also intensified her fitness routine with hot Pilates and reformer classes. While her fiancé is aware of the general costs, he is reportedly unaware of the full extent of her spending, estimated at $31,276.
Some brides, like Voight, have chosen to keep the full scope of their beauty expenditures private from their fiancés, believing that less knowledge is better. Others, like Scotti, have fiancés who are aware and supportive of their spending, even if the exact figures are not fully disclosed.