May 25, 2025

25 May 2025

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A short YouTube monologue by Marissa Brennan describing the physical and financial cost of working large bridal parties solo. The speaker recounts being a "dehydrated mess" after 10-hour days serving a bridal party of 10 and earning $970, and uses the story to argue for charging assistant fees, rejecting a strict "time is money" salon mentality, prioritizing quality over speed, and designing a sustainable wedding-styling business that avoids burnout.

Questions this video answers

10-hour days.

$970.

10.

Mid June, when wedding season had just started.

Sorry to break it to you, but working bridal parties of 10 solo isn't a flex. It's actually a red flag. Believe me. I always thought I was leaving money on the table. I couldn't profit if I added assistance on. I had to take this booking otherwise nobody else was going to book me. But in reality it left me a dehydrated mess working 10 hour days earning $970 from a bridal party of 10. And those were the kind of weddings that led to burnout. My back on fire. Mid June when wedding season just started. You want a business that lasts that in 10 years. Your back is thanking you for one that pay you even when you bring on an assistant. That's why you want to make sure you're charging assistant fees and why we need to ditch the time is money salon mentality. Because which style is going to come out better? The one that took you 30 minutes, that you banged out clients back to back or the one that you added in an additional 15 minutes? I'm going to go with the one that took you 45. I love you so much.