Wedding Makeup: Tips and Tricks
Every bride wants to look her best on her wedding day. And you’re no exception. You want to look glamorous, fresh and sophisticated, but you also want to look natural.
Use these tips to help you look “picture perfect” for your big day!
If you hire a makeup artist:
6-12 Months before the Wedding…
Find an Artist. Finding a makeup artist shouldn’t be a daunting task, but you’ll want to plan ahead. Book a few consultation appointments with experts in your area, but be sure to allow yourself 6-12 months to find the best one for you. Most good artists are booked well in advance. You’ll want to look for:
- A qualified, experienced artist
- An artist who’s also friendly and a great listener
- An artist who’s flexible and won’t overbook your wedding date
- An artist who has a an extensive portfolio
- An artist who will give you referrals
What to ask your potential makeup artists:
- What do you charge?
- Will you come to my home?
- Do you charge a traveling fee?
- Do you have discounts available for group bookings?
- Do you charge more for holidays or Sundays?
- Where did you study?
- How long have you been doing makeup for weddings?
- What experience do you have?
- What makeup products do you use?
- Do you have any other makeup commitments on my wedding day?
- Also, get their advice on nail technicians and hair stylists.
0-6 Months before the Wedding…
Plan a pre-show. About 1-2 months before the wedding have your makeup artist do a trial run. Have your bridesmaids with you to get their input. Plan the trial for the time of day that your wedding will be held. If you’re getting married in the daytime, do your trial then; if it’s in the evening, do it then. You might also consider bringing photos from magazines for makeup styles that appeal to you. Also, bring fabric swatches so that the makeup artist can create the perfect color palette to compliment the dresses and flower bouquets.
Tip: Have one of your bridesmaids snap a photo at the makeup trial, so that you can see how the makeup is going to show when photographed.
If you do your makeup yourself:
Make it waterproof. Choose mascara that’s waterproof, since it will last longer and withstand tears.
Lighten your liner. Charcoal, navy, and mahogany are good color options for eyeliner, since black or brown may look too severe.
Highlight your eyes. Use a white shadow on your brow bone if you have light skin, or a warmer light peach or vanilla shade, if you have a deeper complexion.
Contour. To give your eyes shape, use a contour color under your brow bone. Make sure it’s not too intense, though, so that it detracts from the natural beauty of your eyes.
Define. Shade and shape your eyebrows with a pencil or eye shadow that matches your hair color. Make sure not to overdo it!
Get cheeky! Color on your cheeks provides an instant facelift. If you have fair skin, use a pink tone. Women with deeper skin tones can use a rosier hue.
Even out your skin tone. Use bronzer on your neck and chest, if they’re whiter than your face.
Give your lips pizzazz! Choose a lip color that’s a bit brighter than you’d normally wear. Pale colors can make you appear washed out in photos. Bring the lipstick with you for touch-ups after the wedding.
Either way, do these things to look your best on your wedding day:
Prepare. A skin and nail care plan should be started about 6 weeks before the wedding. Talk to your beautician about having regular facials and manicures.
Pluck. Shaping and maintaining your eyebrows should be started well in advance of the big day. Make sure that your final pluck is done about a week before the wedding.
Promote. You’ll want to put your best face forward, so get regular facials done up until about a month before the wedding.
Spray Tan. You don’t want to get too much sun before your wedding day. Sunburns and peeling skin are not attractive. Consider getting a spray tan instead, but be careful not to overdo it.
Whiten. There are lots of safe, reliable over-the-counter teeth-whitening systems, which all whiten teeth by a few shades. Make sure to allow yourself about a week or two before the wedding to do this.
Eat. Remember to keep your diet healthy, and don’t starve yourself. Also, you may want to consider taking vitamins.
Drink. You’ll want to stay hydrated, so drink plenty of water. Eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day is recommended.
Sleep. You’ll want to be well rested on your wedding day, so make sure to get plenty of sleep. Shoot for eight hours per night.
Exercise and relax. Planning for your big day can be stressful, so you’ll want to get plenty of exercise and take some time for yourself. You might want to consider the occasional massage leading up to the big day.
Brighten your eyes. Use eye drops to get the redness out of your eyes. Make sure to use a brand that you’ve used before. You don’t want any unwelcome surprises!
Keep your hands away from your face. If you have a blemish or, worse yet, a breakout just before your wedding day, don’t mess with the pimples. The spot/spots will heal better if you leave it/them alone. See your dermatologist and ask for a cortisone injection if a monstrous pimple invades your face just prior to the wedding.
Put your best face forward with Photo Invitations from Best Little Wedding Shop!
Lisa Bakewell
Tags: Planning, Tips, Wedding Ideas, Wedding Makeup, Wedding Tips
