Booking a Makeup Artist for your Wedding Day

Every bride wants to look their absolute best on their wedding day. Not only will every eye in the house will be on you, but it will also be the most photographed you will ever be… Oh and you’ll also want to be at your most gorgeous when you commit to your husband. All of these factors, plus the fact that your wedding is the biggest excuse to truly pamper yourself means that booking a makeup artist is a bridal essential.

How do you choose a makeup artist?

The first thing to do is look through their portfolio. All makeup artists should have a website and social media pages. Showcasing previous clients that display the rich variety of looks that they have achieved. You should also get a ‘feel’ that they can adapt each look to work with your individual style and personality. Once you’re happy with the makeup artist’s work, it can be an idea to scroll through the testimonials. They are a great way of gauging how happy previous clients are and what to expect from the service. Finally, you need to speak with the makeup artist. They should do all they can to answer your questions and put you at ease. A makeup artist shouldn’t JUST have makeup skills they should also help the bride relax as she prepares for the biggest day of her life.

When do you book your makeup artist?

You need to book as early as possible. Like all wedding suppliers, you will find that the makeup artists also get booked up in advance. Make contact as soon as you are ready to get the ball rolling. Ideally, you’ll have chosen your theme, colour scheme and dress before you have your trial. This way you can really work together to utilise these elements when creating the perfect look for you.

It’s a good idea to book your trial around 2-3 months before the wedding. If you are planning on having a fake tan, you need to experiment with that around this time. It’s a great idea to come to the trial with the tan you intend on getting married in. The same goes for hair colour. Although your makeup artist should be able to adapt to skin and hair colourings easily, you’ll feel much more confident if you have established the exact look with time to spare. If you are planning on having your brows shaped professionally. It is wise to do this just before the trial because your eyebrows frame your face. It can be surprising how different your brow shape can make you look.

What should you expect from your makeup consultation?

Keep images of anything wedding related including some beautiful makeup and hair looks that you LOVE! Your makeup artist can recreate them to suit your facial features and colouring. If you’re not sure where to start, your makeup artist can suggest some styles that will look incredible on you! You can then try them out until you have something that you absolutely adore.

Makeup artists love to get feedback during the trial. Try to be constructive and let them know your thoughts and they will make you look like a million dollars! The makeup artist you book should be happy to keep tweaking until you have a look that you are completely happy with.

It’s a good idea to book your makeup trial and hair trial for the same day, to see how the styles work together. Ideally, you’ll have your hair styled first as certain hairstyles bring out different features and they work your makeup to tie in with this. It’s also an idea if you wear an outfit with colour in a similar shade to your wedding dress. Different colours will have a different impact on your skin tone and give a different impression.

Looking after your skin is vital in the run-up to the wedding. Not only is flawless skin an integral part of the final makeup look, but all the stress in the build-up to the wedding can lead to breakouts or dry skin.

Your skin takes around 4 weeks to renew itself so you need to get into a good skincare routine at least a month before the big day. You may also want to take a vitamin supplement that is made to boost your skin’s health. As well as cleansing and moisturising twice a day, it’s a good idea to invest in a good quality eye cream and moisturiser that suits your skin. Use a face/sheet mask to feel pampered and importantly implement a (BHA) exfoliant into your daily regime.

Facials are a great way to boost your skin’s radiance and get a really thorough cleanse. It’s a good idea to start getting monthly facials 6 months before the big day. This means that by the time of your trial your skin will be in great condition. If you know you don’t react to a specific facial, it can be nice to get one the week before the wedding for optimum skin on the big day.