Brides want to look great on their wedding day. As a bride-to-be, it's important to plan ahead, so you'll be able to look glamorous, fresh and sophisticated, but, also, natural. Use these tips to help you look "picture perfect" on your wedding day!
Time table, If you plan on hiring a makeup artist:
6-12 Months before the Wedding...
Find your artist. Finding a makeup artist shouldn't be daunting, but could be, if you don't give yourself enough time. Start your search well in advance of your wedding day...about 6 - 12 months out...and book a few consultation appointments. 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
Interview questions to ask 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 the make up artist's advice on nail technicians and hair stylists.
0-6 Months before the Wedding...
Plan a pre-wedding make up party. About 1 - 2 months before your wedding, have your makeup artist do a trial run. Have your bridesmaids with you, and get their input on your make up. Try to plan the make up party for the time of day when your wedding will be held. You might also consider bringing photos from magazines to show your specialist the make up styles that you like. Fabric swatches would also be a great thing to bring, too, so that the makeup artist can create the perfect color palette that compliments the bridesmaid's dresses and the flower bouquets.
Tip: Snap a photo at the makeup trial, so that you can see how your makeup is going to look when photographed.
If you do your makeup yourself:
Make it waterproof. Because you may be in tears on your wedding day, choose mascara that's waterproof. It will last longer and withstand your tears.
Lighten your liner. Black and brown liners may look too severe, so choose charcoal, navy or mahogany, instead, for a more natural look.
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. Use a contour color under your brow bone to give your eyes shape. Make sure it's not too intense, though, which will detract 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 face lift, but don't go overboard. If you have fair skin, use a pink tone. Women with deeper skin tones can use a rosier hue.
Even out your skin tone. If your face is darker than your neck and chest, use a bronzer make a flawless transition.
Brighten up your lips. Choose a lip color that's a bit brighter than you'd normally wear, to keep you from looking washed out in photos. Be sure to bring the lipstick with you for touchups after the wedding too.
Whether you're hiring an artist or doing your make up yourself, use these tips to look your best on your wedding day:
Prepare. Skin and nails should be well cared for beginning about 6 weeks before the wedding. Talk to your local beauty professional about having regular facials and manicures.
Pluck. Shaping and maintaining your eyebrows should be started well in advance of the big day, but make sure your final pluck is done about a week before the wedding.
Promote. Splurge on facials up until about a month before your wedding, so that you can put your best face forward.
Spray. You don't want to get too much sun before your wedding day, so opt for a spray on tan instead. Be careful not to overdo it, though.
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. Keep your diet healthy, and don't starve yourself before your wedding to look your best. Consider taking vitamins too.
Drink. You'll want to stay hydrated, so drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day.
Sleep. Look rested on your wedding day by getting plenty of sleep. Shoot for eight hours per night.
Exercise. Planning for your wedding can be stressful. Get plenty of exercise to ward off anxieties.
Relax. Take some time for yourself. Take long, hot baths, and consider getting the occasional massage before your big day.
Brighten. Use eye drops to get the redness out of your eyes on your wedding day. 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 a breakout before your wedding day, don't mess with the pimples...they'll heal better if you leave them alone. See your dermatologist and ask for a cortisone shot if a monstrous pimple invades your face just prior to the wedding.
Lisa Bakewell writes wedding-related articles for Best Little Wedding Shop. For wonderful save the dates, party invitations and affordable wedding invitations please be sure to visit Best Little Wedding Shop.
Time table, If you plan on hiring a makeup artist:
6-12 Months before the Wedding...
Find your artist. Finding a makeup artist shouldn't be daunting, but could be, if you don't give yourself enough time. Start your search well in advance of your wedding day...about 6 - 12 months out...and book a few consultation appointments. 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
Interview questions to ask 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 the make up artist's advice on nail technicians and hair stylists.
0-6 Months before the Wedding...
Plan a pre-wedding make up party. About 1 - 2 months before your wedding, have your makeup artist do a trial run. Have your bridesmaids with you, and get their input on your make up. Try to plan the make up party for the time of day when your wedding will be held. You might also consider bringing photos from magazines to show your specialist the make up styles that you like. Fabric swatches would also be a great thing to bring, too, so that the makeup artist can create the perfect color palette that compliments the bridesmaid's dresses and the flower bouquets.
Tip: Snap a photo at the makeup trial, so that you can see how your makeup is going to look when photographed.
If you do your makeup yourself:
Make it waterproof. Because you may be in tears on your wedding day, choose mascara that's waterproof. It will last longer and withstand your tears.
Lighten your liner. Black and brown liners may look too severe, so choose charcoal, navy or mahogany, instead, for a more natural look.
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. Use a contour color under your brow bone to give your eyes shape. Make sure it's not too intense, though, which will detract 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 face lift, but don't go overboard. If you have fair skin, use a pink tone. Women with deeper skin tones can use a rosier hue.
Even out your skin tone. If your face is darker than your neck and chest, use a bronzer make a flawless transition.
Brighten up your lips. Choose a lip color that's a bit brighter than you'd normally wear, to keep you from looking washed out in photos. Be sure to bring the lipstick with you for touchups after the wedding too.
Whether you're hiring an artist or doing your make up yourself, use these tips to look your best on your wedding day:
Prepare. Skin and nails should be well cared for beginning about 6 weeks before the wedding. Talk to your local beauty professional about having regular facials and manicures.
Pluck. Shaping and maintaining your eyebrows should be started well in advance of the big day, but make sure your final pluck is done about a week before the wedding.
Promote. Splurge on facials up until about a month before your wedding, so that you can put your best face forward.
Spray. You don't want to get too much sun before your wedding day, so opt for a spray on tan instead. Be careful not to overdo it, though.
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. Keep your diet healthy, and don't starve yourself before your wedding to look your best. Consider taking vitamins too.
Drink. You'll want to stay hydrated, so drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water per day.
Sleep. Look rested on your wedding day by getting plenty of sleep. Shoot for eight hours per night.
Exercise. Planning for your wedding can be stressful. Get plenty of exercise to ward off anxieties.
Relax. Take some time for yourself. Take long, hot baths, and consider getting the occasional massage before your big day.
Brighten. Use eye drops to get the redness out of your eyes on your wedding day. 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 a breakout before your wedding day, don't mess with the pimples...they'll heal better if you leave them alone. See your dermatologist and ask for a cortisone shot if a monstrous pimple invades your face just prior to the wedding.
Lisa Bakewell writes wedding-related articles for Best Little Wedding Shop. For wonderful save the dates, party invitations and affordable wedding invitations please be sure to visit Best Little Wedding Shop.