Your wedding day will undoubtedly be one of the most memorable and photographed days of your life. The earlier you begin to plan and prepare your wedding day look, the less stressful it will be! To help you prepare, I’ve put together a list of my top 10 tips when it comes to your bridal make-up that will ensure you are the flawless, radiant and glowing bride you deserve to be!
1. Drink Lots of Water
You are probably sick of hearing this, but I am forever telling my brides to ensure they keep well hydrated. The difference I have seen in some of my brides complexions from their trial (6-8 weeks prior to wedding) to the morning of their wedding by simply upping their water intake is amazing.
2. Invest in Your Skin
Make sure to start a good skincare regime at least 6 months prior to your wedding day. Having a consultation with a skincare specialist will help with this. Your bridal make-up will apply and last much longer with a good base. A monthly facial is always a good idea however don’t leave it until the last few weeks – this may only cause irritation and possible break outs which is something you definitely want to avoid.
3. Consider the Season
The time of year can have a massive impact on your colour schemes, theme, location and ultimately the bridal look you would like to achieve. A summer bride tends to keep her Make-up softer with links, peaches and a brighter palette of colour. On the other hand, winter bride’s tend to opt for a darker palette of colour including a smokey eye red/darker lips to reflect the time of year. Consider the season before settling on any look.
4. Do Your Research
Cutting corners when it comes to deciding upon your bridal make-up artist is really not a good idea. I consider myself to offer a high end, luxury service for my brides and I believe you get what you pay for. Always do your research! Read reviews, follow them on social media and look at their portfolio. Most importantly ensure they have expertise in bridal make-up. Your artist will need experience working with high definition photography, knowing which key products to use and which to avoid. Remember your wedding day photos are going to last a lifetime so you want to know that you are in safe hands on your wedding morning.
5. Don’t Leave it to the Last Minute
A reputable bridal make-up artist can be booked at least 18-24 months in advance so get it booked as soon as you can! If you like what you see and they come with a good reputation then get your wedding date secured before someone else snatches it. I hate to turn anyone away especially when it’s their wedding, however brides are becoming more and more organised so don’t hang about and risk missing out on the perfect make-up artist for you.
6. Have a Make-Up Trial
Most bridal make-up artists incorporate a bridal trial into their bridal make-up package. This is a great opportunity to get to know your artist and to chat about skin concerns, colour palette and the bridal look you would like to achieve. Most of my brides book me based on the flawless, glowing skin look I love to create. At bridal trial stage you should have all your bridesmaid’s colours and flowers confirmed which helps to create an overall uniform look for your bridal party.
7. Always Have a Touch-Up Kit
Make sure to have a touch-up bag at hand to use throughout the big day. A lipstick, lip-gloss, setting powder and mineral foundation are key items to include. As a bride you will find that your guests will all be showering you with hugs and kisses which to ultimately will cause transfer. It is important to keep the essentials at hand ensuring your look is maintained for all of the photography throughout the day.
8. Book a Spray Tan Trial
This is something I cannot stress enough! Over the years I have seen many spray tan disasters – and on your wedding day this is something you will want to avoid at all costs! A subtle, golden glow is what I recommend for all of my brides and their bridal parties. I personally recommend Lusso tan which is a natural, paraben free tan with no smell. Bridal spray tans are also another service which I offer my bridal parties ensuring everyone has the same golden glow and are perfectly colour matched when it comes to foundation.
9. Stay Timeless
Try and avoid any make-up trends – remember your photos will outlive any harsh lines and dark eyes! Your children and grandchildren years down the line will be in awe of a look that shows class, elegance and beauty at its very best. Flash-in-the-pan trends will often age poorly, and you don’t want to be look back with regrets!
10. Be You!
If a red lip is your signature look then don’t be afraid to wear it. Confidence is key when you are getting ready to walk up the aisle so you want to make sure you look and feel your ultimate best. If there is a particular lip or eye colour you don’t like, tell your make-up artist. Likewise, your make-up artist should always listen to your thoughts and ideas, taking these into consideration when creating your wedding day look. I always encourage my brides to look a more enhanced, fresh, beautiful version if themselves.
Love, Sinead x
