For many people, there is so much to organise for a wedding that make-up for their big day is the last thing on their mind. Many brides also feel that they want a fairly natural look and assume that a few trusty old products will be adequate to achieve this. Fears of looking like a clown and the thought of expensive mistakes often put people off planning their wedding make-up as they would hair, flowers or a dress. It can be a tricky thing to get just right, but great wedding make-up will be one of the best things you can organise for your big day.

Why Bother with Special Bridal Make-up?

Well the obvious reason has to be photos! Most of us non-supermodels have occasional moments of anxiety as the prospect of spending half a day with a professional photographer looms. A good make-up will help you look more like the cover of Vogue than you realise you could. It will also add to your confidence and the feeling of looking really great and special. If you have gone to a lot of trouble and expense to find the right dress, flowers....groom... then it makes sense to add some polish and finish to your look with a well applied make-up. 

"I don't normally wear much make-up and I am worried I'll look like a drag queen on my wedding day!"

This is the biggest worry I have come across concerning bridal make-up. It's a justified fear and would be a really horrible thing to happen to you on your wedding day - unless of course you are a drag queen, in which case you'd look fantastic. Rest assured though, if you read this guide then you won't have to worry. This should never happen if you plan just a little and you should be able to achieve a make-up which works for photos yet does not feel too thick (to find the holy grail of bridal make-up).

"I am not having a white wedding." Or "I normally wear tons of make-up!"

Beautiful make-up will enhance your natural beauty in any situation. Whilst a soft natural look might be stunning with a traditional white dress, you don't have to go for this look just because you are getting married.

• There are a whole host of different looks out there from traditional Chinese/Indian to modern Hollywood, glamour, gothic, fetish and fantasy bodypainting.
•  Look through magazines or online and you are bound to find lots of styles you could go for to give your look polish and individuality.

The same goes for age: Not every bride is 18 and a great make-up artist will be able to give you the look you want which suits your colouring, style, age and budget. Don't think that weddings only mean pale pink if that's not your thing. And if it is...well make it beautiful not just ok.

Should I do my own bridal make-up or hire a professional make-up artist?

For most people, this decision will be dictated by their own circumstance and there's no real answer as to which is universally better. Obviously for people getting married in remote or exotic locations, they will probably be looking at doing their own make-up; or getting someone else (e.g sister, friend) to do it. Below is plenty advice if you choose this route.

In all other situations and for longevity, finish, ease and cost I usually say hire a professional make-up artist if you can. This is for several reasons: Remember those photos? A professional can give you a much better photo finish than you will be able to achieve yourself without a LOT of practice. A good make-up artist should be able to give you a look you love, which lasts all day and looks fantastic in the photos. It is also one less thing to worry about on the morning of your wedding. You will be able to relax (maybe) and have your make-up done quickly, knowing it will look perfect.

The importance of this has been brought to me by many of my own clients and I have never met anyone who hired a professional artist for their wedding day who doesn't agree that it helped things to proceed smoothly and kept them considerably calmer.

As for the cost, well hiring an artist might seem an expensive option as fees are not always cheap. However, if you want to do your make-up yourself you will need a few basic products. And this will inevitably entail a couple of trips to the beauty counter. It's easy to spend a lot of money on products, and although you will have the products left at the end of the day, they might be things you're not really going to use on a regular basis, so will be a waste of money. An artist will typically use more than 20 products for a complete 'natural' look and that's not including all the specialist brushes. If you bought even half of these things it would cost a lot more than hiring a professional for your day.

"But I really want to / need to do the wedding make-up myself!"

Okay, there are lots of things you can do if this is you... Firstly, settle on a look and consider your own make-up skills (or your sister's or friends etc) when you choose this. If you have only a little make-up experience then keep it a simple look. If you want to look natural, you're still going to need a fair few products so sort through your make-up bag.

• What do you love, what colours were mistakes, what textures do you like? Think about this when you buy new products.
  
• What problems do you have, e.g. does your make-up last all day, do you have acne or skin conditions.
  
• Make a big list of everything you need to learn or investigate.

Secondly, get some information. If you can, have a make-up lesson with a professional make-up artist. You can book this privately although many salons now offer this service. The artist will be able to teach you how to complete your wedding look and should recommend to you all the products you will need to purchase. This is a great way to learn how to do a quick photographic make-up and to solve any problems you listed.

• If someone else is doing your make-up then take this person with you as they will be taught everything step by step.
  
• It is best to do this a few months in advance as it will give you time to practice to perfection. Also, when using new make-up products, in the unlikely event that something does not suit your skin, it will not effect your wedding day.

If you can't do the above, then many retail counters offer make-ups and make-up lessons by appointment. These are generally free so a good option if you would like to save some cash.

• As above, it is good to have an image or any questions in mind as well as taking the person who will be applying your make-up if it is not you.
  
• Be aware, however that these companies will only be using products from their own brand so you will receive a fairly biased opinion.
  
• As the appointment is free there is not usually any obligation to purchase. If you are not entirely satisfied with the make-up then ask for a list of products but don't feel obliged to cave in to hard selling tactics.
  
• Always check the lighting and ask the sales staff about this as lighting in stores can vary; most counter artists will know how to compensate for this but ask to check outside in the daylight if you are not sure.

Do bear in mind however, that a lot of make-up artists on counter are highly trained and experienced individuals who's skills you are getting for free. Whilst you should never feel obliged to buy everything from one brand if you don't want to, if the artist has done a good job it isn't nice to buy nothing! If you choose this option, then set yourself a budget but be willing to buy a few products in exchange for a bargain free lesson, someone's time and expertise. As most retail companies have a distinct style it is a good idea to research these companies before you book with them. This will save confusion or disappointment.

There are many great companies and application and interpretation skills vary from artist to artist. However below are a few of my wedding favourites, just based on personal opinion of course. I also generally find that make-up artist lines employ more make-up artists than more traditional cosmetics houses do. This is of course because the emphasis for these brands is on make-up more than skincare or fragrance.

Bobbi Brown is a good choice for anyone wanting a natural, fresh easy look. The make-up is pretty easy to apply and generally looks glowy and fresh if done well. Good for asian and olive skins. Great for looking youthful! For something which should work really well in photographs, Nars and Mac are good choices. They both have beautiful and varied colour palettes so you can go for anything from natural to high fashion with either of these brands. Perfect for anyone wanting to try something a bit more adventurous or at home in a fashion environment.

Mac in particular is an extremely high performance/professional product which will last all day. Let the counter make-up artists tell you how to use each product and they should produce consistent and enduring results at a good price. Good for all skin colours. Nars comes at a bit more of a premium but some of those eye shadows are beautiful and the packaging is great to pull out of your bag.

Laura Mercier is an extremely famous make-up artist with a huge celebrity clientelle. Her make-up line reflects the perfectly polished photographic work for which she is famous and the products have gained a loyal following. Fairly natural colours  mean that this brand is also quite easy to use and not intimidating for those wanting a neutral look. The base products are excellent for photographic work though not as gentle and glowy looking as Bobbi Brown. They are long lasting though and look good when applied as recommended by the brand. The brushes are my favourite items in the whole range and really reflect her training as a painter.

Space NK stores stock various cult brands including some of the above and this is a good choice if you feel comfortable with less brand loyalty and a variety of different approaches. However some of the brands stocked have a fairly high price point. Worth it if you love cult products.

Okay, this isn't make-up but nothing beats having a bespoke fragrance for your wedding day. Check www.millerharris.com or better still, go into one of the shops for a chat.

Tips for Hiring a Professional Make-up Artist

Word of mouth is a good way to find a make-up artist, as is asking your hairdresser. Or you can look at advertisments in bridal magazines and on reputable web sites.

A great make-up artist will....

• Be friendly and accommodating.
• Work hygienically.
• talk openly and professionally about fees by agreeing on these before the commencement of any work.
• Be able to tell you simply about his or her experience without boasting, gratuitous self aggrandisement or celebrity name-dropping,
  
• Maintain the absolute privacy of all of his or her private clients.
• Come with a clean, well organised kit containing all the make-up needed.
• Be able to explain techniques clearly.
  
• Be punctual and reliable.
• Be well groomed.
• Provide proper contact information.

Never accept any less than the above. If in doubt, it is acceptable to ask about qualifications or experience. Some of the best known make-up artists were in fact self taught, so the importance of qualifications is a personal matter. Whilst in practice I have found that most skills are learned on the job some schooling however, can be a useful measure that an artist has attained a certain level of knowledge as well as understanding of matters such as health and safety or hygiene.

People who have worked for make-up artist's brands often receive excellent training so do not be put off by the image that retail is a less skilled job; this is not always true. There are many areas of study related to make-up e.g, a fine artist may well have the brush and colour skills to give you a Vogue look, whilst many beauticians also undergo basic make-up training as part of their NVQ. Generally beauticians will be cheaper to hire than freelance make-up artists so this is another good option if you need to trim your budget a little - as stated before though, have a trial.

Freelance make-up artists usually also do plenty of film, t.v or fashion work so you can rely on them to have good speed as well as artistry, skills and specific knowledge relating to photos, fashion, facial structure and longevity. 

Bridal Make-up Trial Ettiquette

As you usually only have 60 - 90 minutes for a make-up trial or lesson, do jot down any questions or things you would especially like to learn beforehand. This really helps you to get the most of your time.

Remember to tell the artist if you have any sensitivities, allergies or infectious skin conditions such as herpes, conjunctivitis, ringworm etc. Also advise of known allergies to products or ingredients. Most of these things can be accommodated or dealt with quite easily if known about before commencement of any treatment. Again, this really helps you to get the best out of your experience and to maintain a great relationship during the run up to your wedding day. It also means that nothing unplanned will occur with your skin on the day.

If you are not sure/happy with the make-up as it progresses, do say something! It's much easier to discuss something or remove make-up as you go along than to wait until the end when you are not happy with the overall look. No good artist will make you feel at all uncomfortable in doing this, and again this helps you to get the very best from your time.

Bridal Beauty Do's and Dont's

• Do always book a trial make-up for your wedding day and try to do this as far in advance of the day as possible. This ensures that you get the make-up you want from an artist you like. Some artists offer a trial session at a reduced rate and for some it is redeemable against the price of the final wedding make-up. It also makes sure that you don't get any allergic surprises from new products.
•  Do offer to pay for travel if you find an artist you like and you are a little out of their working area. If you feel it is financially justifiable, a lot of artists will travel and you'll get the exact person you want.
  
• Do get your mum/bridesmaid to carry a lipstick, compact powder, blotting papers in their bag. You'll need those to touch up during the day. If you hire a professional make-up artist, then ask them what you'll need to buy.
  
• Do look after your skin on the run up to the wedding. The better your skin looks, the better your make-up will look. Do what you usually do to get it looking perfect or see a skincare specialist if you have any doubts. The best make-up artist in the world will find it hard to give you a flawless youthful look if your skin is scaly or clogged.

• Don't, however, swap to any new skincare regimes, products or treatments within a month of your wedding day. You wouldn't want anything to upset the balance of your skin - especially if you are busy and maybe a little stressed! Keep it simple for the last month and this goes for too much alcohol or unusual food as it can really affect our skin.
  
• Don't go heavy on the shimmer products. Yes they are pretty but they never photograph too well.

• Do inquire about special prices for bridesmaids and wedding guests. Many artists will add these on for a nominal fee and then everybody will look fabulous on the day.
  
• Do coordinate your make-up artist and hair stylist if applicable. Some make-up artists are great hair stylists and some prefer not to be, the two are vastly different areas so with regards to make-up, I would pick the make-up artist you want irrespective of whether they do wedding hair or not. The cost usually works out about the same and then you will at least have someone solely focused on giving you perfect make-up for your day. Most artists frequently work with good hair stylists so you can always ask for a recommendation or package of make-up and hair. Or you can stick to your own hair stylist which will probably make him or her very happy!

Great Beauty Products for Brides

Ask the brands for full details for use and proper application

• Mac blotting papers; slip into your bag/someone's bag and these blot away shine without disturbing your make-up or looking cakey. They are a good alternative to a powder compact on the day.
  
• Creme de la Mer lip balm. This luxury lip balm is great for the run up to the wedding will ensure that your lips look fantastic.
  
• Nude Skincare cleansing oil. Don't forget to take it all off at the end of the day with an essential oil based, theraputic eye make-up remover and facial cleanser in one.
• Talika eye make-up remover won't rub your eyes and make them sore.
• Eye make-up/mascara remover filled cotton buds. These have a snap off end and have enough remover in to take off hard to remove eye make-up. However they are also perfect for cleaning up spills if you are doing your own make-up. Available from pro make-up shops like Charles Fox.

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Bridal make-up guide © Shefali Choudhury 2007. Please contact the author using the link below to obtain permission for republication of any of this content.