Creating Your Own Bridal Look

One of the ways many brides are cutting down on their budgets is by doing their own wedding day makeup. While hiring a professional makeup artist is recommended for the best and most reliable look, going it alone is an option if you’re comfortable in front of a mirror.

Before you raid the cosmetics counter, however, you should know what you’re getting into. Professional makeup artist Keri Berman, of Keri Berman & Company, recommends that all brides get a lesson first. “Book an artist ahead of time,” she says. “You’ll get instructions on how to do it on the day of, including a face chart and step-by-step instructions.”

Even if you’ve been doing your own makeup for years, Berman says that weddings are a whole different ball game. “You need to understand certain things that don’t apply to Saturday night makeup,” she says. “Beach wedding makeup is different than indoors, and if you mess things up the photographer’s going to be spending a lot of time in Photoshop.”

Berman says that, if you learn how to do your makeup correctly, you shouldn’t have to do a lot of touching up. “You can use blotting paper and powder when the makeup is on and when you’re about to walk down the aisle,” she says. “Don’t keep redoing it.”

One of the biggest mistakes that she notices is bride’s ignoring their eyelashes. “I tell clients to do individual eyelashes, which you can purchase at any drugstore. They really stand out.”

Another mistake is to go for a look you’re not comfortable with. “Makeup should match your face,” she says. “Avoid colors you don’t normally use. Some women feel they need to go over the top for their wedding, and you really just want to look like yourself, but better.”

Time-wise, your makeup should be done about an hour before pictures. “Wear a button-down shirt, so you don’t have to pull anything over your head,” says Berman. “Hair goes next, and then the dress.”

One thing Berman doesn’t recommend is asking for a group opinion. “If you ask four people how your makeup looks, you’ll get four different opinions,” she says. “All that counts is what you like.”

-David Toussaint

Check Out DIY Weddings 101
Check Out Hiring Your Wedding Day Makeup Artists
Check Out Hiring Your Wedding Day Hairstylist