Congratulations, you’re getting married! You have a million and one things to do before the big day so let me help you. Here are some bridal beauty do’s and don’ts.
Hire a professional! In most cases you wouldn’t cook the food yourself, or make the dress yourself. Why do your own hair and makeup? Even if you do a great job on a day to day basis, your wedding day isn’t just any other day. So many thoughts and emotions are going to be racing through your mind, why burden yourself with choices like, pencil, liquid or gel? Additionally, professionals use professional-grade products that are proven to photograph well, and last through the day while still looking beautiful.
Schedule your trail a month or two before your wedding day. This is just enough time to make adjustments if necessary but not enough time for you to forget what you decided on.
Give yourself and your artist plenty of time to get it right. No one likes to be rushed!
Bring lots of pictures for your artist to mull over, even the “absolutely not this” picture. This is an essential step. Your artist doesn’t really know you, your likes or dislikes. Providing pictures will help him or her understand who you are, and what appeals to you. Then allow your artist to customize the look just for you. If you can provide any pictures and specifics to your artist before you meet that’s even better. The extra brainstorming time could make the difference between a two hour trial, and a three hour trial.
Wear a cute robe, or button-down shirt, in a similar color to your dress at the trial, and on your wedding day. This will ensure your comfort of course, but it will also help you see how your hair and makeup are going to look against the stunning gown you’ve chosen or will choose soon. This step will also prevent you from wrecking the hair and makeup while removing your tube top.
Be completely honest and descriptive with your artist regarding how you feel about the work they have done. I can not stress that enough. One of the great things about makeup is that it wipes right off, and hairstyles are far from permanent. Expect to do some adjustments during your trial to get it just right. You must not be afraid to communicate thoughts to your artist; they are not mind readers, and of course, they want you to be happy on your big day. In some cases you and the artist may have different styles and are just not a good match. It’s OK to keep looking until you find one you are excited about.
Take photo’s of the finished product. Keep in mind that these snapshots are nowhere near professional quality but more of a way to remember what was done. Forward the photo’s to your artist with any additional input you may have. You may change your mind about certain aspects such as lip color after the trial, and it is important to let the artist know about this in advance of the wedding day. This is not to disregard the magic that occurs on your wedding day, that makes you the most radiant women within 100 miles, but only helps to make things run that much more smoothly and efficiently.
Keep in touch with your artist in the days before your wedding to make sure they know where they are going and what time they need to be there. Even though you have hired a pro who knows how important it is that everything runs smoothly and timely, you are more likely to have an above fantastic experience if your artist is completely in the know, and invested in your big day.
Tip your artist for their work at your trial and on your wedding day. They’ve worked hard and deserve the same consideration you give to your usual stylist at the salon
Now that you know what you should do, here are a few things you shouldn’t do!
Don’t wait to the last minute to address skin issues like acne. See a dermatologist six months to a year prior to your wedding day. You may need that much time to resolve some conditions. Even if your skin is flawless make sure you are on a skin care regiment that will maintain it’s pristine condition and appearance.
Don’t experiment with your hair color or length for your wedding. Stick with the tried and true or keep your hair on the longer side so your artist has plenty to work with. If getting hair services such as a trim or highlights touch-up, be sure to tell your stylist that it is for your wedding day, and that you don’t want anything extreme or different done to your hair.
Don’t wax, thread or pluck on your wedding day. Try to schedule hair removal a week in advance to avoid red irritated skin. Your artist can easily pluck out some stray hairs on the day of if necessary.
Don’t opt for a very fashion forward look you may regret. Classic elegance is the way to go. Think about what your grandchildren will say when looking at the photos. Rosy or peachy cheeks are always flattering. Even a little bronzer under the check bone goes a long way. Fleshy pink/beige lip colors are preferred over vampy reds or browns. Most artists do not recommend wearing red lipstick on your wedding day unless it is part of your everyday look. Even so. it will have to be touched up often and sometimes not photograph well.
Don’t try to satisfy anyone else’s idea of how you should look on your wedding day at the expense of your own ideas. Following sound advice is OK, but don’t feel obligated to comply with someone else’s fantasy; it’s YOUR day.
Good luck, and if you need more help just ask the experts!
