Bridal Do’s & Don’ts from a Professional Makeup Artist
Wedding season in the South has officially kicked off at full speed. In Georgia, the start of wedding season happens in the spring around late February early March. The weather is usually perfect—not too hot or cold; and all the foliage is beginning to bloom and radiate a luscious green hue. Between the months of February to May I have 15 weddings booked, so its safe to say my weekends will be filled with all things bridal! With that being said, I have picked up my favorite tips and tricks from past bridal experiences to share with all my upcoming brides this season, and anyone else who may be planning in the future and wants to check it out!
DON’T: get your eyebrows waxed within a week of your wedding. This is huge for me and something I try to relay to all my brides. The skin around your brow/ eye area is very delicate and susceptible to inflammation, irritation, allergic reaction and even scarring. When the hot wax is ripped off your skin, it tends to also remove the protective barrier or layer of skin on that area as well. Makeup has a really hard time sticking and laying flawlessly on new, fresh, skin like that and can leave a strange looking finish around the brows. I have seen this happen to too many brides over the years and its totally avoidable! My recommended time to wax before your wedding day is 10 days. This way if any adverse reaction does occur, there is plenty of time to heal before the big day!
DO: get facials by your trusted provider. You want your skin to be perfect right? Working with a trusted skin expert and dermatologist is a great way to invest in your skincare before your big day. These professionals will be able to address any concerns you have and correct any blemishes so you are picture perfect! Plus, working with a facialist to create baby smooth skin will have your makeup applying flawlessly!
DO: make changes to your trial based on your preferences! I always provide a trial for my brides. This way the bride and I both get an idea of the makeup for the big day! However, when that day arrives, if you feel like making changes— Lets do it! I recently had a bride that loved her trial and thought it was beautiful, but when the day of came she opted to change up her brows and her lip color to better match her feelings that day. And that is absolutely okay! Nothing is set in stone and can gladly be changed to better align with your vision for YOUR wedding day. I want it to be perfect.
DON’T: skimp out on “getting ready” photos. This is a beautiful day that you will want to remember forever so why would you skip the part where you are getting ready with your best friends and people you love? When hiring a photographer, take into account how many hours you’ll want coverage for and see if those hours could overlap with your “getting ready” time. You could have priceless photos of you and your sisters sharing lipgloss, in matching pjs, drinking mimosas and remember how loved you felt in that moment before it all began!
DON’T: go last for makeup as the bride. Going last and having everyone around you done and waiting on you an create a nervous vibe for the room. I like for my brides to go somewhere in the late middle, if at all possible. This is because people are typically pulling her in all different directions for photos, decisions, questions, etc. It can be overwhelming and exhausting. I strive to create a calm hour for the bride to relax without interruptions to focus on getting her makeup perfect. For that hour, other bridesmaids and moms can handle everything that needs to be completed. Once the bride is finished she is free to continue while other members of the party finish up. Typically I like to finish with flower girls that way they are fresh and I don’t have to touch them uo a million times before photos start.
DO: remember to have fun and really enjoy this day. Something I hear very often is that brides will blink and the day will almost be over. They won’t remember taking photos, saying hello to loved ones, or even grabbing a bite of food amongst the choas of love. Stopping to slow down and focus on the love and joy surrounding this day instead of worrying and trying to control everything will create a beautiful long-lasting memory of this day.
Thank you so much for reading! I hope these do’s and dont’s provide a little insight on how to have a flawless wedding day from your makeup to your memories! I will be uploading monthly blogs to my website on relevant topics in the beauty industry. If you have something you’d like to discuss— shoot me a DM or fill out my contact form! I would love to chat all things beauty!
xoxo| kelseajmua
Photo credit to Elizabeth @stampfliphotography and Taylor @taylorinmanclark
