If you’ve been wielding a mascara wand since you were 13 years old, you might be wondering – is it really worth paying for a professional make-up artist to do your wedding make up?
Well, if you ask the team at Weddings of Canberra, the answer is a resounding YES! After all, you are going to be the centre of attention for the whole day. You’re going to have a gazillion photographs taken. And your make-up needs to last the distance (not to mention the dancefloor).
Professional make-up artists have worked with every kind of skin type and tone. They know exactly what kind of moisturizer and foundation will work best with your skin type. Plus, a professional will have an arsenal of eyeliners, eyeshadows, lipsticks and products you didn’t even know existed (Primer? What the?). And they know how to use them.
Watching a few YouTube tutorials is no match for years of industry experience. Professional make-up artists will be able to create a range of different looks (glam, vintage, natural). Having worked with hundreds of difference faces, they’ll understand how to highlight your natural features using subtle tricks of colour and shadow. And if you are self-conscious about anything (sigh, aren’t we all) they’ll work to conceal it, so you feel your absolute best and are confident strutting it in front of the camera.
Even if you’re au fait with wingtips and lipliner, chances are it will take you a lot longer to create a special look for your wedding day. And this is time that could be better spent, sipping champagne with your besties and relaxing. A professional make-up artist will normally have you prepped, primed and ready within 45 minutes to an hour.
When was the last time you walked into Mecca or M.A.C? Good quality make-up products do not come cheap – and quality is what you need when your make-up needs to stay put for anywhere any to (and possibly beyond) 12 hours. Even if you only need to buy a few new products for your wedding day look, you’re probably already halfway to the cost of hiring a professional make-up artist.
Since you’ve probably never paid to have your make up done before, you’re most likely wondering what to expect. Don’t forget that there’s a lot more to providing a professional make up service than just slapping a coat of lippy on and walking out the door. Here are a few things you need to consider when researching quotes:
And of course, your make-up artist does need to make a profit. Much as they love their work, love don’t pay the bills now, does it?
So, who are you going to entrust to the important task of making you look fabulously flawless? First it is important to work out whether you need a mobile make-up artist or you’re happy to go to a studio. Then, start researching our brilliant Canberra make-up professionals, read other couple’s reviews and start a conversation with any vendor who looks promising.
Reference images are a great way of explaining the sort of look you’re going for and it’s a good idea to share pictures of your outfit for the day. Talk about timing, the number of people who will need their make-up done and any other factors you think your make-up artist needs to know about. Make sure you understand exactly what their quote includes (Trial? Travel costs?) and then lock it in when you are happy!
We highly recommend you book a trial to ensure you and your make-up artist are on the same page when it comes to the look you are aiming for. And hey, you don’t have to waste the look – why not time your trial to coincide with your hen’s night or a romantic night out with your soon-to-be life partner!
Make sure your skin is in top shape for your wedding day by sleeping, eating and exercising well in the weeks leading up to your event. Eat lots of vegies, fruit and nuts. Drink loads of water. And try to incorporate some vigorous exercise into your routine (or failing that, a few trips to the sauna!).
If you are thinking about any kind of treatment like a facial or skin peel – please, allow plenty of time for your skin to calm down and heal before your wedding day! And if you’re going to get a spray tan or use a gradual bronzing moisturizer, let your make-up artist know so they can adjust colours and shading accordingly.
The night before your wedding try to avoid alcohol, since nothing dries the skin out faster than a few red wines! And finally, aim to get a solid 8 hours of sleep so you are looking bright-eyed and bushy-tailed in time for your big day!
For more help in planning your wedding, check out our handy 12-month guideline, create an account and start browsing our awesome Canberra wedding vendors. When you’ve made your shortlist, get in touch with vendors directly. You can save notes, quotes and more in our handy planning section online.
