Your Bridal Make-Up – Do’s and Don’ts

As your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life, you obviously want to look your absolute best, considering things like your dress, accessories, hair and of course your make-up!

So to make sure your bridal make-up is picture perfect on your big day, I have compiled with a wee checklist of do’s and don’ts for your bridal make-up.

Copyright © Ricky Baillie Photography

DO relax: This is your big day and you want to relax and enjoy every minute of it. Be yourself and be comfortable in what you wear – if you want to wear red lipstick because it’s you then wear it! On the flip side, if you never wear red lipstick and want a change, then I suggest making that change before your wedding day. You have to feel like you and comfortable when you walk down the aisle towards your hubbie-to-be.

DO look after your skin: Having a clear complexion is key to a truly beautiful, flawless base to your bridal make-up. For tips on how to achieve a clear complexion, check out my Top 6 Skincare Tips blog post.  

DO use a primer: For beautiful, long lasting make-up, a good primer is key. A light lotion primer, such as Mac’s Prep + Prime Skin Base Visage, improves the application of your make-up and blots away excess oil, helping it to last longer.

Mac Prep + Prime Skin Base Visage, £21.00

DON'T go overboard with highlighter: Light reflecting particles in highlighter products do exactly that – so care needs to be taken not to overdo it when you are having your professional photographs taken.
 
DO try strip false lashes: Your wedding day is the perfect day to maximise the beauty of your peepers. Strip false lashes will enhance your eyes, giving them that extra pop and appearance of being bigger, particularly in front of the camera. However, don't wait until the wedding day to trial them, try them out in advance and at the trial, just to make sure you are used to wearing them come the big day.
 
DON'T sit in silence: You’ve had your make-up trial and you’re not sure about something… Then just tell your make-up artist. A good artist will not be offended and they will be more than happy to make any tweaks to get that perfect bridal look. This is what the trial is all about, and so is the perfect forum for making any changes.

DO have inspiration pictures: This really helps the make-up artist understand your vision and also what you like (and don’t like). Bring along magazine clippings and/or a Pinterest board of all the things that you love.
 
DO be careful having friends or family do your make-up: You won’t mind telling a professional make-up artist that you don’t like something, and you won’t offend them. I have seen this on many occasion, and it’s so difficult to tell a friend or family member that you don’t like something. However, a professional will know what products perform the best and work in front of the camera.
 
DON'T forget your eyebrows: Eyebrows are very popular at the moment and it’s not surprising, as they frame your eyes and face, and really help complete the look. So fill in your brows to give them a natural, full shape.
 
DO opt for waterproof mascara: If there is any day with guaranteed waterworks, it’s your wedding day. From stepping onto the aisle, to the speeches, to your first dance as Mr and Mrs, there are bound to be tears of joy a-flowing. However, your make-up doesn’t have to be!

If you are looking for a beautiful, naturally glowing look that will last all day & evening, and look great both in front of the camera lens and your guests, then it might be an idea to consider booking a professional make-up artist. If you would like to do your own makeup, you could have a bridal tutorial to learn some top make-up tips and product advice, whilst creating together your perfect bridal makeup look.

Please feel free to share your own bridal make-up do’s and don’ts in the comments section at the bottom of this post - I'd love to hear from you!
 
If you are looking for inspiration and professional guidance on how to apply your bridal make-up and achieve the perfect look on your wedding day, I offer Bridal Tutorials with helpful hints and tips of the make-up trade.  
 
And if you would like someone to do your make-up for your wedding day, then I can help you there also. So just get in touch!

Colette x
​

If you enjoyed this post, please share the knowledge!

​For more helpful makeup tips and tricks of the trade, follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest, and sign up for my free report ‘Makeup Secrets that Everyone Should Know About!’ by simply entering your details below: