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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do I need a make up artist for my wedding?

78 replies

DogsAndCatsAndThings · 12/09/2016 12:20

I'm getting married in 3 months. Hairdresser booked. Usually do my own makeup OK but not amazing but had two trails and both were hideous, caked on and looked awful far too heavy.

Does everyone get their make up done professionally for their wedding? I wanted to look special and the best version of me but haven't been impressed with the professionals attempts so far at all.

WIBU to attempt my own make up on the day or should I keep trying to find someone else?

If you had a professional make up artist did you think they were worth it?

OP posts:
bluebunnyblue · 12/09/2016 12:54

I don't wear much make up at all normally so was really concerned about not looking like me if I was too made up. And also was getting married in rural Scotland, which is a long way from home, and no chance to have a trial with anyone local there. So I had a wedding appointment (free) at the Bobbi Brown counter in John Lewis and took my mum and MoH along as well. It was amazing and she really took on board that I wanted a light touch look. She put together a look I liked and showed my MoH how to apply it. I bought most of the products she used (used my own mascara) and MoH did it beautifully on the day for me :)

JC23 · 12/09/2016 12:58

I did my own.
Took advantage of the "free" tutorials they do at the Bobbi Brown counter which gave me some tips, ideas and new products.

I definitely don't think it's worth spending money on a professional if you're on a tight budget.

hellogoodbyeendo · 12/09/2016 12:58

I asked for some advice from on Style and Beauty on a specific look for my upcoming wedding, they were very kind and knowledgeable over there. Obviously I don't know what you look like or what you're going for but some of the tips might be generally helpful and good links to youtube tutorials so here's the link to my thread www.mumsnet.com/Talk/style_and_beauty/2710707-How-could-I-DIY-this-make-up-look

I have since joined the Debenhams beauty club and got a bit of advice and some samples, I will also get a free brow wax around my birthday (you have four weeks from your birthday to get a free one if that ties in with your wedding) and am going to try out a free makeover in the Body Shop to get some tips and products. If that doesn't work out, I think you can pay fifty quid for a lesson and Mac and then get that money back off products you buy so I'm considering that. Hope that's helpful, although you sound like you might be a bit better than me at doing your makeup to start with!

AVY1 · 12/09/2016 13:11

I have a good friend who is exceptional at make up. However if she had not been able to do it then I would have done it myself. In fact we started running out of time so I ended up doing the make up for two of my bridesmaids. I think just do what makes you comfortable.

MargaretCavendish · 12/09/2016 13:17

I did my own: I don't wear much day to day and hated the thought of being covered in the stuff. I did buy some new stuff and take more care than usual (it is the only time in my entire life I've worn foundation), but I liked looking more or less like me.

A few people made 'but what about the photos?' comments. I think actually this is much less true than it used to be anyway - with high-def digital photos you don't 'need' the same efforts to 'define the eyes', etc. for the photos. However, secondly and more importantly: a lot of people seem to think it is better to look 'good in the photos' even if it makes you look obviously painted in real life. I think this is a bit mad: 80 people saw me in the flesh on the wedding day and I'd much rather they thought I looked nice then than months later when they saw the photos!

MargaretCavendish · 12/09/2016 13:22

An extra thought: I also think it depends on your wedding and the dress. Our wedding had a bit of 'cheap and cheerful' vibe (though I'd rather describe it as 'fun and relaxed'!) and my dress was quite simple. I think a very full face of make-up would have looked weird in that context, but very different in a much more glamorous and formal one.

It is weird how much people assume, though. I remember going to buy said foundation and after I said what it was for one of the women on the counters said, 'ooh, you should really do this after you get your tan'. She seemed genuinely shocked that I was not intending to 'get a tan' for the wedding. Even more upsettingly, more than one person asked me how much weight I intended to lose for the wedding!

Comtesse · 12/09/2016 13:24

Do you normally need a makeup artist? No? Then you can probably manage by yourself. DIY is better than a duff job that you hate and is expensive.

Velvetdarkness · 12/09/2016 14:16

I had a makeup lesson from an artist then did my own on the day. It was lovely and I learned loads of tips and what suited me.
She used a lot of my existing makeup too so no hard sell.
It was Ariane Poole if you want to look her up.

2rebecca · 12/09/2016 14:19

I did my own. I did go into a dept store before and get my make up done but with my first wedding wished I hadn't as the Lancome foundation she gave me was too orange for my skin. Second time round I just used my usual make up and brought new eye shadow.
Professional make up artists use too much make up for my liking. I have pale skin and fair hair and easily end up looking like a clown.

newmummyagain · 12/09/2016 14:24

TBH it never occurred to me to get a professional (although I definitely wouldn't have done my own hair).

One of my bridesmaids is very good at makeup. She came with me to a MAC makeover and we chose products together and she did it on the day. She kept my makeup in her bag and touched up my lipstick a few times along the day. Worked well and pleased with what she did. She's better than me and better than most at makeup.

Catsick36 · 12/09/2016 14:27

I had one and looked great. Love my wedding g photos, she did a good job

minipie · 12/09/2016 14:27

I had a trial with a professional. Bloody awful. I have acne (worse back then) and she didn't know what to do with it at all. I did a far better job and spent the money a professional would have cost on some lovely new makeup instead. (Which lasted for months after the wedding).

Narnian · 12/09/2016 14:34

I did my own thanks to the brilliant woman on the Estee Lauder counter.

I did have a trial with a pair of 'make-up artists' and it was horrific. I went to see them wearing a white T-shirt so a similar colour to my dress. They used oompa-loompa coloured foundation but reassured me they'd use the correct shade for me on the wedding day. Yellow eyeshadow, 80 coats of mascara, Aunt Sally cheeks and bright pink lipstick later..Ta-Da!! Done. It was horrific.

I felt ashamed leaving looking like a poor-man's Lily Savage. I sobbed in the car and my tears streamed the horrid cheap make-up and I had big orange tear stains on my nice white T-shirt that never came out.

My SIL had a make-up artist on her wedding day and looked stunning.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeG0es · 12/09/2016 14:34

It never occurred to me to get someone else to do it, I just did my normal, fairly natural look and it was just right. I wanted to look like my normal self on the day and wasn't worried about the photos. Although they came out fine, definitely not washed out, and this was pre-digital.

HughLauriesStubble · 12/09/2016 14:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

guiltynetter · 12/09/2016 14:37

I think it's definitely about finding the right makeup artist. I have an recommendation for an amazing one if you're in the north west. she did mine for my wedding in April and I barely wear makeup so I was very cautious of being caked in it but she didn't do that at all.

tinyterrors · 12/09/2016 14:45

I has a makeup artist do my makeup because I'm have rosacea which makes my face red and is really difficult to cover properly, I'm crap at makeup and had a very young baby at the time so wanted the dark circles covering properly, plus I wanted it to last all day without having to redo it all.

It was fab. It felt like loads of makeup, especially covering my very red cheeks, but in the photos it looks really natural. At the beginning of the trial I was asked what look I wanted and I said I wanted a natural look that covered the redness and dark circles.

You need to find the right makeup artist for the look you want and most importantly have a look outside and get someone to take some photos so you can see how it will look. In the mirror my makeup looked heavy (to me who rarely wears it) but in the photos you can hardly tell I'm wearing makeup.

RaeSkywalker · 12/09/2016 14:45

I agree with guilty- it's about finding the right MUA. Most have Facebook pages, so have a look at past weddings. Go to trials with pictures of makeup that you like, and give them as much information as possible so that they get it right (I'm very pale and didn't want a fake tan, whereas most of my friends have used fake tan for their weddings). I told her that I wanted to look like me, but a bit more 'polished'.

I felt amazing on the day, as did my DM and maid of honour (I paid for their makeup too).

In contrast, I was a bridesmaid a month later and really disliked my makeup- but that's because I didn't have a trial, and the MUA just basically copied the bride's makeup, which didn't suit me at all.

FarAwayHills · 12/09/2016 14:46

DSis had a make up artist for her wedding for both her and us bridesmaids. I was a bit dubious as I had visions of an overdone TOWIE look. It was a big wedding and we were being photographed all day so I relented. She was amazing and it was well worth while especially for the photos, not a dark circle or bag in sight! Theres no way I could have pulled it together and myself and it also took the stress of getting ready away.

Scholes34 · 12/09/2016 14:46

SIL did mine, she's a beautician. I was very lucky I don't usually wear make-up and she refused to replicate the very beautiful eye make up she did for one of my bridesmaids, as she said it just wasn't me. What she did do for me was lovely and I'm very thankful to her. I'm sure any make up artist I'd booked would have simply gone ahead and done it. I would always avoid having anyone you don't know doing your make up for you, unless you're someone who wears very full make up all the time.

The wedding is much more than just the photographs. What about looking yourself in real life? On the one occasion I had a make over for a magazine shoot, I spent the next two days trying to get rid of the stuff.

steppingout · 12/09/2016 14:54

I wasn't going to, but ended up being booked one as a wedding present from a close friend - I was really glad in the end. I can do a pretty good job on my own, but where I was a bit tired and nervous it was very relaxing to let someone else take over. I would agree that you need to find the right person though - she listened I what I wanted, and took on board a couple of comments about minor changes. She was brilliant - makeup lasted right through a hot summer day, and I felt great. If you're only finding people who aren't giving you a look you're happy with, it might be less stressful to do your own. She's London based if anyone is looking!

Sonders · 12/09/2016 15:10

I am getting married this weekend and was panicking that I hadn't found a MUA yet - you've all given me the confidence to do it myself, and I've booked a bridal makeup lesson at Bobbi Brown for my lunch break on wednesday.

The MUAs I had looked at her £120+ just for the day, even if I spend £60 on products I'll still be saving loads too. Thanks PPs ❤️

Tastesjustlikecherrycola85 · 12/09/2016 15:18

I did my own and it looked fine

WooWoo1000 · 12/09/2016 16:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Brentlicious · 12/09/2016 17:15

I went for a make-up lesson a few weeks before my wedding - the beautician did half my face and then I did the other half. Oh dear. I looked like a Picasso portrait. She then put 'my side' right and I was convinced I could never get it looking that good all by myself. So I tried to book another lesson for the morning of my wedding - knowing that I'd be cutting it fine time-wise - but 'my' girl was going to be off that day. But she offered to come to my home to do it - for a very fair cost plus cab fare - and the result was amazing. I was totally relaxed and my make-up was so very much better than my nervous fingers would have managed. Best money I ever spent.