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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

TheProblemOfSusan · 12/09/2016 17:29

I didn't, I investigated what would last all day and night and spent the money on that instead (way more expensive than what I usually wear). And then treated myself to spendy eyeshadow and lippie as well. And a few new makeup brushes. And some primer.

BUT I still have those things and it was still cheaper than a makeup artist.

Well it was still cheaper than a really expensive makeup artist.

Probably.

NameChange30 · 12/09/2016 17:36

I'm not massively into make up so I didn't want to spend a lot of money on it for my wedding. I found someone reasonable and did a trial but really didn't like the way it looked. So in the end I did my own make up. My sister (who was my only bridesmaid) and I booked a make up session at Mac, and ended up spending a fortune on make up! We were very pleased with how our make up turned out, but it was quite stressful doing it ourselves on the morning of the wedding (not helped by the fact that we were a bit pushed for time, for reasons I won't go into). So in hindsight I think I probably should have persevered and found a make up artist I was happy with, even if it did cost a bit more. It probably would have cost about the same (since we spent so much on make up) and would have been less stressful.

NameChange30 · 12/09/2016 17:37

PS I should have done what Brent did and got the woman who did my make up lesson to do our make up on the day!

GreenGoth89 · 12/09/2016 17:54

As an ex-make up artist unless you want something really out there, or you're very inexperienced with make up, do your own! But go to somewhere like Mac (I suggest Mac purely because of their range of foundation shades, but I also highly rate illamasqua - and personally, most of my kit was illamasqua and sleek), and get your foundation matched - if there's no natural light go with a mirror and check it before you buy, I often get something too warm for myself in the shop when I can't go out and check it before buying. Have a good idea of what you want first - if you want "no make up make up" then be aware it's harder to get that look the older you are and the more blemishes you have. Don't bother with contouring, but do bother with highlighting - high beam by benefit is good, as is illamasqua gleam. Get your brows done professionally and only use a little pencil to fill in IF NEEDED - if not, just just some clear mascara. On the mascara front benefit's they're real is worth it, but get the miniature (same with the highbeam) as it'll dry up before you can use the big version. As someone else suggested sleek are good quality and cheap - the au natural palette is also great. Make sure you've got a good concealer - for under eyes it's worth getting one with a peach (for purple under eyes) or yellow (for blue under eyes) to help correct with colour. PM me if you need any suggestions.

SandyY2K · 12/09/2016 18:24

I'd get a make up artist.

I got married 18 years ago and my Dsis did my make up. It was very good, but all the people in this day and age have it done professionally.

Looks great and lasts long.

cluecu · 12/09/2016 18:28

I had some free trials and then bought the products (mainly bobbi brown) and did it myself. Main reason was that i wanted to be able to reapply throughout the day (insecurity until booze kicked in) and once i had learnt which foundations were best under flashlight i was good to go. I really like my makeup on wedding day and spent around 50 quid on it (foundation and blusher)..still use it now!

goose1964 · 12/09/2016 18:31

I did my own make up, but then that was back in prehistory before you had wedding make up artitsts, & I did DDs despite her avowing she didn't want to wear make up as she never does anyway but I reminded her how good she looked at prom when I also did her make up

anotheronebitthedust · 12/09/2016 18:33

agree with margaret cavendish re: better to feel yourself for the whole day than look good for a few seconds of photos. You can always get your photos altered/touched up (either professionally by your photographer or using a DIY free app or something) if you do feel you looked a bit washed out in some of them - and you can vary the amount of make up/touch up you have too until it's perfect!

Tinklypoo · 12/09/2016 18:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Loafingaround · 12/09/2016 18:40

Had professional makeup by a very trendy artist everyone on forums raved about...little to say my makeup was the only real let down of the day and I had a major freak out when i saw the result... just far too heavy and she'd misinterpreted what id wanted. i'd invest in lash extensions from a very good firm as they dO make a huge difference last for honeymoon too and require zero upkeep- but otherwise do it yourself.

Onestepawayfromtheshoeshine · 12/09/2016 18:42

I did my own, someone pointed out to me that if you had a professional do it in the morning you may not have the correct products to touch up later if needed.
I went to a clinique counter (prebooked) and explained what I wanted. They went through the different products and made up half my face at each stage so I could practice. They wrote down what they used and how they applied it so I had something to refer back to. I then practiced at home. Looked just as I wanted on the day!

specialsubject · 12/09/2016 18:49

up to you - but the idea that you will look 'washed out' in the photos without makeup is nonsense. I was unmade up as usual for my wedding and in the photos (taken by the guests on standard film cameras, this is a while back) I look like...me. (many years ago...)

if you normally wear makeup, why would you not be competent to do it on this particular day?

don't frighten the groom into thinking the wrong bride has turned up. Be you.

hope you have a great day. But it is only one day.

mum2Bomg · 12/09/2016 19:06

I popped along to Charlotte Tilbury and they had a panic when I said the wedding was in two days! (Honestly, you should've seen the poor girl's face!!) she tried everything on me, I bought the lot! Looks amazing, I did it myself on the day and people are still saying I'm glowing now. I'm 6m pregnant and only I know it's the bronzer I bought

WetPaint4 · 12/09/2016 19:06

Take the time and do it yourself. There will be plenty of YouTube videos that can give you lots of ideas, plus you can spend time experimenting with what looks good on you. Make sure you start with a good primer and use a setting spray so it lasts. I did my own make up (after getting advice at professional make-up counters and on YouTube) a couple of months ago when I was a bridesmaid and I'm now confident to do my own for other special occasions. Also, if you see a lady on the street with a good smooth look, don't be afraid to ask what foundation she uses, it makes such a big difference.

Good luck

ComputerUserNotTrained · 12/09/2016 19:20

I get the shakes when I'm nervous, which combined with my penchant for liquid eyeliner and fairly heavy mascara, and my ineptitude with my brows, probably means I should employ a MUA.

WhateverWillBe · 12/09/2016 19:25

I paid £75 for my make up artist on my wedding day.

Without a doubt it was worth every penny...I always thought I was pretty decent at make up but I have no idea what she did to my face. I looked dewy, glowing, my skin was perfect...and it wasn't caked on at all, it barely felt like I was wearing anything.

She patted away at my face with a damp (with water) sponge in between foundations and highlighters etc...she said a damp sponge was the secret to perfectly blended foundation that goes right into your pores, which I thought was weird (and it felt like she was washing my makeup off with it!) but by God whatever she did worked

ParisienneRose · 12/09/2016 19:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BennyTheBall · 12/09/2016 19:38

Kate Middleton did her own. Actually, that's a bad example as her make-up is atrocious.

I did my own, but that was 20 years ago. Everyone seems to have theirs done now and they all have eyelash extensions.

I think if you're good at it, just do it yourself.

Runningupthathill82 · 12/09/2016 19:50

I don't think I know anyone who had a MUA - and a LOT of my friends have got married in the last few years.
Most did what I and mist people on this thread did - went to a makeup counter, had a lesson and then recreated the look on the day.
I went to Benefit, spent a LOT on makeup but then had the products to touch up throughout the day. As a pp said, surely you can't do that if you use a MUA?

Also, the "washed out" in photos thing is bollocks. Think about it logically.
Usually, the only person at a wedding who might have professional makeup done is the bride. And have you ever seen a set of wedding photos where only the bride looks "normal" and everyone else looks "washed out"? Thought not.

SusanneLinder · 12/09/2016 20:03

I got married in the dark ages, when everyone did their own makeup. Wouldn't do it now. I hired a MUA for my DD's prom. She looked fabulous. I have booked her for a wedding I am going to next week to do 3 of us.She's £35 for weddings.£25 for guests.
If I was getting married again, I just wouldn't go through that trauma of doing my own.

SusanneLinder · 12/09/2016 20:04

But you, you don't NEED a MUA, its your choice

specialsubject · 12/09/2016 20:04

Kate middleton's makeup looked fine at her wedding from the photos ! She looked like herself and didnt do silly hair.

It was the dress that was atrocious, which presumably was the professional bit.

fourcorneredcircle · 12/09/2016 20:07

I did my own five years ago, I wasn't a massive makeup wearer so the small amount I put on made a big difference! Every single wedding I've been to since though the bride has had a MUA.

Original poster

DogsAndCatsAndThings · 12/09/2016 21:38

Thanks everyone!

My previous trials have really put me off getting a MUA as I just don't want to throw away any more money having people plaster chalky foundation on my face and unflattering contouring, pearly eyes etc.

I think I'm going to book a make up lesson with MAC (love their products) as they do a bridal one, and see if they can teach me exactly how to do my foundation, then I'm going to do it myself on the day and just factor in a lot of time to stop me panicking!

Really appreciate all of your advice.

OP posts:

SillySongsWithLarry · 12/09/2016 22:00

I had a hair and MUA. Paid £140 for both jobs and she was worth every penny. We also had a photographer that cost ££££ and the photos of me being made up professionally are some of the best of the day. Really captured the whole experience.

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