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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to want to do my own make up on wedding day?

81 replies

MuvaWifey77 · 07/06/2018 19:22

Not a budget led decision , more like a last minute dot com issue. just not into having make up done by other people, probably because of past experiences. Decided that I don’t want a make up artist and have little over 70 days until D day.
AIBU? Should I completely reconsider this and think again ? Will I completely regret if I do it myself?
Opinions please ... thanks.

OP posts:
Original poster
MuvaWifey77 · 07/06/2018 22:11

So many grammar mistakes ... 🤦‍♀️ Apologies

OP posts:
Babynonamee · 07/06/2018 22:12

I've had my makeup done by make up artists many many times (professional model). And I've only ever liked a very small handful. So I knew it would be difficult to find someone I liked... So I didn't bother and did my own Grin

The "out of order" comment by a friend is a bit odd.

notaspornerhonest · 07/06/2018 22:16

I'm going to a counter to have the Bobbi brown "party ready" make up for £30 redeemable against products I was gonna buy anyway , then straight onto my wedding down the road!

growingseeds · 07/06/2018 22:18

I did my own, sensitive skin so used makeup I know would be ok on my face. I looked fantastic but was so in love it won't have mattered. But i did look fabulous!

MinaPaws · 07/06/2018 22:20

I did my own. Never like how other people apply it. You want to feel like yourself on the day.

Oswin · 07/06/2018 22:21

Make sure you do a few practices and take photos so it doesnt have flashback.
Yes a setting powder is a must.
I love highlighter but some can be too much. Have a look at mac soft and gentle.

cindersrella · 07/06/2018 22:25

No, I did my own makeup. I went to Debenhams to the water Lauder counter. Told the lady there I wanted some makeup as I was getting married. She did my face lovely and advise on shades etc. I brought all the makeup and did my own. I loved doing it all and been complemented on the day about it.

Kate Middleton did her own makeup on her wedding day too 😀

cindersrella · 07/06/2018 22:25

Lol water.... Estée Lauder

CrazyOldBagLady · 07/06/2018 22:27

I'm another one who did my own. I watched tonnes of youtube videos and bought some colour matched foundation and nice new eyeshadow palate and lipstick and practiced a lot. I already have good brushes and was fairly confident that I'm not a complete disaster when it comes to dawbing it on. I did go for one trail at the Number 7 counter in Boots and it was horrific, so I couldn't be bothered trying any more.

I think I looked good on the day and looking at photos of myself at my wedding and then a few months later with professional make up done for another event, it looks very similar.

whymewhyme · 07/06/2018 22:28

I did my own cuz I'm into make up, full face of Estée Lauder and I actually had guests ask who did my make up! It was meeeee bitches!

Mouikey · 07/06/2018 22:40

I did my own and had the make up counter trial and bought the products.

What I also did was take photos during application so that it looked OK in the professional photos. You always need more than you think which was somewhat uncomfortable, but getting that balance right really helped!

kmc1111 · 07/06/2018 22:43

If you care about the photos, just make sure to photograph your practice runs and work off of that, not just what you see in the mirror.

Makeup artists know how to balance what looks good in person and what looks good on camera. Makeup that looks pretty and natural in person often ends up barely visible in photographs, and I’ve known a lot of brides who looked beautiful on the day who were devastated to find they looked washed out in most of their photos, so if the photos matter really keep that in mind.

BackforGood · 07/06/2018 22:48

Of course YANBU.
I wanted to look like me on our wedding day, not someone else.

I find it really odd that people get other people to do it.

Original poster
MuvaWifey77 · 07/06/2018 23:16

I see everyone mentioning Estée Lauder ... I never had anything from there before . Will give it a go. I’m young but I seem to have these old habits of finding one lipstick and using it for the rest of my life , I need to try something else. I have heard the double wear from Estée Lauder it’s pretty good.
I don’t know how to thank you ladies for tour replies . The only thing left was the MAU.
Nothing left now :) 💕

OP posts:
Doobigetta · 07/06/2018 23:36

I did my own quite recently. My tips are:
Do lots of practice runs with the actual products you're planning to use, both daytime and evening. I don't mean two separate looks, I mean try it out for both because you need it to work for both. Don't kid yourself that you'll have time or be arsed on the day to spend more than 30 seconds touching it up half way through.
See if your photographer will do a trial session so you can check for weird effects. Engagement shoots sound naff but they're good for this. You don't have to do anything else with the photos.
Use a stronger lipstick colour than you would normally so your mouth doesn't disappear in the photos
Get your eyelashes and brows tinted (not Scouse style, natural)
Don't do anything too different from the way you do it normally. It's not like you get ready thinking "I want to look my second best because I'm saving the best for the wedding". Go for your normal daytime look but a bit stronger and with products that will last. I bought a fixing spray, which I'd never usually bother with but I think it helped.
Good luck and have a fantastic day FlowersWine

OptimisticIntrovert · 07/06/2018 23:41

I did mine, so glad I did.
As a bonus when I went to the clinique counter in a big department store and said that's what I was doing she inundated me with LOADS of freebies!
I also liked the time to myself that it took- I went and sat outside (for good light) and had a bit of peace and quiet while I did it.
Good luck OP, stick to your guns- it's YOUR day (and your spouse-to-be of course!)

AnnabelleLecter · 07/06/2018 23:41

I did my own. I wanted to look like me and
I don't wear enough make up to warrant a professional needing to do it anyway.

Holidaycountdown · 08/06/2018 00:06

We married abroad, so not wanting to trust a random MUA I had a make up lesson with a highly recommended local one before we went, think I paid about £60 IIRC, she came to the house, 2 hours of playing with make up and I got a face map with hints and got to test loads of products, money well spent! If you are anywhere near London, Illamasqua skin base is a fantastic foundation which comes in about 30 shades and won’t look odd in photographs, their flagship store is in the West end. Think I spent about £200 on make up though Blush

TheCraicDealer · 08/06/2018 00:33

I got mine done for a number of reasons-

  • I wanted a fancier then normal eyeshadow look and false eyelashes, neither of which I can do on my own.
  • I'm well practiced but eyeshadow etc also never seems to show up in photos when I do it myself unless I'm really heavy handed- hooded eyes and all that.
  • I wanted longevity- my makeup collection is ok for everyday but I don't have anything like Double Wear or similar which would do the job I wanted. I wouldn't use that type of product again before it spoiled.
  • There's always plenty to be at on the morning of a wedding- I knew I'd flap and be all fingers and thumbs which would hardly assist with the first or second points.

I still looked like me but just more polished than normal. My make up woman cost £30pp with fake eyelashes, £25 without. Yes I could've spent £30-odd on the foundation plus whatever else, but really I was just glad to be able to relax, drink Buck's Fizz and eat my pre-wedding sarnies knowing it was in hand. I paid for my bridesmaids as well which was nice for them (well they seemed pleased anyway) and meant no-one was stressing about uniformity, lack of skill or products.

There's pluses and minuses I guess. If you fancy it you can't beat a personal recommendation. Most MUAs have Facebook business pages where you check out their work- it will be fairly apparent if someone's style isn't your bag. But if you're not a flapper and have the skills to achieve the look you want then DIYing isn't a bad idea.

Puffycat · 08/06/2018 00:39

I got a makeup artist in and I looked fucking hot!
I got her round to the house before hand so we could have a practice.
It’s another thing you don’t have to worry about on THE day, hair too.
You’ll be so hyped up, I reckon it’s a good idea

elliejjtiny · 08/06/2018 00:41

I did my own. Mostly because I didn't want to look really different or like a Barbie doll. I just put my normal going out make up on. Slight panic because I couldn't find my mail varnish but otherwise all fine.

Eliza9917 · 08/06/2018 00:46

@muvaWifey77 apparently the £5 Primark foundation is the same as the Estée Lauder double wear. Some ppl even voted it better I think.

EvilButNotReally · 08/06/2018 01:23

I did my own.
Looks like me but better in the day (no professional photos, BBQ reception).
I spent money on good foundation and the rest came from benefit. It cost more than my dress but they taught me the tricks to make a non make up person look glowing x

Elllicam · 08/06/2018 01:40

I would do your own, I got a wedding trial make up done by a make up artist which made me look like an orange clown.

SmallBlondeMama · 08/06/2018 01:49

Get it done for sure!!! You can just do a trial before the date to make sure you like it.