I am doing my own hair & makeup for my wedding

[Wormcast]

Could I have your top tips for looking lovely in person and in the photos? Also, if you did your own. Is there anything you would do differently?

I did my own hair and makeup on the day. I had lots of compliments and requests to recommend who did it - which was great seeing as I don't wear makeup everyday and styling my hair consists of running my fingers through it and letting it dry in the car

I have short hair and really wanted it curly, got interested in a Liz Taylor/Ava Gardner style look. There are loads of youtube tutorials on pincurls, and I got this book as well www.amazon.co.uk/Vintage-Hairstyling-Retro-Styles-With/dp/0981663915

I practiced about twice, turned out very easy to do the look I was after. If you want to do 50s styling this is really doable by yourself and there's a Vintage Makeup book as well which I'd recommend too.

I had a 'my face but better' look done at Space NK several years ago and bought the makeup then, so I used that. It looks great in the photos and I'm really pleased I didn't do anything heavier - was tinted moisturiser etc not full coverage.

Also did my own nails - I'd had shellac done for my engagement photos and it was peeling off before the end of the first day. So I did my own for my wedding with a cheap quick drying Rimmel job. Outlasted the shellac and was still going strong at the end of the honeymoon

Good question about the photographs because makes me give you a truly fabulous suggestion which I hope you can use.

Guerlain meteorites.

Honestly. If you haven't already...go try, track them down in a dept store and try. They are UH MAZE!

And...use Nars albatross as your highlighter. Infallible gorgeousness WILL be yours!

I just did my normal every day make up, I'd have felt really odd not being me on my wedding day.

I did get a pro to do my hair. I wanted a French Plait and my are wonky.

This is not to say the ful works can't look amazing. DD2 was a bridesmaid for my cousin and the make up artist/hair dresser made her look amazing. More like 16, than 11, but still amazing and she had a ball.

Btw, another little tip for looking good on the day.get a concealer pencil, the type that looks like an eyeliner pencil, but is actually a concealer. Draw all around your lips. Outside your lip line, obviously. It further defines your mouth, but invisibly, looking natural. It's a fantastic trick.

You can use the same pencil for directly under your lower lashes, for the same reason. Looks totally natural, but a brighter you.

I would never, ever, ever do my own makeup for my wedding but mainly because my skin is not fab and it needs good, even, lasting coverage if being photographed.

If you have great skin, then fine!

I specified that I wanted a natural look and the makeup artist I used did a great job using custom mixed spray on foundation which she blended right down my neck. She was a bridal specialist. She also used fake eyelashes, natural/nude tones on my eyes and face and nude-pink lipgloss (most of it was MAC I believe).

I did my own makeup but got my hairdresser to do my hair as there's no way I could've done a decent job with that.

I wholeheartedly reccomend booking a wedding makeup session at your local Bobbi Brown counter. Free and no pressure to buy but give you great tips. I did buy the foundation and a couple of other bits but they last so long it's totally worth it. And their make up artists are fantastic. I went to Selfridges in Manchester.

Good luck and enjoy your wedding OP! Hope you feel fabulous.

I'm going to hit the counters tomorrow with a list of things to try! I've not seen a concealer pencil before, any particular brands I should look out for?
The only thing I am certain on is Mac Russian Red for my lips as it really seems to suit me.