Recommendations for wedding make up

[BearGryllsHasaBigRope]

I'm going to be doing my own make up, and my cheapo make up bag won't do. I need whatever I use to be long lasting but natural looking.... And I have no idea where to start! Does anyone have any recommendations?

Bobbi Brown? Their range is excellent and they focus on a natural look. Any department store who stock them will do a bridal make-up session (you'll have to pre-book). No pressure to buy anything. Go (to another store to get another free session) online and order from their website as they quite often have special offers.

I used double wear foundation. Bobbi brown gel eyeliner, individual fake lashes for a subtle look with "they're real" mascara, benefit brow powder (forget what it's called) and a cheap translucent powder over the top. Then a tiny bit of the body shop highlighter. For lipstick I used a cheap lipliner with tinted baby lips balm on top

Aside from the lip balm it all lasted all day and it was a hot day

Do you have a budget in mind? I was in your position, and went into Space NK with my existing make-up haul and a friend with me, explained the situation and what I was looking for, and after trying out a gazillion various different products and looks came away with everything I needed and an expensive Space NK habit which I have not yet gotten rid of, three years later. I was delighted with the results on my wedding day.

I like Space NK because they stock many different brands. If you can find a decent branch on a quiet day they will spend as long as you need trying to find the right thing for you. This is my experience, anyway - I usually go there when I need to spend my loyalty points something new.

I've booked someone to do make up and hair for me and bridesmaids. I haven't a clue and know I would mess it up!

Mac?

This is based on the advice from my lovely make up artist friend who also did my wedding make up, but also my preferences based on the products I chose!

Giorgio Armani foundation. Nicest one out there imo.

A primer is essential to make foundation stay put. I used lancome but there are others that may be better as this is a silicon primer. My skin does look very smooth and clear in photos though.

A good translucent loose powder. I like Laura Mercier's one.

Really good under eye concealer with some light reflecting. I use Estée Lauder's equivalent of touché elcat but also like the one by By Terry.

I got my eyebrows tinted and shaped beforehand which made a difference.

Avoid glittery eye shadows at all costs as they look terrible in photos. Some shimmer is ok. I bought rose gold from chantecaille and it is lovely and long lasting (but pricey!) and looked really nice in pictures.

Also, if you have time, just go to make up counters and tell them you are choosing stuff for your wedding - I found that they were so lovely and excited for me, and most were really happy to do my make up and make recommendations, so I could then take pictures and wear the make up first before deciding. I did this about 10 times before buying anything!

Bobbi Brown makeup diagram posted on the website shortly after the Royal Wedding.

I'm not a fan of Bobbi brown as the colours are too yellow based for me but Kate looked lovely. Maybe don't go so dark on the eyes and cheeks.

Thanks for all the ideas so far. I'm not sure if there's a bobbi brown where I live but I will take a walk in to town and have a look. The make up counters have always intimidated me but I know I need to bite the bullet with that one. No idea on a budget. Probably no more than £100 though.

Just a thought - have you looked into local indie make up artists? I'm not pretty (terrible and oily skin) nor confident with makeup, and it cost me just over £100* to get a professional make up artist to come to my house on a bank holiday Sunday and make me look amazing with her pro kit. It included airbrush foundation and she gave me the lip colour to reapply when I needed it. It was a hot day, I danced for hours, and I still looked good in photos at midnight. (DH and everyone else were sweaty messes, but never mind.) It was so relaxing to not have to worry about it, and in the grand context of the wedding, not expensive at all.

*South east, three years ago

I've just rechecked my wedding emails, she was actually £85 inc travel. If you're south east PM me and I'll happily recommend her. Or just google ones in your area or ask on Mumsnet local.

Honestly pay someone to come and do it. I paid £140 for someone to do my hair and make up and it was the best spend of the day. You'll never be photographed as much as on your wedding day.

Honestly pay someone to come and do it. I paid £140 for someone to do my hair and make up and it was the best spend of the day. You'll never be photographed as much as on your wedding day.

Have lots of trial runs until you're confident. I did my own and it was much nicer than my friend's who also got married the same year, she said she wished she'd done her own.

I went to a no7 counter and a really experienced woman suggested products.

I would suggest no 7 water proof mascara , it's amazing stuff. Also Nivea sensitive post shave balm ( yes seriously) as a primer it keeps your make up looking fresh for hours

Good luck!

BearGryllsHasaBigRope I spent about £150 IIRC but (a) had very little make-up to begin with and (b) I bought a couple of things that were not strictly for the wedding. I budgeted about £200 as this is somewhere around what a make-up artist costs for a trial run and the day where I live. Plus I ended up with lots of lovely products for afterwards. I spent the rest on mascara - not worth buying an expensive one according to Space NK, mine is from benefit - and make-up remover! Oh, and I had a gel manicure as well.

The look I wanted was that I did not look as if I was wearing any make up but that I still looked lovely in the photos. For me, a really good foundation was key. You need to specify that you are going to be in photos - if indeed you are - for some reason along the lines of you need a product that will not leave you looking shiny in the pictures? I am not entirely sure where or when I was told this but I believed it at the time. I did not have primer nor powder, just a really good foundation and concealer. I do have good skin though. Then cheeks, eyes and lips. I can do a less full-on version of the look I had for my wedding in seven minutes flat in the toilet on the train if I have to and I am so happy to have invested the time aside from the aforementioned Space NK habit.

Depending on the look you want, Mac is another good option. Allegedly if you give the Mac counter free reign over your face you can get something quite dramatic, an exercise I have never dared to carry out. It depends on the rest of the look you want for your wedding really. I think I might have taken a swatch of my dress with me to Space NK? That is the type of thing I would do.

Oh and also brushes. Do you have good make-up brushes? These make a difference, too.

Bare Minerals & still using the brand 6 years later. It looks very natural and you can build up the layers if needed. I was going to be doing my own make-up and I was so nervous about it. Then my hairdresser saw what make up I had and offered to do it for me! My mum said she could see the relief on my face! If you can get someone to do it for you then it's one less thing to worry about on the day. Good luck

I'll have a Google and see if there's a space nk nearby. Do they sell a range of products?
I have OK brushes, but would be willing to get more. I use the cheapo maybelline green and pink mascara which I love, and luckily my eyelashes are quite long so I may stick with that if expensive mascara isn't worth it.
So far I'm thinking, photo finish primer/concealer/foundation, a nice blush (is it worth bothering with contouring?) an eyeshadow or two, maybe a gel liner and some individual lashes for photos sake?

And I'm really not up for anyone else doing it. I'm quite fussy with my make up and if I put a bit of effort in I can make myself look ok, plus I'd rather have the products for after

Oh and lips! Lips are my downfall, I have no idea what to do with them

For my lips I used fairly natural (and crucially non sticky for the important kissing moments) Dior lip gloss.
Lip liner is important for definition though! Nice neutral one, I like the Rosie by autograph one from M&S.

Space NK is amazing but you'll blow your budget quickly!

I would say contouring might be a bit tricky but highlighter around the eye socket is easy for a nice touch.

Lisa eldridge has some lovely wedding make up tutorials on her you tube channel.

Spend an hour looking through and see what might suit - she lists the products as well as any high street alternatives.

Just make sure you do the look and wear it out a few times before as you want to be comfortable with it.

And take photos, lots of them , with a flash so you can see how it looks.