Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Weddings

Chat to other Mumsnetters on our Wedding forum.

Original poster

Wearing no make up as the bride

66 replies

OnMyWayy · 18/05/2024 18:10

I get married in August and everything is arranged perfectly however, everyone keeps asking me who I've booked to do my make up on the day/suggesting MUA.

Its something I hadn't thought of as I don't and never really have worn make up beside some mascara and eyeliner during my teenager years. I wouldn't even know where to start!

Did anyone opt out of wearing make up for their wedding day? I just feel like it wouldn't be very me but most of my friends have said its a must and its an excuse to “be glam”.

If you didn't, do you regret it?

OP posts:
AllAtSeaAgain · 18/05/2024 18:14

I did my usual 5 minute job with mascara, bit of blusher and some lipstick as though I was going for a job interview. 😁

That's the most I ever wear. Frequently don't wear anything at all. I didn't want someone plastering me in the stuff. I'd rather feel like myself.

Precipice · 18/05/2024 18:14

Presumably your fiance (presuming he's male) isn't planning on wearing make-up either. Why is your natural face worse than his?

Stick to your own guns and your own gut. Do you want to look at yourself in the mirror and scarcely recognise yourself? Do you want to look strange and unfamiliar in your wedding pictures? I think that's something that would make you sad.

The heavy make-up that MUA go for (who needs an MUA to put on foundation/mascara/lipstick? MUA implies use of much more) will look very odd to you, if not outright grotesque.

Floralnomad · 18/05/2024 18:14

I didn’t wear makeup aside from lip gloss as that was all I had ever worn . I’ve never worn lots of makeup .

Revelatio · 18/05/2024 18:15

Much better to be you when you’re getting married. I wore some eyeliner and mascara as that’s what I always wear and felt comfortable in it. I feel like I look like a drag queen in a full face of make up and I’d be really uncomfortable. You can look glam without loads of make up. You don’t want to look back and see a stranger’s face in your wedding photos!!

UtterlyOtterly · 18/05/2024 18:23

I didn't wear make up to my wedding, nothing at all. Happily married for well over 30 years so I assume it didn't matter.

Go for it OP, if make up isn't your thing then you will feel weird on your wedding day if you put some on. You will be beautiful as you are.

ManilowBarry · 18/05/2024 18:23

Depending on your skin and if it's hot where you are in august, then perhaps think about whether you may look shiny in photos without some help. Even if it's just some blotting sheets or a mat tidying base on the day.

Froniga · 18/05/2024 18:25

OnMyWayy · 18/05/2024 18:10

I get married in August and everything is arranged perfectly however, everyone keeps asking me who I've booked to do my make up on the day/suggesting MUA.

Its something I hadn't thought of as I don't and never really have worn make up beside some mascara and eyeliner during my teenager years. I wouldn't even know where to start!

Did anyone opt out of wearing make up for their wedding day? I just feel like it wouldn't be very me but most of my friends have said its a must and its an excuse to “be glam”.

If you didn't, do you regret it?

I would wear a touch of blusher, lipgloss and mascara. It will be better in the photos.

CrepuscularWeasel · 18/05/2024 18:26

I don’t and didn’t really wear make up beyond a bit when going out as a teen. For my wedding I went to a moderately priced beauty counter in Boots, told them I wanted a natural look for my wedding. They did it on me and then I bought all the products they used and reproduced it myself on the day.

useitorlose · 18/05/2024 18:31

When I got my hair done for my wedding, the stylist asked who was going to do my makeup. My response was 'I've already done it'.

Why not try a natural look in a store like Bobbi Brown who will do it for you, and decide whether it's something you might want. Personally, I know I benefit from under eye concealer, mascara, light foundation and lip colour as a minimum, but I never use eye shadow or contouring or fake lashes etc.

SpongeBobSquarePantaloons · 18/05/2024 18:31

I don’t wear make up and have no plans to do so on my wedding day. I wouldn't look like myself.

Ariela · 18/05/2024 18:32

I didn't bother with make-up beyond my usual bit of mascara, a complete DIY job. No nail varnish as I can't stand it - makes my fingers feel like they cannot breath just like wearing rubber gloves. Looks absolutely fine in the photos (think English Country Garden scene - lots of flowers in the background ). Nobody said anything either all said I looked lovely.

YesHesAPlonker · 18/05/2024 18:32

When I got married in my early 30's I hadn't worn make up for about 8yrs, didn't possess any. Didn't wear any at my wedding - and I would have been very self conscious if I had, I hate the feeling of it on my skin.

The key thing is to feel comfortable in yourself on the day.

Bluestarling · 18/05/2024 18:32

Had a professional make up artist....best pics of me in my whole life ever 😂

Emotionalsupporthamster · 18/05/2024 18:38

I wear makeup on a daily basis but I do regret getting a MUA for my wedding. It looked so unnatural and I ended up taking off half the eye makeup and redoing it myself.

acrossthebeach · 18/05/2024 18:45

I don't wear much make up either, and I was talked into going for a wedding make up trial at a big department store (can't recall which). I felt so uncomfortable I went straight to boots for some wipes and cleaned the lot off within minutes.
On the day I wore minimal make up and looked like myself!

FlakyScroller · 18/05/2024 18:49

I didn't wear make-up, I don't usually and I was certain DH wanted me to look like me when I met him at the altar.

Growlybear83 · 18/05/2024 18:54

AllAtSeaAgain · 18/05/2024 18:14

I did my usual 5 minute job with mascara, bit of blusher and some lipstick as though I was going for a job interview. 😁

That's the most I ever wear. Frequently don't wear anything at all. I didn't want someone plastering me in the stuff. I'd rather feel like myself.

Yea, I was exactly the same. It would never have crossed my mind to pay to have someone to do my make up when I got married, or to do my hair.

EdithStourton · 18/05/2024 18:54

I'd been to a couple of weddings where friends had been professionally done up and looked really glam but not like themselves. So I stuck with my tightwad decision to spend 5 mins doing my own (eyeliner, mascara, minimal eyeshadow, bit of blusher, dab of lipstick).

I look back at the photos and have absolutely no regrets.

ZippyZappyZoo · 18/05/2024 19:00

Personally I find it odd, beautiful hair and dress presumably and then no make up? You can have very subtle make up on, mascara and a touch of blusher and some lip gloss. I think a bride looks unfinished with everything else done and not make up but it’s a personal choice.

Precipice · 18/05/2024 19:15

ZippyZappyZoo · 18/05/2024 19:00

Personally I find it odd, beautiful hair and dress presumably and then no make up? You can have very subtle make up on, mascara and a touch of blusher and some lip gloss. I think a bride looks unfinished with everything else done and not make up but it’s a personal choice.

Do you think the groom looks unfinished with everything else done and not makeup? Beautiful suit and beautifully styled hair and facial hair, but nothing but a clean face?

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 18/05/2024 19:19

AllAtSeaAgain · 18/05/2024 18:14

I did my usual 5 minute job with mascara, bit of blusher and some lipstick as though I was going for a job interview. 😁

That's the most I ever wear. Frequently don't wear anything at all. I didn't want someone plastering me in the stuff. I'd rather feel like myself.

I did this too.
I don't usually wear make up.
Tinted moisturiser, lipstick, tiny bit of blusher, maybe a dab of eyeshadow, and only for very special occasions.

I had a trial with a MUA. Hated it.
Did my own hair too.

minipie · 18/05/2024 19:22

I think you should do whatever will make you feel most comfortable on the day.

I had a trial with a make up artist and it was awful. I had acne at the time and she had no idea how to deal with it whereas I’d had years of practice. I bought some new makeup and did my own.

I guess the only question is will you mind if you get there and most other women are made up. But guess you are used to this at other social occasions?

AnnaMagnani · 18/05/2024 19:23

I did my own hair and makeup. As a non makeup wearer I didn't want to look 'not me'

I did a Lisa Eldridge wedding look which was very simple and 'my face but better'.

I still got asked who my MUA was, it just seems a standard question, up there with 'what is your theme'. I didn't know the answer to that either.

umami86 · 18/05/2024 19:26

Hi OP - I had my makeup professionally done and can honestly say it didn't make much of a difference. My face just looked like normal, but more shiny. I might as well have done my normal lippy and tinted moisturiser.

Hair was well worth it however. I have very dry hair and it always looks like a rat's nest with baby hair everywhere. It certainly looked neat for a change.

A word of warning though... my face is generally smooth - I don't cover/conceal. Which is why my asking for a 'natural' look wasn't much improvement.

'Makeup' doesn't have to mean completely changing your face, it could just be a 'better' version like smooth skin, etc. It depends on what you want really.

Mystro202 · 18/05/2024 19:27

I agree that some MUA's go overboard but I wouldn't like to look plain on my big day. It's nice to feel glam once in a while and you don't want to be outshone by guests.