Am i Wrong

I guess it would help if some brides chime in about doing their own makeup despite the emotions of the day. The advantage of a good make up artist is to help accentuate how you appear in the photos. So the makeup can be a bit more dramatic even than other special-event makeup.

I’m trying to decide the same thing! Michael has a good point about the artist taking into account how you'll look in photos. I know enough about makeup to get by but probably not enough to nail a more dramatic look that a professional could do easily, so I guess it depends an awful lot on your skill level!

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I was thinking the same thing

Some brides with experience DIY, but it can also be more stressful. As mentioned, being good with your day to day makeup is not the same thing as knowing how to adjust for the camera. A good professional will be able to adjust for your preferences as well as apply makeup with photography in mind. You can be choosy and particular about which MUA you use, too. Some are better than others or may have an aesthetic you favor.

I'm having my MOH do my make up, and then everyone else will be doing their own. We are going to have a few trial runs to see how long it takes for us to get me ready to adjust time from there.


After my friend got married she loves make up and wanted glitzy/glam, she did get hers done professionally, but honestly she could have done the same or better job herself. That being said she got to sit and breathe during her make up application.

Can you do your own makeup for engagement shots and base it from there?

I was VERY hesitant to have a MUA as I wanted to look like ME, not some made-up doll. When I interviewed the professionals I was very specific about that. I am so happy I did the make up trial - it was everything I had hoped for. ..... a touch of dramatic but still very much natural and "me". So to answer your question, do your research and have the trial, and then decide. It's all about you that day, so any extra pampering you can afford is worth it.

View Quoted Comment That's a really good idea

Echoing the suggestion of doing a trial with a makeup artist. I hired a (very expensive) MUA for my destination wedding (not able to do a trial since it was destination) and ended up having an allergic reaction to something she used! I had to scrub everything off my face and walk down the aisle with nothing but mascara and lip gloss (after planning on going full glam). And you know what?… I’m so glad it happened! Looking back at our photos is like looking at a really fun night with our loved ones. I look like ME. I think if I were to have been all glammed up, it would make the photos feel staged and less genuine. Since the wedding didn’t end in a legal marriage, we are now planning an elopement with just the 2 of us; and based on the last experience, I’m choosing to just do my own makeup.

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Oh no! I can't believe that happened. That's exactly what I want is to look like me and not have a whole bunch of makeup caked on me. Thanks for sharing your personal experience.

I barely wore any makeup to my wedding. I applied it myself and it was MINIMAL. my wedding photos turned out great. When I look at my face in the wedding photos I wasn’t seeing a glare or flash like others say could happen if you don’t have it done professionally. I was outdoors and had a lot of natural light so maybe that contributed to my skin looking good. Anyway, there are no rules and do whatever makes you feel most comfortable and happy.

I’m considering the same. I’m going to do a “trial” and practice doing my own makeup and taking pictures of it (because you also have to consider how it’ll look in photos! Just because it’s good in person doesn’t mean it’ll turn out as nice in photos, so definitely take pics!) and then doing a trial with an artist. But even that is kind of annoying setting up. Around where I am a lot of artists aren’t even doing a separate trial, you have to actually book them for the wedding day to get the trial 🙄 which is a red flag to me! Some others will do a trial for around $30 to $50 so I guess I’ll try that. But I still feel like I’m going to want to just do it myself so I don’t know if I even want to spend a little money on a trial. It is a difficult decision for sure, but it’s an important day!

Thank you to everyone that has shared. It has given me a lot to think about.

I’m actually thinking of doing my own makeup the day of. I’ve been studying different techniques and stuff to do for my face type! I’m very picky about my makeup and I do not want to get someone who cakes up my face so much that my fine lines show through. I’m also not great at the winged eyeliner but I have ppl who can help me with that part if need be! My wedding is in October and my suggestion and this is also what I plan to do as well, is to do a couple trial runs with a makeup artist and if you like it then use them but if you think you can do it better then I would do it yourself!

I would shop around for different makeup artists in your area and have a consultation. Also ask if they has a portfolio. Most do. Make up artists will do whatever you want without making you like like a clown. If you don’t want to look caked up and air brushed they won’t make you look that way. I think doing your own make up for your wedding is a bold and brave choice but also can add to the stress on the big day. I wouldn’t do it. I think it is wiser to do the research and find someone to do it for you. You can read the reviews, ask for a portfolio, ask for a consultation and tell th what you want. They will do whatever you want. If you don’t k or how to do winged eyeliner, I definitely wouldn’t try it on your wedding day either by yourself. I’ve been doing winged eyeliner for years and it is not easy at all. You don’t want to be freaking out on your wedding day because you can’t get your eyeliner even or it keeps getting smudges. Just get a make up artists who will work with you and whatever you need. Not all make up artists make people look air brushed and caked up.

Do you have tons of experience and confidence in your skills? Alot of women do not have either of those things. Make sure that if you do your own, that you use quality makeup that is designed for high definition photography which is not cheap. Also, something that people forget or ignore is that DIY, including hair/makeup, is not a cost/time saver. People forget or ignore accounting for their time and sanity at minimum wage per hour in addition to cost of supplies. That makes DIY come out to be more expensive in the long run.


If you don’t have experience or confidence, leading up to your wedding is not the time to practice. Because you don’t get a do over if you don’t like the result. Many brides say they are super stressed the last few days before the wedding so relaxing the morning of is preferred if possible.
Browse Instagram or Yelp for a vendor whose portfolio matches your vision. Get a trial before you book any beauty services to make sure that you not only like the look but you are comfortable with the vendor before you sign a contract that you can’t get out of. Do not leave the trial until you are 100% satisfied.

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