makeup! has anyone out there done their own?

I am having the same issue. My wedding is next Friday and I don't know what I'm going to do yet.

Totally get that and you should do what makes you comfortable. A good professional can help you look like yourself but also look extra beautiful in the pictures. If it's in the budget and you can find one at this point, at least do a trial and see. You can always opt out of using the MUA for the actual wedding if you feel uncomfortable.

I attempted to do my own, needless to say it was a total disaster.

Keep in mind that your normal makeup look likely won't show up in pictures. If you're normally not used to doing your makeup, I'd suggest you go with a pro. You can show them what your every day makeup looks like and they can work with that look but play it up so it will show in pictures and you won't look sickly or tired in your photos. But if you are used to it, then you could get away with doing your own, just pack it on more. It's important to feel comfortable on your big day! But you don't want to look back at your pictures and think "man I wish I had done something more (insert adjective here)"

I would definitely suggest getting a MUA especially if you're not experienced with it or don't really wear a lot. This is definitely the one day you're going to want it to be perfect and for it to show up in pictures so you don't look washed out in them. You can definitely ask a MUA for a natural look and show them some pictures and they can make it look soft and natural while still showing up nicely in pictures!

I hate having professional makeup because I hate paying for it and I hate how it feels, but I know I will be thankful for the pictures. They just know how to do it best for pictures.

I would say do your own! If you aren't used to wearing a lot of makeup, you probably won't like how a MUA would do your makeup. It's important to feel comfortable on your wedding day! Not really the best example but when I was still in HS lots of girls would get their makeup professionally done for prom but I always just watched YouTube videos and practiced a lot and did my own. It's nice to do that because then you can practice as many times as you like and change up what you like and don't like about your look!

You don't have a lot of time to watch videos and practice. Also the cost of products needed to get the look will probably cost you more than a MUA.

Why spend the money on photographer and not spend money to make sure you look your absolute best in them?

Call around and see if you can get an appointment.

Go to a MAC counter and get your makeup done. All the salespeople there are professional MUAs. Bridal makeup is different than regular makeup. It is meant to show up in photos. Unless you already have the knowledge and the products, I do not recommend doing your own makeup.

I thought of doing my own makeup too, but I sidelined the idea only because, what if I was too stressed and too nervous on the wedding day to do a good job? Plus, there are other factors like looking good in pictures, experience with doing your own MU and actual cost benefits that other posters before me have mentioned.

I thought about doing my own but then again, I'm not good with makeup nor do I wear it much. So I decided to not worry about it on my wedding day, and I will be hiring a makeup artist

You can make an appointment at MAC or Dillards... Call around see what's available