Wedding Day Makeup?

I think I'm pretty decent at doing my own makeup for everyday life, but in no way do I know how to do makeup that will be photographed with a high quality professional camera for 8+ hours. I also wanted something a little more glam for my wedding day, and didn't really want to put in the work on my wedding day or pay money for makeup items that I would never wear again. I had a professional do my wedding day look and I have no regrets, it was well worth the money for photos that I'll have for the rest of my life.

View Quoted Comment Thank you so much for the insight! Did you pay for your bridesmaids too? My bridesmaids are way more experienced with makeup and I feel good that they know how to glam themselves up. But I don’t want to feel like I went cheapo on them or something. It is it normal for bride to pay for professional makeup for just herself?

View Quoted Comment

We didn't pay for their makeup. We told them the price and let them choose, some decided to use the professional MUA and some chose not to. You honestly can't tell from photos because bridesmaids don't typically get close ups. We paid to have their hair done because we thought that it would be more obvious in pictures if it wasn't done by a professional.

I've been a bridesmaid twice before and I definitely was more than happy to do my own hair and makeup. It's not *my* wedding so looking nice-dinner decent was good enough! I don't expect more from my own bridesmaids as well.
I don't wear a lot of makeup for every day or even for an event. Buuuut I'm in theatre and I know how much effort is put into professional hair and makeup and I know it makes a difference. Those "barely there makeup" looks actually take a lot of skill to be fixed.
So when it comes to my own wedding, I knew from the start I needed to hire a pro. There's been enough times in my life that things get a little out of control and I get stressed and I know the last thing I need is getting all worked up doing my eyebrows or fixing my hair into place. Nobody wants to see that breakdown. 😂
That, and I need this face and hair to last the whole evening! I'm terrible at making my daily makeup last. And I care a lot about looking back on old memories so I know I'll look at our wedding photography a lot. I don't want to be reminded of how stressed I was getting ready, I want to remember the day going as smoothly as possible and LOOOVING my husband. ❤️Last of all, most travel makeup and hair artists require a minimum, so I'm gifting my mom and MIL their hair and makeup. I know that's a huge deal for my mom because she was very stressed during my brother's wedding trying to get ready and I think it's good she gets pampered for once. My MIL and also excited!

View Quoted Comment Thank you so much for this insight! The details were really helpful!

I wanted to look like the best version of me for my wedding, and went with a professional mua for several reasons: 1 - I needed the makeup to *stay on* (after my trial I went and worked out to make sure it wasn't coming off); 2 - I wanted the makeup to photograph well and I knew a professional could do that for me; and 3 - I knew my hands would be shaking if I was trying to do my own and it wasn't worth the frustration of having to start over several times (for what it's worth, I find someone else doing my makeup somewhat relaxing - no idea why though)

View Quoted Comment ❤️ Sure thing, good luck!

I’m a makeup artist but I’m having someone do my makeup for my wedding because I don’t want to deal with the stress I just want to sit down relax have a drink while I’m getting ready

I think it’s fine to do your own. I don’t think it has to be professionally done

I never wear makeup but I plan on doing my own. I have been following this one makeup artist and found a bridal tutorial look she does. I bought all the makeup she used in the video and now on my days off I watch the video and try to do it myself. My wedding is a year away so I want to give myself some time to perfect my look and adjust it according to my preferences.

You can do it yourself. It may or may not come out the way you’d like in photos. Maybe consider a makeup trial if you can afford to do one. You’ll be able to see how an artist does your makeup so you can be camera ready. It’ll help you make an informed decision, too. You should keep in mind, though, that trials aren’t perfect. Still, there’s a huge difference between daily makeup and wedding makeup that’s meant to hold up and look good in front of a professional camera.


You should only pay for other people’s hair and/or makeup if you are requiring them to get it done or requiring a certain look. Otherwise, tell them the cost and give them the option to decline or accept and pay for the service themselves.

I never wear makeup either, I work in a warehouse and don't want to get up any earlier than I have to (5AM everyday ugh) but I enjoy doing it and wearing it for special occasions. However I agree with what someone said earlier in the thread that I can't do it good enough to be photographed well and to last all day. Plus there's so much I already have to worry about the day of, I'd like to be able to just sit back, relax, and let someone else do my hair and makeup. It's so relaxing to have someone else do it! I have my trial sometime next week so we will see how it goes!

I’ve had some training as a makeup artist, but for my sister’s wedding, her friend did all of our make up and it looked a kind of amazing no one has ever been able to do on me (except me). Another friend of mine had a pro do her make up and it was just bland because she was afraid to speak up. I say this to explain that it’s up to you and what you’re comfortable with, but don’t choose to do your own just because you’re afraid of how it will turn out.


If I can’t get my sister’s friend to do us for my wedding, I’ll be doing ours because I have the skill set to do it, so this is coming from a very neutral place (just so you know).