Planning out your big day look? With the dress and everything else commanding so much attention, my guess is makeup is low on your list. You might even be thinking of doing it yourself, to save yourself the time and money it takes for a pro. After all, you slap that stuff on every day before heading out the door, I mean hey how hard can it be? Very VERY hard. Makeup may seem like a minor detail in a world of venue design and $5,000 gowns and you might be thinking on saving a few dollars, but many past brides agree that hiring a professional makeup artist is essential for your big day. Here are all the reasons why a pro wedding makeup artist is an absolute must.

Pros know what works..and what doesn’t. 

Wedding makeup is a whole different ball game from everyday makeup. And even if you’re pretty skilled when it comes to your everyday look, there are certain techniques, trends, and skills that professional wedding makeup artists know to use for important events that you have probably never heard of (hello, that’s why we pay them!). For example, they’ll know how to keep your makeup locked in for 14+ hours of dancing, sweating, and crying, where your everyday makeup might be totally melted down by the time you get to your reception party. They will also be better at hiding under eye bags without making them appear pasty in pictures and making sure you don’t look cakey… I could go on, but you get where I’m going.

They do great work, fast. 

Maybe you’re good at makeup, but add on all the talking and time passing by faster than it ever has, your bridesmaids and mother chatting at a mile a minute all around you, bags and bags of your stuff sprawled out everywhere, a million last-minute things on your to-do list, and you could face some serious stress and just be overwhelmed. Professional makeup artists, on the other hand, are used to working under pressure and in hectic environments. So you can sit down, get pretty, and get on with your big day, without second-guessing whether your eyeliner will take a few tries to get right or your mascara will accidentally get on your eyeshadow and you’ll have to start all over. Plus, they are trained to be quick. We have it down to a science and how a system is put in place where you don’t need to be in the chair for hours. If all you hire your professional wedding makeup artist for is to cut your time and cut down on stress on your wedding morning, it’s worth the money. 

They know what photographs well. 

You’ve probably heard this one before, but it needs to be shouted from the rooftops, you really do need your makeup done differently if you want your photos bomb! And on a day when you will be photographed hundreds of times (seriously), it’s best to trust this to the professionals. This is why it always takes brides a moment to get used to their professional makeup looks when they have it done the first time. At first glance, it may seem overdone, but after it sets in and later on in photos, it looks just right. Experienced wedding makeup artists know the secret to photograph-ready faces. They know some products create flashbacks and others don’t. They know what needs enhancing so it doesn’t disappear in pics (like eyes, hello lashes!), and they know how to apply the right amount of product in the right places without making you look clownish or highlighting fine lines and wrinkles or that pimple that showed up the night before.. This is a skill that’s almost impossible to pull off by anyone but the pros, and even if you think you’ve got it figured out..you only get one set of wedding pics. Is it really worth the risk? 

They know how to recreate inspo. 

Like I mentioned before, winging your makeup on your wedding day isn’t a great idea. That’s why it’s a sound plan to find inspiration on Pinterest and show it to your makeup artist during your makeup trial. They’ve got the skills and experience to recreate those looks, whether it be to focus on the eyes or a dewy glow. With a professional, you’re paying for consistency, getting the almost exact look you ask for and the peace of mind that it can be recreated again on your wedding day!

Summary

Sure, doing your wedding makeup yourself may save some money, but it won’t save you stress or time. Wedding makeup is meant to last longer than everyday makeup, and a professional makeup artist knows how to make that happen! Pros can work amongst the girls chatting in your bridal suite without getting distracted, they can make you feel comfortable and stress-free, and they can work in a faster timeline while still achieving your desired look. Hiring a pro on your wedding day will be so worth it once you look back on those photos and remember not only the memories of that special day, but also how your makeup lasted through it all.

xoxo,
Katlyn

How do you pick the right makeup artist? I wrote a few tips about it here to help you decide!